--- title: Suctioning Patients with Heart Disease description: it’s important to know how to identify the signs of heart disease and how to manage the airway of a cardiac patient. image: https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/Suctioning%20patients%20with%20heart%20disease.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/) - [HOME](https://www.sscor.com/) - [ABOUT US](https://www.sscor.com/who_are_we) - [PRODUCTS](https://www.sscor.com) - [CONTACT US](https://www.sscor.com/contact-sscor) ## **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   # [Suctioning Patients with Heart Disease](https://blog.sscor.com/suctioning-patients-with-heart-disease) Posted by [Sam D. Say](https://blog.sscor.com/author/sam-d-say) Jul 23, 2026 8:00:03 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/suctioning-patients-with-heart-disease#) 0 - [![Facebook Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2623658044-png/images/icons/fb-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/suctioning-patients-with-heart-disease#) 0 ![Suctioning patients with heart disease](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Suctioning%20patients%20with%20heart%20disease.jpg?width=870&name=Suctioning%20patients%20with%20heart%20disease.jpg) It’s 3:00 a.m., and you’ve just arrived at the home of a woman in her early 70s. She told the dispatcher that her husband was feeling a bit of discomfort in his chest and got up to go to the bathroom several minutes ago. She heard him fall in the hallway and found him unresponsive. You’re informed that he has a history of high blood pressure and has been a smoker for over 50 years, alerting you to the possibility that he had a heart attack.    Cardiovascular conditions often cause complications in airway management and suctioning. With heart disease accounting for [one in every three deaths](https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html), it’s vital to know how to identify the signs of heart disease and how to manage the airway of a cardiac patient.   [![New: Ultimate Guide To Purchasing A Portable Emergency Suction Device](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/55c49bab-8acd-48d9-a274-d480a9b3e678.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/55c49bab-8acd-48d9-a274-d480a9b3e678) ### **Common Heart Problems** While there are many cardiovascular diseases or events a patient can suffer from, three of the most common in the United States are: - Heart Attack (a blockage of blood flow to the heart) - Stroke (a decrease or blockage in the brain’s blood supply) - Arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat) These conditions can cause serious complications for a patient and make airway management more difficult, so it’s important to know how each condition presents itself. **Heart Attack **[Heart attack symptoms](https://www.secondscount.org/condition/heart-attack/symptoms?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=32240095&gbraid=0AAAAAD7L5bXZUNduso8ESOCI_RoqRiD2m&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi8nRBhDhARIsAHZf_pY2iYeUNMHAlJucR941DQ7QI8plcw3A9PS-aeaJ7AG8ANqp6E75x-gaAmHgEALw_wcB) usually occur suddenly and may come and go. Some symptoms include: - Chest pain, discomfort, or pressure - Radiating discomfort to the arms, neck, back, jaw, or abdomen - Shortness of breath - Pale, cool, sweaty skin - Nausea or vomiting - Unexplained fatigue - Dizziness or fainting If a heart attack is suspected, you should perform an electrocardiogram (EKG) to check the patient’s heart rhythm. A heart attack can quickly lead to [cardiac arrest](https://blog.sscor.com/how-to-suction-a-patient-that-is-in-cardiac-arrest), so you must quickly diagnose the patient, provide care, and transport them to a hospital. ** Stroke **The [signs of a stroke](https://www.snhhealth.org/about-us/about-snhh/news-and-articles/am-i-having-stroke-lesser-known-stroke-symptoms-you-should-never-ignore?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23683979927&gbraid=0AAAABBKxaglAqL-b19d0mhoauyEh2P0J5&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi8nRBhDhARIsAHZf_pag5TZRSoLZA3DLHHrwRLExABYi5TV9a8zlwCtJPGHC3LU8tLPq2MoaAmrCEALw_wcB) are often subtle and may at first go unnoticed by the patient and family. However, immediate recognition and treatment are essential in reducing the chances of a stroke victim suffering from disability or death. While there are several types of strokes, general symptoms include: - Facial droop - Difficulty or inability to speak - Numbness to the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body - Weakness – especially on one side of the body - Confusion - Loss of balance and coordination - Incontinence In your diagnosis of the patient, you must determine the time when the symptoms began, as disabilities from a stroke can become irreversible in a matter of hours. **Arrhythmia ** [Arrhythmia](https://yourhealth.methodisthealth.org/blog/treating-irregular-heartbeat-newest-heart-procedure-performed-at-methodist-le-bonheur-healthcare?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19774614859&gbraid=0AAAAADwaO2_V-NsRSz4LZZoe-dWAA5icq&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi8nRBhDhARIsAHZf_pbkQjs9HrSk-GDonjxveTQhtsf796fhCrBN12iibmwhmJ-3VPY0Iw8aAtBFEALw_wcB) can be difficult to diagnose, as symptoms are hidden and include: - Palpitations - Pounding in the chest - Dizziness or lightheadedness - Shortness of breath - Chest discomfort - Weakness or fatigue As with heart attacks, an EKG is the most effective way to diagnose arrhythmia. This condition should be taken seriously when surveying a patient, and a high degree of suspicion should be maintained, as arrhythmia can lead to a heart attack or cardiac arrest. [![Guide: Portable Emergency Suction: A Critial Tool In Avoiding Aspiration Pneumonia](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/2f1501c2-bb40-46f8-a1de-c029ad5be75b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/2f1501c2-bb40-46f8-a1de-c029ad5be75b) **Suctioning a Patient with Heart Problems ** The most important thing to know when treating patients with heart problems is that oxygenation is vital, as heart disease causes mild reductions in oxygen saturation at best and severe desaturation at worst. Airway management may be difficult, as intubation and suctioning may cause or worsen arrhythmia or hypoxia. As a result, cardiac patients should be placed in a lateral recumbent position to reduce the risk of aspiration. However, if intubation and suctioning are necessary, don’t stop the oxygenation process. Preoxygenate both before suctioning and in between each suctioning session. Additionally, try to[avoid suctioning for longer than 15 consecutive seconds](https://blog.sscor.com/how-to-avoid-the-most-common-complications-of-suctioning). Exceeding this time increases the risk of hypoxia, cardiovascular arrest and worsened arrhythmia – a potentially deadly combination when working with a patient already suffering from a heart problem. To minimize risk to the patient, you should use a catheter that has a large inner diameter, such as the [SSCOR SDC Catheter](https://www.sscor.com/ducanto_catheter?hsLang=en)™ (Formerly the SSCOR DuCanto Catheter®). This prevents clogging and allows airway contaminants to be cleared quickly, reducing the amount of time spent suctioning. This should be paired with a [portable suction unit](https://www.sscor.com/quickdraw_portable_suction_unit?hsLang=en) that fits in your airway bag and is available for use at a moment’s notice. When treating patients with heart disease, it’s often seconds, rather than minutes, that make the difference in patient outcomes. This necessitates swift action but also a knowledge of the correct action to take. While heart problems are potentially difficult to diagnose and present challenges to suctioning, the proper knowledge and training will help you provide cardiac patients with effective treatment, optimizing the chances of a successful outcome.   *Editor's Note: This blog was originally published in March, 2024. It has been re-published with additional up to date content.*    [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/89106bb6-692f-4073-8d75-7708d7e13cbc.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/89106bb6-692f-4073-8d75-7708d7e13cbc) ![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. 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