Preventing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia remains a challenge to nurses as they try to promote preventive care to the clients. Considering the mortality and morbidity rates by ventilator-associated pneumonia, it is prudent that the healthcare providers focus on preventive strategies. Lambert et al. (2013) observesuse of specially designed endotracheal tubes for removing secretions, as a measure of preventing VAP, as compared to closed, in-line suctioning, in mechanically ventilated patients.

continuously clearing out secretions from the patient’s sub-glottic area. Closed, in-line suctioning has also been found to reduce the incidence of VAP in mechanically ventilated patients. The two systems target clearing secretions from the patient’s lower airway. In order to promote the wide application of these strategies, there is a need to determine their effectiveness. The current paper thus aims at determining the effectiveness of use of specially designed endotracheal tubes for removing secretions over closed, in-line suctioning. The PICOT research question for the paper is as follows:

PICOT Research Question:

In mechanically ventilated patients (P), what is the effectiveness of using specially designed endotracheal tubes (I) as compared to closed, in-line suctioning (C) as a method of preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia (O) during the length of hospital stay (T)?

Analysis of PICOT Question:

P-Population-mechanically ventilated patients

I-Intervention-using specially designed endotracheal tubes

C-Comparison of Intervention-Closed, in-line suctioning

O-Outcome-prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia

T-Time for intervention to achieve the outcome-the length of hospital stay in mechanical ventilation.

References

Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI). (2011). Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia: healthcare protocol. Bloomington, MN: Author.

Lambert, M., Palomer, M., Agodi, A., Hiesmayr, M., Lepape, A., Ingenbleek, A. … & Frank, U. (2013). Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care units: an international online survey. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, 2(9)

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