Factors Contributing to Post Suction Hypoxemia in Critical Ill Patients

Background Tracheal suctioning is a rather frequent and essential procedure in patients
under mechanical ventilation. During this procedure the tracheal secretion is removed to assure
adequate oxygen supply and to avoid obstruction of the tube lumen, resulting in increased
respiratory work, atelectasis and pulmonary infections. This procedure is associated with
consequences and risks as hemorrhage, lesions of the tracheal mucosa, infections, atelectasis,
cardiovascular disorder, hypoxemia and increase intracranial pressure. Aim: this study aimed to
assess factors contributing to post suction hypoxemia in critically ill patients. Study design: a
descriptive exploratory design was utilized in this study. Setting: this study was carried out in
the Intensive Care Units of Alexandria Main Abo Quir- Hospital. Subject: A purposive sample
of 66 patients of both genders was involved in the study and convenient sample of all nurses
working in intensive care unit at Alexandria Abo Quir hospital. Data collection tools: (I):
Patient related factors: which includes 5 parts used to assess patients’ related factors. (II): Nurses
related factors: which includes 2 parts used to assess nurses’ related factors. Results: the present
study revealed that more than half of them were male and had high education, more than two
thirds of them were married and more than three quarters of them were employed. Additionally,
there was a statistically insignificance relation between nurses’ total level of practice and total
level of knowledge. Conclusion: the majority of the studied nurses had unsatisfactory level of
knowledge regarding suctioning procedure, while less than one fourth of them had satisfactory
level of knowledge regarding suctioning procedure. In addition to more than half of the studied
nurses had satisfactory level of suctioning performance, while less than half of them had
unsatisfactory level of suctioning performance. Additionally, more than half of the patients were
smokers and had hypertension as contributing factors to post suction hypoxemia in critically ill
patients. Recommendations: Educational program for intensive care unit nurses to improve
knowledge and practices about endotracheal tube suctioning and avoid complications through
performing suctioning procedure