Question

When the nurse is deflating the cuff of a tracheostomy tube to evaluate the patient's ability to swallow, it is important to

a. clean the inner cannula of the tracheostomy tube before deflation.
b. deflate the cuff during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle.
c. suction the patient's mouth and trachea before deflation of the cuff.
d. insert exactly the same volume of air into the cuff during reinflation.

Answer 1

When evaluating a patient's ability to swallow with a deflated cuff of a tracheostomy tube, it is important to suction the patient's mouth and trachea before deflation to reduce the risk of aspiration. Cleaning the inner cannula of the tracheostomy tube and deflating the cuff during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle are not necessary for this evaluation. And while it is important to ensure the same volume of air is inserted into the cuff during reinflation, this step is unrelated to evaluating the patient's ability to swallow.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse is deflating the cuff of a tracheostomy tube to evaluate a patient's ability to swallow, it is important to suction the patient's mouth and trachea before deflation of the cuff. This is because the suction helps remove any secretions or fluids that may be present, reducing the risk of aspiration when the cuff is deflated. Cleaning the inner cannula of the tracheostomy tube before deflation is not necessary for evaluating the patient's ability to swallow. Deflating the cuff during the inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle is also not necessary for this evaluation. And while it is important to ensure that the same volume of air is inserted into the cuff during reinflation, this step is not related to evaluating the patient's ability to swallow.