Suction machines are required for patients who have difficulty clearing their tracheal secretions. They provide suction through a sterile catheter, which is used to clear the patient's airway following clinical guidelines and using a sterile technique.
When should a patient suction?
Suctioning is performed when the patient is unable to effectively move secretions from the respiratory tract. This may occur with excessive production of secretions or ineffective clearance, which leads to the accumulation of secretions in the upper and lower respiratory tract.
What are the indications for suctioning?
Indications for suctioning include:
- Audible or visual signs of secretions in the tube.
- Signs of respiratory distress.
- Suspicion of a blocked or partially blocked tube.
- Inability by the child to clear the tube by coughing out the secretions.
- Vomiting.
- Desaturation on pulse oximetry.
