THE EFFECT OF CONTINUOUS AND INTERMITTENT SUCTIONING ON THE TRACHEAL MUCOSA OF DOGS.
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 88
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Tracheal suctioning is a frequently performed nursing activity that previous research has shown to be associated with a variety of hazards. The purpose of this experimental study was to determine if there is a difference in the amount of damage to tracheal mucosa between continuous suctioning and intermittent suctioning for 15 seconds. This study examined the difference in efficiency, in terms of amount of viscous lubricating gel suctioned, between these two techniques. This gel served as an in vitro substitute for mucus.

Method and Instruments. Eighteen mongrel dogs were anesthetized, intubated and randomly assigned to one of the two techniques. They were suctioned every 15 minutes for 4 hours at 200 mm Hg. Each suctioning session consisted of three passes of the catheter spaced 3 minutes apart for a total of 48 passes per dog. The dogs were then euthanized with sodium pentobarbital. Slides were made of the tracheobronchial mucosa at 4 specified locations. These slides were examined by a Board Certified Pathologist and the damage quantified using the Revised Damage Index. The intrarater reliability and construct validity of the tool were established during the pilot study. To test the efficiency of the two techniques, the weight of gel suctioned from a trough was analyzed.

Data Analysis and Findings. The mean damage score for intermittent suctioning was 1.49 and for continuous was 1.71 indicating slightly more damage. Analysis of variance was performed and the difference in the amount of damage was not found to be statistically significant (p $<$.05).

The mean amount of gel suctioned using intermittent suctioning was 641 milligrams and the mean amount obtained using continuous suctioning was 1125 milligrams. Analysis of variance was performed and the difference in the amount of viscous gel suctioned using the two techniques was found to be statistically significant (p $<$.001).

Conclusions. Since both techniques caused clinically significant damage, including erosion to the cartilage, it is important to decrease the amount of suctioning done whenever possible. Although continuous suctioning was more efficient in this study, further studies are needed to validate this finding. Because suctioning is a frequently performed nursing task with many documented hazards, the safest and most efficient technique should be determined and used in clinical practice.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-05, Section: B, page: 1303.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1987.

School code: 0227.