Nursing Care of Patient With Tracheostomy Tube Cuff Rupture Caused by Tracheal Polyp: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Tracheostomy is common in patients with critical illness. Mechanical ventilation requires the airway to be closed by an inflated tracheostomy tube cuff. Tracheostomy tube cuff rupture is a serious complication of airway management. This case study summarizes the nursing care of a patient who received prolonged mechanical ventilation and had recurrent tracheostomy tube cuff ruptures caused by a tracheal polyp. CLINICAL FINDINGS AND DIAGNOSIS: An 81-year-old woman was admitted because of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The patient had undergone percutaneous tracheostomy 3 years earlier because of difficulty in weaning from the ventilator and had recurrent lung infections that led to respiratory failure. A tracheal polyp was identified as the cause of multiple tracheostomy tube cuff ruptures. OUTCOMES: After the tracheal polyp was removed with bronchofiberscope guidance, the patient remained hospitalized because of difficulty in ventilator weaning but had no further tracheostomy tube cuff ruptures. CONCLUSION: Tracheal polyps that cause tracheostomy tube cuff ruptures are rare, but nurses should be alert to their occurrence. If a tube cuff ruptures in a patient receiving long-term mechanical ventilation, bronchoscopy should be performed as soon as possible to allow for early identification of the cause and ensure patient safety.

Investigation and analysis of status of mechanical prevention of venous thrombosis in ICU.

AIMS: The presented paper aims at understanding the current situation of mechanical prevention of venous thrombosis in ICU. DESIGN: A questionnaire survey. METHODS: A self-developed Questionnaire on the Current Situation of VTE Mechanical Prevention in ICU was distributed. RESULTS: A total of 125 valid questionnaires were collected. The results shows that only 11.2% ICUs had the ratio of mechanical prevention equipment to the bed number ≥0.8:1; there was significant differences among ICU nurses in different levels of hospitals in mastering the indications, contraindications and use process of venous thromboembolism mechanical prevention; 42 ICUs (33.6%) used disposable leg covers for patients before the use of mechanical prevention equipment. The face-to-face teaching model was the main method adopted in the education and training of mechanical prevention.