Tracheobronchial suctioning using the closed suctioning system has physiological benefits for critically illpatients. Despite these benefits, there are concerns about increased colonization of tracheobronchial tree by pathogenic organisms. The cost is another hinder to the introduction of closed suction system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of colonization and ventilator associated pneumonia and the cost-effectiveness of closed suction compared with open suction.
One-hundred and six patients were enrolled. Twenty patients were treated with multiple-use, open suction, while 42 and 44 patients were cared with single-use, open catheter and multiple-use, closed catheter, respectively. Colonization by MRSA and the incidence of VAP were not different among three ways of suctioning. The overall costs per patient per day for suctioning were 10.58 dollars for multiple-use, open suction, 28.27 dollars for single-use, open suction and 23.76 dollars for multiple-use, closed suction.
CONCLUSION:
Multiple-use, closed suctioning, when suctioncatheters were changed every 48 hrs, has the similarincidence of colonization of MRSA and occurrence of VAP and is a cost-efficient way of endotracheal suction.