--- title: The Case For Suction When Transporting Patients With Airway Trauma description: Our article includes use cases for suction when transporting patients with airway trauma. Here's what you should know: image: https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/In-Situ_Simulation_in_Ongoing_Resuscitation_Training_.jpg --- [![dark-header.jpg](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hub/212347/file-1107077240.jpg?width=940&name=file-1107077240.jpg "dark-header.jpg")](https://www.sscor.com/) ## **Thank you for visiting the SSCOR Blog.** Whether you're in a Hospital or EMS setting, this is the place for you. We'll share information on current industry news, tips, as well as the latest and greatest in SSCOR products. Our hope is that this blog is not only informative but a collaborative and open forum for you to share your thoughts on developing opportunities and challenges within your profession. Subscribe. Share your thoughts. Enjoy. -SSCOR Team   # [The Case For Suction When Transporting Patients With Airway Trauma](https://blog.sscor.com/suction-when-transporting-patients-with-airway-trauma) Posted by [Sam D. Say](https://blog.sscor.com/author/sam-d-say) Nov 18, 2015 4:30:00 AM 4 min read - [![LinkedIn Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2628248555-png/images/icons/linkedin-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/suction-when-transporting-patients-with-airway-trauma#) 0 - [![Facebook Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2623658044-png/images/icons/fb-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/suction-when-transporting-patients-with-airway-trauma#) 0 ![In-Situ_Simulation_in_Ongoing_Resuscitation_Training_.jpg](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/In-Situ_Simulation_in_Ongoing_Resuscitation_Training_.jpg?width=704&height=469&name=In-Situ_Simulation_in_Ongoing_Resuscitation_Training_.jpg "In-Situ_Simulation_in_Ongoing_Resuscitation_Training_.jpg") The call was to a shooting; no other information was provided. You arrive to find a gunshot wound to the mouth, self-inflicted, the shotgun still warm, the patient still conscious. A last minute flinch sent the blast careening through the patient’s cheek – a survivable wound, if you can keep the airway clear. But with heavy bleeding and massive tissue destruction, maintaining a patent airway is going to be tricky. You better have your suction ready.   Trauma patients are always complicated. Even with an isolated wound, the ripple effects of traumatic injury can produce hidden dangers for your patient. So let’s discuss some of the factors involved in suctioning the patient with a traumatically injured airway. It begins with your equipment. **** **** ### **Equipment Readiness:** 1. Always begin with an efficient, reliable[portable suction device](https://www.sscor.com/EMS_suction_products.html). It should have large, easy to read [dials](https://www.sscor.com/S-SCORT_VX2_Option_portable_ems_suction.html) that can be manipulated in the tight confines of emergency scenes and be powerful enough to handle an exsanguinating patient. 2. Make sure your equipment is fully charged and ready to go. 3. Check your equipment daily, to insure that you have an assortment of [tips](https://www.sscor.com/S3_oropharyngeal_evacuation_tool.html) and that the unit is running properly. **** **** ### **Special Considerations in the Trauma Patient** Trauma patients are complicated. Unlike cardiac or diabetic emergencies, trauma can involve any and all bodily systems. And when trauma impacts the airway, it adds another level of complexity to your treatment regime. Blood, tissue, mucous, and vomit may be profuse in traumatic injuries. Suctioning may be your only option to clear an injured airway, so here are a few things to keep in mind: **** **** - **Patient positioning** – the majority of trauma patients will involve spinal immobilization, which severely limits positioning to clear the airway. Once the patient is securely packaged, the board can be tilted to accommodate drainage and aid in suctioning.   - **Airway positioning** – when cervical injuries are suspected, which they should be in any type of blunt trauma or trauma above the level of the clavicles, use the ‘chin lift’ or ‘jaw thrust’ to keep the airway open while suctioning and until an oral airway can be inserted.   - **Airway limitations **– with traumatic injuries, the use of adjuncts may be limited due to destruction of the oral cavity or lack of visibility due to heavy bleeding/tissue damage. Suction may be your only option to keep the airway clear. **** **** ### **Monitoring Your Patient during Suction** [Suctioning](https://www.sscor.com/dcell_suction_hospital_aspirator.html), like any intervention, is a treatment that requires care and attention. And like any treatment, it comes with risk. Carefully monitor your patient as you suction the airway, for complications can arise. Here are a few reminders about basic suctioning. Not everything on the list is possible if the patient’s airway is severely traumatized or the flow of blood and fluid is overwhelming, but it represents good, basic practice: **** **** - Preoxygenate your patient using 100% oxygen for at least 30 seconds prior to suctioning   - Position the patient cautiously, maintaining spinal immobilization when necessary   - Limit suctioning to ten seconds or less, to prevent hypoxia   - Monitor the EKG for dysrhythmias, signs of ischemia, or rate changes that may result from suctioning   - Use pulse oximetry to monitor oxygen saturation levels   - Check blood pressure often and regularly   - Monitor end-tidal CO2 through Capnography   - Keep the defibrillator handy, just in case   Suction is one of the most basic, yet essential means of managing the airway. And when it comes to traumatic injuries, it may be one of the few [options](https://www.sscor.com/EMS_suction_products.html) available. Remember, there are no absolute contraindications for suctioning in patients requiring clearing of the airway, so be sure your equipment is ready, your patient prepped, and you remain vigilant throughout the suctioning treatment.   [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/8e055f81-2888-4b32-b4c3-0ff5bc341a81.