Effectiveness of Oropharyngeal Suctioning in Preventing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES LAHORE · Aug 13, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at whether regularly removing secretions from the mouth and throat—called oropharyngeal suctioning—can help prevent a serious lung infection known as ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). VAP can happen to patients who need help breathing with a machine (mechanical ventilation) in the ICU and can cause longer hospital stays and more complications. In this study, one group of patients will receive suctioning every 4 hours along with standard mouth care, while another group will get only the usual mouth care. The goal is to see if adding suctioning reduces the chance of developing this infection, helps patients recover faster, and shortens the time they need the breathing machine.

Patients who might join this study are adults between 18 and 75 years old who are in the ICU and expected to need a breathing machine for more than two days. They should not have serious lung diseases, ongoing infections, or weakened immune systems, and must be able to follow the study procedures with consent from their family. If chosen, participants will receive either the regular mouth care or the extra suctioning treatment, and doctors will monitor their health closely. The results from this study could help improve care for critically ill patients by finding better ways to prevent lung infections in the ICU.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • ICU patients aged 18-75 years.
• • Patients expected to require invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours.
• • Modified Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (MCPIS) ≤ 5 on Day 1, indicating no or minimal signs of infection.
• • Ability to comply with the study protocol, including informed consent from patient attendants.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients with chronic respiratory diseases (e.g., COPD, asthma).
• • Immunocompromised patients (e.g., those with cancer, organ transplant recipients, or on immunosuppressive therapy).
• • Patients with ongoing sepsis or severe infections at the time of enrollment.
• • Patients who have been on mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours at the time of ICU admission.
• • Pregnant patients or those unable to comply with the study protocol.
• • Patients with dental prosthetics or dentures, as these may interfere with the suctioning process.