Trach Quiz: Can You Suction Safely?

1. Which complication can occur if the tracheostomy tube is suctioned too frequently?

Decreased secretion production

Mucosal irritation and bleeding

Permanent airway narrowing

Increased tube patency

2. Which patient position is best for suctioning a tracheostomy?

Supine with head flat

Semi-Fowler's with head elevated 30 degrees

Prone position

Left lateral decubitus

3. What should be done with the suction catheter after the procedure?

Reuse it for the next patient

Discard it and rinse the connecting tubing with saline

Store it in a sterile container

Rinse only with tap water

4. True or False: Applying suction while rotating the catheter helps remove secretions from all sides of the airway.

True

False

5. Which sign indicates tube obstruction requiring immediate intervention?

Patient speaking clearly

Difficulty breathing and inability to pass catheter

Minimal secretion drainage

Normal breath sounds bilaterally

6. Which supplies are required for sterile tracheostomy suctioning?

Clean gloves and tap water

Sterile gloves, sterile catheter, and sterile saline

Non-sterile gloves and hydrogen peroxide

Latex-free gloves only

7. What action should be taken if the patient becomes hypoxic during suctioning?

Continue suctioning to clear the airway

Stop suctioning and provide supplemental oxygen

Increase suction pressure

Withdraw the catheter slowly

8. What is the maximum recommended suction pressure for an adult tracheostomy?

80–100 mmHg

120–150 mmHg

160–200 mmHg

200–250 mmHg

9. Which sign suggests hypoxemia during suctioning?

Increased alertness

Cyanosis and decreased SpO2

Slower heart rate

Pink, warm skin

10. True or False: Sterile technique is required for all tracheostomy suctioning procedures.

True

False

11. Which finding indicates the patient needs suctioning?

Shallow breathing pattern

Visible secretions or audible gurgling

Patient requesting water

Normal oxygen saturation

12. Which complication is most likely if suction is applied continuously while withdrawing the catheter?

Hypoxemia and tissue trauma

Tube obstruction

Increased secretion production

Bacterial overgrowth

13. True or False: You should apply suction while inserting the catheter into the tracheostomy.

True

False

14. What is the normal depth for inserting a suction catheter in an adult tracheostomy?

2–3 cm past the tube opening

4–6 cm past the tube opening

8–10 cm past the tube opening

Until resistance is felt

15. True or False: Normal saline instillation before suctioning is recommended to loosen secretions.

True

False

16. What is the maximum duration for a single suctioning pass?

5–10 seconds

10–15 seconds

20–30 seconds

45–60 seconds

17. True or False: Suctioning can be performed without a prescribed order if secretions are visible.

True

False

18. What is the appropriate interval between suctioning passes?

10–15 seconds of rest

30–60 seconds of rest with supplemental oxygen

Immediate consecutive passes

No rest needed

19. What is the correct suction catheter size for a standard adult tracheostomy tube?

6–8 French

10–12 French

14–16 French

18–20 French

20. Before suctioning a tracheostomy, the patient should be pre-oxygenated for how long?

30 seconds

1–2 minutes

3–5 minutes

10 minutes

Trach Quiz: Can You Suction Safely?

1. Which complication can occur if the tracheostomy tube is suctioned too frequently?

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. Which patient position is best for suctioning a tracheostomy?

3. What should be done with the suction catheter after the procedure?

4. True or False: Applying suction while rotating the catheter helps remove secretions from all sides of the airway.

5. Which sign indicates tube obstruction requiring immediate intervention?

6. Which supplies are required for sterile tracheostomy suctioning?

7. What action should be taken if the patient becomes hypoxic during suctioning?

8. What is the maximum recommended suction pressure for an adult tracheostomy?

9. Which sign suggests hypoxemia during suctioning?

10. True or False: Sterile technique is required for all tracheostomy suctioning procedures.

11. Which finding indicates the patient needs suctioning?

12. Which complication is most likely if suction is applied continuously while withdrawing the catheter?

13. True or False: You should apply suction while inserting the catheter into the tracheostomy.

14. What is the normal depth for inserting a suction catheter in an adult tracheostomy?

15. True or False: Normal saline instillation before suctioning is recommended to loosen secretions.

16. What is the maximum duration for a single suctioning pass?

17. True or False: Suctioning can be performed without a prescribed order if secretions are visible.

18. What is the appropriate interval between suctioning passes?

19. What is the correct suction catheter size for a standard adult tracheostomy tube?

20. Before suctioning a tracheostomy, the patient should be pre-oxygenated for how long?