Background: Late-onset ventilator associated pneumonia is leading pulmonary infection in mechanically ventilated patients.

Objective: To assess the effect of manual hyperinflation and suction techniques in patients receiving mechanical ventilation to prevent the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Method: Mechanically ventilated and intubated patient s (n = 30) included in this single-blind randomized trial were randomized into control and study group (lottery method). Patients were assessed for baseline parameters and airway clearance before (Day 1; pretest scores) and after (Day 3 and 5; post test scores) the test. Manual hyperinflation (15 min) and suctioning (15 sec) was administered in study group (n=15) whereas control group (n=15) was given suctioning (15 sec) as a routine nursing care, three times a day for 5 days. Data was analyzed by using SPSS 16; P<0.05 was statistically significant difference.

Results: Significant difference was observed in the airway clearance, on day 5 in the study group as compared to the control group (P< 0.001)).Effect of combination therapy was also found to be significant (P< 0.05) between the groups.

Conclusion: Routine and supportive airway management care for ventilated patients to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia could be implemented with the help of the outcome of present study.

Keywords: Manual hyperinflation, Suctioning, Airway clearance.

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Milka Madhale

Department of Medical and Surgical Nursing, KLE University’s Institute of Nursing Sciences, Nehru Nagar, Belgaum-590010, Karnataka, India