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. 

 Trauma patients can be some of the most complex challenges you will encounter as a paramedic. Traumatic injury can take many forms, from penetration to blunt trauma to amputation. Assessing the trauma patient until you can turn them over to a trauma team. When trauma involves the trachea, your patient may be at serious risk. 

For every 100 Americans, about five made an emergency room visitto a community hospital in 2022. And this number doesn’t even include millions of hospital inpatient stays or outpatient procedures, further emphasizing the importance and challenge of providing quality care every time someone walks in or is wheeled in the door.  

Every nurse knows durable medical equipment doesn’t last forever.

When was the last time you kicked a hospital bed in frustration because the motor ground to a halt as you were elevating a patient’s head? Or you discovered an IV pump apparently quit working in the middle of the night, depriving your patient of vital hydration?

When equipment like aportable suction machineunexpectedly stops working, it can be more than a nuisance. It endangers patient safety. If you reach for a suction wand because your patient aspirated and you discover there’s no suction, there may be a bad outcome.

There is perhaps nothing more terrifying to new parents than breathing problems in an infant. Particularly among newborns, respiratory distress is a common and potentially life-threatening symptom. Key differences in the airways of infants and children make them more susceptible to certain respiratory problems. A keen understanding of upper airway anatomy can help you quickly and safely treat infants in respiratory distress. 

Endotracheal suctioning can reduce morbidity and mortality. But like all medical procedures, it carries a risk of complications, particularly when treating vulnerable patients or in the hands of inexperienced providers.  

 The patient has suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, and his blood pressure is dangerously low. You’ve covered the entry wound to prevent a sucking wound, but the patient is exhaling copious bloody froth. You successfully intubate the patient and are bagging, with good chest rise, but the bloody froth continues to interfere with air exchange. It’s time to suction the tube.  

 Every patient is unique, and expert airway management demands a critical, creative, adaptive approach. However, first responders should follow established protocols and guidelines to get the best results. A simple algorithm can help guide decision-making in airway management while still allowing room for flexible problem-solving. Follow these guidelines to speed up treatment and reduce errors if you encounter a difficult airway: 

 Those of us in the medical profession know how important quality equipment is to overall patient care. We are only as good as our equipment; if it doesn't function well, it's hard for us to do our best.  

When faced with the challenge of transporting someone in respiratory distress, emergency responders should be able to identify the symptoms and remain prepared to spring into action with the right procedures and equipment.