BLUS ACV

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Assessment of communication and speech via Blue Line Ultra ‘Suctionaid’ (BLUS) tracheostomy tubes for Intensive Care Patients

  • IRAS ID

    178997

  • Contact name

    Brendan A McGrath

  • Contact email

    brendan.mcgrath@manchester.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University Hospital Of South Manchester

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 2 months, 28 days

  • Research summary

    We want to investigate new ways of allowing patients who require a tracheostomy tube in intensive care to speak and communicate. Speech is not normally possible if patients still need help with breathing from a ventilator, but we are evaluating a feature of some new tubes that have been shown to allow patients to talk much earlier than would be possible with standard treatment. Our study involves connecting an air supply to part of the tube that is already in place and seeing if patients can talk effectively. Speech & Language Therapists will evaluate resulting communication using scoring systems. We also plan to look at the voice box (larynx) during the addition of this additional airflow using a small flexible camera which is inserted via the nose. We usually perform this type of evaluation routinely in intensive care to check that swallowing and talking will be safe as patients get better, but for this study, we will take some extra measurements and recordings to assess the effect of this new technique. Study participants will undergo this detailed assessment, involving trials of swallowing and talking over approximately 15 minutes. We aim to demonstrate that using the additional airflow to allow speech, this technique is safe and allows patients to communicate effectively. There may some additional benefits such as better clearance of secretions from the back of the throat.

  • REC name

    North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    15/NW/0464

  • Date of REC Opinion

    18 Jun 2015

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion