A breathing tube is generally inserted into your trachea through the mouth or nose while you're under anesthesia in preparation for a surgical procedure. In some cases, the tube will take over breathing for you entirely until recovery is underway. Other less invasive surgeries use the breathing tube as a means to control your breathing during the operation so that your body won’t work too hard during operations and cause extra stress on your system. Operations that dictate dietary restrictions after the removal of the breathing tube include tonsillectomies and heart valve replacement surgery, among several others. Upon removal of the breathing tube, your throat and trachea are often sore, so you need to carefully introduce foods and liquids until this soreness fades. Based on the length of time the breathing tube has been in place, the diet will vary accordingly.
Short-term Breathing Tube Care
A tonsillectomy, thyroid surgery, or just a quick stitch-up of a wound are generally considered outpatient procedures that use a breathing tube as a mild anesthetic for a short time -- usually no more than an hour. Upon removal of the tube and subsequent recuperation, there's really no need to change the diet unless it has been prescribed specifically by the doctor. If significant bleeding must be cauterized within the throat region itself, ice chips and frozen items such as Popsicles and ice cream are provided right away to ward off dehydration and reduce internal swelling in your throat.
Using a Breathing Tube Several Hours
Some operations can take several hours. Once you're awake and breathing on your own without the tube, you may notice an uncomfortable soreness in the throat, or the sensation of something actually lodged inside it. This is because the area around the trachea and windpipe have become irritated by the tube. Your diet over the next few days should consist of liquids that are cool or at room temperature. Avoid really hot and sharp foods, such as toast, potato or tortilla chips, and boxed cereals. Cold, soft foods reduce the swelling and cause less pain. Soups served at room temperature provide nourishment and help keep you hydrated. The special diet should only last for a couple of days, until the swelling is down.
Breathing Tube Use for Several Days
Longer-term operations and recuperation, such as for heart or brain surgery, have a longer hospital recovery time. The breathing tube remains inserted for several days or weeks and is attached to a ventilator to assist breathing while your body starts to recover. Once the breathing tube is removed, ice chips are introduced to the infected throat as soon as possible. Depending on your body's progress, you can graduate to clear liquids -- mostly water or consomme, a rich chicken broth -- and then non-clear liquids -- such as soup and nonacidic juices -- until the irritation fades from the throat and your body acclimates to digesting foods on its own. As your condition stabilizes, you will be started on solid soft foods, such as hearty soups, gelatin and pudding. The increase in your ability to accept solid foods is also indicative that the healing process is well on its way.
Other Side Effects After Breathing Tube Removal
Breathing tubes don't only cause irritation and swelling of the throat. In some cases, certain side effects such as edema, internal bleeding, and tracheal perforations can occur. Depending on the side effect, you may be subject to controlled foods to combat the ailment. For internal bleeding, for example, an all-liquid diet along with proper medication, will be prescribed until the bleeding has stopped. For edema and other types of swelling on other parts of the body, ice-cold items such as Popsicles, frozen fruit bars, and plain, natural ice cream will be the norm. For perforations inside the trachea itself, until the holes have healed on their own, a special intravenous diet may be administered to prevent further injury.
