Suctioning

[Zoe's Mom]

Do you suction on the way in and on the way out, or do you insert the catherter and only suction on the way out?

One of my nurses only suctions on the way out. She says she was told suctioning both ways could cause damage. All of my other nurses, and myself, suction on the way in and on the way out.

Just curious,
Lora

[Ann]

Both - in and out. If you only suction to just below the end of the trach tube - not sure how you can cause damage since the suction catheter is in the tube not the trachea http://www.tracheostomy.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[3forme]

We were told only to suction on the way out. I don't think I have seen any of my nurses do in and out.

[Jacob's Mom]

I do both. Actually, I suction intermittently going both in and out.

[twintotwin]

We were taught to sx on the way out, but I do in and out. I think it's quicker and more effective.

Once I was told that you should twist the catheter while sx'ing so it doesn't cause damage. The way it was explained it made perfect sense. I'm not sure how often I actually do it though.

Kerry

[Doug-Iowa]

We were taught and still only suction on the way out. I have found the most important thing to suctioning with a cath is the speed you move it. I spin it in my fingers to clean the walls of the trach also. I have found that removing it very slowly at times will help grab the bigger plugs just outside the trach tube inside the trachea.

I think the reasoning of not suctioning on the way in is for this reason. You are actually taking air from the lungs when suctioning. By only suctioning on the way out it is drawing less air from the lungs. I don't think it is near as big an issue with an older child as it is with an infant due to larger lung capacity.

[Johnny2005]

I just started learning how to suction John. Our nurse told us to suction on the way out otherwise, you can cause damage to the trach area.

[sandra]

I've heard that we should only suction on the way out, but I have found myself with my finger over the port on the way in at time. Sort of jumping the gun without thinking about it. We haven't had a problem.

[Zoe's Mom]

So then my question is, if you are one of the people who go in and out, do you hyperventilate before or bag after?

[Rachel0806]

We were taught only on the way out but I suction going in and out . Â*That way I don't have to go down as many times. Â*I also twist the cather on the way in and out. Â*I think everyone has a techinque.

We do hyperventalition only if she is sick or with breathing treatment. But when we do it, we do it before and after.

Rachel

[Ann]

No . . . but, Jack's a big kid now! However, even when he was a baby, we never bagged before or after suctioning. I suppose you just take your cues from your own child. Â*What works for one, may not work for another.

[Jacob's Mom]

We only bag Jacob before and after suctioning when he is sick. Jacob is also a big kid and suctioning is nothing to him - just like wiping his nose. He is even trying to do it himself now.

[Zoe's Mom]

We always have suctioned in and out, twisting, but never really spending too much time down there. We used to bag her afterwards when she was a peanut, but we don't anymore since she does fine afterwards. My nurse freaked me out yesterday telling me we were doing it wrong.

Thanks for the input!
Lora

[T-bone]

I have never heard of any of this, only on the way out business. Wow. I guess that I do both. On the way in and on the way out. I am not sure how it could cause damage, on the way in. Interesting, listening to how everyone else does it.
Teresa

[sandra]

We never bagged with suctioning, unless another problem was going on as well.

[madelyn and rynns mom]

Both, intermittently.

Kris http://www.tracheostomy.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[TeraNicole]

I suction on the way in and out but I dont go past the end of the trach tube. I'm with Ann, not sure how you can damage the trach area if you dont go outside the trach tube. : )

[Kara Beth's Mommy]

When we suction we always siction going in and coming out. I can not see as long as you are only suctioning in the trach tube how it could possibly damage anything. Do what you feel is best!
Rachel