The guidelines on routine practice of suctioning mechanically ventilated patients are not consistent with routine use of saline instillation, as the efficacy of NSI is not supported by research-based evidence. This practice may provide no physiological benefits and may have effects that can be detrimental.32 However, NSI continues to be used in practice and requires additional study to establish its safety and effectiveness. Although the use of NSI is a routine clinical practice in some ICUs, its negative effects and questionable benefits on the amount of suctioned secretions should encourage the nurses or RTs to not apply this technique and reconsider the practice and should not be a routine method in suctioning patients with an artificial airway for removal of respiratory secretions.27
Maggiore and colleagues 21 follow clinical guidelines for ETT suctioning, as the use of NSI is avoided. They recommend a heated humidifier for patients with dry and tenacious secretions. If mucous plug is suspected, suctioning under the direct visualization of fiberoptic bronchoscopy should be performed.21
Rauen and colleagues 24 also support these national guidelines and report that recent evidence provides a unanimous recommendation that NSI should not be a routine practice with suctioning.