OBJECTIVE To determine what practices are used by hospitals to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and, through qualitative methods, to understand more fully why hospitals use certain practices and not others. DESIGN Mixed-methods, sequential explanatory study. METHODS We mailed a survey to the lead infection control professionals at 719 US hospitals (119 Department of Veterans Af...

The number needed to treat can be calculated for ventilator-associated pneumonia reduction strategies such as subglottic secretion drainage technology based on previous work establishing its relative risk reduction. Assuming an incidence of 4%, employing subglottic secretion drainage in 33 patients will prevent one case of ventilator-associated pneumonia, and thus potentially 4 cases annually i...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of targeted cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition in reducing scarring associated with a subglottic airway mucosal injury. DESIGN Thirty-four New Zealand white rabbits underwent anterior cricothyroidotomy. Subglottic stenosis (SGS) was created by carbon dioxide laser injury. INTERVENTION Treatment consisted of intraperitoneal injection of celecoxib or vehicle for 4 days...

Background. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common health care-associated infection. To prevent this complication, aspiration of subglottic secretions using Hi-Lo Evac endotracheal tube (Evac ETT) is a recommended intervention. However, there are some reports on Evac ETT dysfunction. We aimed to compare the incidence of VAP (per ventilated patients) in severely ill poisoned pa...

PURPOSE To assess the efficacy of subglottic secretion drainage in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia. METHODS We performed a comprehensive, systematic meta-analysis of randomized trials that have compared subglottic secretion drainage with standard endotracheal tube care in mechanically ventilated patients. Studies were identified by a computerized database search, review of bibliogr...

OBJECTIVES To build on work in laryngology and oral biology that suggests utility in the assay of secretions collected from wound sites as a predictive instrument to determine which infants will likely develop subglottic stenosis following endotracheal intubation and to document and describe the wound-healing process. DESIGN Prospective, randomized design. INTERVENTION Laser-induced subglot...

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most frequent hospital-acquired infections occurring in intubated patients. Because VAP is associated with higher mortality, morbidity, and costs, there is a need to solicit further research for effective preventive measures. VAP has been proposed as an indicator of quality of care. Clinical diagnosis has been criticized to have poor accuracy ...

Local infection of the trachea in intubated neonates is one of the main risk factors for development of acquired subglottic stenosis, although its role in the pathogenesis is unclear. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is often the cause of critical illness in neonatal patients. Two cases are reported of acquired subglottic stenosis following bacterial infection of the trachea, ...