When you encounter resistance while trying to ventilate a patient with a tracheostomy, what should you do?

When ventilating a patient with a tracheostomy and encountering resistance, it is important to consider the function of the cuff on the tracheostomy tube. The cuff is designed to create a seal within the trachea to prevent aspiration and facilitate effective ventilation. If there is resistance, it may indicate that the cuff is inflated and preventing adequate airflow.

Deflating the cuff allows air to move freely through the tracheostomy tube, which can relieve the resistance you're facing. Once the cuff is deflated, reattempting to ventilate can provide the necessary airflow into the lungs, improving the patient’s oxygenation and ventilatory support.

Addressing the cuff specifically is a standard approach in managing tracheostomy patients and aims to optimize ventilation. In cases where other interventions may not be immediately effective or could pose additional risks, this step is crucial for successful airway management.

Other options, while they may have their own implications, do not address the potential issue of the cuff causing ventilation difficulty as directly.