Tracheostomy suctioning

 Tracheostomy suctioning

Tracheostomy suctioning removes thick mucus and secretions from the trachea and lower airway that patient's are not able to clear by coughing and maintain the airway potency.

Assemble the equipment for tracheostomy suctioning;

1. Wall-Mounted Suction Devices

(Suction machine/aspirator)

Suction jar

Suction pressure machine

Suction catheter tip

A clean tray containing;

1. Sterile suction catheter

2. Normal saline in container / distilled water 

3. Sterile gloves 

4. Gauze

5. Suctioning tube

Tracheostomy suctioning procedure

1. Open the suction catheter package.

2. Pick up the hard plastic end of the catheter with your gloved hand and attach it to the connecting tubing. 

3. Wrap the catheter around your gloved hand when not in use to avoid contamination of the catheter.

4. Turn on the suction machine, keep pressure setting 100-150mmHg.

5.  Expose the patient's tracheostomy opening

6. Gently insert the suction catheter into the tracheostomy opening. Slowly insert the catheter until you feel resistance. 

7. Apply suction less than 10 seconds and withdraw the catheter rotate, using a slow and even motion. Roll the catheter between the thumb and forefinger of your gloved hand. Do not apply suction for longer than 10 seconds.

8. Clean the catheter and connecting tubing between each suction pass; dip the catheter into the small amount distilled water container. Empty the contents of the catheter into the collection basin.

9. Allow the client 20 to 30 seconds to rest between each suction done. Thoroughly flush the suction catheter and connecting tubing with distilled water after each use.

10. Turn off the suction machine.

11.  Disconnect the suction catheter tip from the connecting tubing.

12.  Rinse the suction catheter tip and  hang on the suction machine with tip pointing up.

13. Clean the tracheostomy area and connect to oxygen supply device.

14. Discard the suction connecting tube; only single use.

15. Documenting in patient's file.