Method of removing undesirable fluid from respiration passages by suction catheter assemblies

摘要

A method of removing undesirable fluid from the respiration passages of a patient uses a closed system suction catheter assembly having a protective sleeve enclosing an aspirating catheter extending through a sliding seal in a patient coupling. The catheter has an antimicrobial surface such as formed by silver sulfadiazine which reduces the accumulation of bacteria while the catheter is within the protective sleeve and prolongs the useful life of the assembly.