Trach questions

Mom received her liver almost 2 weeks ago, and is still in the ICU on the ventilator. They tried to take the breathing tube out once last week, but at the end of the day, the dr. thought it was still too hard for mom to breath on her own, and she had to use a lot of energy and that she was still too weak, so the put the breathing tube back in. They said they are going to try to take it out again in a few more days, with the hopes that her body is a bit stronger. If not, they are scheduling a Tracheostomy to be performed next week.

The dr. said it will only be temporary, 1-2 months, and that many patients recover faster and better with it. But looking up all the info online, I feel a little anxious. It looks like you can't talk with a trach, and have to re-learn how to speak normally. Do people with trachs "sound" normal (i.e. will her voice be the same)? How long does it take them to learn this? It seems like another thing we're going to have to worry about cleaning/maintaining once she goes home (one of these days). Mom is very alert, her liver is doing great, but her body is just so weak because she was so weak when she got transplanted (had been in the hospital a month at that point).

Either way, it will be great to hear mom's voice after not for so long, but I don't want her, or more likely, my dad to be freaked out. Any info would be appreciated! I know there's really no other options at this point, but I just like to be prepared to know what to expect as the drs. always seem to gloss it over.

TIA!

Hopesprings, they want to get her off the ventilator because the longer one is on it, the harder it is to wean from it.  For her to speak with the tracheostomy, she would need some training in how to do so.  Essentially, she would have to cover the hole in her throat when she speaks.  Her voice would sound the same, though maybe a little hoarse at first from the vent tube.  Patients with a trach have to be suctioned regularly as mucus collects.  They can also develop a mucus plug which cuts off oxygen and is potentially fatal.  A family member can be taught to do the suctioning, but in the beginning they will probably have a visiting nurse do it.  There is also risk of infection.

The best case scenario would be for her to be able to get off the vent before going home and being able to breathe on her own.  If that fails and it's the only thing keeping her in the hospital, they will likely want to do the tracheostomy.

Hope this helps a little.

Hugs,

Connie