title: Preventing hypoxemia and hemodynamic compromise related to endotracheal suctioning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To help the clinician bridge the gap between research and practice in determining ways to minimize side effects of endotracheal suctioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article summarizes four previous reviews of research and studies published between 1984 and 1991 related to oxygenation techniques before, during and after endotracheal suctioning, and hemodynamic consequences of the suctioning procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were reviewed by type of subject: animals, human subjects with normal lung function, and human subjects with abnormal lung function. Research of pediatric and head-injured populations was excluded from this review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oxygenation protocol, endotracheal suction characteristics, outcomes and measurement times, sample and setting, and findings were presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conclusions relate to the effectiveness of various endotracheal suction protocols on prevention of hypoxemia and hemodynamic compromise in intubated patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An algorithm to guide clinical decision making is presented based on the conclusions of this review of the research.
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mancinelli-Van Atta
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Beck
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003663:Decision Trees; D004285:Dogs; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D012756:Sheep; D013396:Suction / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D016896:Treatment Outcome