RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The primary literature search of the four databases yielded 302 citations. After eliminating duplications, 123 citations were screened for possible review, of which 81 papers received full review. Thirty-two papers were identified from the secondary search; 10 of these were screened and five received full review. In total, 15 RCTs and 13 RCO studies were accepted following review. Information from these studies is presented in Tables 1 to to7.7. Also included is information from 11 low-level studies to fill in gaps and provide the ‘best available evidence’ for topics in which there were no randomized studies. It should be noted that almost all of the evidence included relates to the suctioning of intubated patients; there is very little information available regarding the use of this technique in nonintubated patients.