You Produce One Shot Glass of Saliva Every Hour

The average person swallows approximately 700 times every day and produces about two ounces of saliva every hour, enough to fill an entire shot glass. For most, saliva management is automatic. But for patients who lose the ability to manage oral secretions on their own effectively, such as those with dysphagia, neurological disorders, stroke, trauma, or those who are intubated and mechanically ventilated, saliva production does not stop when swallowing does.

When swallowing stops, secretions have only two places to go: out of the mouth or into the airway. Neither is ideal.

Unmanaged Oral Secretions are More than an Inconvenience

Saliva contains bacteria that can accumulate in the oral cavity and be aspirated into the lungs. This is particularly concerning for critically ill, intubated, ventilated, and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) patients, where pooled secretions can contribute to respiratory complications, including aspiration pneumonia.

Excessive drooling can also create constant moisture around the mouth, chin, dressings, and devices, leading to skin breakdown, irritation, and an increased risk of infection.

Traditionally, clinicians manage these secretions using a Yankauer suction catheter. While the Yankauer has been a standard tool for decades, it is inherently intermittent. Secretions are only removed when a nurse, respiratory therapist, or other caregiver is available to perform suctioning. Between rounds, oral secretions can continue to accumulate and migrate. Clinicians often find themselves repeatedly returning to the bedside to suction the same patient throughout the day.

For busy critical care teams, this creates a significant workflow burden. Manual suctioning is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and dependent on staff availability. Even with diligent care, secretions may still pool between suctioning episodes, leaving patients vulnerable to aspiration and skin-related complications. As healthcare teams face increasing workloads and staffing pressures, many clinicians are looking for more effective ways to manage oral secretions continuously rather than reactively.

SWIK®: 12 Hours of Hands-Free Continuous Oral Secretion Management System Offers a Different Approach

SWIK is a hands-free, continuous oral secretion management device designed specifically for patients who cannot effectively swallow or clear their own saliva. Rather than relying on intermittent suctioning, SWIK continuously removes oral secretions using a soft, wicking foam mouthpiece connected to standard wall suction or portable suction systems. The device can provide up to 12 hours of continuous secretion management before replacement.

The benefits extend beyond convenience. Continuous secretion management helps prevent saliva from pooling in the mouth and moving into the airway or onto the skin. By addressing secretions before they migrate, SWIK supports airway protection, skin integrity, and overall patient comfort. Because the device is hands-free, clinicians can focus on other patient care responsibilities instead of performing repeated suctioning throughout their shift.

An efficacy study showed SWIK removed more than 90% of oral secretions when measured against average secretion production rates across men, women, and children. In addition, studies evaluating continuous oral secretion clearance have suggested potential reductions in ventilator-associated pneumonia, duration of mechanical ventilation, and ICU length of stay.

For nurses, respiratory therapists, and speech-language pathologists, managing oral secretions is a daily challenge that directly impacts patient safety, dignity, and quality of care. SWIK provides clinicians with a practical, hands-free solution that helps protect patients around the clock while creating a more efficient approach to care.

For more information or a demonstration, contact your local MED Alliance Group sales representative, call 888-891-1200 or email us.

MED Alliance Group is a medical device distributor dedicated to meeting the needs of our clinical customers and manufacturing partners since 1998. We specialize in the sales, marketing, importation, logistics and distribution of innovative, high-quality and cost-effective products found in anesthesia and respiratory, blood and transfusion therapy, EMS and emergency room, interventional radiology and cath lab, iv and vascular, as well as NICU and PICU.

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