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Critical Care Watch Out Notice
Watch Out for...Wrong length in-‐line
suction cathetersWhat Happened?
The Facts:
Protect Your Patients:
Watch Out Notice: 13 Date: 15 December 2016 Produced By: Critical Care Governance Group Authors: S Calvert, N Tarmey
• We stock in-‐line suction catheters in two different lengths:-‐ 365mm in-‐line catheters are for tracheostomies (numbered to 20cm on tubing)
-‐ 580mm in-‐line catheters are for endotracheal tubes (numbered to 40cm on tubing)
• Using the wrong length of catheter can cause ineffective suction (if too short) or injury to airways (if too long).
• Check your patient has the correct suction catheter:-‐ whenever you set up or check the breathing circuit.-‐ whenever you have difficulty clearing secretions.
Academic Department of Critical Care | Queen Alexandra Hospital Portsmouth
A patient who was intubated orally had a tracheostomy-‐
length (365mm) inline suction catheter fitted.
Sputum clearance was ineffective, because the
catheter did not reach the end of the tube or stimulate the
cough reflex.
The catheter was replaced with the correct length
(580mm) ETT catheter and sputum clearance improved.