ABSTRACT
Objective
The objective of this review is to present the best available evidence on interventions designed to reduce the prevalence of complications in hospitalised adult patients who have an artificial airway (endotracheal tube or tracheostomy) and who require suctioning.
Criteria for Considering Studies for this Review
All studies that related to the objectives of the review were considered for inclusion. This review considered any randomised-controlled trials that addressed the issue of suctioning artificial airways. In the absence of RCTs, other research designs were assessed for inclusion in the narrative summary; to enable the identification of current approaches and possible future strategies for minimising complications associated with suctioning adult hospitalised patients with an artificial airway. Studies that had either spontaneously breathing and/or artificially ventilated subjects were also included.