Parents and carers often know their child's medical history in great detail, and the patient may be able to tell you some details depending on their age and understanding of their condition. Critical information may be found in a tracheostomy passport document, a bed-head sign (behind the patient's bed in hospital) and the medical notes.
The image shows a typical bed-head sign used for a patient with a new tracheostomy.
Select each of the blue boxes to learn more.
A PDF version of this sign, together with its accompanying algorithm, is available in the Downloads section of the Resources page.
Select one of the blue boxes.
1. New or established tracheostomy?
2. Patient identifiers: is this the right patient? Names are often removed, but this depends on your local policy.
3. Diagram for indication placement of existing sutures.
4. Any notes on the upper airway. If it took three anaesthetists two hours to get a tube down you need to know! The key question is, can this child be oxygenated by the mouth or not?
5. Who to call in an emergency.