Christopher Hartnick, MD and Kevin Callans, RN Pediatric ENT at MGHfC/MEEI
An MD provides overview of conditions when a trach would be considered
A pediatric ENT surgeon provides overview of conditions when a trach would be considered: is it because the child would stop breathing altogether or because the child struggles when breathing; and discusses it in the context of quality of life.
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An MD provides overview of conditions when a trach would be considered
Trach: the outcome for the child, outcome for the parents. The two parents aren’t always on the same page.
An MD describes trach surgery and immediate post-op
A nurse: The hardest part about caring for a child at home with a trach is that it’s 24/7
Considering a trach: The parents’ threshold to -- see their child struggle breathing; to manage the trach.
Decision-Making: the gift of time to figure out what your child needs and what you can handle. (CPAP vs Trach)
Googling images of babies with trachs – Can I imagine that for my child?
A mom to medical providers: “For you, you do it all day long. For us, our world just got turned upside down.”
Shared Decision-Making: Parent and Provider (Trach)
Decision-making re Trach: CPAP and doing everything possible not to get a trach for our daughter.
A mom on every night with the CPAP (not Trach): parents learn what they can tolerate.
Apnea, aspiration: Suddenly learning my baby is having trouble breathing, and we don’t know why