Managing Persistent Cough After Throat Surgery in Elderly Patients
Coughing persistently after surgery? I would like to ask the doctor: My mother underwent major brain surgery previously and later fell into a state of unconsciousness. She had a tracheostomy due to phlegm in her throat and underwent suctioning. After recovering, my mother often c...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Hello: There are many reasons for coughing after tracheostomy. It is necessary to conduct a chest X-ray and bronchoscopy for further evaluation, and then provide targeted treatment to achieve improvement![Read More] Managing Persistent Cough After Throat Surgery in Elderly Patients
Understanding Tracheostomy Concerns in Diabetic Patients in ICU
Concerns about tracheostomy? Hello, the patient’s grandfather has been in the intensive care unit for over four months due to diabetes-related amputations. His mental state fluctuates between good and bad. Recently, the doctors have been suggesting a tracheostomy because there ar...
Dr. Chen Jaming Reply:
In general, if a patient on a ventilator requires intubation for more than two weeks without the possibility of extubation, tracheostomy is recommended. Compared to intubation, the benefits of tracheostomy include increased oral comfort for the patient and a reduction in the risk...[Read More] Understanding Tracheostomy Concerns in Diabetic Patients in ICU
Managing Severe Breathlessness in End-Stage Lung Cancer Patients
End-stage lung cancer - dyspnea Hello Doctor: My father is 80 years old, and cancer cells have metastasized to his head. He is currently on a ventilator (tracheostomy), and recently he has been experiencing shortness of breath 4 to 5 times a day. Each time he has difficulty breat...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Hello: In terminal cancer patients experiencing dyspnea, physicians can use morphine to alleviate anxiety and breathing difficulties. If respiratory depression occurs, it can also help the patient pass away without suffering. The dosage can be adjusted at any time.[Read More] Managing Severe Breathlessness in End-Stage Lung Cancer Patients
Understanding Pneumonia Treatment and Management in Elderly Patients
Regarding pneumonia? Hello Doctor, Patient Status: 80 years old, male, with a history of diabetes managed with insulin, poor kidney function, currently residing in a respiratory care center, and has a tracheostomy. He has been hospitalized for nearly two months, initially admit...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Hello Jason, 1. The treatment for uncomplicated pneumonia typically lasts about 1-2 weeks, but in cases of severe pneumonia, treatment may extend to 6-8 weeks. There is no defined maximum duration, as it depends on the clinical condition, and there is also a possibility of recu...[Read More] Understanding Pneumonia Treatment and Management in Elderly Patients
Understanding the Final Stages of Pneumonia in Elderly Patients with Tracheostomy
Elderly patients with pneumonia who have long-term tracheostomy may ultimately face several complications that can lead to death. These complications can include respiratory failure, recurrent infections, aspiration pneumonia, and other comorbidities such as heart disease or chro...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello EDDY: Here are my personal insights for your reference: 1. All elderly individuals may potentially face acute conditions such as acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, and strokes due to vascular sclerosis and narrowing. 2. Long-term bed rest and the use of ventilators c...[Read More] Understanding the Final Stages of Pneumonia in Elderly Patients with Tracheostomy
Understanding Long-Term Tracheostomy in Elderly Pneumonia Patients: What to Expect
Long-term tracheostomy in elderly patients with pneumonia... ultimately..? I would like to ask about the long-term effects of a tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation in elderly patients with pneumonia, specifically regarding the potential outcomes. Here is the background of the...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Long-term care for patients with tracheostomy using ventilators can be challenging. Elderly individuals often have pre-existing health conditions and compromised immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections. Common complications for bedridden patients include pneumo...[Read More] Understanding Long-Term Tracheostomy in Elderly Pneumonia Patients: What to Expect
Understanding Weaning from Ventilation in ARDS Patients: Key Insights
Please continue to inquire about extubation after ARDS? Hello! I apologize for the intrusion, and I appreciate your previous professional and selfless responses. My father, who was previously consulted regarding pneumonia complicated by ARDS, has been transferred from the ICU to ...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Hello: Based on your description, following pneumonia, there has been the development of pulmonary fibrosis and respiratory failure. Currently, the Respiratory Care Center (RCC) training typically lasts for six weeks, and respiratory therapy will regularly (usually once a week) a...[Read More] Understanding Weaning from Ventilation in ARDS Patients: Key Insights
