Sooner or later, every nurse must suction a patient. For nurses who work in intensive care units or emergency care, or who support patients with spinal cord injuries, suctioning may be a daily part of the job. When suctioning becomes routine, it’s easy to lose sight of the risks. Some simple precautionary measures can both reduce risk and improve patient outcomes.

Suctioning can prevent a wide range of severe complications and save lives in emergencies. But like all medical procedures, it carries some risks. One analysis found a complication rate of 38.6% in routine endotracheal suctioning, though a less invasive procedure reduced complications to 28.6%. However, small changes in technique, such as appropriately pre-oxygenating patients before suctioning, can reduce the risk of complications. Most common suctioning side effects are preventable. Here are the strategies your agency can implement today to improve patient safety. 

Respiratory failure and respiratory distress are both medical emergencies that demand prompt treatment and present special dangers to vulnerable groups such as children, elders, and people with chronic illnesses. Respiratory distress, for example, affects about 1% of newborns and is the leading cause of death in neonates born prematurely.

Routine suctioning at birth has been the standard of care for newborns for decades. However, evidence calls this practice into question, and many hospitals are moving away from it. But this doesn’t mean that suctioning is obsolete. Newborns in respiratory distress, those with low Apgar scores, and those struggling with the transition from fetus to newborn may still need bulb suctioning, or occasionally, suctioning with a machine. Here are five things you need to know about suctioning newborns.

For many, there is nothing more beautiful than watching Mother Nature in action. Witnessing the power of 30-foot waves crashing against the beach or taking a boat down a winding river while it cuts its way through a valley can be an amazing experience. Unfortunately, sometimes that power manifests itself as a natural disaster. The following is an overview of four types of natural disasters and the specific injuries usually encountered by a hospital.

Although many first responders express reservations about airway suctioning, it is a potentially life-saving procedure that when performed correctly has a low risk of complications. With both cold and flu season and allergies causing year-round respiratory issues, it is always a great time for first responders to brush up on their airway management skills. Continuing education classes and regular drills can prepare you to manage even difficult airways. It’s equally important to be mindful of the main complications of suctioning. Awareness of these potential complications can guide your technique while encouraging your team to remain vigilant and diligent.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs when blood oxygen levels drop too low because fluid has accumulated in the lungs. Numerous medical conditions, both acute and chronic, can cause ARDS. Often, a first responder or doctor hears wheezing or crackling sounds coming from the lungs. When the lungs are clear, this usually signals a hematologic, metabolic, or obstructive process. Here’s what you need to know about diagnosing and treating the cause.

The call came in as a “child down.” No other information was available. As your unit races to the scene, you do a quick mental inventory of the equipment you may need: pedi bag, airway bag, spinal immobilization, trauma bag. As with any emergency, your pulse is racing, but when the call involves a child, there is always an added layer of stress. Is your equipment ready? Did you inventory the pedi bag this morning? Can you recall the drug dosages, in case the child is in full arrest? A million questions flash through your mind.

School is in session, and medical emergencies in school are common – 10% to 15% of students have special medical needs or a chronic health issue—yet many schools are unprepared to manage them. 

Your suction machine is an unassuming but key ingredient in your emergency preparedness kit, allowing you to help patients remain comfortable, reduce their risk of serious airway complications, and – in some cases – save their lives.