Suctioning your inner cannula

Get help with tracheostomy care and cleaning techniques and cleaning supply checklist.

Note

Always follow the directions from your doctor or hospital if they differ from the directions in this guide. Carefully review the applicable clinical guidelines with your doctor or home healthcare provider to determine the appropriate size suction catheter for your tube.

Before suctioning a fenestrated tube, make sure the fenestrated inner cannula is in place.

If you need to remove pooled secretions above the cuff, follow the instructions of your doctor or home healthcare provider.

Get started

How frequently you suction will be determined by need based on the amount of your secretions and by your doctor or home healthcare provider. What you will need:

Collection jar for secretions
Container for water
Gloves Sterile water or saline
Suction catheter
Suction machine

Suctioning steps

Follow this suctioning procedure only if directed by your doctor. Ask for help from your caregiver if needed.

Wash your hands

Put on gloves

Attach the suction catheter to the suction machine

Rinse the catheter by suctioning sterile water

Take 3 or 4 deep breaths

With your thumb off the thumb hole, gently insert the catheter into the tracheostomy tube until it reaches the end of the tube or until a cough is achieved

Cover the thumb hole on the catheter to suction

Slowly remove the catheter while rolling it between your thumb and forefinger. Also pulse the suctioning by covering and uncovering the thumb hole of the catheter.

(Start to finish, this process should take no longer than 10 seconds.)

If more suctioning is needed, rinse the catheter first and take another 3 to 4 deep breaths, then repeat the suctioning stage.

(Allow enough time between each catheter insertion for normal breathing.)

Look at the mucus you have suctioned. Normal: Clear, with no odour. Infection:

Yellow or green color with foul-smelling odour.
Blood: A few streaks of blood is OK, but if it has more bright red or old dark blood, there could be a problem.

If you see signs of infection or bright red blood, call your doctor

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This material is intended to be educational and is not a diagnostic tool. It is not intended to replace the information provided to you by your healthcare providers and does not constitute medical advice. The information may not be directly applicable for your individual clinical circumstance. Please refer to the manufacturers’ prescribing information and/or instructions for use for the indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions associated with the [medications and] devices referenced in these materials.