What is a Surgical Aspirator?

Devices that are available in home type, hospital type and ambulance type and used in patient care and emergency interventions in these areas, which provide the extraction of liquid or particles by vacuum are called surgical aspirators. Surgical aspirators, which are also needed in surgeries and emergency situations thanks to their high suction power, are generally found in intensive care, operating rooms and emergency units in hospitals. In addition, it can be needed in all branches of the hospital. Today, every ambulance has a surgical aspirator for use in emergencies.

It makes emergency interventions more effective by cleaning the vomit, blood, mucus or different particles that have escaped into the mouth or trachea.

In home care patients, it is generally used in the aspiration procedures of those with tracheostomy. The excretion collected through the device is collected in the collection chamber of the device. There are many different types of these chambers for the purpose of use, as well as disposable ones.

Accessories and filters used in surgical aspirators need to be cleaned and renewed regularly. Regular cleaning is important both for the health of the patient and for the health of the user. The service life of the devices that are cleaned regularly also increases.

Surgical aspirators are available in different power types according to the needs. There are different vacuum capacities according to its purpose and location. There are aspirator devices with a capacity of 100 ml/minute produced for use in otolaryngology units in hospitals. The reason for using devices with low suction capacity is not to damage sensitive body parts. Dentists, on the other hand, generally prefer 1000ml/min capacity aspirators to draw liquid from the mouth. Except for special cases, devices between 10 liters/minute and 60 liters/minute are generally used.

There are also portable surgical aspirators for use at home or in the ambulance. These devices, which have models with and without batteries, are portable and can be operated without the need for a battery, or the battery of the device can be charged, thanks to the car charger adapters. Portable surgical aspirators weigh in the range of 4 to 8 kg. Battery-free devices are lighter than devices with batteries. The vacuum capacities of portable surgical aspirators are lower than hospital type aspirators.

Surgical aspirators usually have 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 10-liter collection jars. These jars are produced from plastic or glass, and there may be single or double jar chambers on the devices. The feature of being autoclavable (sterilization at high pressure and temperature) in these jars enables them to be used repeatedly. Some jars are disposable.

Surgical Aspirator Types

What are the types of surgical aspirators? We can examine the question as follows: Aspirators are shaped according to their purposes. These can be explained under 4 headings: battery operated surgical aspirator, battery-free surgical aspirator, manual surgical aspirator and thoracic drainage pump.

• Battery Operated Surgical Aspirator

• Battery-Free Surgical Aspirator

• Manual Surgical Aspirator

• Thoracic Drainage Pump