23
EN
VIII. DIRECTIONS FOR TUBE INSERTION AND REMOVAL
For the Doctor/Physician
The appropriate tracheostomy tube must be selected by a doctor/physician or trained medical
professionals.
Select a tube that fits the patient’s anatomy to optimise comfort and ventilation (breathing in
and out).
The inner cannula can be removed at any time to increase air supply or for cleaning. This can
for instance be necessary if the cannula is clogged up with secretion residues which cannot be
removed by coughing or because no equipment for suctioning off the secretions is available.
For the Patient
CAUTION!
Only insert the tracheostomy tube with the cuff in fully deflated condition
(see picture 7a)!
CAUTION!
Carefully examine the sterile packaging to ensure that it has not been tampered with or
damaged. Do not use the product if the packaging has been damaged.
Check the use-by or expiry date. Do not use after this date.
It is advisable to use sterile disposable gloves.
Carefully examine the tube before first use to make sure that it is not damaged and that there
are no loose parts.
Should you notice any anomaly or anything unusual, DO NOT use the tube. Return the tube to
the manufacturer for inspection.
The tube must always be cleaned and, if necessary, disinfected as follows before re-inserting
according to the instructions provided below.
If secretion collects in the lumen of the Fahl
®
tracheostomy tube or stoma button and cannot be
removed by coughing or aspiration, the tube should be removed and cleaned.
After cleaning and/or disinfection, carefully examine the Fahl
®
tracheostomy tube for sharp
edges, cracks, or other signs of damage, since these may impair function and/or injure the
mucus membranes in the airways.
Never under any circumstances continue using damaged tracheostomy tubes.
WARNING
Patients must be briefed by trained medical professionals in the safe use of the Fahl
®
tracheostomy tubes.
1. Insertion of the tube
Step-by-step instructions to insert Fahl
®
tracheostomy tubes.
Before application, users should clean their hands (see picture 3).
Remove tube from the package (see picture 4).
If an obturator is to be used, this must first be fully inserted into the cannula tube so that the
collar on the gripping piece of the obturator comes into contact with the outer edge of the 15
mm connector and the tip of the olive projects beyond the tip of the cannula (proximal end of
cannula). The obturator must be held in this position during the entire procedure.
When using tracheostomy tubes with low-pressure cuff, pay special attention to the
following points:
Before inserting the tracheostomy tube, check the cuff (balloon) as well - it must be free of
damages of any kind and must be leakproof so as to ensure tight sealing as required. We
therefore recommend to perform a leakproofness test prior to every insertion (see Section VII,
No. 3.1.1). The balloon must be emptied completely prior to insertion of the tracheostomy tube
(see picture 7b)! When using an aid for dilating the tracheostoma, take care to ensure that the
tracheostomy tube, and especially the cuff, is not damaged by friction.
Next, push a tracheal compress, e.g.
SENSOTRACH
®
DUO (REF 30608) or
SENSOTRACH
®
3-Plus (REF 30780), onto the tracheostomy tube.
To facilitate insertion of the tracheostomy tube, it is advisable to lubricate the outer tube by
wiping it with an OPTIFLUID
®
stoma oil wipe (REF 31550) which allows the stoma oil to be
applied evenly to the whole surface of the tube (see picture 4a and 4b).
