Manual Suction Unit

Tigger

Tigger

Dodges Pucks
Community Leader
Messages
7,880
Reaction score
2,844
Points
113
I attempted a search but couldn't find much.

I'm currently researching manual suction units...curious if anyone has any opinions on either the Ambu Rescue-Pump or what seems to be the Laerdal equivalent, the V-Vac. Is one superior to the other in terms of actual operation? I've heard that V-Vac can be difficult to use if one has small hands, is this true? The Rescue-Pump is also a bit cheaper.

Note that this is going to be a part of an "emergency kit" to be used at a College Hockey facility, I doubt it will see the same use/abuse as a unit in an ambulance.

Also, if you use something different than the other two, please do share.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
We've been using the Vitalograph hand-held devices for the past 5 years at least and not had a single unit fail.

http://www.vitalograph.ie/products/aspirator.php

aspirator_large.jpg
 
How about just using a damn turkey baster and calling it a day? No need to get fancy. Simple beats complicated hands down.
 
Both services I work for use V-Vac and no one likes them except management and they don't use them.
 
usafmedic45 said:
How about just using a damn turkey baster and calling it a day? No need to get fancy. Simple beats complicated hands down.
Click to expand...

This is probably the best option I've heard. We had V-Vacs and the like for years and I found them to be pretty much worthless. For something that's not going to be used frequently, it's not worth the money.

We're required to bring powered suction to bedside on all priority patients. Having done this for about a year or so, I don't think I'd ever do it any other way.
 
When using the "turkey baster" design suction units, should one also have a suction canister to dispose of the suctioned material?
 
Tigger said:
I attempted a search but couldn't find much.

I'm currently researching manual suction units...curious if anyone has any opinions on either the Ambu Rescue-Pump or what seems to be the Laerdal equivalent, the V-Vac. Is one superior to the other in terms of actual operation? I've heard that V-Vac can be difficult to use if one has small hands, is this true? The Rescue-Pump is also a bit cheaper.

Note that this is going to be a part of an "emergency kit" to be used at a College Hockey facility, I doubt it will see the same use/abuse as a unit in an ambulance.

Also, if you use something different than the other two, please do share.
Click to expand...

Having used the Ambu Rescue-Pump and V-Vac units myself, I prefer the Ambu model; however, as others have already alluded to, manual suction units are fairly limited compared to their battery operated counter-parts.

Best,
 
usalsfyre said:
This is probably the best option I've heard. We had V-Vacs and the like for years and I found them to be pretty much worthless. For something that's not going to be used frequently, it's not worth the money.
Click to expand...

I agree! I'd rather have a turkey baster, a short length of some suction hose and an emesis bag.
 
horton35 said:
When using the "turkey baster" design suction units, should one also have a suction canister to dispose of the suctioned material?
Click to expand...

Trash can, ground, partner who pissed you off....those can all be used as things to "discharge" the contents to.
 
V Vacs are poor.

A Nebraska rescuer forgot to remove the red cap from the snout and it was left in the oropharynx of a victim wh failed to survive. We found, after about five years, the rubber one way flapper valves had disintegrated or become stiff and warped (then disintegrated), so the unit would theoretically suck the stuff up, then shoot it back in.
People with smaller hands or weak forearm muscles had trouble handling them in use.
 
bigbaldguy said:
Oh that's just awesome. Somebody made a fortune off that idea.
Click to expand...

What about the guy who decided that the suction canister should have an expiration date?
 
They expire. See my reply above.

If there are thin rubber valves or tubing involved, they go bad and it no longer sucks, it just goes in and out.
 
mycrofft said:
If there are thin rubber valves or tubing involved, they go bad and it no longer sucks, it just goes in and out.
Click to expand...
That's what she said.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top