Practical sets and help-aids contribute to hygiene for patients with a cannula
An inflamed tracheostomy is extremely uncomfortable. Careful tending of the
sensitive opening in the throat is understood, a matter of course. Your tracheal
cannula, on which spores and bacteria can accumulate, must also undergo
daily cleaning.
Daily change of cannula
You should change your tracheal cannula every day and clean it carefully.
In this way you prevent the formation of large amounts of bacteria.
Basic cannula pre-cleaning
First, remove the inner from the outer cannula and clean these separately.
Rinse both under running warm water, removing with a cannula cleaning-brush
any possible encrustation. (Please never use conventional bottle brushes, as
the tips have sharp edges which can damage the cannula). If you are using a
speech cannula the speech valve must always be detached from the inner
cannula prior to cleaning.
Cleaning and disinfection
Following this pre-cleaning the cannula should now be fine-cleaned using
a 250 ml. bath of cold or lukewarm water, to which 10 ml. cleaning/disinfecting
solution is added. After about one hour your cannula is not completely clean,
but is disinfected.
As a receptacle for the bath we recommend the cannula cleaning container, in
which is a perforated interior section which you remove from the container. Now
prepare the bath. Place your tracheal cannula (inner and outer parts separately)
in the perforated interior section and lower everything together into the solution.
Screw on the container lid and allow the disinfectant to work. After an hour
thoroughly rinse in running water the perforated section and cannula together.
Please wear gloves to do this. Afterwards remove the cannula from the perforated
section and rinse its interior thoroughly in water and dry with a soft cloth.
Care of silver cannulae
Even with today’s conventional high-quality sterling silver used in cannulae,
discolouration over time cannot be prevented. This is, however, no indication
of poor quality, but a natural property of silver. Nevertheless a tarnished cannula
is unattractive to the eye, and prevention of this can be accomplished by placing
the cannula in a silver dip-bath for a few minutes after cleaning. Afterwards the
cannula is not only shining bright but also protected when re-used. Plastic cannulae
not regularly lubricated can dry up and thus become hard and fragile. Paraffin oil
has shown itself to be especially useful in preventing this.
After cleaning, place a drop on a dressing and rub on to the inner and outer surfaces
of the cannulae. These now remain supple, the inner cannulae being able to be easily
inserted into the outer – and again similarly easily removable.
Recommendation
The care procedures described here contribute to the extended durability of your
tracheal cannulae and to their being kept in perfect condition. This is important,
as damage caused by tearing or cracking can result in injury to the mucous
membrane. Should you discover a defect in your cannula, it should be checked in
our workshop prior to re-use. This protects you against dangerous injuries and helps
your hospital to save money.
