Catheter, suction, tracheal

Suction catheters are flexible tubes of various shapes designed with connections for other devices that aspirate liquids or semisolids from a patient's pharynx, trachea, or bronchi , and must be attached to a jar or canister via a tube before being connected to a vacuum source . These devices are used to suction sputum and secretions in the respiratory tract in order to prevent obstruction of the airways , with insertion either directly into the throat or via an inserted tracheal tube for anaesthesia .