VI. USE OF THE PMVs WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF
TRACHEOSTOMY TUBES
There are several manufacturers of tracheostomy tubes; however there
are only a few different types or designs of tubes made. Most of these
types of tubes can be used with a PMV
®
.
WARNING: PMV
S
USED WITH FOAM FILLED CUFFED TRACHEOSTOMY
TUBES ARE CONTRAINDICATED (AS DESCRIBED IN #7, FOAM FILLED CUFFED
TRACHEOSTOMY TUBES, ON PAGE 27).
The types of tracheostomy tubes most commonly used are as follows
1.
Cuffed Tracheostomy Tubes (Figs. 12 and 13.1)
you will breathe only through your tracheostomy tube.
Before the PMV is placed, the cuff
must
be
completely
deflated
Placement of the PMV,
WARNING : TRACHEOSTOMY TUBE CUFF MUST BE
COMPLETELY DEFLATED
BEFORE PLACING THE PMV. AN INFLATED CUFF WILL BLOCK THE SPACE IN
THE AIRWAY AROUND THE TRACHEOSTOMY TUBE AND PREVENT THE PMV
USER FROM EXHALING. PMV USER WILL BE UNABLE TO BREATHE IF CUFF
IS NOT
COMPLETELY DEFLATED
TO ALLOW AIR TO BE EXHALED AROUND
THE TRACHEOSTOMY TUBE AND OUT OF THE MOUTH AND NOSE.
Fig. 12 Cuffed tracheostomy tube with cuff inflated
“When I first started using the PMV on the ventilator, the feeling of the
airflow in my throat, nose and mouth was the hardest adjustment to make.
It felt like a hurricane blowing through my head. However, by taking it
slowly and wearing the PMV 1/2 hour at a time, it became comfortable.
I wear it all day now and I don’t even notice it is there. It’s like learning
to wear contact lenses. The PMV gives me the volume and continuity
of speech that I need as a public speaker and teacher and has helped to
reduce my suctioning needs. I couldn’t get this any other way. The key
is to just do it a little at a time until you get used to it, then before you
know it, it becomes a part of you.”
Jack Rushton
Spinal Cord Injury
Ventilator Dependent
Tustin, CA
Lifetime of the PMV
®
Each PMV is guaranteed to last for a minimum of two months.
Lifetime cannot be guaranteed if the PMV is not cleaned or used
properly. Due to conditions of use and maintenance beyond the control
of the manufacturer, if the PMV should become sticky, noisy or vibrate
before or after two months, the PMV should be replaced. The PMV can
continue to be used beyond the two month period as long as it doesn’t
become sticky, noisy, vibrate, cause difficulty during inhalation or any
other problems.
