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Keywords

Airway management, e oxygenation, ventilation, Proper airway management, Surgical airway management, tracheostomy tubes, laryngectomy tubes

Disciplines

Nursing

Description

  • Airway management in the hospital setting is essential for adequate oxygenation and ventilation.
  • Proper airway management involves the correct assessment, planning, and resources needed to provide care during an emergency.
  • Surgical airway management may results in patients with tracheostomy tubes or laryngectomy tubes. There are significant surgical differences between these two airways which impacts the bedside care provided to the patient.
  • After a tracheotomy, a tracheostomy tube is placed through a temporary or permanent incision in the neck to assist with ventilation. The upper airway (nose and mouth) remains anatomically connected allowing for normal breathing pattern (see Figure 1).
  • After a laryngectomy, the trachea is diverted to a stoma in the anterior neck. There is complete separation of the respiratory and digestive tracts following a partial or total laryngectomy. The breathing pattern for this patient is then permanently altered to only allow ventilation through the stoma (see Figure 1).
  • The staff on the Surgical Progressive Care Unit (SPCU) identified a knowledge gap when caring for patients following a total laryngectomy.
  • The staff also reported safety concerns involved in the emergency management of a patient with a laryngectomy versus a tracheostomy.
  • The purpose of this project was to close the knowledge gap and change safety standards surrounding the emergency care for these patients.

Publication Date

5-2025

Comments

Nurses Week at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, May 6-12, 2025.

Advocating for Safe Airway Management for the Laryngectomy Patient

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