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- Title
Are Specialized Endotracheal Tubes and Heat-and-Moisture Exchangers Cost-Effective in Preventing Ventilator Associated Pneumonia?
- Authors
Gentile, Michael A.; Siobal, Mark S.
- Abstract
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common and serious complication of mechanical ventilation via an artificial airway. As with all nosocomial infections, VAP increases costs, morbidity, and mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU). VAP prevention is a multifaceted priority of the intensive care team, and can include the use of specialized artificial airways and heat-and-moisture exchangers (HME). Substantial evidence supports the use of endotracheal tubes (ETTs) that allow subglottic suctioning; silver-coated and antiseptic-impregnated ETTs; ETTs with thin-walled polyurethane cuffs; and HMEs, but these devices also can have adverse effects. Controversy still exists regarding the evidence, cost-effectiveness, and disadvantages and risks of these devices.
- Subjects
ENDOTRACHEAL tubes; PNEUMONIA; NOSOCOMIAL infections; CRITICAL care medicine; RESPIRATORY diseases
- Publication
Respiratory Care, 2010, Vol 55, Issue 2, p184
- ISSN
0020-1324
- Publication type
Article