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/8e055f81-2888-4b32-b4c3-0ff5bc341a81) Topics: [Patient Transport](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/patient-transport) ![Author Photo](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SDS2-648378-edited.jpg?width=70&name=SDS2-648378-edited.jpg) ## AboutSam D. Say Sam D. Say is owner and CEO of SSCOR, Inc., a medical device manufacturer specializing in emergency battery operated portable suction devices for the hospital and pre-hospital settings. Mr. Say has been involved in developing product for healthcare providers for over 35 years. His passions include contributing to the management of the patient airway and providing solutions that save lives in difficult conditions. Search #### Most Popular Articles ### Post by Topic - [Medical Suction (103)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-suction) - [Airway management (102)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/airway-management) - [Emergency Preparedness (92)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/emergency-preparedness) - [Emergency medical suction (73)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/emergency-medical-suction) - [Portable suction for hospitals (34)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/portable-suction-for-hospitals) - [EMS suction (27)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/ems-suction) - [Handheld portable suction (26)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/handheld-portable-suction) - [Suction for EMS professionals (24)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/suction-for-ems-professionals) - [Respiratory (19)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/respiratory) - [medical scenarios (17)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-scenarios) - [portable suction (16)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/portable-suction) - [Battery-powered suction (15)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/battery-powered-suction) - [EMS Professionals (15)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/ems-professionals) - [airway obstruction (15)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/airway-obstruction) - [Hospital disaster preparation (14)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/hospital-disaster-preparation) - [respiratory assessment (13)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/respiratory-assessment) - [Intubation (10)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/intubation) - [Pediatric Suction (10)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/pediatric-suction) - [Medical Suction for Dental (9)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-suction-for-dental) - [Tactical trauma kit (7)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/tactical-trauma-kit) - [Crash Cart Supplies (6)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/crash-cart-supplies) - [Trauma (6)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/trauma) - [emt scenarios (6)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/emt-scenarios) - [Diseases & Infections (5)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/diseases-infections) - [aspiration pneumonia (5)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/aspiration-pneumonia) - [Aspiration (4)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/aspiration) - [Patient Transport (4)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/patient-transport) - [ambulance safety (4)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/ambulance-safety) - [Anaphylaxis (3)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/anaphylaxis) - [Suction Catheter (3)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/suction-catheter) - [nasotracheal intubation (3)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/nasotracheal-intubation) - [CDC (2)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/cdc) - [Medical Suction for Drowning (2)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-suction-for-drowning) - [Tactical medical bag (1)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/tactical-medical-bag) - [medical devices (1)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-devices) - [rapid sequence intubation (1)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/rapid-sequence-intubation) [see all](https://blog.sscor.com/suction-when-transporting-patients-with-airway-trauma#) [![subscribe_to_sscor_blog](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/1209b5e9-2bd5-461c-9673-0f13ab98cab8.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/1209b5e9-2bd5-461c-9673-0f13ab98cab8) [![Aspirator_test_kit_sscor_suction](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/09b997f8-6c33-450c-9e98-6ea0f907f383.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/09b997f8-6c33-450c-9e98-6ea0f907f383) [![determining_contents_of_first_in_bag_guide_for_paramedics](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/03d28100-2a96-4c68-93d1-3e06a3b91cad.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/03d28100-2a96-4c68-93d1-3e06a3b91cad) - [![DUET-B-Front-370px](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DUET-B-Front-370px.png "DUET-B-Front-370px")](https://www.sscor.com/duet_suction_unit_retention_bracket_portable_aspirator) - [![Duet Bracket Back with bracket](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DUETBB-back-370px.png "Duet Bracket Back with bracket")](https://www.sscor.com/duet_suction_unit_retention_bracket_portable_aspirator) - [![S-SCORT III Front](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/S-SCORT3-front-370px.png "S-SCORT III Front")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_iii_suction_unit) - [![S-SCORT-III3-control-panel](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/S-SCORT3-control-panel-370px.png "S-SCORT-III3-control-panel")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_iii_suction_unit) - [![VX2-B-font](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/VX2-B-font-370px.png "VX2-B-font")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_vx2_option_portable_ems_suction) - [![VX-2 Bracket Back with Bracket](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/VX2BB-Back-370px.png "VX-2 Bracket Back with Bracket")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_vx2_option_portable_ems_suction) - [![Quickdraw Front](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/Quickdraw-370px.png "Quickdraw Front")](https://www.sscor.com/quickdraw_portable_suction_unit) - [![DCELL-front-angle](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DCELL-front-angle-370px.png "DCELL-front-angle")](https://www.sscor.com/dcell_suction_hospital_aspirator) - [![DCELL-back](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DCELL-back-370px.png "DCELL-back")](https://www.sscor.com/dcell_suction_hospital_aspirator) ### Follow us on social media: ## SSCOR Clearing The Airway Is Our #1 Priority **Company** [SSCOR Website](https://www.sscor.com/index.html) [About Us](https://www.sscor.com/who_are_we.html) [Contact Us](https://www.sscor.com/sales_support.html)   **Resources** [FAQ](https://www.sscor.com/Frequently-Asked-Questions.html) [Technical Support](https://www.sscor.com/technical-product-support.html) **Updates** [Upcoming Events](https://www.sscor.com/upcoming_events.html) *All data and information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. SSCOR, Inc. makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this blog and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.* Images and content of this blog are © 2023 SSCOR, Inc. All rights reserved.