Suctioning 101: Essential Info & Tips! Life with a Vent

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Suctioning 101: Essential Info & Tips! Life with a Vent

Рет қаралды 23,133

Күн бұрын

An important tool used to help keep the airways clear in a person with a tracheotomy tube is suctioning. Normally, the upper airway warms, moistens and cleans the air we breathe. However, a tracheostomy tube bypasses these mechanisms. The air moving through the airways of a person with a tracheostomy tube is cooler, dryer and not as clean. In response to these changes, the body produces more mucus. Suctioning clears mucus from the tracheostomy tube and airway. #lifewithavent #suction #tracheostomy
Join me this week as I discuss suctioning basics such as how to suction, when to suction, and types of suction catheters. I will also demonstrate how to attach the suction catheter to the ventilator tubing, how to suction, how to use saline and I will share some tips and tricks I have learned.
It is best to suction in the morning when the person first wakes up and at night right before going to bed. Additional suctioning may be needed if mucus is heard rattling in the tracheostomy tube, before meals, and if the person has increased secretions due to a respiratory infection. If a person has increased secretions or mucus which is thick, you may want to run 3-5 milliliters of saline through a nebulizer before suctioning. This will help break up the mucus and make suctioning easier. For more details about using a nebulizer, please see the video: Have a nebulizer? Info you need to know. • Have a Nebulizer? Info...
Please avoid excessive suctioning. Suctioning too offer will irritate the airways and will create more mucus.
Just a note, the medical term for mucus in the airways is sputum. So if your medical provider asks about sputum production, note the person is referring to the mucus in your airways.When you suction, the sputum should be clear or white. If the sputum changes color to yellow, brown, green, etc, this may be a sign of an infection. For more information about sputum in tracheostomy patients, please see the video: In sickness & in health, know your sputum! • In Sickness & In Healt...
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Пікірлер: 82

@brianclark7719 Жыл бұрын

You may really not realize how helpful and beneficial your videos are. I have been taking care of my mom for over 4 years on trach. I have learned so many tips from medical professionals, but yours is a personal experience and journey. God bless you, for caring enough to doing these videos. I think it's important to emphasize, when you start to cough, you are in the right spot.

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate them. Thank you for taking care of your mom. All my best to you both.

@marybetzen7310 7 ай бұрын

As a new RN your videos are giving me the educational confidence to care for trach patients.

@LifewithaVent 7 ай бұрын

Thank you.

@colinm366 Жыл бұрын

Thank you! As an RN this was super helpful. Thanks for sharing your journey!

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching, and thank you for your kind words.

@Raya-cv6by 2 ай бұрын

As a PCT in training, it very helpful to see this demonstrated on an actual patient rather than the mannequin. Thank you for your tutoring.

@LifewithaVent 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for your kind words.

@loisskinner8168 Ай бұрын

Thank you for having the personal informative videos. I needed a refresher on some trach care and suctioning and this was wonderful. You have a great way to captivate and connect with your audience!!! God Bless You Always!!

@LifewithaVent Ай бұрын

Thank you so much.

@michaellaviola3125 3 жыл бұрын

Im an RT student an this is very informative, Its nice to hear it from the point of view from the patient

@LifewithaVent 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your kind words.

@tamiltopridersongstamiltop4511 3 жыл бұрын

I am . I am also respiratory therapy student from India

@LifewithaVent 3 жыл бұрын

@@tamiltopridersongstamiltop4511 How wonderful!

@tamiltopridersongstamiltop4511 3 жыл бұрын

Mam are you okay now

@tamiltopridersongstamiltop4511 3 жыл бұрын

How it's it your septic schok

@eiybc9407 Жыл бұрын

Very helpful and very informative specially from a patient's point of view.

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much.

@karenkittel8343 3 ай бұрын

Wonderful very helpful to all that wants to learn how to do this. Thank You

@LifewithaVent 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching.

@benbarigye7311 Жыл бұрын

This is so informative!I'm doing a short course as a caregiver and this is exactly what I'm studying.They are teaching us in Swedish language and English being my First language,i find this easy to understand.Thank u very much.

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

Thank you. I am glad it was helpful.

@janetbutler9481 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much you!! 🤗 You are beautiful gift from God, Gem and such a inspirational to your platform... All your video are so helpful.. Thank you again❤️💜💛💚💙 Very educational to many... Sometimes things happens to us in life. But, God always turns things around for the best... I pray God keep continue to bless you in spirit, health and love always... Stay blessed❤️🙏

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for all your kindness. I really appreciate it.

