Suction catheters help healthcare professionals clear excess secretions or fluid from a patient's airway. Additionally, it helps keep the airway open and makes it easier for the patient to breathe. Suction catheters have different materials, so it's important to choose the right one to ensure patient safety and comfort. In this article, we'll share the guide on how to choose the material for your suction catheter and tips for proper care and maintenance.

Impact of Suction Catheter Material Selection on Patients

Biocompatibility

When medical products come into use in humans, the materials must be non-toxic and non-harmful to human tissues to avoid allergic reactions or irritation. Therefore, suction catheters are always made from medical-grade PVC or silicone. Silicone is widely used for patients who require higher comfort due to its flexibility and high-temperature resistance.

Flexibility and Hardness

Suction catheters need to keep flexibility during insertion into the airway to adapt to the patient's curved airway structure. Also, the hardness can prevent the catheter walls from collapsing and affecting suction effectiveness. For example, PVC products provide good support, while silicone, due to its softness, is suitable for patients who need to minimize airway irritation.

Transparency

Transparent catheters help medical personnel to clearly observe the flow of secretions during suction, so can know the patient's condition easily. 

Size and Diameter

Choosing the correct size of the suction catheter based on the patient's age and airway size ensures effective secretion removal without causing excessive irritation. For newborns and infants, smaller-diameter suction catheters are typically used.

Anti-Kinking Design

Some suction catheters feature anti-kinking designs that prevent the catheter from tangling or becoming blocked during use, ensuring smooth suction operation.

Sterility

The sterility of suction catheters is critical. Most suction catheters are designed for single use, ensuring a sterile environment for each procedure to reduce the risk of infection.

Common Suction Catheter Materials and Their Characteristics

• Medical PVC: Cost-effective, with moderate hardness and high transparency. However, its flexibility is not as good as silicone, and it may cause allergies.

• Silicone: Soft, biocompatible, and capable of being sterilized at high temperatures. However, it is more expensive.

• Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU): High strength, wear-resistant, and highly flexible, but less commonly used for highly sensitive patients.

• Polyethylene (PE): Highly flexible and chemically resistant, but opaque and thus less commonly used.

Suction Catheter With Thumb Control Valve

How to Choose Suction Catheter Material

Silicone

It has superior softness and biocompatibility, which can minimize irritation and allergic reactions. So, it is suitable for patients with high sensitivity. Also, it fits emergency and intensive care settings due to its excellent safety and sterilization performance.

PVC

A cost-effective option for general patients and home care, suitable for single-use. However, be cautious of potential plasticizer allergies. Transparent PVC is helpful for observing secretions inside the catheter.

Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)

Ideal for scenarios requiring high strength or wear resistance. TPU or polyethylene (PE) performs better in special environments such as chemical labs or high-wear settings.

Important: When choosing a suction catheter, it is wise to consult healthcare professionals. Prioritize certified medical-grade materials to ensure safety.

How to Properly Maintain and Care for Suction Catheters

Although most suction catheters are single-use products, mastering the tips of maintenance and usage precautions can help improve safety during use.

• Storing it in a clean, dry, and light-protected environment can avoid material degradation or contamination.
  
  

• Before using a suction catheter, ensure hands are thoroughly cleaned and sterile gloves are worn. Once the catheter packaging is opened, it should be used immediately, avoiding contact with non-sterile surfaces.
  
  

• Most suction catheters are for single use only. Reusing them can increase the risk of infection. If reuse is necessary, please follow strict sterilization procedures to ensure sterility.
  
  

• Before each use, check that the catheter is free of blockages to prevent issues during suction.
  
  

• Timely Replacement: If the catheter shows signs of damage, deformation, or any other abnormalities, stop using it immediately and replace it.
  
  

Conclusion

It can ensure patient safety and comfort when using suction catheters, and material plays a great role. When it comes to choosing the material of the suction catheter, the doctor can provide a good choice according to the patient and the specific requirements of the medical scenario. 

As an experienced supplier of suction catheters, Bever Medical is committed to providing high-quality medical catheter products for hospital, home care, etc. With medical-grade PVC and silicone materials, our products meet international standards and ensure the catheters' excellent performance in safety and comfort.