Cardiac Arrhythmias Resulting from Tracheal Suctioning

Seventeen patients with lung disease were monitored with an electrocardiogram during tracheal suctioning after they had breathed both air and 100% oxygen. Eight of them had a tracheostomy, three had an orotracheal tube, and six had no intubation. The incidence of transient cardiac arrhythmia during tracheal suctioning was significant while breathing air (35%). Arrhythmias included frequent atrial premature contractions, nodal tachycardia, transient sinus arrest, incomplete heart block, and frequent premature ventricular contractions. After a brief period of breathing 100% oxygen tracheal suctioning was no longer associated with significant arrhythmia. Tracheal suctioning should be done after the patient breathes 100% oxygen in order to avoid complicating, potentially dangerous cardiac arrhythmias.