To avoid increases in ICP during suctioning, limit suction duration to:

To avoid increases in ICP during suctioning, limit suction duration to:

• A. 5 seconds
• B. 10 seconds
• C. 20 seconds
• D. 30 seconds

Answer: (B)

Suctioning can cause a rise in intracranial pressure by increasing intrathoracic pressure, reducing cerebral venous outflow, and potentially causing brief hypoxemia or CO2 retention. Limiting each suction pass to about 10 seconds minimizes the duration of these disturbances and lowers the risk of ICP spikes. Longer passes (20–30 seconds) markedly increase ICP, while shorter durations (around 5 seconds) may be safer but often require more passes; the standard recommendation is 10 seconds per pass with adequate preoxygenation.

Suctioning can cause a rise in intracranial pressure by increasing intrathoracic pressure, reducing cerebral venous outflow, and potentially causing brief hypoxemia or CO2 retention. Limiting each suction pass to about 10 seconds minimizes the duration of these disturbances and lowers the risk of ICP spikes. Longer passes (20–30 seconds) markedly increase ICP, while shorter durations (around 5 seconds) may be safer but often require more passes; the standard recommendation is 10 seconds per pass with adequate preoxygenation.