Resources

E-LEARNING MODULES

• These free interactive e-learning modules with videos and knowledge quizzes have been designed for health professionals.

• The time to complete all 4 of the following e-learning modules equates to 3 hours CPD.  Please note that TRAMS is not a registered training organisation.  Therefore certificates of completion are not provided.

• Austin Health staff members only:  please access the e-learning modules via ATLAS to enable a record of completion.

• • Introduction to tracheostomy

• • Routine tracheostomy care

• • Decannulation

• • Tracheostomy Emergency Management

VIDEOS

• PMV in-line with ventilator

• Ventilator Adjusted Leak Speech

Policy and Procedures

• Management of Patients with Tracheostomy at Austin Health
• Changing a Tracheostomy Tube
• Emergency Response to Accidental Decannulation
• Humidification of Inspired Gases in Patients with Tracheostomy
• Management of patients with a minitracheostomy
• Mandatory Tracheostomy Equipment & Emergency Management Poster
• Planned Tracheostomy Decannulation Procedure
• Recognising and Managing a Blocked Tracheostomy Tube
• Suctioning via the Tracheostomy
• The Portex Suctionaid Tracheostomy Tube
• Tracheostomy cuff management
• Tracheostomy related bleeding
• Tracheostomy Stoma Care
• Use of Heat and Moisture Exchangers (HMEs)
• Use of Passy-Muir Valve (PMV) in Spontaneously Breathing Patients
• Montgomery Cannula
• Tracheostomy Care Changes In Response To Suspected or Confirmed Covid-19

Clinical instruction sheets and posters

• Portex Suctionaid & Blue-Line Ultra Tracheostomy Tubes
• Portex UniPerc Adjustable Flange Tracheostomy Tube
• Schedule of Passy-Muir Valve (PMV) Use in Spontaneously Breathing Patients
• Use of Bivona Tight To Shaft (TTS) Tracheostomy Tube
• Use of Bivona Aire-Cuf Tracheostomy Tube
• Tracoe Smart Cuff Manager Tracheostomy Cuff Management Device
• Above Cuff Voicing
• Passy Muir Valve (PMV) in-line with Ventilator

Tracheostomy Size Comparison Tools

• Download TRAMS Tracheostomy Sizing Chart
• Useful link from www.tracheostomyeducation.com   Tracheostomy Sizes and Comparison Tool

Emergency tracheostomy management poster

• Download The Emergency Tracheostomy Management Poster

Accompanying publications:

• Graham JM, Fisher CM, Cameron TS, Streader TG, Warrillow SJ, Chao C, Chong CK, Ellard L, Hamoline JL, McMurray KA, Phillips DJ. Emergency tracheostomy management cognitive aid. Anaesthesia and intensive care. 2021 Apr 22:0310057X21989722.
• Australian and New Zealand College of Anaethetists (ANZCA) Bulletin April 2024 Article on Safety & quality “Tracheostomy Emergency Cognitive Aid“

Research Posters

• Voicing on Ventilation: Communication Options for Invasively Ventilated Patients
• Silver nitrate for management of persistent tracheocutaneous fistula
• A Multifaceted Tracheostomy Decannulation Pathway Facilitates Successful Decannulation

GTC webinar series featuring trams (watch the free recordings)

• Safety & Tracheostomy: Understanding risks and optimizing care

• Tracheostomy 101 Fundamentals (February 3, 2023)

• Telehealth Innovations – Best Practices and Emerging Paradigms for COVID-19 and Beyond (October 3, 2020)

• Innovative Approaches to Tracheostomy Education of Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 (August 28, 2020)
• Navigating Public Health Crises for Individuals and Families Living with Tracheostomy: COVID-19 and Beyond (May 6, 2020)
• Thriving with a Tracheostomy in the Community (September 27, 2017)
• The Voice of Patients and Families in Tracheostomy Care (May 3, 2017)

