Tracheotomy and Mechanical Ventilation

What you'll learn

Course overview

Patients with respiratory failure and distress are now surviving with the help of medical advances including tracheostomy tubes and mechanical ventilation. At the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Neb., we accept patients with tracheostomy tubes; in this 185-bed inpatient hospital, the number of patients who require a tracheostomy tube or mechanical ventilation has increased 19% over the last five years. Between July 2007 and June 2008, 188 patients were admitted with tracheostomy tubes, 116 of whom required mechanical ventilation during part or all of their stay. While some acute rehabilitation hospitals do not accept vents, our hospital has a unique program in which we work on trach and vent weaning.