How long should suction last during each suction attempt?

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Multiple Choice

How long should suction last during each suction attempt?

Suctioning should be kept brief to avoid losing oxygen while you clear the airway. For an adult patient, limit each suction attempt to about 10 seconds. If more needs to be cleared, pause to ventilate and re‑oxygenate before trying again. In contrast, pediatric patients are typically limited to around 5 seconds per suction attempt because they have smaller oxygen reserves. After each suction pass, reassess the patient’s ventilation and oxygenation and proceed as needed.

Suctioning should be kept brief to avoid losing oxygen while you clear the airway. For an adult patient, limit each suction attempt to about 10 seconds. If more needs to be cleared, pause to ventilate and re‑oxygenate before trying again. In contrast, pediatric patients are typically limited to around 5 seconds per suction attempt because they have smaller oxygen reserves. After each suction pass, reassess the patient’s ventilation and oxygenation and proceed as needed.

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