Published online Sep 6, 2025. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i25.108124
Revised: April 26, 2025
Accepted: May 27, 2025
Published online: September 6, 2025
Processing time: 91 Days and 21.8 Hours
Patients with schizophrenia may lack awareness of the importance of post-tracheotomy care due to the impact of their condition, often showing resistance or misunderstanding of care measures. When coupled with the impact of negative symptoms and the risk of complications after tracheotomy, patients may experience emotional fluctuations, restlessness, anxiety, and hostile behaviors, which pose significant challenges to nursing work.
We have reported the case of an 87-year-old male patient who was admitted to the hospital because of negative symptoms of schizophrenia and who underwent tracheotomy for severe pneumonia. In this study, we have summarized the nursing experience of a patient with negative symptoms of schizophrenia who underwent tracheotomy. The key nursing strategies included proper tracheotomy care, the management of psychiatric symptoms, a thorough assessment and implementation of enteral and parenteral nutrition, effective skincare, infection prevention, and comprehensive mental care. Individualized nursing skills helped stabilize the patient’s condition, followed by isolation and observation in a psychiatric hospital.
Effective postoperative tracheostomy care in patients with schizophrenia necessitates a tailored, multidisciplinary approach that addresses their psychiatric, physical, and emotional needs to achieve optimal clinical outcomes.
Core Tip: Managing postoperative tracheostomy care in elderly patients with chronic schizophrenia, particularly those presenting with negative symptoms and multiple comorbidities, presents significant clinical challenges. This case report discusses an 87-year-old man with a 63-year history of schizophrenia, complicated by pneumonia and other health issues, who exhibited persistent low mood and restlessness after undergoing a tracheostomy. We present novel clinical strategies and practical care approaches designed to support nursing staff in psychiatric settings. The involvement of a multidisciplinary care team and comprehensive risk assessments are essential for enhancing patient outcomes and experiences in similar complex cases. This report underscores the importance of specialized, integrative care in managing postoperative recovery in older adults with long-standing schizophrenia.