Understanding PEEP Adjustments and Patient Management in ARDS
Please provide more context or specific information regarding "ARDS" so I can assist you better? Dear Dr. Ke, I have heard that you are not only an excellent physician but also possess great medical ethics. Thank you very much! I would like to ask you again: The pati...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Hello: Based on your description, the patient's critical period has passed, but the decrease in lung capacity and fibrosis following lung injury may take several months to recover. The use of corticosteroids has some therapeutic effect, but the dosage and duration should sti...[Read More] Understanding PEEP Adjustments and Patient Management in ARDS
Navigating End-Stage Pulmonary Fibrosis: Options and Care for Your Loved One
Could you please provide more details about the issue of pulmonary fibrosis? My grandmother is currently 78 years old and resides in Chiayi. Two weeks ago, she went to the hospital's emergency department due to shortness of breath. Since the emergency room did not have suita...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, Yezi: I can understand your attentiveness and filial piety from your detailed description. Here are simple answers to your questions: (1) Severe pulmonary fibrosis significantly lowers the chances of successfully weaning off the ventilator. Even if the first attempt is suc...[Read More] Navigating End-Stage Pulmonary Fibrosis: Options and Care for Your Loved One
Managing Asthma Triggers During Weather Changes: Tips and Strategies
Asthma attacks begin to occur with changes in the weather? Weather changes are the most painful times for me, especially when it's about to rain. I had a tracheostomy at the end of January last year, and it was about 7 to 8 months before it was removed. I still have traces o...
Dr. Qu Changke Reply:
Hello Clementine: Regarding respiratory allergy symptoms caused by external stimuli such as environmental and climatic factors, the primary prevention method is to avoid exposure to allergens. Medications play a supportive role. It is recommended that you visit an outpatient clin...[Read More] Managing Asthma Triggers During Weather Changes: Tips and Strategies
Understanding Tracheostomy: Key Considerations for Comatose Patients
My classmate has been in a coma for a month, and the doctor has recommended a tracheostomy? Hello Doctor: My classmate was in a car accident over a month ago and is still in a coma, although their Glasgow Coma Scale score has improved from 3 to around 9. At that time, due to intr...
Dr. Qu Changke Reply:
Hello Mark: From a physician's perspective, the views are not too polarized. For patients with excessive sputum and altered consciousness, recommending tracheostomy is reasonable. The benefits of tracheostomy include facilitating weaning from mechanical ventilation and impro...[Read More] Understanding Tracheostomy: Key Considerations for Comatose Patients
Understanding Tracheostomy Care and Nutrition for Comatose Patients
excuse me? The 23-year-old female patient has been in a coma for five months following a car accident. She is currently receiving nasogastric feeding and has a tracheostomy (not requiring a ventilator; she can breathe independently with a humidification bottle and is otherwise re...
Dr. Zhuang Ziyi Reply:
1. Conditions for tracheostomy tube removal training: The patient must be conscious and have the ability to cough up secretions. The method for removal training involves occluding the tracheostomy tube with a plug and observing for more than 24 hours for any signs of sputum produ...[Read More] Understanding Tracheostomy Care and Nutrition for Comatose Patients
Is Tracheostomy Necessary for COPD Patients? Understanding the Options
Is it necessary to perform a tracheostomy? Hello Doctor: My father, who is 76 years old, was previously diagnosed with early-stage Parkinson's disease. He was hospitalized in March and April this year due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) leading to asthma. He ...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, every intubated patient has the opportunity to wean off the ventilator. However, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may have poor lung function from the start, which could require a longer period for adjustment and training (the duration is unpredic...[Read More] Is Tracheostomy Necessary for COPD Patients? Understanding the Options
Post-Tracheostomy Care: Addressing Wound Healing and Future Risks
What special considerations should be taken after the wound of a tracheostomy patient has healed? Hello, thank you for your previous response. My mother has had her tracheostomy tube removed for over three months now, and she is recovering well. However, the healing wound on her ...