@timetraveltravez8803 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much and God bless.

@GordonSWithers Жыл бұрын

Super helpful! I'm writing patient education materials and your insights have been great for my own learning.

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your kind words.

@parthibana1 Жыл бұрын

Thank you. God bless you.

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching.

@gracewaithaka9382 Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching.

@kimberlyanderson5773 Жыл бұрын

You are AMAZING!! 🥰

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@jienataer2552 11 ай бұрын

Woow 👏 great explanations mam, thank you , i learn a lot

@LifewithaVent 11 ай бұрын

Wonderful. I am glad it was helpful.

@nabho Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing these tips..my mom is in coma for last 8 months and has Tracheostomy tube fitted..your tips would surely help me ...more strength to you..

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

Hello. Thank you for your kind words. I am sorry to hear about your mom. I hope everything goes well for you.

@legayapacayra1956 2 жыл бұрын

Very great tutorial.👍 Thank you miss beautiful godbless you more.

@LifewithaVent 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@arevev 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome ❤️❤️❤️

@LifewithaVent 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@azzamjaber7014 Жыл бұрын

Brilliant thanks a lot

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching.

@mulberrychu9469 Жыл бұрын

Hi. Thanks for the useful information you are sharing. It's very beneficial and helpful. I have tracheostomy and one of my problem is too much secretions because I have lung problem. Can you please share what is the brand name of battery operated suction machine you are using? Thank you. Stay safe always

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

The name of the suction machine is: DeVilbiss Vacu-Aide Portable Suction Unit with Internal Rechargeable Battery 7305P-D

@mulberrychu9469 Жыл бұрын

@@LifewithaVent thank you very much for the info. 😊👍

@tc5028 Жыл бұрын

How much do you hyperventilate before the suctioning and what do you set the section at?

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

I do not hyperventilate before suctioning. Sorry, I do not know what to set the suction at. My suction machine is pre-programmed. I just turn it off and on.

@saisasori1073 Жыл бұрын

around 60 tp 120 mm is enough for an adult , but again the amout of suction pressure to use depends on the amout of secretions, thickness of secretions and size of the patients body but in general 80mmhg of pressure setting in the suction cathater must be enough and never exeed more than 150 mmhg of suction pressure and if you encounter ant problem you must visit a health care provider.

@lisahome454 Жыл бұрын

great video, very helpful, do we need remove inner cannula when doing the suction?

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

No, you can leave the inner cannula in place.

@lisahome454 Жыл бұрын

@@LifewithaVent thanks for reply. whats the fr size suction catheters you use?

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

@@lisahome454 I use a 14 Fr (4.6 mm).

@sunshinec.9733 Жыл бұрын

WE WERE TOLD NOT TO REMOVE INNER CANNULA WHEN SECTIONING, COULD IT GET COMPLETELY BLOCKED BUT WE WERE TOLD NOT TO REMOVE??

@favourchidiebere6811 11 ай бұрын

What causes catherter sunctioning tube not coming out smoothly or easily

@favourchidiebere6811 11 ай бұрын

During trachea sunctioning.

@LifewithaVent 11 ай бұрын

If there is a lot of mucus, or if there is thick mucus, the suction catheter might get caught passing through the mucus.

@favourchidiebere6811 11 ай бұрын

@@LifewithaVent Thank you so very much.

@kurtenzena7345 Жыл бұрын

hi i have a question, regarding putting saline into the lungs, is it not dangerous to do that since ur introducing liquid to ur lungs? can it not. cause aspiration?? is it not better to use nebs instead then suction

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

Hello. The saline used is sterile. Also, the amount of saline used is tiny. It is usually 1-2 milliliters. Additionally, as soon as the saline is squirted into the airway, it is pulled back out by the suction catheter. I have never heard of the saline used during suctioning to have caused aspiration pneumonia. You could use the nebulizer and then suction the airway. However, remember, the nebulizer takes time to work. If there is mucus in the tracheostomy tube, the person may not have the ability to wait 5-10 minutes for the nebulizer to work. He may then suctioning immediately and may need saline to help loosen the mucus in the tracheostomy tube.

