Context
Tracheostomy-related emergencies are rarely encountered in the emergency department but carry high morbidity and mortality.2 A lack of familiarity and exposure means emergency department practitioners should become well-drilled in the initial steps required to assess and stabilise these patients, pending the arrival of colleagues who can provide more advanced airway support.
The National Tracheostomy Safety Project (NTSP) is a collaboration that has produced extensive guidance and resources regarding the management of patients with tracheostomies. These materials are readily available on the website www.tracheostomy.org.uk and can be used or adapted for use in clinical settings where tracheostomy patients are being treated.
Learning bite
Emergency medicine doctors should be prepared for how they would manage a tracheostomy-related emergency.