Complications Related to Suctioning

•  Respiratory arrest
•  Cardiac arrest
•  Cardiac Dysrhythmias
•  Hypertension or Hypotension
•  Decreases in mixed venous O2 sat
•  Increase Intracranial Pressure
•  Bronchospasm
•  Pulmonary Hemorrhage or bleeding
•  Tracheal mucosal damage
------- Epithelial denudement, hyperemia, loss of cilia, edema occurs during suctioning when the tissue is pulled into the catheter tip holes
-------This damage increases risk for infection and bleeding