title: Comparative effectiveness of standard endotracheal tubes vs. endotracheal tubes with continuous subglottic suctioning on ventilator-associated pneumonia rates.
abstract: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) accounts for the majority of nosocomial pneumonias, which may increase intensive care and prolonged hospital stays. Endotracheal tubes allowing continuous subglottic suctioning may reduce VAP; however, they are more expensive than standard endotracheal tubes not allowing continuous suctioning. he objective of this study was to measure the comparative costs associated with continuous subglottic suctioning endotracheal tubes (CSS-ETT) versus standard endotracheal tubes (S-ETT) among intubated patients and whether cost differential is offset by the occurrence of VAP in patients receiving either type of intubation. A retrospective chart review was conducted for 154 intubated adult patients (77 = S-ETT; 77 = CSS-ETT). The S-ETT group had one case of VAP; the CSS-ETT group had none. The mean total hospital charges were higher for the S-ETT group ($103,600; CSS-ETT= $88,500) (p = 0.3). Although the average number of intubation days and ICU days were greater for the CSS-ETT group, there were no cases of VAP compared to the S-ETT group. ased upon the one S-ETT VAP case and the VAP attributable costs, it is cost effective to use the CSS-ETT.
authors.affiliation: Inova Loudoun Hospital, Leesburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Karen Gabel
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Speroni
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dugan
authors.forename: Mildred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Meara-Lett
authors.forename: Marissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Putman
authors.forename: Marlon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atherton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods*