title: Laboratory test of a visual sputum suctioning system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conventional sputum suctioning is a routine clinical practice, but complications may arise from the blind manipulation of the catheter. Recently, a visual sputum suctioning system (VSSS) was developed, and we tested this new system in a laboratory setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used coagulant concentrations of 1.5% and 3.0% to simulate mucus and sputum. Conventional single-lumen and triple-lumen catheters were inserted separately into a beaker for sputum suctioning (15 s, 200 mm Hg). A micro-imaging fiber was integrated into the triple-lumen catheter to create the VSSS. The single-lumen catheter and the VSSS were inserted separately into the mouth cavity, the nasal cavity, the tracheostomy tube, and the endotracheal tube of a human analog model for further comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As the suction channel of the triple-lumen catheter was reduced by 46.8%, the amount of simulant it suctioned was significantly less than that suctioned by the single-lumen catheter. However, under real-time guidance, the VSSS suctioned more simulant than the conventional single-lumen catheter in the human analog model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sputum suctioning with the VSSS was feasible. Because of its real-time imaging guidance, the efficiency of the VSSS procedure was greater than that of the conventional single-lumen catheter. Therefore, this system may provide a new platform for sputum suctioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Jingxing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bingbing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Huisheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D057785:Catheters; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry*; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: efficiency; feasibility; mucus; sputum; suctioning