The nurse is working in the pediatric intensive care unit, and is ...

[Diane]

The nurse is working in the pediatric intensive care unit, and is caring for a toddler-age client with a tracheostomy. Which type of tracheostomy does the nurse anticipate this client will have?
 
  1. Uncuffed tube
  2. Cuffed tube
  3. Tube with an inner cannula
  4. Tube with a low-pressure cuff

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a client with a longstanding permanent tracheostomy that has been in place for several years in order to provide mechanical ventilation.
 
  Which type of tracheostomy does the nurse anticipate this client may have based on the health history?
  1. Uncuffed tracheostomy
  2. Cuffed tracheostomy
  3. Fenestrated tracheostomy
  4. Uncuffed or fenestrated tracheostomy

[T4T]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1

Pediatric clients do not generally require a cuff to maintain the tube in place, because their tracheas are resilient enough to seal the space around the tube.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 2

Cuffed tracheostomy tubes are essential when the client requires mechanical ventilation because they provide a seal so that air does not leak when the ventilator provides a breath. The client with a long-term tracheostomy who does not require mechanical ventilation would be likely to have an uncuffed tube.

[Diane]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[dyrone]

Gracias!