Intended audience: SLP

Level: Intermediate

Date: Wednesday, October 2^nd, 2024

Check in time: 3:45-4 pm

Course time: 4-6 pm

Location: Live Webinar via TEAMS

Contact hours: 2.0

 

Early tracheostomy placement is becoming more prevalent for managing patients with prolonged respiratory failure. Not only does placement of tracheostomy tubes facilitate long-term ventilator weaning, but it also improves the patient's ability to communicate effectively and can provide a means to return to safe oral intake. Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) play a key role in restoring communication and managing dysphagia for tracheostomized patients. This course will review the indications for a tracheostomy, components of a tracheostomy, options for communication with a tracheostomy, swallowing considerations, and decannulation guidelines. Also, this course will review the various ventilator modes, parameters for speaking valve use with a ventilator, and importance of instrumental swallow studies for patients requiring tracheostomies that are ventilator dependent. The overall goal of this course is to advance SLP’s understanding of tracheostomy placement throughout the continuum of care until tracheostomy decannulation.

Laura Markstrom is a Speech Language Pathologist with nearly eight years of clinical experience who has worked in acute care in both the south and central MHealth Fairview regions. She is a clinical specialist in the areas of tracheostomy and ventilatory dependence and is passionate about expanding her knowledge of this unique population. She is an advocate for collaboration across interdisciplinary groups and strives to create a positive learning environment to achieve patient-centered goals.

Financial disclosure: Laura has no financial disclosures to disclose.

Non-Financial: Laura has no non-financial disclosures to disclose.

 

• Describe indications for tracheostomy placement and possible complications
• Summarize various communication options for tracheostomized patients
• Identify evidence-based assessments and treatment of dysphagia for tracheostomized patients
• Summarize indications for tracheostomy capping and decannulation
• Define common ventilator settings and their implications on speech and swallowing
• Describe ways to determine candidacy and initiate an in-line speaking valve evaluation

Introduction & basics of tracheostomy placement, parts, and styles (20 minutes)

Restoring communication (15 minutes)

Tracheostomy capping and decannulation (10 minutes)

Swallowing considerations for tracheostomy patients without ventilator support (20 minutes)

Ventilator modes (15 minutes)

Process for evaluating PMSV use while requiring ventilator support (20 minutes)

Swallowing considerations for tracheostomy patients requiring ventilator support (20 minutes)