Background & Aim: Nowadays, mechanical ventilators are being used for some patients in ICUs due to various physiological and clinical causes. Keeping endotracheal tube clean and open is necessary in order to improve the patient&aposs oxygenation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of open and closed system endotracheal suctioning on vital signs of patients in ICU.

Methods & Materials: In this quasi-experimental study, 40 patients from Shariaty Hospital&aposs ICU were selected using convenience sampling method. Data was collected using a record sheet. The sheet consisted of demographic characteristics and vital signs including blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and arterial blood oxygen saturation percentage. Endotracheal suctioning was done randomly in 90 minute intervals once using closed method and once using open method. All patients were hyper oxygenated by Ambo bag for 2 minutes before and after the procedures. The patients&apos vital signs were checked and recorded using SIEMENS 680 2xi monitor before, and 2 minutes and 5 minutes after the procedures. Data were analyzed using SPSS software.

Results: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and heart rate showed higher increase 2 and 5 minutes after the open method compared to close method (P<0.001). Arterial blood oxygen saturation percentage reduced in the open method more than in the closed one 2 and 5 minutes after the procedure (P<0.001). No significant difference was seen in the patients&apos respiratory rate in two methods (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Closed endotracheal suction system results in lower disturbances in the vital signs than the open system. Therefore, for better results, the closed endotracheal suctioning is suggested.

Background & Aim: Endotracheal suctioning (ETS) is a common invasive nursing procedure. Hemodynamic parameters changes during and after the procedure. If appropriate strategies do not be applied during the ETS, hemodynamic changes can be significant and life threatening in critically ill patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of education of endotracheal suctioning on patients&apos hemodynamic parameters.

Methods & Materials: This was a non-equivalent quasi-experimental study conducted in two critical care units in Hazarat Rasool hospital. All nurses working in these two units participated in the study in a period of two weeks. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean blood pressure of all patients who needed suctioning were measured before and after the endotracheal suctioning. We analyzed the data using the SPSS.

Results: At baseline, the systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures increased significantly (P=0.02) in the first and third minutes post-suctioning. In post-education phase, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure increased significantly (P<0.001) in the first minute post-suctioning. In the third minute post-suctioning, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure decreased (P=0.43).

Conclusion: The study findings showed significant changes in hemodynamic parameters after post-endotracheal suctioning. In this study, conducting endotracheal suctioning education improved the outcomes of hemodynamic parameters in patients. Educational programs can improve nursing care outcomes by preventing and minimizing hemodynamic changes during and after the suctioning in critically ill patients.

  Background & Aim: Premature infants are the most admitted group to NICUs. Stabilization of cardio pulmonary parameters is a main goal in NICUs. Mechanical ventilation and endothracheal suctioning are the most common and effective procedures to stabilize cardio pulmonary parameters. The aim of present study was to compare the effects of two endothracheal suctioning methods (open and closed) on physiological stability in premature infants under mechanical ventilation .

  Methods & Materials: In this clinical trial, 90 preterm infants (GA: 27-34 weeks) hospitalized in the NICUs of Alzahra and Taleghani hospitals were selected and randomly assigned to two groups. In one group, infants were suctioned using open suctioning method and in the other group, infants were suctioned using closed suctioning method. The physiologic parameters (O2 sat, HR, mean BP variation) and stability (recovery time of HR, BP) were compared between the groups. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods such as x², independent t-test and mixed model in the SPSS-21 . 

  Results: There was significant statistical difference between the two groups on mean BP (P=0.016). Recovery time of the BP and HR was shorter in the closed suctioning group. Physiologic stability was better in the closed suctioning group (P<0.05) .

  Conclusion: Variation of the mean BP and recovery time was more in the open suctioning group compared with the closed suctioning group. Considering better physiologic effects of closed suctioning, it is recommended to assess the combined effect of closed suctioning with weight on physiologic parameters of premature infants .