Nebulizers are common medical devices used to administer medication to the airways and are also used to help keep the airways clear. People with respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis, COPD and asthma often use nebulizers. Additionally, nebulizers are also excellent devices to use for people who have a tracheostomy. Join me this week as I discuss some basic techniques to using a nebulizer, and I will share some tips and tricks I have learned. #lifewithavent #nebulizer #medicalsupplies
Nebulizers are common medical devices used to administer medication to the airways and are also used to help keep the airways clear people with respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis copd and asthma often use nebulizers additionally nebulizers are excellent devices to use for people who have a tracheostomy join me this week as i discuss some basic techniques
To using a nebulizer and i will share some tips and tricks i have learned along the way a nebulizer is a small device which uses compressed air to deliver medicine or sailing in the form of an inhaled mist into the airways the delivery system can be via inhalation through the mouth or via tracheostomy tube some of the most common medicines used in the nebulizer
Are albuterol ipotropium acetyl cysteine and tobomyosin for people who have a tracheostomy and use a ventilator saline is frequently used saline will help loosen the mucus and break it up this will help keep your airways from developing a mucous plug when you receive a nebulizer it’ll most likely arrive in a box there will be several different parts there will
Be a compressor nebulizer canister plastic tubing a mouthpiece a t-adapter and a straight piece of plastic tubing called reservoir tubing to assemble the nebulizer connect the plastic tubing to the compressor take the other end of the plastic tubing and connect it to the bottom of the nebulizer canister next twist on the t adapter if you’re going to be using
The nebulizer orally you’re going to want to twist on the mouthpiece next you’re going to attach the reservoir tubing to the other side and now it’s assembled for use in the mouth to assemble the nebulizer for use with a ventilator connect the plastic tubing to the compressor next take the other end of the plastic tubing and connect it to the end of the canister
Next you’re going to twist on the t-adapter once the t-adapter is on there then you’re going to connect this to your ventilator tubing the t-adapter comes in two basic forms one t-adapter is the same size at both ends if this is how your t-adapter looks you will need to attach the reservoir tubing simply attach the rest of our tubing now you can attach this tubing
To the exhalation valve connect the exhalation valve to the rest of our tubing and connect the rest of the tubing to the t adapter now you simply have to insert the nebulizer canister and you can now nebulize if your t adapter has one small end and one large end you will be able to connect the t adapter directly to your ventilator tubing the large end which is
This side will connect into your exhalation tube the smaller end will connect into the rest of the tubing now you simply attach the nebulizer canister and you can nebulize there is also another t adapter called a valve t adapter on the valve t adapter the end which connects the nebulizer has a valve when this valve is not activated this prevents any air from
Leaking out from the tubing once you want to nebulize you simply push up on the valve now the spring is activated and now all the nebulized solution can freely flow into the tubing when you’re done nebulizing you simply disconnect the tubing and the valve springs shut also to prevent any air from leaking you can also snap shut this plastic safety cap simply
Snap it on and now you don’t have to worry about any air leaking out when you’re not using the nebulizer once you have the nebulizer assembled you’ll want to fill the nebulizer canister with either medication or saline your medication will come in a small plastic container like this your saline may also come in a similar container you can also use new nebulizer
A saline flush once you have your medication or saline you’re going to want to twist off the t-adapter squirt the solution into the canister once you have done that twist back on the t-adapter if you’re going to be using the nebulizer via mouth you’re going to want to twist on the mouthpiece once this is on turn on the nebulizer place the mouthpiece into your
Mouth and start breathing normally if you’re going to be using the nebulizer with a ventilator connect the t adapter to your air hose i have found the best place to connect it is between the exhalation valve and the connecting tubing simply connect like that now turn on your nebulizer and start breathing normally although you can place the nebulizer anywhere
On your ventilator tubing i have found it is best to place the nebulizer as close to the tracheostomy tube as possible the less distance the solution has to travel means more of the solution will get into your airways i have had many respiratory therapists attach the nebulizer to the air filter on my ventilator i do not like this setup as then the medication or
Saline is blown into my water chamber the water absorbs some of the nebulized solution the nebulized solution also gets your air hose dirty the farther the nebulized solution has to travel the more the nebulized solution can attach to your ventilator tubing instead of being inhaled i found a good place to connect the nebulizer tubing is at the exhalation valve if
This setup does not work for your equipment try a different place on the ventilator which is near the tracheostomy tube when the canister is empty turn off the nebulizer take the mouthpiece out of your mouth or disconnect the t-adapter with the canister from your ventilator tubing many times when you’re done using the nebulizer you will have mucus in your airways
If you can still cough take a napkin and cough the mucous into the napkin if you have a tracheostomy tube and cannot cough up the mucus use a suction machine and suction the airways for more information about suctioning please watch my video have a trach invent info you need to know i have found the best time of day to use a nebulizer is right before you go
To bed and right when you wake up in the morning if you have specific times to take your medication please do so but if you’re using the nebulizer to run saline to loosen up the mucus in your airways bedtime and when you first wake up are the times when the mucus will be the most bothersome nebulizing and suctioning at these times will help keep the airways clear
And prevent complications when using the nebulizer if it is possible lean forward leaning forward will help open up your airways this will help get the medicine and saline better into your airways when using the nebulizer keep the canister straight up and down if you turn or flip the canister the solution will leak right out this will cause the solution to spill
Out onto the floor or if you’re using a ventilator this will cause the solution to drain into your air hose the nebulizer compressor vibrates as it works to take room air and make it high pressure for this reason it is very important to place your compressor on a flat sturdy surface if the surface where you place the compressor is not flat the compressor will
Slide off once it is turned on also it is important to place the compressor on a sturdy item such as a bedside table or the floor the vibrations produced by the compressor may cause a lightweight item such as a box to flip over do not use more than five milliliters of solution in the nebulizer the medicine you receive in these plastic vials will come in either
Three milliliters or five milliliters if you’re using saline it may come in five milliliters but it also may be contained in larger containers such as this which contain up to 15 milliliters of solution if you’re going to be using a saline flush these flushes contain 10 milliliters of solution placing too much liquid in the nebulizer will cause a lot of stress
On the nebulizer it will take longer for the solution to become a mist it will also shorten the life of your nebulizer if you need to nebulize more than five milliliters of solution place five milliliters in the canister and let the nebulizer run when the canister is nearly empty place another five milliliters of the solution in the canister if you have a cuff
On your tracheostomy tube inflate the cuff when using the nebulizer this will prevent the nebulized solution from escaping out your nose and mouth thank you so much for joining me please remember to like and subscribe down below i hope you have a great day and a wonderful week bye
Transcribed from video
Have a Nebulizer? Info you NEED to know! Life with a Vent By Life with a Vent
