What Is a Yankauer Catheter Used For? Clinical Applications
What is a Yankauer catheter used for?
The Quick Answer
A **Yankauer suction catheter** (rigid oral suction device) clears oropharyngeal secretions, blood, and debris to maintain airway patency and prevent aspiration. Primary uses include surgical field clearance during ENT/dental procedures, emergency airway management in compromised patients, and routine oral care for individuals with impaired gag reflexes or swallowing difficulties.
Why We Ask This
Confusion between rigid Yankauer devices and flexible tracheal catheters leads to dangerous substitutions—like attempting deep airway suctioning with a rigid tip that cannot navigate anatomical curves or using flexible catheters orally where they collapse under pressure.
The Practical Science
The Yankauer's rigid curved design with protective bulbous head enables effective secretion clearance from the oral cavity while preventing mucosal trauma—a specialized function distinct from flexible catheters designed for tracheal insertion through artificial airways.
In Clinical Practice
During a dental extraction, the dentist uses the Yankauer to intermittently clear blood and saliva from the patient's mouth while working—maintaining visibility without triggering gagging or causing tissue injury from repeated suctioning.
References & Context
What is a Yankauer Suction Catheter? - SSCOR BLOG"About the Yankauer Suction Tip The suction catheter is curved for easy access. Commonly used to prevent aspiration, the Yankauer tip is also used to clear the airway during dental and medical surgeries—including, of course, the surgery for which the tip was originally developed: the tonsillectomy.May 23, 2024"