Physicians insert tracheostomy tubes into a patient’s windpipe (trachea) to keep it open and allow for breathing. This is a complex process where they insert the tubes through a hole in the front of the neck. The surface of the tubes must have low friction so they can be inserted smoothly, reducing trauma. Hydrophilic coatings help ensure smooth and safe insertion of the tracheostomy tubes. They can also help to reduce infections related to the procedure.
Tracheostomy is common when a patient relies on long-term use of machines, such as a ventilator, for recovery. It gives rise to healthcare-associated infections. Lubricious, hydrophilic coatings with antimicrobial properties have many benefits in these cases.
In this article we explore the use of hydrophilic coatings for tracheostomy tubes. We will discuss what they are and their benefits. We also cover some of the common complications related to tracheostomy and how hydrophilic coatings can help.
Common Infections Associated with Tracheostomy
The following infections are common with the use of tracheostomy tubes:
1. Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP)
VAP is one of the most common complications related to mechanical ventilation. It can significantly lengthen hospital stays and increase healthcare costs. It develops in patients who are on a ventilator for more than 48 hours.
The VAP is a serious nosocomial infection that can cause death. As per the reports, it affects up to 28% of critically ill patients globally. The incident rates vary between 2 and 16 episodes per 1000 ventilator days.
2. Tracheobronchitis
Biofilm formation along the mucosal lining may affect both the trachea and bronchi. It causes inflammation. This leads to persistent coughing, heavy breathing, and fever among ICU patients.
The frequent movement of the tracheostomy tubes causes microtraumas. It is one of the main reasons leading to microbial colonization and biofilm formation in the tracheal area.
3. Sepsis
Sepsis or bloodstream infections can be life-threatening. According to WHO, there were 11 million deaths worldwide due to bloodstream-related infections in 2020. There were more than 48 million cases.
Tracheostomy tubes may not directly cause sepsis. But, rapid development of infections in the trachea, lungs, and around the stoma can trigger them easily. Regular cleaning of the inner cannula and strict aseptic care during suctioning become crucial in this case.
Introduction to Hydrophilic Coatings For Tracheostomy Tubes
Hydrophilic coatings are a type of surface treatment that modifies the surface of the tube. The term “hydro” means water, and “philic” means affinity or love. As such, these coatings attract water molecules from the surrounding area. When this happens a very lubricious, thin layer of hydrogel forms on the surface of the coated device. The device exhibits a slippery surface with low friction and high wettability. And this allows for easier insertion and movement and also improves patient comfort.
We can formulate these coatings to possess other helpful properties as well. Examples include biocompatibility, being antimicrobial, thromboresistant, and more.
Do you want to learn more about medical-use hydrophilic coatings? Read our in-depth article, Hydrophilic Coatings for Medical Devices: Intro, Benefits & Uses.
Benefits of Using Hydrophilic Coatings for Tracheostomy Tubes
Hydrophilic coatings are the most popular type of surface modification for medical devices. They can help improve the performance of the device. As a result, they can improve the patient’s comfort and reduce the chances of infection.
Here are the main benefits of applying hydrophilic coatings on tracheostomy tubes:
- Improved Insertion of the tubes: Hydrophilic coatings are “slippery-when-wet” surface modifications. They create a layer with low coefficient of friction on the outer surface of the tube. This layer reduces friction and ensures smoother insertion.
- Reduced Risk of Infection: Hydrophilic coatings can be custom formulated with antimicrobial properties. This can reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections related to Tracheostomy Tubes. They prevent microbial adhesion and create a physical barrier that avoids bacterial colonization. Reduced biofilm formation reduces the risk of tracheal infections and VAP.
- Better Mucus Clearance: A critical task of a tracheostomy tube inserted into the windpipe is to keep the airway clear. With hydrophilic coatings, mucus can easily slide off the smooth, hydrated surface. This allows easier suctioning and helps reduce the risk of obstruction.
- Excellent Biocompatibility: Both inflammation and infection are common when tracheostomy tubes are inserted into the human body. Hydrophilic coatings ensure a better interaction between medical device surfaces and tissues. Their main purpose is to prevent tissue abrasion, micro-tears, and protein adsorption.
- Easy Maintenance: Hydrophilic coatings can help improve the overall efficiency of tracheostomy tubes. Hydrophilic tubes are easier to clean. As a result, you don’t need to exchange them frequently.
Hydromer® Hydrophilic Coatings For Tracheostomy Tubes
Infections are a common cause of longer hospital stays and higher healthcare costs. This is true in the case of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. Antimicrobial hydrophilic coatings can improve the performance of infection-prone medical devices. They also play a critical role in reducing healthcare-associated infections.
Hydromer® antimicrobial medical coatings inhibit the growth of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They can prevent the sticking of microbes on the surface of medical devices, such as Tracheostomy Tubes. They also help improve the performance of medical devices, leading to better patient outcomes.
Learn more about how Hydrophilic Antimicrobial Coatings Can Reduce Healthcare Associated Infections.
Why Choose Hydromer For Your Medical Coatings?
Hydromer, Inc. has 40+ years of experience formulating and manufacturing custom, hydrophilic medical coatings. Our focus is on helping you achieve the performance goals of your medical devices.
We do not just sell off-the-shelf products. All our hydrophilic coatings can be custom-formulated to meet your specific product requirements.
Hydromer medical device coatings feature the following highly sought-after attributes:
- Excellent lubricity (reduced device friction)
- Antimicrobial
- Wettability
- Biocompatibility
- Drug-eluting capabilities
- Low particulate
- Enhanced adhesion
- Thromboresistance to reduce blood clotting
- High durability
- Compatibility with a wide range of medical devices and substrates
Full Range of Medical Coating Services
What sets us apart from other coatings manufacturers is our extensive range of contract services. You can lean on our experts to help you no matter what stage of the product development process you are in. Here is a quick list of the support services we offer:
- Research and Development (R&D) services
- Contract coating services
- Worldwide supply of high quality medical coatings
- Specialized Analytical Testing
- Custom Machine Building
- Turn-key Operations
- Technology Transfer Services
Conclusion
Hydrophilic coatings are an integral part of medical devices that are inserted into the human body. Hydrophilic coated tracheostomy tubes can improve device performance and help reduce common infections. The result is better patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs.
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