PO16 - Endotracheal suctioning methods in newborns in Estonian children's intensive care units.

UNLABELLED Theme: Child protection and managing risk. AIM To describe ETS methods in Estonian NICUs. METHOD Research sample = 67% of Estonian NICU nurses. 2011 data: survey protocol, questionnaire. RESULTS Knowledge and experience on preparatory activity prior to suctioning varied: half carried out the appropriate hand hygiene; however, all put on gloves prior to suctioning. No one performed chest auscultation to comprehend pulmonary assessment. Most performed preoxygenisation prior to suctioning. Mistakes occurred using higher oxygen value. Most participants used saline prior to suctioning, completed the procedure in 15 seconds and made up to three passes per episode to remove tracheal secretions. All started suctioning process upon catheter resistance, but knew to advance the catheter to the carina and withdraw it 1cm before applying suction. All used negative pressure only in withdrawing catheter from the ET. After suctioning, no nurse performed chest auscultation to assess the efficacy of the suctioning. Almost all assessed newborns' cardiopulmonary status before, during and after the procedure.