@muhzinaibrahim9524 3 жыл бұрын

Can you say the difference between tracheostomy and pace maker.

@LifewithaVent 3 жыл бұрын

A pacemaker is a small device that's placed under the skin in your chest to help control your heartbeat. It's used to help your heart beat more regularly. Tracheostomy is a hole that surgeons make through the front of the neck and into the windpipe (trachea). A tracheostomy tube is placed into the hole to keep it open for breathing.

@muhzinaibrahim9524 3 жыл бұрын

@@LifewithaVent Recently my father had a high level spinal cord injury and after surgery he had tracheostomy.But because of tracheostomy he have several problems like increased sputum,he can't have food through his mouth etc.So for him will pacemaker be better than tracheostomy.Can you do a video about tracheostomy and pacemaker.

@LifewithaVent 3 жыл бұрын

@@muhzinaibrahim9524 I am so sorry to hear about your father's spinal cord injury. The best people to ask for medical advice is your father's medical team. The doctors have your father's medical history and know the challenges he is facing. They would be able to tell you what medical intervention will best suit your father and his needs. I do not have a video about pacemakers, but I do have a video about tracheostomies. If you wish to learn more about tracheostomies, please watch the following video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iLynn7R7rLycj4E.html

@kaygee9516 2 жыл бұрын

What steps do you take to remove a mucous plug?

@LifewithaVent 2 жыл бұрын

Hello. It depends on the severity of the mucus plug. If the person is not in distress, run 5 milliliters of saline using a nebulizer. After doing the nebulizer treatment, suction. This should loosen the mucus and allow the mucus plug to be suctioned out of the airway. If the mucus plug is severe and the person is in respiratory distress, remove the tracheostomy tube. Use a clean obturator and push it through the tracheostomy tube. The mucus plug should be pushed out by the obturator. With clean toweling, grab the mucus plug. Then put the tracheostomy tube back in. Remove the obturator. Alternatively, for a severe mucus plug, you can always do a tracheostomy tube exchange.

@lymint9587 Жыл бұрын

How deep the catheter goes during airway suctioning? 50cm??

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

Please find out the length of the tracheostomy tube and suction the length of the tracheostomy tube. For children, the length to suction is about 3 to 4.5 cm. For adult females, the length to suction is about 6 to 8 cm. For adult males, the length to suction is about 7 to 9 cm.

@lymint9587 Жыл бұрын

@@LifewithaVent thank you very much for your reply so soon. I saw the nurses going too deep so I was suspecting it wasn't right but they were defensive. Actually my relative is on ventilator and I read somewhere that the catheter for airway suctioning shouldn't go more the length of the intubation tube, which I read is supposed to be less than 30cm for both males and female. It was horrifying I saw the other day the nurse was pushing the farther all the way down until the green part (adaptor?) And it seemed to be well over 40-50cm and the patient was in pain through the facial expression but cannot move or speak due to coma state. I was ignored even I begged it shouldn't go that much deep. Need to verify and then going to look for upper management in the hospital. Thanks for the reply so much.

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

@@lymint9587 I am so sorry to hear of the challenges you are experiencing. Thank you for the clarification. For intubation tubes (as known as endotracheal tubes), the length of the tubes range from about 24 cm to 33 cm. The suction catheter should not go farther than the end of the endotracheal tube. So, the suction cathether should be pushed in about 25-30 cm. Suctioning should not be painful. If the patient is in pain, the suction catheter is being pushed too far.

@lymint9587 Жыл бұрын

@@LifewithaVent thank you so so so much for your real life experience and knowledge and on behalf of the comatose patient thank you too. Now I get more confidence and will definitely talk to them tomorrow. I have been searching for online articles. If you may know any written sources then I would print out and stop them from ignoring. Very thankful for your reply and you are indeed very nice and sharing is kindness. I will subscribe now even though I seldom do. Thx so much!!!!!!!! :)

@LifewithaVent Жыл бұрын

@@lymint9587 Thank you for subscribing. Here is a link to an article which discusses deep suctioning versus shallow suctioning: rtmagazine.com/department-management/clinical/10-considerations-for-endotracheal-suctioning/ Scroll down to point #6 "Depth of Catheter Insertion" for a discussion on how far the suction catheter should be inserted. The takeaway message: "Until some more conclusive randomized studies are done to compare deep and shallow suctioning, the general recommendation is to minimize the use of deep suctioning."