The closed tracheal suction system: implications for critical care nursing.

The Closed Tracheal Suction System (CTSS) is a multiple-use suction catheter available for suctioning the ventilator dependent patient. While research has been reported on its impact on oxygen desaturation, ventilator function, and nosocomial pneumonia, the practical issues of the technical design of the catheter and its advantage in decreasing exposure of staff to infected respiratory secretions have not been investigated. This study reports the critical care nurses' perceptions in the use of the SteriCath (Concord/Portex) CTSS focusing on hemodynamic stability, effectiveness of suctioning, patient safety and staff personnel exposure.