title: Speaking Tracheostomy Tube and Modified Mouthstick Stylus in a Ventilator-Dependent Patient with Spinal Cord Injury.
abstract: Communication is a serious problem for patients with ventilator-dependent tetraplegia. A 73-year-old man was presented at the emergency room in cardiopulmonary arrest after falling from a height of 2 m. After successful resuscitation, fractures of the cervical spine and cervical spinal cord injury were found. Due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles, a mechanical ventilator with a tracheostomy tube was required. First, a cuffed tracheostomy tube and a speaking tracheostomy tube were inserted, and humidified oxygen was introduced via the suction line. Using these tubes, the patient could produce speech sounds, but use was limited to 10 min due to discomfort. Second, a mouthstick stylus, fixed on a mouthpiece that fits over the maxillary teeth, was used. The patient used both a communication board and a touch screen device with this mouthstick stylus. The speaking tracheostomy tube and mouthstick stylus greatly improved his ability to communicate.
authors.affiliation: Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Oncology, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan ; Emergency and Critical Care Center, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mitate
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Critical Care Center, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Therapy for Chronic Kidney Disease, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueki
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Critical Care Center, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Rumi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Special Patient Oral Care Unit, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Critical Care Center, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Momii
authors.affiliation: Cerebrovascular Center, Saga-Ken Medical Centre Koseikan, 400 Oaza Nakabaru, Kasemachi, Saga 840-8571, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugimori
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Critical Care Center, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maehara
authors.affiliation: Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Oncology, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura