Authors (including presenting author) :
Mak WL (1), Tsang WL (1), Ho YK (1), Chang ST (1), Yung HC (1), Wong KY (1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Surgery, United Christian Hospital
Introduction :
Tracheostomy is a common yet complicated airway management procedure. A tiny mistake might cause fatality. A smoother workflow can be critically life-saving and clinical safety can be enhanced during emergent situation related to tracheostomy.
Objectives :
(1) to facilitate medical and nursing colleague while handling emergent situation related to tracheostomy；(2) to enhance clinical safety when emergency related to tracheostomy occurs；(3) to alleviate nervous feeling of colleague when facing emergency related to tracheostomy
Methodology :
Checklists for essential equipments for both laryngectomy and temporary tracheostomy were developed and endorsed by the Airway Management Workgroup of the Department of Surgery. A patient-specific emergency equipment kit would be prepared at bedside by case nurses in accordance with the respective checklist. All the equipments inside the kits are to be used only when emergency related to laryngectomy and temporary tracheostomy occurs.
Result & Outcome :
Emergency tracheostomy kits have been successfully implemented in the Department. Case nurses are responsible for preparing the kits at bedside for their patients with either laryngectomy or temporary tracheostomy with the help of the checklists. The emergency tracheostomy kits have been implemented on five patients in the Department since rollout. Nursing colleague have expressed the kit could help reduce chaos and nervousness caused by the emergency of the tracheostomy as they know all the equipments needed for solving the emergency could be found in the kit at bedside.
The emergency tracheostomy kit is effective in facilitating colleague to deal with emergent situation of tracheostomy as soon as possible once indicated. Standardized equipments can enhance clinical safety when handling with emergency of tracheostomy. Colleagues have more confidence when dealing with related emergency with less chaos caused.
