A patient with a tracheostomy tube (TT) is being discharged home ...

[joesmith1212]

A patient with a tracheostomy tube (TT) is being discharged home with a ventilator, which he uses only during the night, without supplemental oxygen. During the day he uses a speaking valve.
 
  Which of the following equipment must he have in his home?
  1. Suctioning equipment
  2. Oxygen concentrator
  3. Second mechanical ventilator
  4. Manual resuscitator bag
 
  a. 1 and 3 only
  b. 1 and 4 only
  c. 2, 3, and 4 only
  d. 1, 2, 3, and 4

Question 2

The most important factors to consider when choosing a ventilator for home use include which of the following? 1. Sophistication 2. Reliability 3. Versatility 4. Cost
 
  a. 1, 2, and 4 only
  b. 2, 3, and 4 only
  c. 1, 2, and 3 only
  d. 1 and 2 only

[trog]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
The patient does not use oxygen; therefore, an oxygen concentrator is not necessary. Also, be-cause the patient uses the ventilator only at night, a second ventilator is not necessary. Suctioning equipment and a self-inflating manual resuscitator bag are necessary for any patient with a TT.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The most important factors in choosing a ventilator are:
 Reliability. The ventilator must be mechanically dependable and trouble free for extended pe-riods without breaking down or requiring costly maintenance.
 Safety. The ventilator must be safe to operate in oxygen-enriched environments and have an adequate alarm system to warn of low ventilating pressure, high ventilating pressure, patient dis-connection, and mechanical failure.
 Versatility. The ventilator should be portable or adjustable for travel outside the home; it must have reliable internal and external battery sources and alarms.
 User friendliness. Ventilator controls should be easy to understand and manipulate. The circuit should be simple and easy to change.
 Ease of patient cycling. The ventilator should be easy to cycle in the volume-controlled contin-uous mandatory ventilation (VC-CMV) mode for patients with some spontaneous effort.