Snots coming out nose?!?

[IzzyB]

So our son would once in awhile have snots come out of his nose. Maybe three times at most a day and many days none at all. Well ever since he has been on the vent it is all the time. It is constantly coming out of his nose and we have to suction his nose out. Which we never did that before, it was so little we would just use a bulb syringe. Has anyone experienced this? We did notice that he needs to be suctioned less down his trach, which is a miracle. Since he would need suctioned 2 to 10 times an hour depending on whether he was awake, asleep, or angry. Now it is about twice an hour on a consistent basis.

[Caleb'sMom]

does your son have a leak around his trach? is his trach uncuffed?

Caleb has a huge leak around his uncuffed trach and often has a snotty nose without any signs of being sick. He often breaths out of his nose. My theory is that the humidity from the vent isn't the exact humidity Caleb's body would provide and so when that humid air comes out his nose it contributes to a snotty nose. Poor Caleb hates the bulb syringe...but I love it!!! It gets rid of all that stuff. The snot is so bad it makes him gag sometimes because it drips in the back of his throat I think. Another joy of the vent.

[jamie]

when Evan is on the vent YES snot comes out his nose, but it is not as bad as when he first got his ventilator/trach

[Big Al]

The vent provides more pressure to breath than the body does on it's own. Pressure that keep secretions form the lungs down, and pushes secretions from the nose out. Oh and don't worry all children hate the blue bulb syringe:D

[IzzyB]

Yes, his trach is uncuffed and there is a small leak. Not too big because the recently up sized him to a 4.0. He does not have humidity, just an HME. So I don't think it could be from that. I am hopeful since one of you stated it is better than it was when you first got the vent that it will get better for our LO too. It is driving our nurses crazy - lol And he was a hard patient to get nurses when they have to suction his trach a lot, and our night nurse says the nose is worse of a pain to do. Great!