Use with immature or mature tracts

Regular cleaning of your SCOOP catheter helps ensure its proper function.   Cleaning twice daily at 8 am and 4 pm is usual; however; however, your doctor may prescribe more or less frequent cleanings based on your symptoms.

Review all steps before you begin.

1. Gather the following Materials:
       - nasal cannula
       - cotton-tipped applicators
       - mild skin soap (e.g. Ivory bar soap)
       - antibacterial soap (e.g. Hibiclens or PhisoHex)
       - sterile saline (e.g. 3 ml saline vials or Blairex)
       - clean, disposable latex or vinyl gloves
2. Wash your hands and position yourself in front of a mirror with good lighting.
3. Put on a nasal cannula, disconnect the SCOOP oxygen hose from the catheter, and connect the oxygen to the nasal cannula.  Adjust the oxygen flow rate to the prescribed nasal cannula rate.
4. Use a cotton-tipped applicator and mild skin soap to clean mucus crusts from around your tract opening.  Blot the area dry with tissue.
5. Put on clean, disposable gloves.
6. Wash the cleaning rod with antibacterial soap.  Rinse it under running water to completely remove all soap residue.
7. Squirt about 1 1/2 ml sterile saline into the catheter (two squirts of Blairex canister).  The squirt of saline may cause coughing.
8. Run the cleaning rod down the inside of the catheter three times - all the way to the handle at the end.
9. Squirt another 1 1/2 ml of sterile saline (remainder of Dey-Vial or two squirts of Blairex canister) into the catheter.
10. Reconnect the SCOOP oxygen hose to both the oxygen source and your catheter and return to your SCOOP resting flow rate.  Remove the nasal cannula.   Check to be sure that the SCOOP label on the catheter is upright and readable.
    
11. Wash the cleaning rod with antibacterial soap and store it in a clean, dry place.

Clean mucus from tract opening.	Squirt saline into catheter.
Run cleaning rod down catheter 3 times.	Be sure "SCOOP" label is upright and readable.

Patient Precautions

1. Do not remove or reinsert your SCOOP catheter while your tract is immature (not fully healed) without the assistance of your doctor.
2. Although a SCOOP catheter may be cleaned in place, it may also be removed periodically for cleaning (see Removal for Cleaning)
3. A new cough or increasing shortness of breath in the first few days or weeks of transtracheal oxygen with cleaning in place may be caused by a mucus ball adherent to the catheter.   If you think you may have a mucus ball, call your doctor for assistance.
4. Also call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following problems:
   - SCOOP catheter comes out before the tract is mature (fully healed)
   - increasing cough or sputum
   - increasing shortness of breath
   - blueness of the lips or fingernails
   - extreme nervousness
   - redness, swelling or pain at the tract opening
   - fever > 99.5 degrees
5. Read and memorize the Ten SCOOP Rules below.
6. Replace SCOOP catheters and hoses every three months.   Beyond three months the plastics may begin to yellow and become brittle.  Any SCOOP product which is brittle, cracked, broken, kinked or develops a yellow-brownish discoloration should be immediately replaced.  You should not wait for your doctor or home care provider to remind you to replace your catheters and hose.  Use your SCOOP Patient Record as a replacement reminder by entering the dates when your catheters and hoses are first used.

Ten SCOOP Rules

1. The SCOOP catheter should never be out of your tract for more than a few minutes, or the tract may begin to close.
2. Always keep the SCOOP catheter clean to ensure proper function
3. If you believe the SCOOP catheter isn't working properly, first clean it.   If you still believe the catheter isn't working, put on nasal prongs and call your doctor.  Do not remove the catheter.
4. If your humidifier pop-off is making a noise, clear any hose blockage and clean the SCOOP catheter.
5. The SCOOP catheter must never be removed or inserted while oxygen is flowing through it.
6. Always keep your tract opening clean and dry.  Do not use any antibiotic, ointment or cream around the tract opening..
7. Always keep the SCOOP oxygen hose under your shirt, blouse, t-shirt or pajama top and clipped to the top of your pants, shorts, skirt or pajama bottoms.
8. Don't pull, twist, crush, cut, glue, boil, alter or abuse any SCOOP product.   Treat your SCOOP transtracheal system like a lifeline.
9. Replace SCOOP catheters and hoses routinely every 90 days.   Any SCOOP product that is cracked, broken, develops a permanent kink or foul odor should be immediately replaced and discarded.
10. When traveling, always take catheter cleaning supplies, your nasal prongs and a spare SCOOP catheter and hose with you.