The effects of the endotracheal tube suctioning/manual hyperventilation procedure on patients with severe closed head injuries.

The findings of this clinical study suggest that the ETTS/MH procedure could be safely performed upon patients with severe closed head injuries whose baseline measurements of MICP were within the range of 0 to 20 mm Hg, provided the CPP was maintained at 50 mm Hg or greater. The advantages of performing the ETTS/MH procedure upon intubated patients far outweigh the possible disadvantages. The removal of pulmonary mucus plugs and secretions, which subsequently prevents hypercarbia and hypoxemia, is very important to the patient's recovery. In most situations, stimulation of the cough reflex through ETTS or even MH can help prevent atelectasis, a frequent pulmonary complication of neurologically depressed patients. Atelectasis can result in hypoxia that may adversely affect the cerebrovascular status. In addition, the results of this study suggest that multiple MHs after the third and subsequent ETTSs should be extended to a longer time interval, perhaps 60 seconds, in order that the physiologic measurements of MABP, MICP, CPP, and HR more closely approach the baseline levels. Also it is suggested that nurses performing the ETTS/MH procedure delay initiation of levels of physiologic function used to assess cerebrovascular status are reached.