Re: trach drainage

Annette Hanna (nete1(AT)midwest.net)
Sun, 25 May 1997 09:56:21 -0500

At 10:33 PM 5/24/97 -0400, you wrote:
>Annette,
>
>I read your post about trach drainage. I have had a trach for 27 years and
>have never had any problem with drainage except when I have a throat
>infection. So, I am curious as to what may be causing your drainage. Do you
>have a humidifier on your machine and if so, is it set too high causing
>excessive secretions? I use a thin 4x4 guaze to separate my plastic day time
>trach tube from the surrounding skin and this works fine for me. I also
>twice a day (morning and evening) place some Bacitracin ointment around the
>trach site and under the guaze. There must be some cause for this drainage.
> What do you think it is?
>
>Henry Holland
>Henry4FDR(AT)aol.com
>
>

Henry..
The drainage I am talking about around the trach is not uncommon with
people with trachs. More than dangerous, it is annoying to have this tiny
spot of trach "goo" on your front collar.

I have tried the pads, but like Blane states :

> This is something I have wondered about too. Sometimes I don't
>like the way a 4 X 4 drain sponge looks, especially with certain clothes
>(tee-shirts). They sometimes seem to accentuate the trach."

I too, feel like the pads accentuate the trach. The pads are also
uncomfortable.
Blane I will try the pads that you recommended.

Annette Hanna
nete1(AT)midwest.net