4 Application Scenarios Using Medical Suction Unit

Many people know that suction units are a type of first aid equipment. In fact, there are various medical suction units, and they can be used not only for first aid, but also to assist in small and medium-sized surgeries so that they can be performed more smoothly.

1. Patients need treatment before transfer
Most ambulances are equipped with mounted suction devices, but this is almost useless when the patient is located several flights of stairs or in a remote field location. When a patient must be stabilized prior to transport, a portable suction device can help paramedics keep the patient's airway open until the patient can be loaded into the ambulance. The time spent "getting the suction pump from the truck" can be costly in terms of patient outcomes.

2. Head Trauma
Head trauma can mean loss of consciousness and massive fluid flow into the airway. This combination equals aspiration and death, or weeks of recovery from aspiration pneumonia. Having a portable suction pump on hand does not guarantee complete success, but it is the best first step to help establish and maintain an airway.

3. When multiple patients require airway management in the field
In natural disasters or other situations that result in a large number of casualties, a single EMS worker may need to treat many victims at once. In such situations, portable suction units mean that paramedics can treat multiple patients quickly and efficiently. For example, one patient can be loaded into an ambulance and used with an installed suction device while another patient's airway is managed with a portable suction device.

4. Patients with COVID-19
COVID-19 causes inflammation, which results in pulmonary secretions. Keeping the airway open is a key component of treatment, and portable suction devices also reduce the risk of contamination associated with ambulance-mounted devices. Always remember that emergency aspiration should only be used in patients with COVID-19 who are unable to clear their own airway, are actively aspirating, or are at risk of doing so, and when airway patency is obstructed.

When using suction during patient resuscitation, healthcare professionals must maintain an ultra-high level of professionalism and expertise to ultimately remove the patient's excess sputum and blood to keep the patient's airway open and restore a healthy physical condition.