Selective tracheobronchial aspiration.
Eighty attempts at placing suction catheters in the left main bronchus were analysed by studying chest radiographs. When angled catheters were used via a tracheostomy tube the success rate was 75%; the rate fell to 15% when straight tubes were used through an orotracheal tube. Assessment and control of the tube length was found to be important to avoid kinking and subsequent obstruction of the catheters.
D001980:Bronchi; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods*; D014132:Trachea