Indications and contraindications for sputum suction

Suctioning refers to the process of sucking out secretions from the respiratory tract through the oral, nasal or artificial airway. This can ensure that the patient can breathe smoothly, avoid aspiration pneumonia, and prevent the patient from experiencing respiratory distress or even suffocation. This is a common treatment method for some comatose patients or some elderly people. Let's take a look at this aspect below.

Indications for suctioning:

Suctioning is suitable for critically ill, elderly, comatose and post-anesthetized patients who have difficulty breathing due to weak cough, slow cough reflex or epiglottis dysfunction, and are unable to clear respiratory secretions on their own or have aspirated vomit. In emergency situations where the patient is suffocating, such as drowning, inhalation of amniotic fluid, etc., suctioning should be used immediately.

Preparation for suctioning:

1. Prepare the following items: 1 electric suction device

The treatment tray contains sterile saline, two covered jars (or disposable suction tubes), cotton swabs, tweezers, a curved tray, gauze, and a treatment towel. If necessary, a tongue depressor, a tongue opener, a tongue puller, a multi-head electric power strip, etc.

2. Prepare all the supplies and bring them to the bedside, explaining the procedures to the patient to gain cooperation.

Key points of suctioning:

1. Connect the power supply, turn on the switch, and check whether the suction device is in good condition.

2. The operator wears gloves and checks whether the suction tube is unobstructed.

3. Turn the patient's head to one side. For the unconscious patient, use a tongue depressor or tongue opener to open the tongue. Fold the end of the catheter and insert the suction tube from the cheek to the pharynx. When the patient inhales, insert the suction tube into the trachea. If oral suction is difficult, insert the tube from the nasal cavity. For those with tracheotomy or endotracheal intubation, insert the tube directly. When suctioning, be gentle, pull up from the deep, rotate left and right, and repeat until it is completely suctioned. When the catheter is inserted to a certain depth, immediately release the folded part of the catheter and perform sputum suction.

4. Each time the catheter is inserted and suctioned, the time should not exceed 15 seconds to avoid hypoxia. After the catheter is withdrawn, it should be suctioned and flushed with saline to prevent the catheter from being blocked by sputum.

Supplies

Treatment tray: several suction tubes of appropriate thickness, a glass T-tube (connecting the suction tube and the aspirator catheter), several pieces of gauze, cotton swabs, a tongue depressor, an opener, a treatment bowl filled with saline or warm water, tweezers, and a curved tray.