Abstract:
A suction pump can have hundreds of uses in the medical setting, all of which relate to removing fluids and substances from the body. Suction pumps can be used for removing ingested toxins (a stomach pump), unwanted fats (liposuction), mucosal secretions from the esophagus, blood from the surgical field, and many other applications.
Suction applies negative pressure, which is any pressure less than atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg, 100kPa or 14.7 psi), to allow for the movement of fluids or substances. The suction developed by the machine will be measured as a pressure. The common units of pressure are millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or pascals (Pa or kPa), inches or centimeters of water (inH2O), or pounds per square inch (psi).
