(3) Apply suction and rotate the catheter to suction the secretions. Suction
for only 5-10 seconds at a time. Do not push the catheter in and out against the wall of
the throat as this may injure the mucous membrane.
(4) Withdraw the catheter and clear it by aspirating water through it. Thick
secretions adhering to the outer surface of the catheter should be removed with
moistened gauze.
(5) Repeat the procedure, suctioning around the teeth and gums and under
the tongue if secretions have accumulated in these areas.
(6) For suctioning of the mouth, a firm metal suction tip may be used instead
of a soft catheter. One such tip is the Yankauer. Care must be taken when using a
rigid suction tip to avoid injury to the oral mucosa.
e. Bulb syringe suctioning is used to clear secretions from the nose and mouth
of infants.
(1)
Grasp the bulb syringe firmly and squeeze the bulb to expel the air.
(2) Very gently, insert the tip into the mouth or nostril of the infant, taking
care not to injure the delicate mucosa.
(3) Release the pressure on the bulb. As the air returns into the bulb, it
creates a sucking action that will withdraw the secretions.
(4) When the bulb has inflated, remove the tip from the infant's mouth or
nose. Dispose of the secretions into a basin or piece of gauze by squeezing the bulb,
forcing out the air and secretions.
(5)
Repeat the procedure as necessary.
(6) Rinse the syringe as necessary and at the end of the procedure.
Squeeze the bulb, insert the tip into a basin of water, and release the bulb to aspirate
the water. Remove the tip from the basin and squeeze the bulb to expel the water.
2-20. ENDOTRACHEAL SUCTIONING
a. The procedures for endotracheal (within the trachea) suctioning are similar to
those used for naso and oropharyngeal suctioning with two major differences.
(1) Endotracheal suctioning, unlike naso- and oropharyngeal suctioning, is
done as an aseptic, or sterile, procedure.
(2) Suctioning the trachea interferes greatly with oxygenation. A high
suction pressure and a lengthy suctioning time will greatly decrease the amount of
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