In which situation should a nurse suspect a tracheostomy tube is obstructed?

In which situation should a nurse suspect a tracheostomy tube is obstructed?

• A. Client exhibits difficulty speaking
• B. Secretions are thick and difficult to suction
• C. Client has increased respiratory effort
• D. Client's oxygen saturation levels are stable

Answer: (B)

A tracheostomy tube obstruction is a critical concern that can lead to respiratory distress or failure if not promptly identified and managed. When considering the situation where a nurse should suspect that a tracheostomy tube is obstructed, the presence of thick and difficult-to-suction secretions is highly indicative. Such secretions can physically block the airway, preventing adequate airflow and leading to further complications. Thick secretions can accumulate within the tracheostomy tube or around it, creating an obstruction that hinders proper ventilation. This situation may also lead to feelings of breathlessness or increased work of breathing. The nurse's need to perform suctioning effectively can also highlight the issue, as excessive effort may be required to clear these secretions. Other signs, while potentially concerning, do not directly indicate an obstruction in the same way. For example, difficulty speaking often occurs in patients with a tracheostomy due to an altered airway structure rather than a direct obstruction. Increased respiratory effort can occur for various reasons, including anxiety or other pulmonary conditions, not just obstruction. Stable oxygen saturation levels may suggest that, despite these symptoms, the patient is still able to maintain effective gas exchange, which doesn’t necessarily point to an obstruction. Therefore, the presence

A tracheostomy tube obstruction is a critical concern that can lead to respiratory distress or failure if not promptly identified and managed. When considering the situation where a nurse should suspect that a tracheostomy tube is obstructed, the presence of thick and difficult-to-suction secretions is highly indicative. Such secretions can physically block the airway, preventing adequate airflow and leading to further complications.

Thick secretions can accumulate within the tracheostomy tube or around it, creating an obstruction that hinders proper ventilation. This situation may also lead to feelings of breathlessness or increased work of breathing. The nurse's need to perform suctioning effectively can also highlight the issue, as excessive effort may be required to clear these secretions.

Other signs, while potentially concerning, do not directly indicate an obstruction in the same way. For example, difficulty speaking often occurs in patients with a tracheostomy due to an altered airway structure rather than a direct obstruction. Increased respiratory effort can occur for various reasons, including anxiety or other pulmonary conditions, not just obstruction. Stable oxygen saturation levels may suggest that, despite these symptoms, the patient is still able to maintain effective gas exchange, which doesn’t necessarily point to an obstruction. Therefore, the presence