DeVilbiss pressure wrong?

Ainsley's Mom · #1 07-09-2007, 08:07 PM

Hi,
I just saw something that's making me second guess what we've been doing. I tried to get ahold of the respiratory therapist today at our DME but no luck, so please help. What should the suction pressure be at when your thumb is ON the catheter? (I think it's been at about 200 with the thumb or 100 without)

Now I'm all worried. Could having the pressure too high cause swelling in the upper airway (the false vocal cords)? Ainsley still has no air leak. Cannot get air for even a few seconds when capped. And she's still on the tiny 3.0 Neo Shiley she got when she was less than half the size she is now. It's been three weeks since the NG came out. The otolaryngologist thought the swelling had to either be from the NG tube or reflux (which gastroenterology says isn't the problem). So I'm wondering if it could be the suctioning. What do you think?

Thanks,
Susan

faywrayy · #2 07-09-2007, 09:38 PM

We have a Vacumax suction, and ours is set to be 100 when we have thumb on catheter. I have no idea if the amount of suction could affect anything. How big is Ainsley now? Kate's in a 3.5 Neo Bivona, and she's 9 mos old, 17lbs 8 oz. It's the same size they gave her originally, and she's got a nice air leak now.

Hope that helps and good luck.

Mom2TwinsPlus1 · #3 07-09-2007, 10:42 PM

We don't use that brand either but we were told to adjust the suction as we saw fit to get her suctioned correctly. If she is having thicker secrections we crank ours up sometimes. I was never told a number at all to go by

drct1245 · #4 07-10-2007, 12:38 AM

We too use the DevilBliss and the setting s/b at 80-100 when you have the suction catheter in and using your thumb. I say using the suction catheter b/c if I remember right when setting it up we didn't use a suction catheter the first time and it was off. I don't know what the cause/effect of everything is, but that is how we were told to set it up.
Hope this helps some

Dawn

Kate · #5 07-10-2007, 08:47 AM

We use that machine. We had it on 100-120 when Mitchell was a baby. Now we have it anywhere from 100-200 but never over that. The thing w/those machines is they are hard to get them set at that low level. Ours says 0 when we turn it on and then w/thumb on the sucker it goes to 100-200. Mitchell is now 2 1/2 years. Actually, that video that Cindy put up has what it should be at. And I believe it is the same machine.

Becky · #6 07-10-2007, 10:56 AM

I have the Devlibiss machine too. I actually had to turn it and on look at where the needle went, I didn't know the numbers off hand. When I turn it on the needle hovers around 0, when I cover the thumb port on the suction catheter it goes been 100-200. I did notice that when I actually suction the gunk out of my trach it goes up as high as 300. I guess I like a lot of suction!

Becky

Ainsley's Mom · #7 07-10-2007, 12:19 PM

Katie,
Yeah, it was that video that got me worried. It said 100 with the thumb on and that is substantially lower (and less effective) than what we'd been doing. I think perhaps we've had it a bit too high.

Could the effect of a higher suction pressure cause swelling of those false vocal cords or is that just crazy? Anyone want to take a guess? Should I call the doctor?

Susan

JWorthington · #8 07-10-2007, 12:31 PM

We have the Devilbiss too and we only go up to a max of 120 with Sam (though he is 4 years old). The way I control it is by only suctioning for about 10-20 seconds before taking my thumb off, then I cover the hole with my thumb again to suction more if I need too.
Juliex

Also, another tip - we had a problem getting our machine to suction at less than 400 - turns out the connection on the lid was not on properly

drct1245 · #9 07-10-2007, 12:51 PM

We too have pressure problems too... sometimes w/ the vibration, the little nob moves itself. I tell the nurses to check the presssure at least once a day. We too check it at night as well. Most of the time something has loosened somewhere between the connection to the machine and the canister. Or if you NO suction, make sure the filter is on correctly.
The one thing I hate about that suction machine!

Kate · #10 07-10-2007, 02:53 PM

As far as going to the dr or calling--do you have an upcoming appointment for something? I'd just make sure it is turned down and then talk to the dr the next time you are in. (write it down or you'll forget--or at least I would) I don't know that if it did cause the swelling, there isn't anything they could do except tell you to turn down the pressure. My guess is that it isn't because the vocal cords are above the trach-if anything it would cause issues to the lungs or right below where the trach is. I don't know though--it really is just a guess.