OBJECTIVE To evaluate the utility of endotracheal aspirate microscopy, culture and endotracheal tube tip culture for early diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia in neonates. METHODS Inborn ventilated neonates were followed-up for ventilator-associated pneumonia using Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria. Endotracheal aspirate microscopy, culture and endotracheal tub...

This study aimed to determine molecular patterns of Acinetobacter baumannii using a PCR-based technique with REP-1, REP-2 and M13 primers to distinguish the patients' strains and the environmental strains (condensate, endotracheal tube connector, bed rail and nurses hands). There were 67 cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among 600 patients using mechanical ventilators in 10 wards f...

Waveform capnography was recommended as the most reliable method to confirm correct endotracheal tube or laryngeal mask airway placements. However, capnography may be unreliable during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and during low flow states. It may lead to an unnecessary removal of a well-placed endotracheal tube, re-intubation and interruption of chest compressions. Real-time upper airway (la...

BACKGROUND Endotracheal Tubes (ETTs) are commonly secured using adhesive tape, cloth tape, or commercial devices. The objectives of the study were (1) To compare degrees of movement of ETTs secured with 6 different commercial devices and (2) To compare movement of ETTs secured with cloth tape tied with 3 different knots (hitches). METHODS A 17 cm diameter PVC tube with 14 mm "mouth" hole in t...

BACKGROUND This study aimed at correlating anatomical dimensions of the larynx and trachea to age and weight in a prenatal population. Endotracheal tube size determination was then proposed according to these considerations. METHODS Anatomical measurements were obtained during 150 fetal and infant postmortem examinations. The optimal endotracheal tube size was determined by three methods: cli...

BACKGROUND The Bonfils intubation fibrescope (BIF), a rigid, straight and reusable fibreoptic device, is being used increasingly to facilitate endotracheal intubation after direct laryngoscopy has failed. We tested the hypothesis that, with the BIF compared to direct laryngoscopy, the rate of failed endotracheal intubation could be reduced in patients with a difficult airway, simulated by means...

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of using BiPAP through endotracheal tube in comatose Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure. Methods This is a prospective study done at Department of Chest Medicine, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, during March to June 2017. It included all comatose COPD patients with hypercapn...

To the Editor: Securing the orotracheal tube is a challenge in maxillofacial surgery. Blood, saliva, and disinfectant solutions interfere with tape adhesion (1). Surgeons frequently reposition the head, further jeopardizing the security of the orotracheal tube. Several methods of securing oral endotracheal tubes have been described: anchoring the endotracheal tube with circummandibular wire (2)...

The esophageal obturator airway (EOA), esophagogastric tubular airway (EGT) and endotracheal (ET) intubation are compared as they relate to blood gases during CPR. Although statistically better levels of gases are obtained with the endotracheal tube in patients who had an EOA inserted previously, no difference in survival is noted in a separate prospective and retrospective series of patients i...

Oral care is an important feature of nursing; it is known that oropharynx is considered the main reservoir of bacterial colonization, so the removal of oral infection is a major duty of all health care providers, particularly nurses. We performed this study to explore endotracheal tube and oral care practices for mechanically ventilated patients of Jordanian intensive care nurses, and to study ...