Procedure for tracheal bronchial suctioning in adults.pdf

Volume 8
Patient Care
ACTION
7. Connect suction catheter to suction unit and
check function of suction system.
• Turn on the suction apparatus.
• Attach suitably sized suction catheter end to
suction tubing.
• Ensure that catheter is not removed from
packaging.
• Check that connection is secure. Kink
suction tubing and observe pressure on
gauge.
• Adjust pressure flow to achieve a vacuum
pressure between 13.5-20kPa (Glass & Grap,
1995)
Suctioning technique
8. Put on sterile glove on dominant hand. Avoid
touching anything except the catheter with it.
9. Remove suction catheter from covering ensuring
that the dominant hand with sterile glove only
touches the suction catheter. Avoid touching
anything else but the suction catheter.
10. Hold end of suction catheter with dominant
sterile hand and use other hand to hold the
suction catheter connection site with thumb
accessible to suction port.
11. With suction port uncovered with thumb,
introduce the end suction catheter gently down
tracheostomy tube to a depth of one third of
tracheostomy length (or until length of suction
catheter is at approximately 15 cm mark) or
until patient coughs or resistance felt, then
withdraw approximately 1 cm (Meyer-
Holloway, 1993) before applying suction by
placing thumb over suction port.
12. Apply suction and withdraw the suction catheter
slowly maintaining continuous suction. Avoid
rotation of catheter or intermittent suctioning.
• Do not suction for more than 10-15
seconds Fiorentini,1992; Czarnik RE
et al,1991).
Whilst withdrawing suction catheter observe
patient for signs of complications. Signs
include:-
• Reduced level of consciousness
• Pale and clamminess
Ratified
May 2006
RATIONALE
Check that the suction apparatus is
functioning and that the vacuum pressure
is set between 13 – 20kpa.
To avoid contamination and reduce risk of
cross-infection.
To avoid contamination and reduce risk of
cross-infection.
To enable easy access to passing the
suction catheter.
To prevent trauma and mucosal damage
by the suction catheter contact on mucosa
on insertion.
To ensure suction catheter does not pass
the carina.
To ensure the most effective clearance of
secretions.
To avoid patient developing hypoxaemia
due to removal of oxygen flow by suction.
To detect complications of hypoxaemia
and cardiac arrhythmias.
Reviewed Issue 1 Page 4 of 8