Advice about CUFFED tracheostomy at home - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

52,350 members33,005 posts

Advice about CUFFED tracheostomy at home

7 Replies

Hubby had quadruple bypass 1st Feb 2024. Didn't wake up until 14th Feb after they fitted a cuffed tracheostomy. Came round properly on 16th Feb. Was successfully weaning off but Dr decided after just 5 hours to remove it and after a couple more hours he crashed. This was on a Friday so sedated him and intubated him again all weekend. This caused more damage. He moved to a hospital nearer to home, they're doing everything they can. Now they've decided to try to get the cuff coming down for short periods again. So far he's only been managing 30 seconds. He obviously can't eat, drink or talk. His swallow is very weak, not surprised as he hasn't eaten since 31st Jan. There is talk of him coming home when he has an uncuffed tracheostomy and still feeding through his RIG. My question is has anyone experience of coming home with a CUFFED tracheostomy as if he can't tolerate cuff down after 8-10 weeks, he'll have this for a very long time. Our hospital isn't sure they would do this, although other hospitals do it. He would just need a small amount extra of equipment to come home with, and would need a bit of extra training and support. They won't want to keep him in hospital and we are adamant he is NOT going in a nursing home, apart from the money he is otherwise going to be fit to be home. So any advice or experience of being at home with a CUFFED tracheostomy is welcome please. They're going to have a meeting with us, drs salt etc to decide on a time frame to work on this as it can't go on indefinitely obviously. After they'd gone hubby wrote down 2 months. This is in UK, so advice for that if possible. Thank you

Read more about...
7 Replies
Fairenuff profile image
Fairenuff

Have you talked with your GP, surgery nurse practitioner and or what used to be the district nurse? Hope I’m not stating the obvious, but these are the people you will be dealing with once Ralph is home - Stay strong & positive x

in reply to Fairenuff

Not yet, because it will be at least August/September. I have appointment on 4th June so will ask then

Purpled profile image
Purpled

can I pm you?

in reply to Purpled

Yes, that's fine

Wooodsie profile image
Wooodsie

Best wishes Castleview. I hope you are OK and that there is someone on here who has the experience you need. Steve

Callie456 profile image
Callie456

I hope you find the expertise you need Sue, to bring Ralph home with the tracheotomy. ❤️

Handel profile image
Handel

Not sure if you can read this Sue. Just wishing you and Ralph all the love in the world. We're all praying for miracles. PM me if you're able. A lot of supporting member on Health Unlocked are wanting to PM you.

Lots of love and hugs. Jan xxxx

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Advice with head pain related to heart?

Hi everyone, my father has been suffering from extreme head pain, lightheadness, spells of blacking...

New Recent Life Update

Woke up Friday as normal hubby got up at 10.45am and went to bathroom 11.07am he rang the bell (I...

It's hard right now

Five weeks ago I had a triple bypass. I was discharged after a week in hospital. When I was...

Bisoprolol side effects

Hi all I've had paroxysmal fibrillation for a year now and 6 weeks ago put on low dose 1.25mg...

CAD and OMT/STATINS

Hi Friends Hope things are well with you ! I recently went through a heart Cath and they found...