I often use the same suction tubing for the inline suctioning of an ETT as well as for the yankeur. I remove the suction from the inline tubing and attached to the yankeur periodically when oral suction is needed, then reattach the suction to the inline tubing and put the yankeur back in the package tucked under my pt.'s pillow. I was taught this way and was under the impression that the inline tubing had a one way valve so as to prevent bacteria from climbimg in. I recently had a nurse correct me and said "noway would she ever do this" and that seperate suction tubing must be provided for these two devices. How does everyone else do it?? I feel awful that I have jeopardized pt. safety.

It's been a while since I've been in ICU but that's how I used to do it. One suction tubing and switch for what you need

I often use the same suction tubing for the inline suctioning of an ETT as well as for the yankeur. I remove the suction from the inline tubing and attached to the yankeur periodically when oral suction is needed, then reattach the suction to the inline tubing and put the yankeur back in the package tucked under my pt.'s pillow. I was taught this way and was under the impression that the inline tubing had a one way valve so as to prevent bacteria from climbimg in. I recently had a nurse correct me and said "noway would she ever do this" and that seperate suction tubing must be provided for these two devices. How does everyone else do it?? I feel awful that I have jeopardized pt. safety.

wow, I never really thought about it... (bad nurse), but I also take off the inline adn replace it with the other suction as needed because that is how I was shown when I started out. But, now that you have me thinking about it...shoot, it might be a good idea to stop doing that. Anyone know what the protocol would be?

We use separate tubing for oral suction than ETT, but there is a splitter than is at the cannister so they share a common receptacle. Although the tubing is separate, the end point is shared, so I'm not sure what difference that makes v shared tubing.

We just started a new protocol to change all cannisters and ETT/oral tubing q24h on the pm shift.

Like LuckyOne I am used to using 2 separate suction tubings with a splitter at the canister. The splitter comes with oral care kits (by Sage). I was taught that putting the yankeur back in the sleeve and under the pillow just makes a breeding ground for germs (dark, moist places). The ones in the kit have a sleeve that goes over it and it will dry.

Like LuckyOne I am used to using 2 separate suction tubings with a splitter at the canister. The splitter comes with oral care kits (by Sage). I was taught that putting the yankeur back in the sleeve and under the pillow just makes a breeding ground for germs (dark, moist places). The ones in the kit have a sleeve that goes over it and it will dry.

We have the exact same kit by sage-2 suction tubings attached at the suction canister with a spitter, and the oral suction has a cover...

Wow...

This post has got me thinking about our practices....

We currently use the same tubing for ETT and oral.

AND there have been numerous scenarios where we as nurses stick the yankeur back into the plastic covering in between uses...

Hmmm..

That has been my practice and I don't know if there is a specific policy about it but my institution recently started using an inline suction cath with a valve in it.

Even if there's a valve, I always felt that having the end of the inline suction flapping around in the bed would gather microbes, which could influx when the suction tubing is reconnected... I avoided disconnecting suction tubing from the inline suction unless absolutely necessary, and wiped it with an alcohol swab if I had to.

Might be an idea to ask the inline suction company rep?

We don't even use inline suction, and we use the same tubing for ETT and NP/OP suctioning. ETT first w/sterile technique, then the same catheter (8 or 6Fr, talking babies here) for the NP and OP. Catheter removed, tubing hooked through the isolette or around the bars of the crib. Sounds gross, but we have very little VAP to speak of. Tubing is changed q24 and PRN, and canisters just PRN.

You use the same CATHETER down the ET tube, then in the baby's mouth? That IS gross!! Ewww.

No, no, no. First off, am I on the babies thread? If so, I apologize, I'm speaking of adults. Second of all, we have a piece of suction tubing that connects to the wall on one end and to the end of the ETT in the other end. At times, we will disconnect the tubing from the ETT and attach it to the end of a yankeur. Never is something going from the lungs into the mouth.

Seems to me that using same tubing for the inline suction and the oral suction would be risking cross contamination. Oral suction = nonsterile environment with eleventy billion germs, and ETT suction = sterile environment. Germs could probably travel down that highway into the ETT and therefore the lungs. And the less you interrupt that closed system (In-line ETT suction) the better, and less chance of VAP. With CMS no longer going to pay for VAP (I believe), this is a big deal in hospitals now.

We have the splitter also, same receptacle, different tubings.