Effect of suctioning technique on oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in arterial blood in positive end expiratory pressure dependent patients

The purpose of this study was to evaluate which pre-oxygenation technique used pre-suctioning was most effective in minimizing hemoglobin de-saturation in patients dependent on positive-end expiratory pressure (PEEP). A quasi-experimental design was implemented with each subject serving as his own control. Each subject (N=14) was exposed to two different pre-oxygenation techniques prior to suctioning. The majority of the subjects were trauma victims with head injuries and aspiration pneumonia. Total of 33 paired protocols was obtained. Findings demonstrated that either pre-oxygenation procedure will prevent a significant change of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in arterial blood (SaO2) in PEEP dependent patients during suctioning. Pre-oxygenation by ventilator is suggested as the preferred technique when suctioning patients whose arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) is initially low and they are vulnerable to hypoxemia. Unconditional recommendation is not possible for the sample population on 10 cm of PEEP or more. An increase occurrence of complications suggests the need for further investigation.