Dr. Zhuang Ziyi Reply:
Hello: 1. The tracheostomy wound will gradually heal on its own over time, and it is generally covered with a scarf for both aesthetic and practical purposes. 2. It may not necessarily be a complication of the tracheostomy. Older patients often have reduced elasticity in the ...[Read More] Post-Tracheostomy Care: Addressing Wound Healing and Future Risks
Understanding Tracheostomy: Risks, Recovery, and Care Considerations
Tracheostomy transfer to another hospital? My mother (85 years old) has been bedridden for a long time and is semi-conscious, receiving nutrition via a nasogastric tube. Recently, she was admitted to the intensive care unit due to pulmonary secretions and required intubation for ...
Dr. Cai Fushun Reply:
Hello: 1. The risks of surgery must be assessed based on the current situation and cannot be determined solely from written descriptions. 2. Whether or not to rely on a ventilator also depends on the circumstances at that time! 3. According to the regulations of the nursing facil...[Read More] Understanding Tracheostomy: Risks, Recovery, and Care Considerations
Managing Persistent Cough After Tracheostomy: Concerns and Solutions
Persistent coughing after tracheostomy? Hello, my mother underwent a tracheostomy in mid-October, and since then she has been experiencing persistent coughing with phlegm. I understand that tracheostomy patients often have increased secretions, but does this mean they will contin...
Dr. Zhuang Ziyi Reply:
Hello, both normal individuals and patients produce secretions in the respiratory tract daily. The ciliary movement of the respiratory epithelial cells transports these secretions towards the trachea and vocal cords, ultimately leading to them being coughed out or swallowed into ...[Read More] Managing Persistent Cough After Tracheostomy: Concerns and Solutions
Understanding Tracheostomy: Managing Mucus and Breathing Difficulties in Elderly Patients
Tracheostomy My grandfather is 92 years old and was recently admitted to the intensive care unit due to choking on food. The doctors have informed us that they are unable to suction out the mucus from his lungs, and he is also having difficulty breathing on his own. He has been o...
Dr. Zhuang Ziyi Reply:
Reply: Hello, 1. In healthy individuals, the respiratory tract produces a certain amount of mucus daily, which is propelled upward from the deep lung areas to the trachea and even the vocal cords by the cilia on the surface of the respiratory epithelial cells. This mucus can ...[Read More] Understanding Tracheostomy: Managing Mucus and Breathing Difficulties in Elderly Patients
Understanding Lung Issues: Insights on Tracheostomy and Fibrosis
Pulmonary disease issues Hello, Dr. Jian: 1. I underwent a tracheostomy in the intensive care unit of a teaching hospital during the New Year holiday in 2003 due to an emergency. I was on a ventilator for a whole month, then transferred to another ventilator unit where I stayed ...
Dr. Jian Linzhen Reply:
1. Some tracheostomy stomas may heal spontaneously while others may not, and they do not require suturing. 2. Suspect tracheoesophageal fistula. 3. Pulmonary fibrosis leads to decreased lung function. 4. Surgical resection is not necessary, but rehabilitation should be cont...[Read More] Understanding Lung Issues: Insights on Tracheostomy and Fibrosis
Understanding Pneumonia in Parkinson's Patients: Care and Recovery Insights
Pneumonia Hello Doctor, my father has Parkinson's disease and has been bedridden for a long time. He later had a nasogastric tube inserted and is now unable to cough up phlegm on his own, experiencing prolonged fever. He is currently in the intensive care unit requiring mech...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello Ms. Chen, 1. The ability to successfully wean off the ventilator in patients with chronic illness and respiratory failure needs to be assessed by the attending physician. If the evaluation indicates poor ability to breathe independently or excessive sputum production, a tr...[Read More] Understanding Pneumonia in Parkinson's Patients: Care and Recovery Insights
Understanding Thymoma: Treatment Options and Post-Surgery Care
Thymoma Hello Dr. Chang: My father was hospitalized in August due to low hemoglobin levels, and the subsequent examination revealed a thymoma. In fact, the tumor had already formed earlier, and during several previous hospitalizations, he was only given blood transfusions for the...
Dr. Zhang Zhengda Reply:
Dear Friend: It is advisable to check for other potential causes of anemia. Steroids generally do not affect hematopoietic function. Your father's situation seems a bit complex, so I recommend discussing it in detail with the attending physician to thoroughly explore possibl...[Read More] Understanding Thymoma: Treatment Options and Post-Surgery Care