title: Pain related to tracheal suctioning in awake acutely and critically ill adults: a descriptive study.
abstract: The purpose of this secondary data analysis of findings from a larger procedural pain study was to examine several factors related to pain during tracheal suctioning. In addition to tracheal suctioning, other procedures studied included turning, wound drain removal, femoral catheter removal, placement of a central venous catheter, and wound dressing change. A total of 755 patients underwent the tracheal suctioning procedure that was performed primarily in intensive care units (93%). A 0-10 numeric rating scale, a behavioural observation tool, and a modified McGill Pain Questionnaire-Short Form were used for pain assessment. Pain intensity scores were significantly greater during the tracheal suctioning procedure (M=3.96, S.D.=3.3) than prior to (M=2.14, S.D.=2.8) or after (M=1.98, S.D.=2.7) tracheal suctioning. Few patients received analgesics prior to or during the procedure. Surgical, younger, and non-white patients reported higher pain intensities. Although mean pain intensity during tracheal suctioning was mild, almost the half of the patients reported moderate-to-severe pain. Individualized pain management must be performed by healthcare providers in order to respond to patients' needs as they undergo painful procedures such as tracheal suctioning.
authors: School of Nursing, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors: Carmen Mabel
authors: CM
authors: Arroyo-Novoa
authors: Milagros I
authors: MI
authors: Figueroa-Ramos
authors: Kathleen A
authors: KA
authors: Puntillo
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Stanik-Hutt
authors: Carol Lynn
authors: CL
authors: Thompson
authors: Cheri
authors: C
authors: White
authors: Lorie Rietman
authors: LR
authors: Wild
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000451:nursing*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013396:Suction / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000451:nursing*