II. Equipment
- Suction Force (lowest vacuum pressure possible)
- Infants <80 mmHg
- Adults <150 mmHg (typically 80-120 mmHg)
- Suction Catheter
- Pediatric Magill forceps
- Used to directly remove foreign bodies in Trauma
III. Indications: Tracheal Suctioning in Ventilated Patients
- Only suction when needed (do not perform routinely on schedule)
- Improves respiratory function by removing airway secretions and aspirates
- Improves oxygenation
- Decreases Intrinsic PEEP (Auto-PEEP, incomplete expiration with risk of stacked breaths)
- Obtain diagnostic samples
IV. Technique: General
- Always monitor Heart Rate when suctioning infants and young children
- Risk of Bradycardia from Vagal Stimulation
- Do not suction while inserting catheter
- Occlude side of catheter only while withdrawing
V. Technique: Endotracheal Tube Suctioning
- Monitor cardiopulmonary status during suctioning
- Provide Procedural Anesthesia and analgesia
- Prevents pain, Agitation and Increased Intracranial Pressure with procedure
- Consider instilling Normal Saline into Endotracheal Tube prior to suctioning
- Included in some protocols (however does not decrease risk of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia)
- Gently insert suction only 1-2 cm beyond ET end (shallow suctioning)
- Avoid deep suctioning (past the ET Tube end until resistance met)
- Suction only while withdrawing catheter
- Rotate the catheter while withdrawing
- Do not suction for >15 seconds (5 seconds per attempt in children)
- Give 100% oxygen before and after suctioning (typically for 1 minute before and after)
- Decreases risk of Dysrhythmias
VI. Adverse Effects
-
Hypoxemia
- Airway obstruction
- Bronchospasm (transient)
- Pain and Agitation
- Increases Tachycardia and risks other Dysrhythmias
- Increases Intracranial Pressure
- Airway Trauma
- Mucosal injury and bleeding
- Infection
VII. References
- Warrington (2017) Crit Dec Emerg Med 31(3): 13
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies
| Concepts | Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure (T061) |
| SnomedCT | 68187007 |
| English | Tracheobronchial suctioning, Tracheobronchial suctioning (procedure) |
| Spanish | aspiración traqueobronquial (procedimiento), aspiración traqueobronquial |
Ontology: Endotracheal tube suction (C0455258)
| Concepts | Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure (T061) |
| SnomedCT | 225715000 |
| English | endotracheal suction tube, endotracheal tube suction, endotracheal suctioning tube, Endotracheal tube suction, Endotracheal tube suction (procedure) |
| Spanish | succión de tubo endotraqueal (procedimiento), succión de tubo endotraqueal |
Ontology: Airway suction technique (C0459504)
| Definition (NIC) | Removal of airway secretions by inserting a suction catheter into the patient's oral airway and/or trachea |
| Concepts | Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure (T061) |
| SnomedCT | 230040009 |
| English | Airway Suctioning, airway suction, airway suctioning, Airway suction technique, Airway suctioning, Airway suction technique (procedure) |
| Spanish | técnica de succión de vía aérea (procedimiento), técnica de succión de vía aérea |
Ontology: Tracheal aspiration (C1535528)
| Concepts | Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure (T061) , Diagnostic Procedure (T060) |
| SnomedCT | 129112001, 69126007 |
| Italian | Aspirazione tracheale, Aspirazione della trachea |
| Dutch | luchtpijp aspiratie, aspiratie luchtpijp |
| French | Aspiration trachéale, Ponction transtrachéale |
| German | tracheale Aspiration, Aspiration der Luftroehre |
| Japanese | 気管吸引, ｷｶﾝｷｭｳｲﾝ |
| Czech | Aspirace z trachey, Aspirace z trachei |
| English | Aspiration tracheal, tracheal suction, aspiration trachea, suctioning tracheal, tracheal aspiration, suction tracheal, Tracheal suction, Aspiration from trachea (procedure), Aspiration from trachea, Aspiration of trachea, NOS, Tracheal aspiration, NOS, Tracheal aspiration |
| Hungarian | Trachealis aspiratio, Trachea aspiratio |
| Spanish | aspiración de la tráquea (procedimiento), aspiración de la tráquea, Aspiración traqueal |
| Portuguese | Aspiração traqueal |
