Open versus Closed Suctioning Among Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Patients: A Randomised Control Trial

To compare the difference in efficacy of closed tracheal suction system (CTSS) to open tracheal suction system (OTSS) in reducing incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). Also to evaluate their efficacy in stabilizing cardio-respiratory parameters, reducing mortality and duration of intubation.

This study was a single centre, parallel group, open label, randomized controlled study with an equal allocation (1:1) in pediatric patients requiring mechanical ventilation. A specific suction system of CTSS or OTSS was assigned to the two groups based on randomization. All the demographic, clinical, laboratory parameters and treatment outcomes were noted in the preformed sheet.

Total 116 eligible pediatric ventilated patients were studied. Total incidence of VAP was 9 (7.75%) of which 3 occurred in open and 6 in closed suction group. Rate of VAP was similar among both the groups with RR 2.11 (95% CI 0.50–8.9). However, significant number of infection-related ventilator associated condition (IVAC) were found in CTSS (17) compared to OTSS (6) group with RR 3.5 (95% CI 1.3–9.9). SpO₂ was better maintained in the CTSS group post-suction (p = 0.001). Incidence of mortality and intubation days were similar between both groups.

Incidence of VAP was similar between open and closed suction groups.