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Updated: Nov 22, 2025

Rapid Viscoelastic Characterization of Airway Mucus Using a Benchtop Rheometer
Published on: April 21, 2022
Relationship Between Tracheal Suctioning Catheter Motion and Secretion Amount Based on Viscosity
Noriyo Colley1, Shunsuke Komizunai2, Atsushi Konno2
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Background:
To provide safe tracheal suctioning, the American Association of Respiratory Care guideline discusses the length of suctioning catheter, but the most effective tracheal suctioning catheter technique is still unknown.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to compare the amount of simulated secretion produced by five different handlings of a catheter at two different viscosities and in two different models to discover the most effective suctioning maneuver in the various mucus conditions.
Design:
In vitro experimental design.
Methods:
The amount of secretion aspirated by our researcher's manipulation of a suctioning catheter was measured. The tip of the catheter was recorded using a high-speed video camera to visualize the secretion motion.
Results:
The most effective suctioning technique differed depending on the viscosity of the secretion. There were no significant differences between five suctioning methods applied to high-viscosity phlegm in a tracheal membrane model, but the flexion technique was the most efficient for low-viscosity secretion.
Conclusions:
Our results imply that the flexion technique was reasonably safe and the most effective of these five methods for low-viscosity secretion.
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