Management of Adult Patients with Tracheostomy in the Acute Care Setting

Patient Guideline Summary

Publication Date: December 31, 2020
Last Updated: March 2, 2023

Objective

Objective

This patient summary means to discuss key recommendations from the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) for the management of adult patients with tracheostomy in the acute care setting. It is limited to adults 18 years of age and older and should not be used as a reference for children.

Overview

Overview

  • A tracheostomy is a surgically placed tube through the neck into the lungs. It is used to manage the airway in critically ill patients.
  • This patient summary focuses on the management of tracheostomy in adults.

Treatment

Treatment

The AARC recommends:
  • standardized protocols for managing tracheostomy.
  • a multidisciplinary tracheostomy team.
  • a protocol to guide weaning and removal of the tracheostomy tube.

Abbreviations

  • AARC: American Association For Respiratory Care

Source Citation

Mussa CC, Gomaa D, Rowley DD, Schmidt U, Ginier E, Strickland SL. AARC Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of Adult Patients with Tracheostomy in the Acute Care Setting. Respir Care. 2021 Jan;66(1):156-169. doi: 10.4187/respcare.08206. Epub 2020 Sep 22. PMID: 32962998.

Disclaimer

The information in this patient summary should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.