Hi folks! At the request of several of my peers, here’s a list of the necessary supplies to live peacefully with a tracheotomy. A quick reminder that I’m not a doctor, and here we go.
Fixed equipment :
– 2 “Astral” ventilators from Resmed.
– A BVM with an oxygen tank (just in case).
– A operating room-grade tube holder (the “daisy” kind)
– 3 suction devices. One for the mouth, one for tracheal suctions, and a spare one.
– A manometer to manage the balloon.
– A weighing system if your weight changes, air volumes being partially indexed on your weight. Beds with integrated weighing systems do exist. They are are quite expensive, but they can be funded.
Consumables :
– A spare, last generation cannula.
– A smaller cannula, to be safe.
– Inner cannulas.
– Ties.
– Filters.
– Closed-loop suction systems (they have to be changed every 72 hours).
– Rigid suction cannulas, Yankauer type
– Flexible protected suction cannulas, if an open loop system is used.
– A silver nitrate stick, for possible warts
– 2 tube circuits with valves.
– Tracheal pads with silver layers.
– Sterile gloves.
– Non woven sterile pads and saline solution.
– Dressings.
– Ringed connectors, in case they aren’t included in the tracheostomy kit.
During the monthly cannula change :
– A sterile lubricating spray.
– A Trousseau dilator (if recommended by your doc’)
– An oximeter.
– Betadine scrub.
– Betadine topical solution.
– 10 cc syringe.
Others :
– A perfectly working electrical installation.
– An emergency protocol with your energy provider. They cannot cut your supply and in case of system-wide outage, they have to come to your place first. Anyway, each device is equipped with its own backup battery with a life span of several hours. You have priority first with emergency services as well.
And there you go. Of course, it’s a little bit tedious, but you will be helped. Most of these products will be supplied by a skilled medical providers who, once they have your prescriptions, will take care of everything.
Let me know if you have any questions.
