Giving Your Child Oxygen Through a Tracheostomy or Ventilator
Oxygen is a gas that is important for brain growth, energy and helps the body to work. We breathe in oxygen from the air. The amount of oxygen in the air is 21%. The health care team will tell you if your child needs extra oxygen and how much to give. Extra oxygen may be needed during sleep, play, exercise, or if your child is sick.
There are safety concerns when you have oxygen in use at home. Your Durable Medical Equipment Company (DME) will review these with you.
There are several ways to deliver oxygen. Sometimes one type is used during the day and another type at night. The type of oxygen that is best for your child will be decided before you leave the hospital.
Options include:
Giving oxygen through a tracheostomy tube:
If your child has a tracheostomy tube without a ventilator, the oxygen can be attached to their HME or the speaking valve. It can also be connected to the “t-piece” humidification. When your child is connected to the t-piece, they may need more oxygen than if it is attached right to the trach. This is because there is more air blowing through the tubing and this air dilutes the oxygen. Your respiratory therapist (RT) will show you how to add oxygen to your child’s tracheostomy tube.
Giving oxygen through a ventilator:
If your child has a ventilator, the oxygen is attached to the ventilator. This helps to keep your child’s secretions less dry. Your RT will show you where the oxygen port is on your home ventilator.
Reviewed April 2024 by Amanda Manzi, DNP and Janessa Shainline, MSN, RN