The passages of the respiratory tract produce secretions that help with air movement and cleansing of impurities from the air. Some conditions make it difficult for clients to effectively cough out excess secretions that build up within the respiratory tract. Fatigue, muscle atrophy, nerve impairment, and muscle damage can prevent clients from effectively clearing their own airways; it might be necessary for the health care provider to remove secretions by aspirating with a suctioning device. This responsibility can be left to the nurse. Suctioning provides increased comfort for the client, clears the air passages, helps ease the work of breathing, and improves oxygenation. Always follow your facility's policy for suctioning. Some guidelines to safely suction a client's airway include the following:
- Limit the amount of time the suction is applied because oxygen-rich air is also removed with the secretions. Suctioning for too long may result in hypoxia, a severe oxygen deficiency.
- When suctioning a client, use PPE with aseptic technique to prevent disease transmission.
- If suctioning via the nose, assess the nasal passages for patency and/or obstruction. Gather a history from the client to find out previous problems, like a deviated septum or polyps.
- Suction should be applied when withdrawing the catheter. Never apply suction when the catheter is being inserted.