How to Optimize Suction Efficiency for a Patient with Thick Secretions?
What should the respiratory therapist do first to optimize suction efficiency for a patient with thick secretions?
A respiratory therapist is having difficulty effectively suctioning a patient's thick secretions. The patient is orally intubated with an 8.5-mm endotracheal tube and is being suctioned with a size 10 Fr catheter. Suction pressure at the wall is 100 mmHg when the catheter is completely occluded. What should the respiratory therapist do first to optimize suction efficiency?
Answer:
The respiratory therapist should switch to a size 12 Fr suction catheter.
To optimize suction efficiency for a patient with thick secretions who is orally intubated with an 8.5-mm endotracheal tube and currently being suctioned with a size 10 Fr catheter, the respiratory therapist should switch to a size 12 Fr suction catheter. Choosing a larger catheter size increases the catheter's ability to handle thicker secretions while ensuring suction pressure remains within safe limits.
Using a smaller catheter (size 8 Fr) will not be effective in handling thick secretions effectively. Increasing the suction pressure to 120 mmHg without changing the catheter size may not yield the desired results and can potentially harm the patient. A coude-tipped catheter, designed for specific situations like navigating around obstructions, may not be necessary in this case.