The use of suctioning to manage ineffective airway clearance in patients with stroke

Abstract

Stroke is a cerebrovascular disease that profoundly affects the brain, presenting a critical medical challenge because the brain is a vital organ controlling all bodily functions. A stroke often causes motor organ dysfunction and can lead to a decreased level of consciousness. This reduction in consciousness impairs the patient's ability to cough effectively, preventing the independent expulsion of saliva and leading to a significant build-up of secretions in the respiratory tract. Consequently, a primary and severe nursing diagnosis that arises in stroke patients is ineffective airway clearance. To address this, suctioning is utilized as a vital clinical intervention to maintain airway patency, thereby facilitating adequate gas exchange by mechanically removing secretions from patients who are unable to clear them independently. This study aims to demonstrate the practical application of airway suctioning in stroke patients presenting with ineffective airway clearance. A case study utilizing a descriptive approach was conducted on a single patient (Mr. K) who experienced severe airway compromise following a stroke. Data were comprehensively collected through clinical interviews, direct observations, and medical documentation. The suctioning intervention was consistently administered over a three-day period. Following these three days of targeted intervention, Mr. K showed significant clinical improvement, characterized by reduced shortness of breath, stabilized and improved respiratory rates, and enhanced oxygen saturation levels, with no adverse side effects reported. Ultimately, this case study confirms that suctioning is a highly effective intervention to overcome ineffective airway clearance in stroke patients and should be standardly integrated into clinical nursing practice.

Keywords: Hospital care, ineffective airway clearance, nursing care, stroke, suctioning