Are frequent inner cannula changes necessary?: A pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of obstruction and colonization in adult patients in the surgical and medical intensive care units who received inner cannula changes daily versus those who did not.


METHODS
Quasi-experimental prospective study using a convenience sample of patients randomly assigned to one of two methods.


METHODS
Mid-Atlantic university-affiliated tertiary care center.


METHODS
Sixty patients within 24 hours of receiving a surgical tracheostomy.


METHODS
Obstruction and bacterial colonization of inner cannula.


METHODS
All inner cannulas were checked daily for obstruction and cultured on postoperative days 1 and 3.


RESULTS
No statistically significant difference was noted in colonization (p = 0.13) between protocols, and no obstructions were noted in either.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that the routine practice in critical care units of changing tracheostomy inner cannulas may be unnecessary. Although the results of this study are limited, and may not be generalized to other populations, it demonstrates that practice standards related to the care of tracheostomy inner cannula need to be challenged.
Burns
S M
SM
University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22903, USA.
Spilman
M
M
Wilmoth
D
D
Carpenter
R
R
Turrentine
B
B
Wiley
B
B
Marshall
M
M
Martens
S
S
Burns
J E
JE
Truwit
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000451:nursing*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013997:Time Factors; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000451:nursing*