Clinical Case 1
You have taken handover for a 63-year-old male in your resuscitation department. He has a tracheostomy tube and been admitted with cough, increased secretions and confusion. Your colleague has seen the patient and commenced treatment for a chest infection.
The nurse caring for the patient runs to you to tell you that the patient has suddenly become very agitated and is trying to climb out of bed.
On arrival at the bedside the patient appears panicked, is making inspiratory noises, and has pulled off his monitoring equipment. You see a green sheet by the bedside indicating the patient has a surgical tracheostomy that is around 6 weeks old, with a cuff and inner tube.