What Is Another Name for Yankauer? Medical Terminology Guide
What is another name for Yankauer?
The Quick Answer
The Yankauer suction device is clinically known as a **tonsil tip**—a name derived from its original 1907 development by Dr. Sidney Yankauer specifically for tonsillectomy procedures. Alternative terms include 'oral suction tip' or 'rigid suction catheter' to distinguish it from flexible tracheal suction catheters used for deeper airway clearance.
Why We Ask This
Medical students and new clinicians encounter inconsistent terminology across facilities, causing confusion during urgent airway management when precise equipment requests are critical for patient safety and team coordination.
The Practical Science
Historical nomenclature reflects the device's surgical origin: early 20th-century ENT literature consistently referred to 'Yankauer tonsil tips' in procedural descriptions, cementing 'tonsil tip' as the enduring clinical shorthand despite broader modern applications beyond tonsil surgery.
In Clinical Practice
When an anesthesiologist requests 'tonsil tip suction' during a difficult intubation, the circulating nurse immediately provides the rigid Yankauer device—not a flexible catheter—enabling rapid oral secretion clearance without airway instrumentation delays.
References & Context
[FREE] What is another name for the Yankauer suction catheter ... - Brainly"The Yankauer suction catheter is also known as the tonsil tip, and it is primarily used to clear fluids from a patient's airway during medical procedures. This device is crucial for maintaining a clear airway, especially during anesthesia. Therefore, the correct answer is B. Tonsil tip.Nov 5, 2024"