[Incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients using open-suction systems and closed-suction systems: a prospective study -- preliminary data]. / Incidência de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica em pacientes submetidos à aspiração endotraqueal pelos sistemas aberto e fechado: estudo prospectivo--dados preliminares.

This a randomized clinical trial in which 20 patients were prospectively evaluated for the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), of whom 12 received endotracheal suctioning by an open-suction method and 8 by a closed-suction method. Differences in the incidence of VAP was not significantly different (p = 0.4) between closed and open suctioning. Differences in Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, duration of entubation, and the use of steroids were all not significant. All patients in the study used H2 antagonist and a nasogastric tube. Proceeding with the study will involve a sample increase with a possible change in the results.

Help: first aid issues.

First aid is the initial and immediate care given to a victim outside the hospital environment, with the purpose of assuring life and avoiding worsening conditions until he/she receives qualified assistance. Providing immediate aid to someone requires tranquility and, above all, knowledge on what has to be done or not in each situation. In addition to being treated by health professionals, the chances that a victim will receive early treatment by others are large. However, in Brazil, access to information, and the possibility of reviewing it whenever necessary, may contribute greatly to the process of assimilation of this knowledge, in addition to exercises on simulated cases. Informatics has been shown as an extremely useful tool in the development of educational software, considering its multiplicity of resources and providing for the users: motivation for an interactive experience, an individualized teaching that takes into account his/her own rhythm and desired complexity level, besides making possible the user's capacity for solving problems through simulated situations. Considering that, the number of individuals of the population prepared to act as First Aid helpers in situations of life threatening accidents or sudden illness is still very scarce. The ever increasing use of the computer as a mean of spreading information in schools, enterprises, and even households and considering the advantages of an educational software for the users regarding storage and retrieval of information when needed, we proposed the creation of an interactive teaching software. This software is being developed using Storyboard live. The methodology is the following: literature review, selection of images, development of the program, application tests. The initial selected issues are: assessment of the victim, cardiorespiratory arrest and resuscitation, airway obstruction, wounds, and hemorrhages. After utilizing the program, the user should be able to solve hypothetical situations with minimal initial care and maximal physical comfort for an accident or sudden illness victim.