Other researchers, Akgul and Akyolcu,21 studied 20
critically ill patients. They noted a decreased value of
arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), mixed venous oxygen
saturation (SvO2), and partial pressure of carbon
dioxide (PaCO2) regardless of whether normal saline
was used or not used. However, when normal saline
was used, the subject’s heart rate increased at 4 and
5 minutes after suctioning.