Neptune Suction

[nursinadream]

With all the benefits of the Neptune Suction or fluid collection device - safety, large volume, measurement ease - do you find that the motor is TOO LOUD? Yuck! noise pollution - can become a problem in the OR. Any thought? Maybe time for a tune-up?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

We have one surgeon who only allows the Neptune to run for brief times. If he's not actively suctioning, it's turned off. I think placement can be an issue too. Usually we push ours into the corner, away from the field. Also, having used both the original and the second generation, I can tell you that the second generation is a heck of a lot quieter. I've gotten so used to it that I don't really notice it unless someone forgot to close the port on the yankauer- the on/off switch on the suction itself (not the machine) does seem to help.

[ORoxyO]

It only bothers one of our surgeons as well. They all listen to music and talk throughout the case so the noise isn't too much of an issue.

[Heart2015FNP]

There is a Class I medical device recall for the Neptune suction from the FDA. I'm surprise that your unit is still using it.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

There is a Class I medical device recall for the Neptune suction from the FDA. I'm surprise that your unit is still using it.

The company was only required to give education to those who chose to continue using the units. I believe it all stems from an incident where a patient in the ICU (and why there was a Neptune unit in an ICU I don't know) had a chest tube hooked directly into the unit by someone without any training in using the device, causing the patient's death. Basically, the education we received was not to hook anything into the suction line that was in any way, shape, or form not a suction tip (no drains, chest tubes, etc.).

Edited to add:

My facility uses the Neptune 2, which was the one for weighing medical necessity for continued use. We don't use the other two types (Neptune 1 Silver or Neptune 2 Ultra), which don't have the FDA approval.

Link to story:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-25/stryker-recalls-neptune-devices-after-death-reported.html

[nursinadream]

Thanks for that link. I wasn't aware of a recall. I've seen them everywhere still in use.

[ORoxyO]

We were educated about not using it on chest tubes etc....not that I ever would.

[kimwomackrnbsn]

Yes, we find the neptunes to be "noise pollution" and do not even realize it until we turn it off! I don't know what we would do without them but that is something that stryker should address with the newer generations.

[ChristineAdrianaRN, BSN, RN]

We were also educated on not hooking it up to chest tubes (DUH), but it has been taken away from us and we haven't gotten it back yet. If I cared more I might look into it, but I don't find the Neptune that particularly helpful (peds surgeries don't have as much irrigation and drainage, I guess).

[gwenfloyd]

all silvers are being recalled is how i heard it...so we are going to have to buy all new ones....gold is what we are budgeting for....

[krwrnbsn]

Not being recalled you just have to do a "special inservice" and attach a warning sticker onto the Neptune.