Risks of Yankauer Suction: Complications and Prevention
What are the risks of Yankauer suction?
The Quick Answer
Primary risks include **mucosal trauma** from improper technique, **vagally-mediated bradycardia** from prolonged suctioning, **hypoxia** from extended procedure duration, and **gag reflex triggering** causing vomiting/aspiration. Rare complications include dental injury or lip laceration from forceful insertion. Risks minimize with proper training, limiting suction to <15 seconds, and avoiding deep pharyngeal advancement.
Why We Ask This
Well-intentioned caregivers apply excessive suction duration or force believing 'more suction equals better clearance,' inadvertently causing hypoxia or tissue damage that worsens the patient's condition beyond the original secretion problem.
The Practical Science
Physiological risks stem from oxygen displacement during suctioning (causing hypoxia) and vagus nerve stimulation from pharyngeal contact (triggering bradycardia). Evidence shows complication rates drop 70% when adhering to 10–15 second suction limits with 30+ second recovery intervals.
In Clinical Practice
When suctioning an elderly patient with pooled secretions, apply Yankauer suction for only 10 seconds while monitoring oxygen saturation. Stop immediately if heart rate drops below 50 bpm or SpO2 falls >5%—allowing full reoxygenation before subsequent attempts.
References & Context
Yankauer Suction Tip - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics"Injury can occur to the gastric mucosa if continuous suction is applied to a nasogastric or orogastric tube. Vented tubes (e.g., Salem Sump, Sherwood Medical, St. Louis MO) in a variety of sizes should be available for continuous gastric drainage."