Surgical Suction Tubes: Frazier, Yankauer, Poole and Adson
Instrument guides
Surgical Suction Tubes: Frazier, Yankauer, Poole and Adson
How fine Frazier tubes, bulb tipped Yankauers and guarded Poole tubes differ, what French sizes mean, and which suction suits which field.
Choose a suction tube by the field. A Frazier is a fine, angled tube with a thumb hole to control suction, for small, delicate fields such as the nose and face. A Yankauer has a bulbous tip with side holes, which clears blood and fluid from the mouth and open fields without grabbing tissue. A Poole has a perforated guard for large volumes in the abdomen. An Adson tube is a fine straight or curved tube for neurosurgical and plastic work.
Where does the Yankauer come from?
The Yankauer suction tip was designed in 1907 by Sidney Yankauer, a New York ear, nose and throat surgeon, to clear blood during tonsillectomy without damaging the tissue around it. Its bulbous head and side holes are still the reason it does not grab tissue. We did not find a reliable history for the Frazier tube, so we do not tell one.
Which suction tubes do we make?
| Tube | Sizes | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Frazier, angled | 6 Fr (2.0 mm) to 12 Fr (4.0 mm) | Nose, face and other small fields |
| Frazier, insulated | 10 or 12 Fr | Use with electrocautery |
| Adson | 12.5 cm, 4 mm, straight or curved | Fine work |
| Yankauer | 28 cm | Mouth, throat and open fields |
| Poole straight, curved | 20 cm, 10 mm | Large fluid volumes |
For suction while you elevate, see the suction elevators in our elevator guide.
What does a French size mean?
French (Fr) size is the outside diameter in thirds of a millimetre, so 3 Fr is 1 mm. Our Frazier sizes show both: 6 Fr is 2.0 mm and 12 Fr is 4.0 mm. Smaller tubes give finer control in small fields. Larger tubes clear more fluid and clog less.
How should suction tubes be cleaned?
Flush the tube straight after use, before blood dries in the bore, then brush it with a brush of the right diameter. Push a fine brush right through fine Frazier tubes, because they clog first. Never leave instruments in saline, because it causes corrosion. Our instrument care guide gives the full routine, and the CDC guidance on cleaning instruments before sterilization explains why cleaning comes before the autoclave.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Frazier and Yankauer suction?
A Frazier is fine and angled, with a thumb hole, for small fields. A Yankauer has a bulb tip with side holes, for the mouth and open fields.
What does the thumb hole on a Frazier do?
Covering the hole turns suction on at the tip. Uncovering it reduces suction, so you can control it without a valve.
What size Frazier for rhinoplasty?
Fine sizes, often 6 to 10 Fr. The surgeon chooses for the field.
Can suction tubes be autoclaved?
Yes, after the bore has been flushed and brushed clean.
Related instrument guides
- Septal and periosteal elevators
- Hemostatic forceps
- Killian vs Cottle nasal speculum
- Liposuction cannula tip types
Order suction tubes
See the full suction tube range. For a set for a hospital, a clinic or a distributor, send us your list and we will send you a quote.