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| |  AARC: Nasopharyngeal Suctioning Reduces Oxygen Requirements in Pediatric Bronchiolitis Patients By Coriene E. Hannapel Special to DG News
SAN ANTONIO, TX -- December 3, 2001 -- Nasopharyngeal (NP) suctioning of pediatric bronchiolitis patients can help to wean them from oxygen. This finding was presented at the 47th International Respiratory Congress of the American Association for Respiratory Care, held December 1 - 4, 2001. Tami Zemlicka-Dunn, RRT, BS, and Quality Care Assessment Team (QCAT) colleagues at the Respiratory Care Department, Primary Children’s Medical Center, of the University of Utah demonstrated that NP suctioning of the hypopharynx is an effective component of the care of pediatric bronchiolitis patients. While bulb suction or similar non-invasive techniques are used at other care facilities, the QCAT have demonstrated that NP suctioning is effective and safe. The study sought to quantify the effect of NP suctioning on the ability to wean these patients. This retrospective study gathered data from patient charts for the period from October 2000 to April 2001. Patients were included in the study if they had a diagnosis of bronchiolitis, were 24 months of age or younger, were not admitted to the ICU (intensive care unit), and there was documentation of suctioning while receiving oxygen. For each patient, it was indicated whether suctioning episodes were the first, second, or third since being admitted to the floor and whether suctioning had resulted in weaning from oxygen. The standard of care was to wean patients at pulse oximetry levels at or above 88 percent. Approximately one-fourth of the 421 patients who met the inclusion criteria were weaned between the first, second, and third suctioning. Suctioning episodes resulting in oxygen weaning included 31 percent after the first suctioning, 24 percent after the second suctioning, and 24 percent after the third suctioning. There were a total of 1,141 first, second, or third suctioning interventions. During the study period, there were no formal or informal reports of suctioning related morbidities.
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