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

[@marybetzen7310]

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

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you.

[@brianclark7719]

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]

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

[@colinm366]

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

[@LifewithaVent]

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

[@loisskinner8168]

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]

Thank you so much.

[@michaellaviola3125]

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

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@tamiltopridersongstamiltop4511]

I am . I am also respiratory therapy student from India

[@LifewithaVent]

@@tamiltopridersongstamiltop4511 How wonderful!

[@tamiltopridersongstamiltop4511]

Mam are you okay now

[@tamiltopridersongstamiltop4511]

How it's it your septic schok

[@Raya-cv6by]

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]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@eiybc9407]

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

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you so much.

[@benbarigye7311]

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]

Thank you. I am glad it was helpful.

[@karenkittel8343]

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

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for watching.

[@GordonSWithers]

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

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@timetraveltravez8803]

Thank you so much and God bless.

[@janetbutler9481]

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]

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

[@jienataer2552]

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

[@LifewithaVent]

Wonderful. I am glad it was helpful.

[@parthibana1]

Thank you. God bless you.

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for watching.

[@legayapacayra1956]

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

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you.

[@kimberlyanderson5773]

You are AMAZING!! 🥰

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you.

[@nabho]

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]

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

[@gracewaithaka9382]

Thank you!

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for watching.

[@mulberrychu9469]

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]

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

[@mulberrychu9469]

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

[@tc5028]

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

[@LifewithaVent]

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]

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]

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

[@LifewithaVent]

No, you can leave the inner cannula in place.

[@lisahome454]

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

[@LifewithaVent]

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

[@sunshinec.9733]

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

[@arevev]

Awesome ❤️❤️❤️

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you.

[@favourchidiebere6811]

What causes catherter sunctioning tube not coming out smoothly or easily

[@favourchidiebere6811]

During trachea sunctioning.

[@LifewithaVent]

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

[@favourchidiebere6811]

@@LifewithaVent Thank you so very much.

[@azzamjaber7014]

Brilliant thanks a lot

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for watching.

[@lymint9587]

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

[@LifewithaVent]

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]

@@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]

@@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]

@@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]

@@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."

[@muhzinaibrahim9524]

Can you say the difference between tracheostomy and pace maker.

[@LifewithaVent]

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]

@@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]

@@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: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIfanYSAfLtrla8

[@kurtenzena7345]

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]

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.

[@FranzelmaeSalazar]

How will you take a bath with a trach

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for your question. I explain how to bathe with a trach in the following video.

[@gantz0949]

I think the vast majority of people pull.out too quickly. I know i do. Im gonna start slowing it down

[@LifewithaVent]

I am glad the video was helpful.

[@kaygee9516]

What steps do you take to remove a mucous plug?

[@LifewithaVent]

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.