Endotracheal suctioning in post-operative cardiac infants

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    The impact of endotracheal suctioning in high risk post-operative cardiac surgical infants.

  • IRAS ID

    145791

  • Contact name

    Lyvonne Tume

  • Contact email

    lyvonne.tume@alderhey.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Alder Hey Childen's NHS Foundation Trust

  • Research summary

    In babies undergoing complex (high risk) heart surgery the first 48 hours after the operation in the intensive care unit is a critical time. Because the baby will have a breathing tube in, the nurses have to suction down this tube to prevent it getting blocked with mucous. This is essential and is done when a baby needs it. This procedure is called endotracheal (the tube) suctioning and although essential, can cause instability in babies after heart surgery. We want to observe exactly what happens when the nurses suction the tube, and to examine whether one suction method (open or closed circuit suction) is better than another in terms of physiological impact. We expect to enroll around 30 babies in this study over 18 months.

  • REC name

    North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    14/NW/1071

  • Date of REC Opinion

    29 Aug 2014

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion