The comparison of open and closed suction systems shows them to have similar results in terms of safety and effectiveness.
Tracheal secretions in mechanically ventilated patients are removed using a catheter via the endotracheal tube. The suction catheter can be introduced by disconnecting the patient from the ventilator (open suction system) or by introducing the catheter into the ventilatory circuit (closed suction system). Although the literature reports several advantages for the closed suction system, the review did not show differences between the two systems in the main outcomes studied. These outcomes were ventilator-associated pneumonia and mortality. This review identified few trials of high methodological quality. Future research should be of higher quality, clarify issues related to the patient's condition and to technique, and provide nurse-related outcomes.
Results from 16 trials showed that suctioning with either closed or open tracheal suction systems did not have an effect on the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia or mortality. More studies of high methodological quality are required, particularly to clarify the benefits and hazards of the closed tracheal suction system for different modes of ventilation and in different types of patients.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a common complication in ventilated patients. Endotracheal suctioning is a procedure that may constitute a risk factor for ventilator-associated pneumonia. It can be performed with an open system or with a closed system. In view of suggested advantages being reported for the closed system, a systematic review comparing both techniques was warranted.
To compare the closed tracheal suction system and the open tracheal suction system in adults receiving mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours.
We searched CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2006, Issue 1) MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE and LILACS from their inception to July 2006. We handsearched the bibliographies of relevant identified studies, and contacted authors and manufacturers.
The review included randomized controlled trials comparing closed and open tracheal suction systems in adult patients who were ventilated for more than 24 hours.
We included the relevant trials fitting the selection criteria. We assessed methodological quality using method of randomization, concealment of allocation, blinding of outcome assessment and completeness of follow up. Effect measures used for pooled analyses were relative risk (RR) for dichotomous data and weighted mean differences (WMD) for continuous data. We assessed heterogeneity prior to meta-analysis.
Of the 51 potentially eligible references, the review included 16 trials (1684 patients), many with methodological weaknesses. The two tracheal suction systems showed no differences in risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (11 trials; RR 0.88; 95% CI 0.70 to 1.12), mortality (five trials; RR 1.02; 95% CI 0.84 to 1.23) or length of stay in intensive care units (two trials; WMD 0.44; 95% CI -0.92 to 1.80). The closed tracheal suction system produced higher bacterial colonization rates (five trials; RR 1.49; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.03).