Surgical Airway Suctioning

Overview

4.6 out of 5 (41 Reviews)

Credits

1.00

Pharmacology Credits

0.0

Post-Assessment Questions

9

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

22 Apr 2025

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

60 Minutes


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Activity Description

Surgical airway suctioning is a vital procedure for clearing secretions from the upper and lower respiratory tracts in patients who cannot maintain airway patency independently. Indications include artificial airways, neuromuscular disorders, altered consciousness, excessive secretions, and aspiration risk. The procedure requires specialized equipment, including suction catheters, oxygen delivery systems, and monitoring devices, as well as strict adherence to sterile techniques and the use of personal protective equipment to minimize the risk of infection. Clinicians must skillfully select the appropriate catheter size, adjust suction pressure, and time the procedure appropriately while closely monitoring the patient's responses throughout the process. These steps help prevent complications such as mucosal trauma, hypoxia, and bradycardia. Effective suctioning is essential for preventing airway obstruction, enhancing oxygenation, and reducing infection and ventilator-related complications, particularly in patients with artificial airways or impaired secretion clearance due to sedation, neuromuscular diseases, or altered mental status. 

This activity provides a comprehensive review of the indications, techniques, and safety protocols for surgical airway suctioning, with an emphasis on preoxygenation, sterile technique, appropriate equipment selection, and continuous patient monitoring. This activity also reinforces best practices in infection prevention and patient monitoring, enabling clinicians to deliver safer and more effective respiratory care for critically ill or chronically ventilated patients. Additionally, this activity underscores the importance of interprofessional collaboration among healthcare providers, enhancing their ability to refine airway management skills and minimize procedural complications. This activity also reinforces evidence-based practices, including the use of as-needed rather than routine suctioning, to support individualized, patient-centered care.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Identify appropriate indications for surgical airway suctioning, including patients with artificial airways, neuromuscular disorders, and impaired secretion clearance.

  • Screen patients for risk factors that may require suctioning, such as excessive secretions, altered consciousness, or neuromuscular conditions.

  • Select the appropriate catheter size, suction pressure, and equipment for each patient based on their airway size, age, and condition to minimize risks and improve patient outcomes.

  • Collaborate with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to develop comprehensive care plans for patients requiring frequent suctioning, ensuring safe and effective airway management.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Nurse Practitioners: StatPearls designates this activity for 1.00 ANCC contact hour(s), which includes 0 hour(s) of pharmacology. NPs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the FDA. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

Reviews

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Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6711 CE activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 7981.5 hours of CE.

6 Month Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE activities in all specialties.

$199 per half year per user

1 Year Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE activities in all specialties.

$299 per 1 year per user