Evaluation of the Effect of Open and Closed Tracheal Suction on the Incidence of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia in Patients Admitted in the Intensive Care Unit

Nosocomial pneumonia is a prevalent complication in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU). Endotracheal suction is used in cleaning the airways of secretions in patients under mechanical ventilation. Performing suction accurately is of great importance to prevent ventilation associated pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of open versus closed tracheal suction on the incidence of VAP.
This was a clinical trial study performed on 86 intubated patients in ICU. Patients of control group (n=43) underwent conventional open suction and case group (n=43) closed suction. After 72 hours, patients were assessed regarding VAP using clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS).
There was no significant difference regarding age (p=0.15) and gender (p=0.33) between the two groups. The incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia was significantly lower in closed method compared to the open method (p=0.016).
Closed tracheal suction compared to the open method was associated with lower incidence of VAP in patients of ICU.