How do you suction at home
Sophia Edwards
Published Apr 01, 2026
Types of suctioning catheters Tip catheters are used for nasal and oral suctioning. Little Suckers are used for nasal and oral suctioning. Yankauer catheter is used for oral suctioning. A longer suction catheter can be used for nasal, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal suctioning, as seen in the image below.
What equipment is needed for suctioning?
Types of suctioning catheters Tip catheters are used for nasal and oral suctioning. Little Suckers are used for nasal and oral suctioning. Yankauer catheter is used for oral suctioning. A longer suction catheter can be used for nasal, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal suctioning, as seen in the image below.
How do I suction my baby's throat?
Hold the bulb away from your baby’s face and squeeze the air out of it. While still squeezing the bulb, gently place the tip of it just inside your baby’s nostril or inside your baby’s cheek. Do not place the tip too far inside the nose or at the back of baby’s mouth. Slowly release your grip on the bulb.
How do you suction your mouth?
Insert the catheter or Yankauer into the mouth to remove any mucus your child has coughed up. If there is a suction control port, place your thumb over the port and slowly remove the Yankauer or the catheter. Only hold down the suction control port for up to 10 seconds at a time.How do you suction mucus in your throat?
Apply suction by holding your thumb over the suction control port. Slowly remove the catheter while “twirling” it between your fingers to remove mucus. Limit suctioning to 5 to 10 seconds. Once the catheter is out, clean it by dipping it in the sterile water or saline and suctioning.
What happens if you suction too deep?
Deep suctioning goes in further than the end of the trach tube. Use deep suctioning only for emergencies when premeasured suctioning does not work or you have to do CPR. Since the suction tube goes in much deeper, deep suctioning can hurt the airway (trachea).
Do you need an order for suctioning?
In emergent situations, a provider order is not necessary for suctioning to maintain a patient’s airway. However, routine suctioning does require a provider order.
When should you suction a patient?
- Apply suction for no longer than 10 seconds. Applying suction for longer periods of time can cause injury, hypoxia and bradycardia.
- Do not apply suction while inserting the catheter. This can increase the chances of injuring the mucus membranes.
- If suctioning through the nose, do not force the catheter.
Do you suction nose or mouth first?
Always suction the mouth before the nose if you need to clear both areas. You can buy a bulb syringe that has a bulb that opens for better cleaning and drying. There are also battery operated nasal aspirators that come with disposable tips, however, these can be expensive.
Can you suction without inner cannula?The inner cannula is the tube that fits into the trach at the neckplate. It can be re-usable or disposable depending on your specific situation. The photo shows the suction catheter entering through the inner cannula. Never suction without the inner cannula in place.
Article first time published onWhen can I suction my newborn's mouth?
When should I suction my child’s nose or mouth? Any time your child is having difficulty breathing or is having noisy breathing due to excess mucus. Before feeding or nursing if his/her nose is stuffy. Your child will eat better if his/her nose is cleared.
How do you deep suction a newborn?
To suction, block the thumbport with the thumb of your non-sterile hand and withdraw the catheter. Do not suction longer than 5 to 10 seconds. Let your child rest for 15 to 20 seconds before suctioning again. If mucus is thick, lavage with 3 to 5 drops of normal saline into the nostril before suctioning.
What position should a congested baby sleep in?
Just make sure to put the towel under the mattress, as no pillows or blankets should ever go in the crib with your baby while they sleep. Also, remember that you should always put your baby to sleep on their back.
Can mucus be suctioned out of lungs?
Suctioning is a method of removing mucous from the lungs. People with a spinal cord 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.
What is the fastest way to get mucus out of your lungs?
Drinking enough liquids, especially warm ones, can help your mucus flow. Water can loosen your congestion by helping your mucus move. Try sipping anything from juice to clear broths to chicken soup. Other good liquid choices include decaffeinated tea and warm fruit juice or lemon water.
When should you not use suction?
- Hypoxemia – the most critical to remember!
- Trauma – do not do more damage to an already sick patient!
- Infection – try to keep it clean when working around mucous membranes!
- Cardiac Arrhythmias – watch for signs of increased cardiac workload!
What is the pressure of suction machine?
Suction applies negative pressure, which is any pressure less than atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg, 100kPa or 14.7 psi), to allow for the movement of fluids or substances. The suction developed by the machine will be measured as a pressure.
How long will you insert suction catheter?
Insert the catheter only as far as you properly measured it. After inserting the catheter the measured distance initiate suctioning as you retract the catheter in a sweeping motion. Do not suction too long! The maximum suction time should only be 15 seconds.
What is the most common complication of suctioning?
A slow heart rate, known as bradycardia, is one of the most common suctioning complications, likely because suctioning stimulates the vagus nerve. This increases the risk of fainting and loss of consciousness. In patients in cardiac distress, it can elevate the risk of severe cardiovascular complications.
How do I prevent my mucus plug from Traching?
When mucus collects in the trach tube or airway, it can create a plug. This can block air from flowing through the airway. Give your child plenty of fluids, by drinking or through a feeding tube. Use a mist collar when child is asleep or has thick mucus.
What is the best position for suctioning?
Position patient in semi-Fowler’s position with head turned to the side. This facilitates ease of suctioning. Unconscious patients should be in the lateral position.
What are the 2 types of suctioning?
- Nasal suction (suctioning in the nose)
- Oral suction (suctioning the mouth)
- Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal suction (suctioning the throat)
- Deep suctioning.
How many times can you use a suction catheter?
There is no clear consensus on how frequently an individual should be suctioned. It is patient dependent on the amount of secretions and their ability to clear the secretions independently. Airway patency can be checked by attempting suctioning at least every 8 hours.
Can a baby suffocate from a stuffy nose?
A baby’s nose, unlike an adult’s, doesn’t have cartilage. So when that nose is pressed against an object, like a stuffed animal, couch cushions or even a parent’s arm while sleeping in bed, it can flatten easily. With the opening to its nostrils blocked, the baby can’t breathe and suffocates.
How can I unblock my baby's nose naturally?
- Provide warm baths, which can help clear congestion and offer a distraction.
- Keep up regular feedings and monitor for wet diapers.
- Add one or two drops of saline to their nostril using a small syringe.
- Provide steam or cool mist, such as from a humidifier or by running a hot shower.
How do I clean inside my baby's nose?
Soak one cotton ball in some warm water and squeeze out extra water. Clean the corners of your baby’s eyes, wiping gently from the inside corners to the outside corners. Use a new cotton ball for each wipe. Wipe gently around each nostril to get rid of mucus.
What is a wall suction?
It consists of suction regulator and suction container. With connecting to vacuum outlet of hospital and as regulating pressure properly, it’s device to remove a foreign substance from patient.
What should the nurse never do when suctioning?
Do Not Suction Too Long Prolonged suctioning increases the risk of hypoxia and other complications. Never suction a patient for longer than 15 seconds. Rather than prolong suctioning, withdraw the catheter, re-oxygenate the patient, and suction again.
Do you suction with sterile water?
Suction a small amount of distilled/sterile water with the suction catheter to clear any residual debris/secretions.
Can you eat food when you have a tracheostomy?
Having a tracheostomy usually will not affect the patient’s eating or swallowing patterns. Sometimes there are changes in swallowing dynamics that require adjusting to, but it is rare that this cannot be overcome in a short time.