Routine Changes
The first tracheostomy tube change is usually undertaken by the head and neck surgical team involved in the original procedure. Specialist trained staff can also undertake this first change. Following an uneventful first tube change, the stay sutures can be removed.
Any sutures should have been removed, including checking that maturation sutures have dissolved, prior to hospital discharge.
Routine changes depend on the type of tube used:
Shiley
Shiley tubes should be changed weekly and are discarded each time.
Shiley
Shiley tubes should be changed weekly and are discarded each time.
Bivona
Bivona tubes should be changed monthly and can be cleaned and reprocessed up to five times.
Shiley
Shiley tubes should be changed weekly and are discarded each time.
Bivona
Bivona tubes should be changed monthly and can be cleaned and reprocessed up to five times.
Emergency changes
In an emergency, the tube should be quickly changed for a new tube of the same size, or one half a size smaller if there is any difficulty on insertion.