Using suction tubing for oxygen delivery

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I had a scrub tech in the OR today connect a flexible suction tubing to the wall O2,then connected the other end to the patient's nasal cannula, he used the suction tubing as an extension tubing, I told him I was not comfortable with that. Please share your thoughts, knowledge, on this. My thoughts are : 1st issue being unintended use of the suction tubing, and 2nd being the risk of the suction tubing becoming occluded or kinked. I was trying to find any articles about this issue too, I have not found anything yet. thank you

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Specializes in Operating room..

I don't have an issue with this...it would become no more kinked than the NC tubing. I've had anesthesia do this for a "blow-by" before.

MereSanity BSN, RN, CNOR

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Suction tubing should never be used for oxygen. Patients have died in the past with this. The reason is it can be mistaken as suction instead of oxygen and hooked up to suction instead of O2.

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Specializes in Operating room..

Well, there you go. Probably the same people that hooked up chest tubes to the Neptune...lol. However when I disagree with a practice I always find that it helps to have documentation to prove my "theory". Otherwise it is just my word against someone else's. For instance I have gone to manufacturers web sites, gotten original operation manuals, checked AORN standards, etc. it just helps to be able to prove it on paper. Good luck!

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That is what I did, I showed him the manufacturer contraindications and approved use, but that didn't satisfy him. He is the same scrub that placed a chest tube vac on top of the patient,even though I told him it had to remain below the patient's chest.

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