What Are The Different Types Of Suction Catheters?

Airway management products play a vital role in providing patient care across various settings. For example, suction catheters for adults and children differ in design and application, while closed and open suction systems cater to distinct medical scenarios. It is important to choose the right type of suction catheter, as it enhances treatment efficacy and ensures patient safety. This article shares the types of suction catheters, If you're unsure about which catheter to use in specific situations, this article will help a lot.

72-Hour Closed Suction Catheter for Adults (Y-Type / T-Type / L-Type)

T-Type Closed Suction Catheter

Features a main channel and a side channel intersecting at an angle. The main channel is used for suctioning, while the side channel typically connects to other airway management products such as ventilators.

Y-Type Closed Suction Catheter

This type of suction catheter consists of a main channel branching into two. These branches can serve different purposes, such as one for suctioning and the other for ventilation.

L-Type Closed Suction Catheter

Includes a main channel and a side channel forming a right angle. The main channel is used for suctioning, while the side channel connects to auxiliary equipment.

Closed suction catheters allow for suctioning while maintaining mechanical ventilation for patients. Features such as a push-button switch and luer cap isolate the irrigation chamber from the ventilation channel, ensuring airway ventilation during catheter cleaning and preventing backflow. The PU protective sleeve provides complete sealing, preventing secretions from being exposed to air, thereby protecting healthcare workers from infections. The soft and smooth blue catheter tip minimizes damage to the patient’s airway mucosa.

Additionally, the dual-rotating connector ensures excellent airtightness and allows adjustment of the breathing circuit as needed. The catheter is equipped with a separator for quick disconnection between the endotracheal tube and the suction catheter, simplifying operations. Options include tracheostomy and endotracheal models. 

24-Hour Closed Suction Catheter for Adults (Y-Type / T-Type / L-Type)

T-Type Closed Suction Catheter

Features a main and side channel for suctioning and connecting to other airway devices, respectively.

Y-Type Closed Suction Catheter

Includes a main channel splitting into two branches for different uses, such as suctioning and ventilation.

L-Type Closed Suction Catheter

Has a main and a side channel forming a right angle for suctioning and connecting to additional devices.

The catheter’s PU protective sleeve ensures complete sealing, preventing exposure to secretions and protecting caregivers from infections. Its soft blue tip minimizes mucosal damage. Dual-rotating connectors provide airtightness and enable adjustment of the respiratory circuit.

Colored day-of-the-week labels are more common on closed suction tubes used for 24 hours and 72 hours. They can mark the use cycle of the catheter to ensure timely replacement and reduce the risk of infection. This simplifies operation and ensures safety.

24-Hour Closed Suction Catheter for Children

Designed for neonates and pediatric care, these catheters are available in sizes 5Fr, 6Fr, 7Fr, and 8Fr. Each catheter comes with three differently sized Y-connectors for compatibility with various endotracheal tubes.

Key features include a PU protective sleeve for sealing, a soft blue tip to minimize mucosal injury, and numerical depth markings corresponding to those on the endotracheal tube. A one-way valve irrigation port prevents backflow and aerosolized secretions. Colored day-of-the-week labels facilitate easy recognition of usage time.

72-Hour Closed Suction Catheter for Children

This catheter allows for suctioning while maintaining mechanical ventilation. Features such as a push-button switch and luer cap prevent backflow and maintain ventilation during cleaning, reducing the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Available in sizes ranging from 2.5 to 6.5 to fit various pediatric endotracheal tubes, the catheter has a PU protective sleeve to prevent secretion exposure and minimize infection risk. The soft blue tip reduces damage to the airway mucosa.

Simplified Closed Suction Catheter

This catheter maintains mechanical ventilation while suctioning. Its soft blue tip minimizes mucosal injury, while the PU protective sleeve prevents secretion exposure. The quick-disconnect separator enables easy detachment, and numbered depth markings allow precise insertion monitoring. Colored labels help track catheter usage time.

Oral Suction Catheter

Designed for oral secretion suctioning and hygiene, this catheter is ideal for bedridden, unconscious, anemic, or mechanically ventilated patients. It effectively clears the oral cavity and airway, reducing the risk of lung infections and VAP. Its soft-tip design protects oral mucosa during use.

Clearing respiratory secretions ensures airway patency, especially for patients with impaired coughing ability or artificial airways. This essential operation is a critical skill for healthcare providers.

Conclusion

Choosing the right airway management product is crucial for patient safety and comfort. Each type of suction catheter is tailored to specific clinical scenarios and patient needs. Whether for adults or children, closed suction catheters ensure effective suctioning while maintaining mechanical ventilation, reducing infection risks, and protecting caregivers.

If you are looking for reliable, medical-grade airway management products, Bever Medical is your trusted partner. We also offer OEM services to meet your specific needs. For guidance on usage or any issues, please feel free to contact us.