Clinical nursing related to procedures A meta-analysis of the effects of various interventions in preventing endotracheal suction-induced hypoxemia.

• The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of interventions that were applied to prevent endotracheal suction-induced hypoxia by meta-analysis. • To obtain a sample for this meta-analysis, a computerized search was performed through MEDLINE in addition to tracking down additional references cited in bibliographies of past reports. Finally thirty research reports were examined. • In terms of the application time of oxygenation, insufflation and preoxygenation were the most prevalently used in the studies. • Regarding the methods of oxygenation, the most prevalent technique for oxygenation was hyperoxygenation in combination with hyperinflation. • Hyperoxygenation and hyperinflation were most frequently induced by FiO2 of 1 and a 150% tidal volume of three to six breaths, respectively. • Suctioning was commonly sustained for <15 seconds using pressures of −80 to −120 mmHg and with size 14 French catheters. • Insufflation was less effective than the other methods examined in the present study. • From this study, it can be concluded that the interventions that were applied to prevent endotracheal suction-induced hypoxia, regardless of their application times or methods, reduced suction-induced hypoxia significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]