Suctioning
Purposes
• To remove secretions that obstruct the airway
• To facilitate ventilation
• To obtain secretion for diagnosis purposes
• To prevent infection that may result from
accumulated secretions
• To prevent aspiration
Indication
• ‘Noisy’ breathing
• Patients inability to generate an effective
spontaneous cough
• Visible secretions in the airway
• Suspected aspiration of gastric or upper airway
secretions
• clinically apparent increased work of breathing
• Deterioration of arterial blood gases
• Patient requests suctioning
• Low oxygen saturation
• Radiological changes consistent with retention of
pulmonary secretions
Size of the catheter
• Adult : 12Fr to 18Fr
• Children : 8Fr to 10 Fr
• Infant : 5Fr to 8Fr
• *Half the diameter (or less) of the tracheal
tube
Suction catheter of different size with color code
Normal pressure
Wall Unit Portable Unit
Adult 100-120 mm of Hg 10-15 mm of Hg
Child 95-110 mm of Hg 5-10 mm of Hg
Infant 50-95 mm of Hg 2-5 mm of Hg
Articles
• Appropriate size sterile suction catheter
• Portable or wall suction apparatus with
connecting tube or Y-connector
• Sterile water / normal saline in bowl
• Face mask
• Gloves
• Mackintosh with Towel or water proof pad
• Tongue depressor
• Nasal or oral airway (as required)
Procedure
• Assess for sign/symptoms which indicate
presence of upper airway secretions, gurgling
respiration, restlessness, vomitus in mouth,
drooling
• Explain the procedure to the client & also to
relatives
• Prepare necessary equipment & supplies
• Position the patient
• Maintain privacy
• Place a towel on the pillow or under the chin
• Select the proper suction pressure for the type of
suction unit. For wall suction unit –
• Wash hands
• Wear gloves
• Using gloved hand, with coiled catheter, attach the
catheter with connecting tubing of suction machine
• Approximately the distance between the client’s ear
lobe & tip of the nose & place the forefinger at that
point
• Moisten the distal 6-8cms catheter tip with sterile solution
• For nasopharyngeal suctioning, gently insert catheter into
nostril guide the catheter medially along the floor of nasal
cavity
• For oropharyngeal suctioning, gently insert the catheter
into the one side of mouth & guide the catheter to the
oropharynx. Do not apply suction during insertion
• While withdrawing occluded the suction part with thumb,
gently withdraw it by rotating
• The procedure should not take more than 15 seconds
• Flush the catheter with sterile solution and apply suction
• Suck the secretions from the mouth or under tongue after
suctioning nasopharynx or oropharynx
• Wash hands after suctioning and discard the catheter
• Record the amount, consistency, color, odor & response of
the client to procedure
Points to remember !
• Apply the catheter of appropriate size
• Be gentle while suctioning
• Do not suction for more than 10 -15 seconds
• During suction if client coughs then
immediately withdraw the catheter
• Flush catheter after each suction with sterile
saline
• Allow 20-30sec interval between each suction
& limit suctioning to 5 minutes in total
