Bi-Directional Closed Suction Catheter (Bi-Di CathTM)
Bi-Directional Suction is performed by having the suction ON while inserting the catheter into the ET Tube and ON while withdrawing the catheter.
How to use Bi-Di Cath
The BiDi Cath has a manual OPEN-CLOSED stopcock type valve in place of the thumb-controlled valve. It may be used the standard way of Suction-During-Withdrawal or the Bi-Directional method of Suction-During-Insertion and Withdrawal.
When to use bi-directional suction?
Open the valve to suction and verify that the ventilator maintains PEEP. With the ventilator maintaining PEEP with the suction on, proceed to suctioning during insertion and withdrawal. If the ventilator does not maintain PEEP, turn the valve off during insertion and then open during withdrawal, as is done with standard catheters.
The Bi-Di Cath stopcock style valve gives you two free hands for inserting the catheter with the suction on.
Testing shows that Bi-Directional Suction with Bidi Cath extracts more secretions while causing less negative airway pressures than the suction-during-withdrawal method – when the ventilator maintains PEEP or CPAP with suction on.