SUCTION ADVANCED AIRWAY

Perform advanced airway suction only when needed (e.g., copious secretions, colored secretions, change in oxygenation status, suspected mucus plug). Use sterile technique for advanced airways (e.g., endotracheal tubes) or clean technique for the mouth and throat.

- Minimum: Manual suction device or improvised suction device, such as a 25cm length portion of IV tubing connected to a 60mL syringe
- Better: Open suction tube, suction machine
- Best: Closed inline suction tube, suction machine

Guide for advanced airway suctioning

- Gather necessary equipment.
- Ensure casualty’s head is elevated.
- Perform hand hygiene.
- Place a clean towel under casualty’s chin.
- Don additional PPE based on the casualty’s need for isolation precautions or risk of exposure to bodily fluids.
- Determine the appropriate depth to advance the suction catheter. (Generally, this is the total length of the artificial airway and the adapter.)
- If indicated based on casualty tolerance to procedure, increase Fi02 to 100% for 30 to 60 seconds.
- Insert the suction catheter to the appropriate depth, ensuring that the tip of the catheter does not touch nonsterile surfaces.
- Do not suction while advancing the catheter. Ensure suctioning is performed while withdrawing the catheter for no longer than 15 seconds at a time.
- Allow at least 30 seconds before repeating suctioning, if needed.