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Published on: March 15, 2024
Tracheostomy home care: in a resource-limited setting
A Vanker1, S Kling, J R Booysen
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Children's Hospital, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa. aneesa@sun.ac.za
Introduction:
Home tracheostomy care for children in South Africa dates back to 1989.
Objective:
This study aimed to describe the tracheostomy home programme at Tygerberg Children's Hospital (TCH), situated in a resource-limited setting in Cape Town, South Africa.
Design:
Retrospective descriptive study.
Setting:
Tracheostomy home programme at TCH. The primary care giver is trained by nurses.
Results:
Fifty-six children (29 girls) were discharged to the home programme (47 to home and 9 to institutions). The median age at tracheostomy was 3 months, mainly for airway obstruction. The mean duration of home care was 26.6 months. Twenty-seven children (43%) were successfully decannulated. Seven children lived in informal housing. The 56 children generated 745 social work contacts. The overall survival was 82%.
Conclusion:
Children with tracheostomies can be safely cared for at home, even in a resource-constrained environment, provided training, appropriate technology and social support services are available.
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