Disclaimer
• This clinical practice guideline (CPG) is aimed at providing clinicians working in NSW hospitals’ intensive care units (ICU) with
recommendations to frame the development of policies and procedures related to the suctioning practices in adult ICUs.
• This CPG is a revision of 2007 suction guideline and includes: 1) an update of the evidence base; 2) an evaluation of how this literature
applies to the NSW intensive care context; 3) the extensive clinical knowledge of the guideline development network members (GDN);
and 4) a consensus development process.
• The CPG is not intended to replace the critical evaluation processes that underpin the development of local policy and procedure nor
does it replace a clinician’s judgment in an individual case.
• Users of this CPG must critically evaluate this CPG as it relates to local circumstances and any changes in the literature that may have
occurred since the dates of the literature review conducted. In addition, NSW Health clinicians must review NSW State Government
policy documents to identify any directives that may relate to this clinical practice.
• These guidelines are intended for use in NSW acute care facilities.
• Content within this publication was accurate at the time of publication. This work is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or part
for study or training purposes subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source.
• It may not be reproduced for commercial usage or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated above, requires written
permission from the Agency for Clinical Innovation.