Suctioning is an effective tool that supports secretion management, as it clears patient’s airway of secretions like saliva, blood, or vomit, so they can breathe more easily.

Suctioning utilises a catheter and negative pressure to aid removal of respiratory secretions. BUT Excessive suctioning can cause Trauma.

Indications for suction:

• Thick secretions difficult to expectorate: Sticky mucus accumulation can obstruct airways, making it hard to clear through coughing, leading to breathing difficulties
• Low SpO2 (desaturation): Reduced oxygen saturation in the blood, indicating poor oxygen exchange, often caused by respiratory impairment or blockages
• Dyspnoea SOB: flared nostrils: Shortness of breath, indicated by nasal flaring, a sign of respiratory distress and increased effort to breathe
• Prolonged wheezing: Persistent high-pitched whistling sound during exhalation due to narrowed or obstructed airways
• Noisy breathing, suboptimal ventilation: Breathing that produces abnormal sounds like stridor or crackle, suggesting incomplete air movement and inadequate ventilation
• Cyanosis, clammy skin: Blue discoloration of the skin and cold, moist skin caused by insufficient oxygen in the blood
• Restlessness, agitation: Behavioural changes due to hypoxia (lack of oxygen), where the patient becomes anxious or agitated
• Productive cough, increased risk of RTI: Coughing up mucus, which increases the risk of respiratory tract infections due to retained secretions
• Increased peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) on mechanical ventilator: Higher pressure is required to deliver air into the lungs, indicating airway resistance or lung stiffness
• An ineffective cough due to narrow airways from secretions: The inability to generate a strong cough because of blocked airways, resulting in retained secretions