Cleaning or changing inner cannula (National Tracheostomy Safety Project)

Tracheostomy tubes often have an inner cannula or inner tube. This is a tube within the outer tube and can be removed and cleaned easily, without having to change the whole (outer) tracheostomy tube. Inner cannulae do narrow the tracheotomy tube which can make it harder to breathe through. This can be a problem if the patient is attached to a ventilator.
Different tracheostomy tubes have different types of inner cannulae, which we explain in this video.