Post-decann: how do you know the stoma is closed?

[tammy88]

Susan was decannulated just over two weeks ago and her stoma looks closed to us. In fact, there were no secretions coming out of it within 24 hours of the tube coming out, and she has been coughing a lot for a week or so after the decann. We wanted her ENT doc to confirm it (so we can bring her to a pool, etc.) but we could only make a late August appointment. The nurse told us to go to Susan's primary if we want to get the stoma checked but we feel that the ENT doc probably knows better. So I'm hoping for some help here.

I read on previous threads that sometimes kids had a pinhole opening even though the stoma looked closed and required surgical closure. My question is, how do you know there is still a pinhole? Would you still see secretions, or hear sounds? Is it safe to go to the pool or bathe in the tub if there is a pinhole opening?

Thanks!

[New Zealand Trachy]

Hello,

Congratulations. An exciting time!

Our son Charlie was decanned late last year (at 6 mths old). The stoma closed quickly at first and it was really difficult to tell if it had fully closed over. We tried using the back of a spoon and mirrors to confirm if it had closed - e.g. to see the breath forming. We also used a sealed dressing over the stoma and you could see it bubble up as air escaped through the pinhole. Quite difficult to really know.

In the end we needed an ENT check and they found it was not fully closed. We waited until Charlie had his hole surgically closed before we went swimming although were told we could have gone before with a decent dressing. We were less concerned with bathing and Charlie enjoyed deeper baths even before closure. Push your ENT to see if you can get in earlier! Enjoy the first swim.

Good luck.