Monday, 18 July 2016

Dealing With Intermittent Aspirations Of Subglottic Secretions

By Joseph Nelson


Everyone is responsible for ensuring that their health is not compromised. However, no one can go through life without suffering from one medical condition or the other. In such a case, the best health care should be accorded. ICU Patients are at risk of intermittent aspirations of subglottic secretions.

The intensive care unit is meant for patients who are critical. However, the use of machines can lead to nosocomial infections. The cost of care will go up if this happens. Secretions might accumulate at the endotracheal tube for patients who are using ventilators.

Use of the machines intermittently is one way of reducing the risk of aspirating the secretions. There are other alternatives but they are only possible if there are adequate equipment and competent staff in the hospital. Without this then it will be very difficult to implement the strategies. The doctors have the final say when it comes to the method to use.

Before you take your loved ones to the hospital, check the unit out to ensure that it is clean. Remember that the risk of infection will be heightened in dirty places. Some people have to spend weeks and even months in the unit and it will be unfortunate if they are not receiving the best care. Succumbing to death will be more likely. You cannot gamble about the health of a person you care about deeply.

The procedures which are involved in preventing aspiration of the secretions are involving. Therefore, they do not come cheaply. Medical insurance cover can go a long way in giving you peace of mind as far as the cost is involved. Thus, you should not let it expire. Few firms will be willing to take you in when you go to them after disaster has already struck.

You can select the team that will be responsible for treating the sick person. You will not be helping the patient by making random selections. Interview and vet the team so as to ascertain their competency in dealing with the particular condition. You cannot entrust the patient to people who are always in scandals.

It is your duty to be involved actively in the care process to ensure that your loved ones get the best care possible. When you believe all that the doctors and other professionals in the health sector tell you without conducting further research to confirm that it is true then you will not be doing justice to the sick person. When you have the facts at hand then you will be able to note when some items are left out.

It is good to offer the necessary support to the team of professionals taking care of the patient. At times, it might be very difficult for the health practitioners to serve the patient because the relatives or colleagues are not cooperative. Wasting time trying to argue with them on issues which are not relevant will hurt the patient. When you provide a conducive environment for them to do their work then the results will be better.




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