What instrument is used to manage secretions in the mouth during vomiting?

• A. Yankauer suction (tonsil suction)
• B. Nasogastric tube
• C. Endotracheal tube
• D. Laryngoscope

Answer: (A)

Managing secretions in the mouth during vomiting is about keeping the oropharynx clear to protect the airway. The best instrument for this is the Yankauer suction tip. Its rigid, wide-bore design is specifically made for effective, rapid suctioning of oral secretions and emesis from the mouth and oropharynx, allowing the clinician to reach around the tongue and soft tissues without getting obstructed or causing trauma. This makes it ideal for quickly clearing contents during vomiting while you monitor and protect the airway. Other tools have different roles: a nasogastric tube is used to drain stomach contents or deliver feedings, an endotracheal tube protects the airway but is not the tool for removing mouth secretions, and a laryngoscope is used to visualize the larynx during intubation rather than to suction the mouth.