Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Laboratory Manual

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Materials: Portable suction pump
Sterile suction catheter
Mucus trap (i.e., Luken’s tube)
Sterile Non-Bacteriostatic Saline or Viral Transport Medium (VTM)

1. Attach mucus trap to suction pump and catheter, leaving wrapper on suction catheter; turn on suction and adjust to suggested pressure.

2. Without applying suction, insert catheter into the nose, directed posteriorly and toward the opening of the external ear. NOTE: depth of insertion necessary to reach posterior pharynx is equivalent to distance between anterior naris and external opening of the ear.

3. Apply suction. Using a rotating movement, slowly withdraw catheter. NOTE: catheter should remain in nasopharynx no longer than 10 seconds.

4. Hold trap upright to prevent secretions from going into pump.

5. Rinse catheter with 3 to 5 ml of non-bacteriostatic, sterile saline or viral transport medium; disconnect suction; connect tubing to arm of mucus trap to seal.

 

  Patient Age   Catheter Size (French)**   Suction Pressure
  Premature infant
 6
 80-100 mmHg
  Infant
 8
 80-100 mmHg
Toddler/Preschooler
10
 100-120 mmHg
  School Age
12
 100-120 mmHg  
  Adolescent / Adult
14
 120-150 mmHg
**To determine length of catheter tubing, measure distance from tip of nose to external opening of ear.

Revised/Reviewed 2/15/2008
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