Question

1-how would you keep air in the cuff of an airway which does not have a one-way valve at the pilot balloon? how do you connect a 3 way stopcock?

2-What must be done before using a speaking valve on a patient?

Answer 1

1. 3 way stopcock can help in keeping the air in cuff. It is fixed by connecting one port of stopcock to air filled syringe, other port to manometer and one to pilot balloon.with air filled balloon , inject air into tubing. Turn stopcock off to syringe, read cuff pressure on manometer which should be between 20- 25 mm hg.

2. Speaking valve is used to help patients speak in tracheostomised patients. This one-way valve attaches to the outside opening of the tracheostomy tube and allows air to pass into the tracheostomy,. The valve opens on breathing. When the patient breathes out, the valve closes and air flows around the tracheostomy tube, up through the vocal cords allowing sounds to be made. The patient breathes out through the mouth and nose instead of the tracheostomy. Before using speaking valves followings things shold be done:

• Suction the tracheostomy tube .
• If the tracheostomy tube has a cuff, deflate it (remove the air from it) before placing the valve.