TY - JOUR T1 - As needed in line suction catheter changes were as safe as and less expensive than daily scheduled catheter changes during mechanical ventilation JF - Evidence Based Nursing JO - Evid Based Nurs SP - 82 LP - 82 DO - 10.1136/ebn.1.3.82 VL - 1 IS - 3 A2 - , Y1 - 1998/07/01 UR - http://ebn.bmj.com/content/1/3/82.abstract N2 - Kollef MH, Prentice D, Shapiro SD, et al.Mechanical ventilation with or without daily changes of in-line suction catheters.Am J Respir Crit Care Med1997 Aug;156:466–72.OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science Question How safe are, and what are the costs of, daily scheduled changes (v as needed changes) on in line suction catheters for patients who receive mechanical ventilation? Randomised controlled trial.A university teaching hospital in St Louis, Missouri, USA.521 patients (mean age 58 y, 54% men, 66% white) who were >18 years old and required mechanical ventilation for >12 hours while in the intensive care unit (ICU). Exclusion criteria were mechanical ventilation in another hospital, heart or lung transplantation, or massive haemoptysis.263 patients were allocated to receive changes of in line suction catheters every 24 hours. 258 patients were allocated to receive non-scheduled changes of suction catheters indicated by mechanical failure of the device or visible soiling of the catheter. Routine nursing and respiratory treatment suctioning practices were done for all patients. Standard … ER -