• For all GTC Webinar Recordings, click here

Austin health tracheostomy publications/collaborations

• Zaga CJ, Chao C, Cameron T, Ross J, Rautela L, Rollinson TC, Marchingo E, Gregson PA, Warrillow S, Atkins NE, Howard ME. A Multidisciplinary Approach to Verbal Communication Interventions for Mechanically Ventilated Adults With a Tracheostomy. Respiratory Care. 2023 May 1;68(5):680-91.  https://doi.org/10.4187/respcare.10511
• Sweeney DJ, Chao C, Ridgers A, Knee Chong C, Goldblatt J, Seevanayagam S, Howard ME. Silver nitrate therapy for persistent tracheocutaneous fistula following prolonged tracheostomy and invasive ventilation: A case report. Respirology Case Reports. 2022 Nov;10(11):e01049.  http://doi.org/10.1002/rcr2.1049
• Zaga CJ, Sweeney JM, Cameron TS, Campbell MC, Warrillow SJ, Howard ME. Factors associated with short versus prolonged tracheostomy length of cannulation and the relationship between length of cannulation and adverse events. Australian Critical Care. 2022 Sep 1;35(5):535-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2021.09.003
• Zaga CJ, Berney S, Hepworth G, Cameron TS, Baker S, Giddings C, Howard ME, Bellomo R, Vogel AP. Tracheostomy clinical practices and patient outcomes in three tertiary metropolitan hospitals in Australia. Australian Critical Care. 2022 Apr 27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2022.03.002
• Graham JM, Fisher CM, Cameron TS, Streader TG, Warrillow SJ, Chao C, Chong CK, Ellard L, Hamoline JL, McMurray KA, Phillips DJ. Emergency tracheostomy management cognitive aid. Anaesthesia and intensive care. 2021 Apr 22:0310057X21989722.
• Ross, J. High Cervical Lesions. In: Reznik J, Simmons J, editors. Rehabilitation In Spinal Cord Injuries 1st edition. Elsevier Australia; 2021. p 348-371.
• Zaga CJ, Pandian V, Brodsky MB, Wallace S, Cameron TS, Chao C, Orloff LA, Atkins NE, McGrath BA, Lazarus CL, Vogel AP. Speech-language pathology guidance for tracheostomy during the COVID-19 pandemic: an international multidisciplinary perspective. American journal of speech-language pathology. 2020 Aug 4;29(3):1320-34.
• McGrath BA, Wallace S, Lynch J, Bonvento B, Coe B, Owen A, Firn M, Brenner MJ, Edwards E, Finch TL, Cameron T. Improving tracheostomy care in the United Kingdom: results of a guided quality improvement programme in 20 diverse hospitals. British journal of anaesthesia. 2020 Jul 1;125(1):e119-29.
• Brenner MJ, Pandian V, Graham DA, Milliren CE, Zaga C, Morris LL, Bedwell JR, Das P, Zhu H, Allen JL, Peltz A. Global Tracheostomy Collaborative: data-driven improvements in patient safety through multidisciplinary teamwork, standardisation, education, and patient partnership. British journal of anaesthesia. 2020 May 23.
• McGrath BA, Brenner MJ, Warrillow SJ, Pandian V, Arora A, Cameron TS, Añon JM, Martínez GH, Truog RD, Block SD, Lui GC. Tracheostomy in the COVID-19 era: global and multidisciplinary guidance. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 2020 May 15.
• Moorthy R. New Forward: Building the future; how implementation science is revolutionising tracheostomy care Proceedings from the 4th and 5th International Tracheostomy Symposiums.The Otorhinolaryngologist; VOLUME 13 ISSUE 1 2020
• Zaga C, Ross J, Chong CK, Chao C, Atkins N, Campbell M, Sweeney J, Howard M, Cameron T. A multi- faceted tracheostomy decannulation pathway facilitates successful decannulation. Australian Critical Care. 2020 Jan 1;33:S44.
• Ross J, McMurray K, Cameron T, Lanteri C. Use of a Silicon Stoma Stent as an Interim Step in High- Risk Tracheostomy Decannulation. OTO open. 2019 Mar;3(1):2473974X19836432.
• Bedwell JR, Pandian V, Roberson DW, McGrath BA, Cameron TS, Brenner MJ. Multidisciplinary tracheostomy care: how collaboratives drive quality improvement. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2018 Oct 5;52(1):135-47.
• Cameron TS,  McKinstry A, Burt SK, Howard ME,  Bellomo R, Brown DJ,  Ross JM,  Sweeney JM,  O’Donaghue FJ Outcomes of patients with spinal cord injury before and after introduction of an interdisciplinary tracheostomy team. Critical Care and Resuscitation. 2009 Mar;11(1):14. 

Discharge to Community – TRAMS Education Program

Prior to leaving hospital, a person with a tracheostomy and their carers must be adequately equipped with the appropriate knowledge, skills, equipment and care plan to ensure they can be safely cared for in the community.

The TRAMS community tracheostomy discharge and training program consists of a comprehensive two week education and training program prior to discharge. The program is completed by the patient and a core group of carers prior to discharge until the patient is adequately prepared for discharge.

• TRAMS Discharge to Community Program Overview
• Tracheostomy skills assessment form – Cuffless Tube 
• Tracheostomy skills assessment form Cuffed Tube
• Tracheostomy Education Documentation

E-Learning (target audience patients and carers)

2 free interactive e-learning packages with videos have been designed for patients and their carers to learn more about living with a long-term tracheostomy.  These are also accessible on the “For Patients” page.

• Living in the Community with a Long-term Tracheostomy

• Routine Tracheostomy Care

AUSTIN HEALTH PATIENT BLOGS AND MEDIA

• Stand on the Shoulder of Giants: An inspirational blog by Gerard Stevenson outlining his story after sustaining a spinal cord injury
• Mad Grit: Thriving with a tracheostomy: The story of Daisy’s brave journey. You can follow Daisy’s blog, Mad Grit
• The 5th International Tracheostomy Symposium: Read about patient stories that were shared at the 5th ITS
• Josh’s story: Read about Josh regaining his voice and connecting with his family during the COVID-19 pandemic and watch the
  Channels 9 news story
• GTC newsletter June 2020: “Andrew Follows – In Memorium” (page 3)
• GTC Newsletter January 2019: Featuring Sally and Jenny Messer, Gabby Chessels and the TRAMS team Consumer Engagement Award

PATIENT AND FAMILY FORUMS

• Patient and Family Forum 2022
• Patient and Family Forum 2020
• Patient and Family Forum 2018
• Patient and Family Forum 2017

ABOUT YOUR TRACHEOSTOMY

• Patient information brochure