The Yankauer suction tip () is a

suction Suction is the day-to-day term for the movement of gases or liquids along a pressure gradient with the implication that the movement occurs because the lower pressure pulls the gas or liquid. However, the forces acting in this case do not orig ...

ing tool used in medical procedures. It is typically a firm plastic suction tip with a large opening surrounded by a bulbous head and is designed to allow effective suction without damaging surrounding tissue. This tool is used to suction

pharynx The pharynx (: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the human mouth, mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs respectively). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates ...

secretions in order to prevent aspiration. A Yankauer can also be used to clear operative sites during surgical procedures and its suctioned volume counted as blood loss during

surgery Surgery is a medical specialty that uses manual and instrumental techniques to diagnose or treat pathological conditions (e.g., trauma, disease, injury, malignancy), to alter bodily functions (e.g., malabsorption created by bariatric surgery s ...

. The Yankauer suction tip is a rigid, curved plastic

catheter In medicine, a catheter ( ) is a thin tubing (material), tube made from medical grade materials serving a broad range of functions. Catheters are medical devices that can be inserted in the body to treat diseases or perform a surgical procedure. ...

with a bulbous head and one or more side holes, designed in 1907 by New York

otolaryngologist Otorhinolaryngology ( , abbreviated ORL and also known as otolaryngology, otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (ORL–H&N or OHNS), or ear, nose, and throat (ENT)) is a surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with the surgical an ...

Sidney Yankauer (1872–1932) to evacuate blood and secretions without damaging surrounding tissues. Although numerous proprietary variants exist, all retain the original wide-bore lumen and thumb-controlled vent that allow intermittent or continuous negative pressure during surgery or airway care. In modern

operating theatre An operating theater (also known as an Operating Room (OR), operating suite, operation suite, or Operation Theatre (OT)) is a facility within a hospital where surgical operations are carried out in an aseptic environment. Historically, the ter ...

s the device is the standard instrument for

oropharyngeal The pharynx (: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs respectively). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates, though its ...

suction, clearing the surgical field during head-and-neck, abdominal and

obstetric Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgic ...

procedures and reducing the risk of aspiration under

anaesthesia Anesthesia (American English) or anaesthesia (British English) is a state of controlled, temporary loss of sensation or awareness that is induced for medical or veterinary purposes. It may include some or all of analgesia (relief from or prev ...

. In

emergency medicine Emergency medicine is the medical specialty concerned with the care of illnesses or injuries requiring immediate medical attention. Emergency physicians (or "ER doctors") specialize in providing care for unscheduled and undifferentiated pa ...

the traditional Yankauer remains ubiquitous, yet a recent review noted that its relatively narrow internal diameter can clog when faced with

vomit Vomiting (also known as emesis, puking and throwing up) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. Vomiting can be the result of ailments like food poisoning, gastroenteritis, pregna ...

us or thick blood; contemporary large-bore catheters such as the DuCanto have therefore been adopted for "suction-assisted laryngoscopy and airway decontamination" (SALAD) in high-contamination airways. Because of its long clinical track record and low cost, the Yankauer remains the standard benchmark in experimental assessments of suction-catheter flow rate and occlusion propensity.

Infection control Infection prevention and control (IPC) is the discipline concerned with preventing healthcare-associated infections; a practical rather than academic sub-discipline of epidemiology. In Northern Europe, infection prevention and control is expande ...

guidelines classify Yankauer tips as single-patient, single-procedure items and recommend discarding them immediately after

contamination Contamination is the presence of a constituent, impurity, or some other undesirable element that renders something unsuitable, unfit or harmful for the physical body, natural environment, workplace, etc. Types of contamination Within the scien ...

or at the end of a case, because open suction catheters rapidly accumulate bacterial

bioburden Bioburden is normally defined as the number of bacteria living on a surface that has not been sterilized. The term is most often used in the context of bioburden testing, also known as microbial limit testing, which is performed on pharmaceutical ...

that can cause postoperative pneumonia or surgical-site infection. Historically, the Yankauer suction tip supplanted the metal

cannula A cannula (; Latin meaning 'little reed'; : cannulae or cannulas) is a tube that can be inserted into the body, often for the delivery or removal of fluid or for the gathering of samples. In simple terms, a cannula can surround the inner or out ...

e connected to foot-operated

bellows A bellows or pair of bellows is a device constructed to furnish a strong blast of air. The simplest type consists of a flexible bag comprising a pair of rigid boards with handles joined by flexible leather sides enclosing an approximately airtig ...

that had limited earlier neurosurgical and otolaryngological procedures. Its widespread adoption paralleled the introduction of electrically powered wall suction and established the modern practice of combining irrigation with aspiration in the operative field. Design refinements over the twentieth century introduced moulded transparent plastics in the 1950s and optional integrated illumination in the 1990s. Despite these updates, the catheter's basic geometry has remained largely unchanged because the original dimensions already balanced visibility, durability and patient safety. Despite criticisms, expert consensus still recommends the Yankauer for routine suctioning in controlled settings, reserving large-bore alternatives for anticipated high-volume contamination; this tiered approach, combined with strict single-use protocols, is widely regarded as the safest way to keep the airway open while reducing the risk of treatment-related problems.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yankauer Suction Tip Medical equipment

See also

References