Issue in tracheal suction

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Do we need to apply a "suction-filter" while using wall-unit suction regulator?

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You would have to look at your facility policy/procedure on if a filter is required or not. Even if there are nurses who are at odds as to what the correct procedure is, the facility policy/procedure is what is needing to be followed.

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Specializes in PICU.

Agree.. Very much a facility based issue. Several years ago, a pt was on ECMO and was bleeding, multiple suction at bedside already. Someone attached a catheter to a wall suction without having the container and it went into the duct system. It shut down a whole area for several days.

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We are thinking of changing this practice in our hospital, because suction filter lowers negative pressure, which results in very low suction power.

In our hospital we put container, does it replace the need of using the suction filters.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Hmmm.... Are you saying you don't have suction canisters attached? I've NEVER (in 37 years) seen suction go directly into the wall. Is there such a thing?

But then- I remember the glass-bottled Gomco machines......

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Our disposable canisters all have a filter on them. I'm pretty sure the kind we use where I work now is the same kind as I've always used.

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MeanMaryJean: I am right there with you!!! The Gomco suction machines were most likely the worse because the suction was never consistent. I have always used a suction cannister in acute care which contains a filter on the wall-based suction, I have never used anything else. So, is the question whether or not to use the cannister? Or, just have the suction plugged straight into the wall??? It seems plugging it straight into the wall would be a huge infection control problem for the facility!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I don't think you can plug them into the wall

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
I don't think you can plug them into the wall

I can't picture that working either. I mean we connect the suction tubing to the suction head for chest tubes, but the fluids are restricted to the chest tube canister. For tracheal suction, where else do the secretions go if not connected to a canister?

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

MMJ, do you remember double/triple bottle suction?

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
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