Effect of Application of Endotracheal Suction Guidelines on Cardiorespiratory Parameters of Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Abstract

Background One of the highly vital duties done by nurses in the intensive care units (ICU) is endotracheal suctioning (ES). It is done for maintaining airway and improving ventilation and oxygenation; however, it must be done in a way so that, in addition to the mentioned advantages, it can have the least complications for the patient. Kelher et al. (52) showed that some nurses performed ES without consideration to recommended steps so excellence of this nursing intervention was less than predicted. Therefore practicing ES with adherence to recommended guidelines is an inquiry, so it is essential to examine routine ICU method of ES applied by nurses compared with standard one that is based on the guidelines. Objective To evaluate Effect of application of endotracheal suction guidelines on cardiorespiratory parameters of mechanically ventilated patients. Results Regarding comparing between the standard versus routine ICU methods of endotracheal suction using open suction system, findings revealed that after the standard ES, there was significant improvement in respiratory tidal volume, partial pressure of arterial oxygen, and arterial oxygen saturation. Conclusions the standard ES method had fewer side effects such as hemodynamic instability, hypoxemia and impaired ventilation when compared with routine ES one.