ALERT: Can suction supplies be reused for children with tracheostomies?
Connected Care Quick Hits are up to date and evidence based recommendations for the care of children with medical complexity & technology dependence, from hospital to home.
ALERT: Can suction supplies be reused for children with tracheostomies?
SITUATION:
This QuickHit was informed by inquiries from home and community care providers related to discarding catheters and tips for tracheostomy suctioning at home.
BACKGROUND:
Tracheostomy suctioning is indicated for children with artificial airways to:
remove secretions from the child's upper airway
maintain a patent upper airway and prevent obstruction
avoid aspiration of food and/or liquid from the upper airway
Reusing supplies for tracheostomy suctioning such as catheters, tips and rinse cups can lead to cross-contamination and serious infection. It is recommended that all suction catheters and tips be discarded after each tracheostomy suction session to reduce bacterial growth.
ASSESSMENT:
When caring for a child with a tracheostomy, ensure that suction supplies are checked, cleaned, and replaced at the following intervals or as needed.
RECOMMENDATION:
Connected Care recommends the following be considered when performing suctioning on a child with a tracheostomy in home and community:
At the start of a shift:
Perform a safety check to assess all equipment is functioning and emergency tracheostomy supplies are accessible.
Ensure that you have the appropriate size suction catheters based on the child’s tracheostomy size (the same size and one size smaller).
Throughout a shift:
Use suction catheters and tips only once, if possible, and discard them after use. If reused during an episode of frequent suctioning, rinse in between passes if the secretions are thick and coating the suction tubing.
The standard of practice in hospital is to discard suction catheters and tips after each use; however, there are different financial and infection control considerations in the home environment. When family caregivers and homecare providers choose to reuse suction catheters, we suggest that their reuse be limited to not more than one hour, before they are discarded.
Once a shift:
Wash the suction canister with warm, soapy water and rinse well. Leave a small amount of water at the bottom of the canister to prevent secretions from sticking to the canister.
Ensure that supplies are stocked appropriately. Partner with family to reorder supplies from their respiratory vendor as needed (e.g., Medigas, ProResp, SickKids Shoppers Drug Mart)
As needed:
Review the AboutKidsHealth articles about secretions and suctioning for children with tracheostomies
Have a Question? Initiate a Consult!
