Suction Machine
A suction machine, also called an aspirator, may be a variety of medical device that's primarily used for removing obstructions like mucus, saliva, blood, or secretions from a person’s airway. When a personal is unable to clear secretions because of a scarcity of consciousness or an ongoing process, suction machines help them breathe by maintaining a transparent airway.
In practice care professionals use suction machines as an integral a part of a treatment plan when a patient’s airway is partially or completely obstructed.
Some common uses include:
- Removing respiratory secretions
- Assisting a patient whom vomiting while seizing or unconscious
- Clearing blood from the airway
- Removing a remote substance from a patient’s windpipe and/or lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
Since suction machine can be used in the conjunction with other medical technologies to treat a variety of life-threatening conditions, aspirators have become a mainstay in both the pre-hospital and in-hospital settings.
Suctioning process
Suctioning is ‘the mechanical aspiration of pulmonary secretions from a patient with a man-made airway in place’. The procedure involves preparation of the patients , the suctioning event(s) and follow-up care. Suction is employed to clear retained or excessive lower tract secretions in patients who are unable to try and do so effectively for themselves. This might ensue to the presence of a synthetic airway, like an endotracheal or tracheostomy tube, or in patients who have a poor cough to an array of reasons like excessive sedation or neurological involvement. Having a synthetic airway in place impairs the cough reflex and should increase mucus production. Therefore, within the neonatal and paediatric ICU, suctioning of a synthetic airway is probably going to be the foremost common procedure.
Oropharangeal and nasopharangeal suction could be a technique intended to stimulate a cough to get rid of excess secretions and/or aspirate secretions from the airways that can’t be off from a patient’s own spontaneous effort. A cough is also stimulated by a catheter within pharynx (oropharangeal suction) or by passing a catheter between vocal cords and into trachea to stimulate a cough (nasopharangeal suction). The trachea is accessed by insertion of a suction catheter either via the nasal passage and pharynx (nasotracheal suction) or through the oral cavity and pharynx (orotracheal suction) using an airway adjunct. Nasotracheal suction is also undertaken directly via the nostril without an airway adjunct. However, in some situations, where repeated suction is anticipated and thus a nasopharyngeal airway should be utilised. Secretions are removed by the applying of sub-atmospheric pressure via wall mounted suction apparatus or portable suction unit.
The History of the Aspirator
The first conventional aspirator was introduced by a cardiologist whose name was Pierre Carl Edouard Potain in 1869. His aspirator was a manual machine that used a pump to empty abscesses and fluid build-up within the chest, with the goal of preventing failure. When the electricity became reliable, suction machines transitioned from manual devices to electrically powered devices. However, until the late 1970s, aspirators were extremely large and were often permanently affixed to a wall.
Types of aspirators
1) Manual Suction Devices
A manual suction device is any device that makes suction without the utilization of battery or electricity. Many hospitals and emergency management agencies have moved off from them because the suction they create is commonly unpredictable and inconsistent.
These devices generally work by squeezing a pump to make a vacuum. They’re often attached to large canisters. For a few of those devices, the strength of the suction is heavily keen about the speed at which you squeeze the pump. Smaller devices, like the bulbs accustomed clear the nostrils and mouths of new-borns, are considered manual suction devices.
2) Stationary suction machines
For decades, fixed (stationary) equipment was the most common machine because they were reliable, effective, and durable. However, their lack of portability has many shortcomings. Patients cannot be provided with stationary suction machines during transportation, and they can only provide emergency care within the four walls of the hospital.
3) Portable suction machines
Portable suction machines are becoming more and more popular due to advances in suction and battery technology. Portable suction devices are designed to be lightweight and more easy to be move or transport, making them perfect for patients and healthcare professionals.
Manual, stationary and portable vacuum cleaners find their place in a modern care environment. Each has its own strengths, and healthcare professionals can use various types of suction devices during different stages of treatment.
Common Uses for Suction Machines
Suction machines are often used when a patient has liquid or semi-solid blockages in the throat, windpipe, or other oral cavity. However, the ideal suction device may vary depending on the condition of the patient. Here are some scenarios in which patients or professionals might use a portable suction machine.
Ongoing Patient Care
Patients may be need the portable suction devices at home if they are unable to remove their own secretions for various reasons. This includes palliative care patients who find it difficult or impossible to evacuate their own secretions, people with chronic diseases (COPD, ALS, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, etc.) or patients who have had a tracheostomy.
Pre-hospital
Portable suction devices are very common in the preclinical setting because they play a crucial role in helping emergency services set up ABCs (airway, breathing, and circulation). In practice, pre-clinical service providers often use portable suction devices to treat a wide variety of patients. These include trauma victims with blood in the airways, victims of overdose with vomiting in the airways, and other victims who experience respiratory distress syndrome.
In-Hospital
Most hospitals have rooms equipped with fixed wall-mounted suction devices. Nursing teams often use stationary aspirators as part of standard procedures such as tracheostomies, sinus disease, and tonsillectomies. However, hospitals typically have some wearable devices for specific use cases. For example, if a patient needs an aspirator but there is no wall-mounted aspirator in the patient’s room, the care team will find and retrieve a portable aspirator instead of moving the patient to another room. Also, they are used to treat patients out of a room when hospitals are busy.
How Portable Suction Machines Work
Portable suction devices generate negative pressure that passes through a special plastic connecting tube, a so-called disposable catheter. The negative pressure creates a vacuum effect that draws blood, mucus, or similar secretions from the throat. The secretions are then automatically introduced into a collection container.
Portable suction devices rely on a number of key technologies to create negative pressure and remove secretions. Below is a list of the most common components within a suction machine.
Disposable or rechargeable batteries
The suction machines are built with powerful batteries to ensure they can provide suction capabilities when a reliable power source is not available.
Suction/vacuum pump
The vacuum pump is often located inside the aspirator. This causes negative pressure and is necessary for the suction machine to work.
Connection tubing
This connects the vacuum pump to the collecting tank. You should never touch the contents of the collection container.
Sterile patient tubing
The patient hose is connected to the suction tip and directs the patient’s secretions to the collection container. Sterile patient tubes must be disposed of properly after each suction session.
Disposable canister
The disposable container holds the patient’s secretions and often provides overflow protection in the event that the patient sucks in too much fluid. This container must be disposable to ensure that all parts of the suction machine remain sterile.
Power cord
Portable suction machines come with a power cord that can be used to charge the machine when you’re close to a power outlet.
Filters
Ideally, a disposable canister should withstand the use of bacteria / virus filters to prevent contamination within the internal components of the aspirator. Certain filters can also be used to protect against dangerous dust and gases that can damage the machine
Troubles in Suction machine
- LOW or NO pressure at end of Filter
- LOW or NO pressure at Regulator Port
- Machine is not plugged in or is not turned on.
- Suction pressure is not properly set
- LOW or NO pressure at Patient Port
- LOW or NO pressure at end of Suction Tubing