What Is A Suction Machine And Who Needs One?
According to the COPD Foundation, nearly 30 million Americans are affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. In many of these patients, airway obstruction is common due to the inflammation of the windpipe. In addition, excessive mucus production also leads to the narrowing of the respiratory tract. Therefore, manual clearing of the airway passage is needed, for which suction machines come in handy.
The coughing reflex naturally helps clear out mucus from the airway passage
In this article, we will learn about suction machines in terms of what they are and where they are employed. In addition, some of the well-known suction machine brands have also been linked for the reader’s convenience.
What are Suction Machines?
A suction machine, also known as an aspirator, is a medical tool used to vacuum out the unwanted fluids from the airway passage, surgical sites, wounds, etc. Such fluids include blood, mucus, and saliva. Owing to their importance, suction machines are widely used in hospitals, emergency rooms, homes, etc.
Components of a Suction Machine
Before diving into the uses and applications of suction machines, let us first understand what the parts of the device are:
Pump
A pump is an essential component of a suction machine as it is responsible for generating the vacuum or negative pressure needed for sucking the fluid out of the airway passage.
Collection Canister
A collection canister is attached to the pump to hold the cleared body fluids until they are disposed of. The product also ensures that the suctioned fluids do not enter the parts of the vacuum pump. These collection or holding canisters are usually reusable, but the disposable ones are also available in the market.
Suction Catheter
A suction catheter is a sterile tube that is passed through the patient’s body to suck out the blockage-causing fluid.
Tubing
A plastic tube is used to connect the suction catheter to the vacuum pump as well as the collection canister.
Regulator
The regulator of the suction machine is used to adjust the suction strength of the device. This way, the healthcare provider or caregiver can adjust the suction pressure depending on the patient’s condition and the type of procedure.
Bacteria Filter
To prevent the backflow of liquids and other airborne contaminants, a bacteria filter is attached to the device. This filter uses a hydrophobic membrane that restricts the above-mentioned materials from contaminating the suction machine. In addition, as the filter also blocks the entry of microbes into the patient’s body, it keeps the user safe during and after the process.
Power Source
Finally, a power source like a battery or an electric cord is used with the suction machines to provide the force necessary for suctioning. In addition, manual pedal systems are also available that do not require an electric source. Rather, the vacuum is generated by the movement of a foot pedal.
Patients with respiratory illnesses often need suction machines to manually clear out their airways
Who Needs a Suction Machine?
Suction machines are needed by patients who have a blockage in their pharynx, trachea, or oral cavity due to the presence of a liquid or semi-solid material. In such cases, the suction machines clear out the substances causing these blockages and allow the patient to breathe properly. Let us explore more uses of the suction machines in the following section:
Patients with Chronic Respiratory Conditions
The patients who are suffering from chronic respiratory conditions, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, etc., are often in need of a suction machine. This is because these chronic illnesses are associated with the production of excessive mucus in the airway passage, leading to restricted breathing.
In such cases, clearing the airways is the best option to ease respiration. Here, suction machines are employed to do the job. They work by creating a vacuum or a negative pressure that sucks the mucus out of the airway passage and collects it into a canister.
Patients with Impaired Consciousness
The patients who are either unconscious or sedated are often affected by mucus buildup in the airway passage. This is critical as the cough reflex is also either significantly reduced or totally absent in such individuals.
As a result, they are unable to clear out their windpipe on their own, leading to an elevated risk of airway obstruction or pulmonary aspiration. Therefore, as a preventive measure, suction machines are used to keep the airway clear so that respiration remains unhindered.
Pediatric Patients
The infants and children who are suffering from respiratory disorders are more vulnerable to airway obstruction as compared to adults. This is because in infants, the cough reflex is not fully developed. Therefore, a respiratory infection can easily result in the mucus buildup, leading to difficult or hindered breathing.
Here, using a suction machine effectively clears out the airways. Keep in mind that the suction pressure needs to be adjusted depending upon the child’s age. In this regard, guidance should be taken from a healthcare provider.
Patients in Emergency Conditions
In case of an emergency, first responders employ a portable suction machine to deal with any obstructions in the airway passage. This way, mucus, blood, vomit, or any other material blocking the respiration can be quickly cleared. In addition, patients with drug overdoses also benefit from suctioning.
Patients with Recent Surgeries
Apart from clearing mucus or vomit from the airway passage, suction machines are also useful to clear out blood, debris, and other bodily fluids from the site of surgery during and after the procedure. This process helps maintain visibility for the healthcare team by providing a clear surgical field and, therefore, enhances the accuracy of the procedure.
Patients with Artificial Airways
In some patients who cannot breathe naturally, a surgical procedure called tracheostomy is done to make an artificial opening in the windpipe. This way, the patient can not only breathe better, but the secretions from the lungs can also be removed effectively with the use of a suction machine.
Patients with Neuromuscular Diseases
Among patients dealing with neuromuscular conditions, like myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, etc, the ability to clear out the airway passage is either lessened or completely lost. This is due to the weakening of muscles of the facial region as well as the respiratory tract. Resultantly, people cannot clear out their airway passage by the natural coughing mechanism.
This leads to an elevated risk of respiratory obstruction that can be avoided by artificially clearing out the windpipe using a suction machine. This way, the substance causing the respiratory blockage is sucked out and collected into the holding canister, leading to the restoration of the unhindered breathing process.
Patients with Aspiration
If a patient has aspirated a foreign material, there is a need to remove it immediately to prevent respiratory obstruction. Here, suction machines come in handy as they do the job quickly. By doing so, the risk of aspiration pneumonia can also be avoided.
Patients with chronic respiratory disorders are prone to airway obstruction due to weather change
Suction Machines at Health Supply 770: Features and Specifications
Many respiratory disorders are often associated with an obstructed airway passage. This is either due to weakened respiratory tract muscles or an unconscious state of the patient that does not allow the clearing of mucus. Whatever the case may be, suction machines are useful to manually clean the airway passage, leading to unhindered breathing.
However, when it comes to learning about suction machines, it is also essential to look into some of the products that many brands manufacture. Some of these well-known cleanser suction machine brands are also available at Health Supply 770 and have been detailed below, along with their features and purchase links:
Drive Medical 18600 Suction Pump Portable Home Heavy Duty Aspirator Machine ~NIB
US$279.99
Product Details
Drive Medical 18600 portable home heavy duty suction pump is an aspirator machine that is highly effective when it comes to clearing out the airway passage. The product offers a superior performance and can be operated at different vacuum levels up to 560 mm Hg. Due to its highly reliable design, these portable heavy duty suction pumps are easy to operate and store.
Moreover, these Drive Medical 18600 portable home heavy duty suction pumps also have an anti-vibration vacuum that allows the device to remain steady while being used. The overflow protection bottle prevents the spillage of the collected substances.
Furthermore, these Drive Medical 18600 portable home heavy duty suction pumps also come with a wrap-around power cord that is easy to handle after use.
Drive Medical 22330 Universal Suction Machine Tubing and Filter Replacement Kit with Canister Pack of 1
US$28.49
Product Details
Drive Medical 22330 Universal suction machine tubing and filter replacement kit is a product that contains a disposable suction canister of 800 cc. The tubing used to connect the collection canister with the vacuum pump has a length of 10 inches and comes with an elbow connector.
Moreover, these Drive Medical 22330 Universal suction machine tubing and filter replacement kits also have a 72-inch suction tubing that is inserted into the patient’s airways to remove mucus or other obstructing substances. The hydrophobic filters prevent the backflow of material into the machine.
Drive Medical 610-12B Disposable Suction Canisters 800CC Pack of 12
US$61.89
Product Details
Drive Medical 610-12B disposable suction canisters are long-lasting products. These are attached to the suction pump machines where they hold the suctioned mucus, blood, or other bodily fluids until they are discarded.
Moreover, these Drive Medical 610-12B disposable suction canisters come with an 800 cc material holding capacity. The canister also has raised and etched cc increments to show the volume of the fluid collected. The lid of the container has an auto shut-off float valve that prevents the spillage of the material due to overflow.
Furthermore, these Drive Medical 610-12B disposable suction canisters also have universal ports that can be connected with most suction machines. As the product is lightweight, it can be carried around easily. Its smaller size also allows easy storage in home settings and within healthcare facilities where limited space is available.
Drive Medical 18600-KITN Universal Suction Machine Tubing and Filter Replacement Kit
US$24.99
Product Details
Drive Medical 18600-KITN universal suction machine tubing and filter replacement kits contain a new and improved tubing that comes with a universal connection elbow. The product can be directly attached to the canister and the hydrophobic suction filter, where it connects the two.
These Drive Medical 18600-KITN universal suction machine tubing and filter replacement kits also have a 72-inch long, blue-colored suction tubing along with a 10-inch long, soft and flexible tube. The product is constructed with medical-grade silicone.
*Note: The prices of these items mentioned in the article are taken from the Health Supply 770 website. These may vary over time.
Necessary respiratory assistance helps prevent the risk of obstruction and hindered breathing
The products linked in the article, while learning about suction machines, along with many other medical supplies, can be purchased from Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the link at the end of the article to check the wide range of healthcare products.
Conclusion
With a respiratory infection, it is common to have excessive mucus production. This mucus, although it affects the breathing process by partially or fully blocking the airway passage, gets cleared out by the natural cough reflex. However, if the patient is unconscious or has a muscular disorder that hinders this clearing, the risk of airway obstruction rises.
As a preventive tool, suction machines are used to suck out this mucus by creating a vacuum. As a result, the suctioned substance gets collected in a holding canister, and the airways become cleared out. Being an effective tool, suction machines are also helpful in removing blood or other bodily fluids from the surgical site to provide a clear surgical field.
Considering their importance, suction machines should be kept in healthcare facilities to accommodate the patients in need. For purchasing different kinds of medical devices, including suction machines, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.
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