Suctioning Techniques

Keeping airways clean

Suctioning is a method of removing mucous from the lungs. People with a spinal cord injury and/or brain injury may have problems breathing due to congestion. The muscles that help with breathing and coughing may not work well. Suctioning will help keep the airway clear.

Suctioning guides and good practices

Clean technique: A method using clean gloves and sanitized equipment to minimize contamination while performing suctioning.
Sterile technique: A more controlled method that requires sterile gloves and equipment to eliminate bacteria and prevent infection.

Do these practices

Bag the person before, during, and after suctioning.
Set the portable suction machine at 15 mm/HG.
Only apply suction to the catheter (cover the suction port) when it is coming up and out of the trach tube.
Insert the suction catheter into the trach tube until resistance is met.
Use normal saline to thin the mucous when necessary.
Always use clean suction technique.
Wash your hands before and after this procedure.

Don’t do these practices

Suction without the inner cannula inside the trach tube.
Suction for more than 10 seconds at a time.
Place the catheter in any unclean areas.
Store the catheter in a plastic bag.

Cleaning supplies

3% hydrogen peroxide
Liquid dishwashing soap
Hot tap water
Sterile water
3 clean containers or bowls
2 clean cloth towels
One clean, dry container (clean paper envelope, bag, or storage container)
Suction machine
2 clean gloves (optional)

Cleaning procedures

Fill each container with one of the following:
- Hot tap water with one full squirt of dishwashing soap
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Sterile water
Wash your hands.
Slip on clean gloves (optional).
Wash the catheter in soapy water and suction some of the soapy water through catheter.
Rinse the catheter with hot water.
Suction a small amount of hydrogen peroxide through the catheter, then place the catheter into the hydrogen peroxide and let it soak for 20 minutes.
Remove the catheter from the hydrogen peroxide container and suction sterile water through it.
Wipe the outside of the catheter with a clean towel.
Place the suction catheter on a clean towel to air dry. Suctioning air through the catheter for 15 sections will remove small bubbles of water.
Store dried suction catheter in a clean, dry paper bag, envelope, or storage container.
Remove gloves and wash your hands.

Catheters may be reused for one week unless they become cloudy or develop cracks or secretions that cannot be removed. If this happens, they should not be used again.