Oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal suctioning for adult patients: a carer's guide
Information for patients from the Inpatient Physiotherapy Department
Training is needed before using oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal suction.
The following information is for carers who are helping an adult patient use oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal suction at home. This leaflet will support your training by explaining the following.
What to do before you start using the devices.
When not to use the devices.
How to use the suctioning unit.
What side effects to look out for. What to do if the patient has any side effects.
What to do if the device is faulty or stops working.
We hope this leaflet answers some of the questions you may have. If you have any further questions or concerns, please speak to your trainer.
When should I use oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal suction?
Only use oropharyngeal suction if you can see secretions in the patient's mouth.
Only use nasopharyngeal suction if:
you can feel secretions under your hand, when you place your hand on the patient's chest
you can see or hear evidence of secretions
the patient is working hard to breathe
Do not try to use oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal suction if the patient is experiencing any of the following
Do not try to remove the following with suction:
a solid object
an inhaled foreign body
This could result in the object being forced further into the airway. It could possibly cause a complete obstruction / blockage. If this happens, please call 999.
If the patient has any of the following symptoms, ask for medical advice from their GP or call 111 before using suction.
Bleeding from the nose. Nasopharyngeal suction will make any nose bleed worse.
Severe wheeze / gasping (bronchospasm / stridor). Suction will make this worse.
A new lung condition.
High or low blood pressure / heart rate. Suction will make this worse.
Coughing-up blood (haemoptysis). Suction will make this worse.
Skull fracture.
Recent face, mouth, neck, or head injury / surgery.
If the patient is finding it increasingly hard to breathe or is showing signs of respiratory distress, please call 999. Symptoms could include one or more of the following.
Rapid / fast breathing rate.
Struggling to breathe.
Very noisy breathing, including wheezing, gasping, or grunting.
Using shoulders to help breathe.
Restlessness or exhaustion.
Struggling to talk in full sentences.
Blue colouring of the lips.
What should I do before I start using oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal suction?
Make sure you have the following equipment
A home suction unit.
Suction catheter size __________.
Clean gloves and a bag for disposables. If you need these, you must provide them yourself.
Aqua gel (for nasopharyngeal suction only).
Access to cold water.
Instructions for setting up the device
Prepare to use the suction catheter
Explain to the patient that you are going to begin treatment. Make sure they are happy to proceed.
Wash and dry your hands. If you are using them, put on protective gloves.
Make sure the patient is in a comfortable position (upright in bed or a chair).
Check the suction unit is assembled correctly, and the device is not damaged.
Turn the suction unit on. Adjust the pressure (using the turn dial) to no more than 20kPa / 150mmHg.
Select a catheter and tear the wrapping at the plastic end. Connect the plastic end to the suction tubing, and keep the catheter end in the wrapping. Do not touch the catheter end of the suction tube.
Research suggests that suction vacuum pressure should be set as low as possible to clear secretions. This will help avoid injuring the patient's airways.
How do I use oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal suction?
Remove the catheter from the wrapping with your dominant hand. Your dominant hand is the hand you write with.
Hold the catheter between your thumb and forefinger, about an inch from the end.
For oropharyngeal suction
Without applying suction, insert the suction catheter into the patient's mouth.
To apply suction, put your thumb over the plastic opening.
Move the suction catheter around the patient's mouth to clear any secretions that you can see.
For nasopharyngeal suction
To lubricate the catheter, roll the end in aqua gel before inserting the catheter into the patient's nostril.
Without applying suction, thread the catheter into the nostril. Aim the catheter towards the opposite eye. For example, if the catheter is in the right nostril, aim it towards the left eye.
Try to pass the catheter down on inspiration only, up to the required length or until the patient starts to cough. Do not suction the patient past a depth of 24cm.
To apply suction, put your thumb over the plastic opening.
To remove from the nostril, pull the catheter back slowly.
Do not apply suction for more than 10 to 15 seconds.
After suctioning, please check the secretion's colour, consistency, and amount.
Check:
the patient is comfortable
their respiratory rate and Spo2 (if monitored) has returned to normal
their breathing looks comfortable / normal
they are not showing any signs of distress
their lips are not blue
If the patient has not returned to normal within a few minutes, please call 999 for advice.
Once the procedure is complete, disconnect the catheter and put it into the disposable bag. Only use the suction catheters once. If you need to continue suctioning after this, you must use a new suction catheter.
Repeat the above steps if there are more secretions.
To flush the system, suction cold clean water through it.
Turn off the suction unit.
Empty the suction container by disposing of the contents down a toilet.
What are the possible side effects of suction?
If the patient experiences any of the following side effects, please stop suctioning immediately. If symptoms continue when you restart suctioning, please call 999 for advice.
Increased / decreased heart rate.
Infection.
Gagging or vomiting.
Airway spasm or wheeze.
Pain, distress, or discomfort.
Injury to the soft tissue around the nose, mouth, or airway, for example bleeding.
Respiratory distress including:
increased breathing rate
struggling to breathe
gasping
very noisy breathing
blue colouring of the lips
Drop in oxygen saturations (if monitored) below their normal levels.
What should I do if the device develops a fault?
If the suction unit breaks or develops a fault, please unplug the device from the mains and do not use it.
To return the faulty unit and get a replacement device, please contact Medequip.
Medequip
Telephone: 01322 917909 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)
Email
Please go to your nearest Emergency Department or phone 999 if:
your suction unit breaks outside of Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
you become unwell or are concerned that you need urgent treatment to clear your chest
There is no routine or scheduled maintenance needed for the suction unit. The service life of the device is 5 years. If you have any questions about servicing your suction unit, please contact Medequip.
The suction unit’s filter will need to be changed every 2 months. For the DeVilbiss Vacu-aide 7325 home suction unit, please see page 11 of the manufacturer’s guidance.
[Web sites last accessed 2 September 2026]
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