Suction Equipment in Resp Arrest

Published

Specializes in ER/Critical Care.

I have recently become a member of a Code Team and have experienced multiple occasions where the wall suction was not available during a resp/full arrest. The physicians are never satisfied with the portable machine (suction is too weak) and wall suction has to be set up. The situations are always chaotic, crowded and it seems to take forever to find the suction equipment and get it going. Ideally, suction would be available in every room but that is not going to happen. I requested putting a regulator and suction setup in the bottom of each crash cart---but was told this was too expensive (huge hospital with multiple carts). Does anyone have any ideas, past experience, solutions to this problem that would be feasible, user-friendly as well as cost effective?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree, most portable suction units are a joke! Check out www.galls.com or google some other EMS supplier. There are quite a few manual suction devices out there that work great! Most are single Pt. use and are not all that expensive. Also check out http://www.savelives.com/products/cat/4/sub/4/Suction in fact, check them out first, I've used the ResQvac and the Vvac in the field and they've proven very effective.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SOME PRIMARY NURSING BUT STAFF THERAPIST.

Our hospital has at least one sx units in each room and on the cart. Risk management had reached the conclusion that it is better to meet current standards of care rather than have to answer in court about the deficiency

Posted by: vh1817

I have recently become a member of a Code Team and have experienced multiple occasions where the wall suction was not available during a resp/full arrest. The physicians are never satisfied with the portable machine (suction is too weak) and wall suction has to be set up. The situations are always chaotic, crowded and it seems to take forever to find the suction equipment and get it going. Ideally, suction would be available in every room but that is not going to happen. I requested putting a regulator and suction setup in the bottom of each crash cart---but was told this was too expensive (huge hospital with multiple carts). Does anyone have any ideas, past experience, solutions to this problem that would be feasible, user-friendly as well as cost effective?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Suction regulators and cannisters should be set up in every room no matter what the cost in acute care settings. (my opinion anyway)

Second best, present on every crash cart. I can't understand how the hospital can even think otherwise.

Wish I had other ideas for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have recently become a member of a Code Team and have experienced multiple occasions where the wall suction was not available during a resp/full arrest. The physicians are never satisfied with the portable machine (suction is too weak) and wall suction has to be set up. The situations are always chaotic, crowded and it seems to take forever to find the suction equipment and get it going. Ideally, suction would be available in every room but that is not going to happen. I requested putting a regulator and suction setup in the bottom of each crash cart---but was told this was too expensive (huge hospital with multiple carts). Does anyone have any ideas, past experience, solutions to this problem that would be feasible, user-friendly as well as cost effective?

I'm confused: are wall units available at all? You mention having to go and set up wall suction so I'm guessing yes but you say that suction in every room isn't going to happen. Sorry, it's 4am and my mind has taken a break.

If it is available, then you need to communicate with NM that the floor needs to routinely check if the proper equipment is there and ready to go. As an aide, I do this every shift I work. I take everything you might need in a code (besides the crash cart:lol2:), such as O2 tubing, suction canisters, suction tubing, CPR masks, etc on a cart and push it from room to room. Waaay too much time is wasted looking for something that should be there in a code.

If wall suction isn't possible then I would go up the chain of command and present your problem, concerns, and solution. Go to the dr's and talk to them. Maybe then management will see that it's just not you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

It's too expensive to put a suction set up in every cart? Are they kidding?

If they have an intubation set up in the cart suction should be included, or already in every room.

why is something so obvious so hard to grasp? (beats head on keyboard in frustration)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

we actually had this same problem at the hospital i used to work at. the suction equipment in the room was either not hooked up or full of gunk and had to be changed. apart from having a suction set up in the bottom drawer of the crash cart implemented, our hospital decided to start having housekeepers use a checklist. when a pt was d/c'd, they would clean the room and then restock the top drawer of their little dresser with a suction canister, NC, yankauer and connective tube. it was really helpful, esp. as a member of the code team, to not have to crawl on the floor to the bottom drawer of the crash cart and push through the crowd.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion