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Facial-Oral Tract Therapy (F.O.T.T.) pp 207–230Cite as

Tracheostomy Tubes: A Blessing and a Curse

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Abstract

A tracheostomy tube (TT) can be a blessing for the patient, keeping him alive and making breathing easier. The tube can also be considered a curse, as it makes communication and swallowing difficult and limits senses such as smell and taste. Many neurological patients with a TT are multimorbid. Robbed of their voice and often of their ability to communicate, these patients may have an impairment of the swallowing process and additional mechanical disability. This can result in the continuous problems in managing saliva, secretion and aspiration. The caring team and relatives are faced with a multitude of tasks and problems. At the same time, a lack of knowledge and experience in dealing with TTs is common. Which tube is the right one? How soon can the tube be removed? Decannulation often takes place arbitrarily and without reference to clear criteria. Increased knowledge is essential for the adequate care for these patients. Dealing with TTs must become a routine aspect of rehabilitation. Tracheostomy tube management includes the multiple processes and difficulties associated with the placement of a TT and therapy solutions.

Keywords

  • Tracheotomy tubes
  • Indications
  • Complications
  • Care
  • Changing the tube
  • Decannulation
  • Swallowing
  • Tracheostomy tube management

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Rainer O. Seidl

  2. Instructor for Facial-Oral Tract Therapy, Berlin, Germany

    Ricki Nusser-Müller-Busch

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  1. Rainer O. Seidl
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  2. Ricki Nusser-Müller-Busch
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instructor for Facial-Oral Tract Therapy, Berlin, Germany

    Ricki Nusser-Müller-Busch

  2. Physiotherapy Bahnhofplatz Belp, Belp, Switzerland

    Karin Gampp Lehmann

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Seidl, R.O., Nusser-Müller-Busch, R. (2021). Tracheostomy Tubes: A Blessing and a Curse. In: Nusser-Müller-Busch, R., Gampp Lehmann, K. (eds) Facial-Oral Tract Therapy (F.O.T.T.) . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51637-6_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51637-6_9

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