Introduction of a sterile tube through the patient’s tracheostomy cannula, connected to suction.
Objectives:
– Maintain patency of the patient’s airway. – Achieve the elimination of secretions obstructing the airway to facilitate respiratory ventilation. – Prevent respiratory infections as a result of accumulation of secretions.
Equipment:
– Vacuum aspirator. – Tray.
– Oxygen inlet. – Flow meter. – Vacuum gauge. – Connector tube.
Material:
– Sterile suction probes of the appropriate number. – Receptacle for secretions. – Sterile gloves. – Sterile gauze. – Mask. – Washing solution: sterile water or sterile saline solution. – Soaker. – Disposable gowns. – Waste bag. – Disposable paper towelettes. – Oxygen mask. – Sterile lubricant. – Nursing records.
Procedure:
– Follow procedure suctioning of oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal secretions. – Place patient in semi-fowler. – Insert the suction tube without suctioning, no more than 1 cm longer than the length of the tracheostomy cannula. – Instill 3-5 cc of saline solution, if secretions are very thick, to humidify them and stimulate coughing. – Aspirate secretions when removing the tube with gentle movements and slight rotation. – Discard probe, mask, gloves, and gown. – Leave the patient in an appropriate position. – Collect the material. – Remove gloves. – Wash hands. – Record in the nursing documentation: procedure, reason, date and time, incidences, characteristics of secretions and patient response.
Observations:
– Sterile technique. – Repeated aspiration may damage the mucosa and cause ulceration and hemorrhage. Routine use of aspiration is contraindicated.
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