DuCanto Catheter (SSCOR SDC Catheter)

The DuCanto Catheter (SSCOR SDC Catheter, formerly known as the SSCOR DuCanto Catheter®) is a rigid, large-bore suction catheter developed specifically for emergency airway management, and is the catheter of choice for the SALAD (Suction-Assisted Laryngoscopy Airway Decontamination) technique pioneered by Dr Jim DuCanto.

Unlike a standard Yankauer suction tip built for controlled surgical suction, the DuCanto Catheter's larger internal diameter and hyper-curved, anatomically shaped design make it significantly more resistant to clogging, and easier to position against the true contours of the oropharynx and hypopharynx — exactly when a soiled, actively vomiting or bleeding airway gives you the least room for error.

Why the DuCanto Catheter

• Large-bore lumen — a wider internal diameter than a standard Yankauer tip, so blood, vomit, and semi-solid material pass through instead of clogging the catheter mid-procedure.
• Hyper-curved, anatomical shape — designed to mirror the natural curve of the upper airway, so it sits naturally in place rather than fighting the anatomy.
• No thumb port — suction is continuously on the moment it's connected to a suction source, so you're not trying to locate and hold a thumb valve while your hands are already full managing the airway.
• Doubles as an airway tool — used like a laryngoscope blade, it can compress the tongue and displace the mandible to help open a view of the airway while suctioning at the same time.
• Built for the SALAD technique — can be "parked" in the upper oesophagus during intubation, continuously draining the hypopharynx while the second hand delivers the tube.
• Single-use, non-sterile — ready to deploy, no reprocessing or cleaning required.

How it's used — the SALAD technique

SALAD (Suction-Assisted Laryngoscopy Airway Decontamination) uses continuous suction from a rigid catheter, in this case the DuCanto Catheter, to keep the upper airway clear while the provider simultaneously performs laryngoscopy and intubation. The catheter is swept ahead of the laryngoscope blade to clear contamination, used to help displace the tongue and mandible for a better view, then "parked" in the proximal oesophagus so suction continues even while both of the provider's hands are occupied delivering the endotracheal tube.

Specifications

Who it's for

Paramedics and prehospital crews, emergency and critical care physicians, anaesthetists, resuscitation and difficult airway teams, and simulation/training programs teaching contaminated-airway management and the SALAD technique.