Practice Question
A patient that has been intubated for respiratory distress secondary to aspiration pneumonia now requires a tracheostomy. The surgeon wishes to use a fenestrated tracheostomy in order to allow the patient optimal verbal communication. You believe that this is a good choice. True or false
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
True
Rationale:
🔵Fenestrated tracheostomy tubes contain a fenestration (opening) that allows air to pass upward through the vocal cords, enabling verbal communication.
🔵This design allows exhaled air to escape through the upper airway once the inner cannula is removed and the cuff is deflated, supporting speech production.
🔵The patient must be medically stable and able to tolerate cuff deflation before using a fenestrated tube, making this option appropriate for a patient transitioning toward communication.
🔵Fenestrated tubes are commonly used in long-term tracheostomy patients who are expected to regain speech function.
🔵Therefore, a fenestrated tracheostomy is indeed a good choice for promoting communication.
False
🔵Choosing “false” would imply that fenestrated tubes do not help with communication, which is inaccurate.
🔵Fenestration is specifically designed for speech, making this statement incorrect.
🔵The primary clinical purpose of fenestrated tubes is to allow air movement through the vocal cords.
🔵Saying “false” ignores the clear anatomical and functional benefits of fenestrated tubes for communication purposes.
🔵Therefore, this option does not reflect safe or accurate practice.
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This question is from SDAP FALL 25 EXAM2 which contains 34 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: Examplify Exam(s)
- Domain: Medical-Surgical
- Answer Choices: 1