What nursing intervention is essential for a patient with a tracheostomy tube?

Regular suctioning to maintain airway patency is vital for a patient with a tracheostomy tube. Patients with this type of airway management are at increased risk for secretions that can obstruct the tracheostomy. Suctioning is necessary to clear mucus and prevent airway blockage, which could lead to respiratory distress, hypoxia, or infection. Maintaining a clear airway is essential for the effective exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, ensuring that the patient can breathe adequately.

In addition, although frequent position changes can promote lung expansion and prevent complications such as pneumonia, and providing humidified oxygen is important to keep the airways moist and reduce the viscosity of secretions, suctioning directly addresses the immediate need to maintain airway patency. Antibiotics may be indicated if an infection is present, but they do not play a role in the routine management of tracheostomy care. Thus, regular suctioning is the most crucial intervention to ensure the safety and comfort of a patient with a tracheostomy tube.