Question

You are suctioning the oral cavity of a patient who is vomiting profusely. You are using a soft (French) catheter to help clear the oral cavity, but it keeps getting clogged. What should you do?

1) Switch to a rigid-tip catheter.
2) Turn up the negative vacuum amount on the suction unit.
3) Insert the catheter deeper into the airway.
4) Tell the patient to start swallowing the vomit to keep it out of the airway.

Answer 1

Switch to a rigid-tip catheter when suctioning the oral cavity of a vomiting patient to prevent clogging.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you are suctioning the oral cavity of a patient who is vomiting profusely and the soft (French) catheter keeps getting clogged, you should switch to a rigid-tip catheter. A rigid-tip catheter is better suited for suctioning thicker or more viscous materials, such as vomit. It provides a stronger and more effective suctioning force, reducing the likelihood of the catheter getting clogged.