Since I am reviewing it for work as part of CME, I might as well cover it here too. Suction is an important tool in airway management, that allows us to maintain patency in situations such as vomiting, bleeding, or resuscitation. There are 2 varieties of suction devices: those for the upper airway, and those that address the lower airway.
The upper airway includes the nasopharynx and the oropharynx, and the lower boundary is the glottis. The lower airway is everything from the glottis down (the trachea, carina, bronchi, etc).
When it comes to upper airway suction we have 3 varieties:
Yankauer suction
Wide bore suction
Bulb syringe suction
Pressure settings are divided by age group:
Neonates: 60-80mmHg (Bulb suction)
Infants: 80-100mmHg
Child: 200-220mmHg
Adult: 500-550mmHg
Lower airway devices include:
French catheter
Closed suction
Pressure settings are again divided by age group:
Infant: 80-100mmHg
Child: 100-120mmHg
Adult: 100-150mmHg
In all cases patients should be preoxygenated with 100% O2. Suction should be completed in 10 second passes with 1 minute of re-oxygenation before attempting again (local protocols may vary).
Comentários