Patient recollection of airway suctioning in the ICU: routine versus a minimally invasive procedure.
OBJECTIVE
Many patients have an unpleasant recollection of routine endotracheal suctioning after discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). We hypothesized that through minimally invasive airway suctioning discomfort and stress may be prevented, resulting in less recollection.


METHODS
A prospective randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
Two ICUs at the University Hospital of Groningen, the Netherlands.


METHODS
Adult patients with an intubation period exceeding 24 h were included.


METHODS
Patients received either routine endotracheal suctioning (RES) or minimally invasive airway suctioning (MIAS) during the duration of intubation.


RESULTS
Within 3 days after ICU discharge all patients were interviewed, regarding recollection and discomfort of suctioning. The level of discomfort was quantified on a visual analogue scale (VAS). We analyzed data from 208 patients (RES: n=113, and MIAS: n=95). A significantly lower prevalence of recollection of airway suctioning was found in the MIAS group (20%) compared to the RES group (41%) (P-value =0.001). No significant difference in level of discomfort was found between the RES and the MIAS group (P-value =0.136).


CONCLUSIONS
Minimally invasive airway suctioning results in a lower prevalence of recollection of airway suction than in RES, but not in discomfort.
Van de Leur
Johannes P
JP
Centre for Rehabilitation, University Hospital Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. j.p.van.de.leur@rev.azg.nl
Zwaveling
Jan Harm
JH
Loef
Bert G
BG
Van der Schans
Cees P
CP
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013396:Suction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*