[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-317123-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-317123-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","guidelines-for-nasopharyngeal-suction-of-a-child-or-young-adult-apcp-respiratory-group","Guidelines for Nasopharyngeal Suction of a Child or Young Adult - APCP Respiratory Group","","Guidelines from the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists APCP Respiratory Group provide an up-to-date, evidence-based approach for performing nasopharyngeal suction in children, including young adults. The document explains the clinical aim of suctioning—clearing secretions to maintain a patent airway, improve ventilation and oxygenation, and reduce the work of breathing—while emphasizing the invasive nature of the procedure and potential immediate and long-term adverse effects. It details indications, assessment of retained secretions, consent and verbal information requirements, and contra-indications, with guidance to avoid routine suctioning and to tailor frequency to individual clinical condition.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/guidelines-for-nasopharyngeal-suction-of-a-child-or-young-adult-apcp-respiratory-group/317123/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/guidelines-for-nasopharyngeal-suction-of-a-child-or-young-adult-apcp-respiratory-group/317123.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Paura","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-27","2026-09-20",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",16,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is the purpose of nasopharyngeal suctioning in children and young adults?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"The aim is to clear secretions to maintain a patent airway, improve ventilation and oxygenation, and reduce the work of breathing. Suctioning is invasive, so competence and careful technique are required.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"When should nasopharyngeal suctioning be performed, and how is the need assessed?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"It should be performed only when there are clear indications that excessive pulmonary secretions affect airway patency or effective ventilation. Retained secretions can be indicated by visible/audible/palpable secretions, decreased oxygen saturation, increased oxygen needs, coughing problems, reduced breath sounds or chest movement, and distress signs.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What verbal information and consent requirements apply before the procedure?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Verbal information must be obtained prior to suctioning. If the child cannot give verbal consent, alternative methods may be used; if consent cannot be obtained and delaying harms health, the procedure may proceed provided the performer has no documented evidence the client refused. Consent should be obtained from parents/guardians/carers or designated representatives when possible.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},317123,1790131260,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":107,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":140,"language":141,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":142,"faqs":143,"seo_title":144,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":145,"read_time":146},13056712833777,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0","ASSOCIATION OF PAEDIATRIC CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPISTS  \nGUIDELINES FOR NASOPHARYNGEAL SUCTION OF A CHILD OR YOUNG ADULT  \nAPCP RESPIRATORY GROUP  \nA Professional Network of The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy  \nGuideline for Nasopharyngeal Suction of a Child or Young Adult  \nThroughout this guideline the term child / children can be taken to represent child /young person / young adult.  \nIntroduction  \nThis guideline has been produced to give those people undertaking nasopharyngeal suction in children an up-to-date evidence based guide, to ensure a safe and effective technique. Where evidence is lacking, consensus has been reached by specialist respiratory paediatric physiotherapists across the UK. It is intended that this is used as a template; additions maybe needed to fit in with local policies.  \nBackground  \nThe aim of suctioning is to clear secretions, thus maintaining a patent airway, improving ventilation and oxygenation, and reducing the work of breathing. Suctioning is , however, an invasive procedure and adverse physiological effects can occur. These effects can be both immediate and long term; a sound knowledge of the procedure is therefore required. 10, 17, 14 , 18  \nThe procedure of suctioning is a common practice in the treatment of children with a variety of conditions. It is undertaken to remove excessive or retained secretions from a child’s respiratory tract. This could be due to:  \n• Respiratory dysfunction/disease, causing an alteration in the type or quantity of secretions or disruption of the normal mucociliary clearance process  \n• Neurological disorders which inhibit or depress normal cough reflex  \n• An artificial airway in situ (suctioning via an artificial airway is not covered in this guideline , except a nasopharyngeal airway)  \nThe general principles of suctioning are the same, whether the child requires suction of the mouth, pharynx or via an artificial airway. 4, 5  \nIndications for Nasopharyngeal Suctioning  \nSuctioning is a potentially hazardous procedure and should only be performed when there are clear indications that excessive pulmonary secretions are affecting the patency of the child’s airway or the effective ventilation of the patient. 8  \nSuctioning should maximise removal of secretions with minimal tissue damage and hypoxia. It is an essential procedure that is determined by the child’s clinical condition and not  \npredetermined intervals. The frequency of suctioning should be assessed for each child on an individual basis and should only be carried out when the child is unable to clear its own airway effectively. It should not be performed as a matter of routine. 12  \nAn appropriate assessment must be undertaken to establish the need for suction. Evidence of retained secretions will be shown by one or more of the following:  \n• Visible, audible or palpable secretions  \n• Decreased oxygen saturation levels  \n• Increased oxygen requirements  \n• Coughing  \n• Poor cough / inability to generate effective spontaneous cough  \n• Reduced movement / breath sounds of the chest  \n• Signs of distress due to retained secretions i.e. increased work of breathing (nasal flaring / tracheal tug / costal recession) , increased respiratory rate , tachycardia / bradycardia, change of colour. 10, 14, 18  \nNasopharyngeal suction is indicated when there is evidence of retained secretions but the child is not able to clear the secretions independently and secretions are too low down in the airway for oral suction.  \nVerbal Information Given to Child / Parent / Carer  \nThis must be obtained prior to this procedure being carried out. If the child is unable to give consent verbally, other ways of obtaining it must be explored, e.g. blinking, squeezing of the hand.  \nIf the child is unable to give any form of consent and not carrying out the procedure would be detrimental to their health, it is acceptable to proceed, providing the person performing the procedure is not aware of any documented evidence that the","cbCaihamZYrB7a7E","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaihamZYrB7a7E","pdf",1821688,15,"English","# Introduction\n# Background\n## Indications for Nasopharyngeal Suctioning\n# Verbal Information Given to Child / Parent / Carer\n# Contra-indications of Nasopharyngeal Suctioning\n# Equipment","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of nasopharyngeal suctioning in children and young adults?\",\"answer\":\"The aim is to clear secretions to maintain a patent airway, improve ventilation and oxygenation, and reduce the work of breathing. Suctioning is invasive, so competence and careful technique are required.\"},{\"question\":\"When should nasopharyngeal suctioning be performed, and how is the need assessed?\",\"answer\":\"It should be performed only when there are clear indications that excessive pulmonary secretions affect airway patency or effective ventilation. Retained secretions can be indicated by visible/audible/palpable secretions, decreased oxygen saturation, increased oxygen needs, coughing problems, reduced breath sounds or chest movement, and distress signs.\"},{\"question\":\"What verbal information and consent requirements apply before the procedure?\",\"answer\":\"Verbal information must be obtained prior to suctioning. If the child cannot give verbal consent, alternative methods may be used; if consent cannot be obtained and delaying harms health, the procedure may proceed provided the performer has no documented evidence the client refused. Consent should be obtained from parents/guardians/carers or designated representatives when possible.\"}]","Guidelines for Nasopharyngeal Suction of a Child or Young Adult - APCP Respiratory Group | PDF",1789928910,38]