Abstract
The data were analyzed by using an S. P. S. S. computerized program for mean, standard deviation, percentage and paired t-test. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The increase in $PaO_2$ after hyperoxygenation and hyperinflation was highly statistically significant(p=0.041), and the increase in $PaO_2$ immediately after suctioning was not significant (p=0.752). The time of lowest $PaO_2$ was 30 seconds after the endotracheal suction. 2. The occurrance of cardiac arrhythmia after the endotracheal suction included sinus tachycardia, sinus arrhythmia, sinus bradycardia, premature atrial contraction (PAC), and premature ventricular contraction (PVC). The most frequent cardiac arrhythmia was sinus tachycardia (a subjects). Sinus arrhythmia was observed in 5 subjects and continued till 10 minutes after suctioning in two of these. Sinus bradycardia occurred in only 3 subjects and among them, 1 subjects shows sinus arrythmia till 10 minutes after suctioning along. PAC was observed in only one subject and continued till five minutes after suctining along with sinus arrhythmia. PVC was observed in three subjects: it lasted for only 30 seconds after suctioning in two subjects. but continued for 10 minutes after suctioning in the third. 6 subjects manifested two kinds of Cardiac arrhythmia Three of them showed sinus tachycardia with PVC, another 2 showed sinus bradycardia with sinus arrhythmia, and the other subject showed sinus arrhythmia with PAC. 3. The increases in heart rate during the endotracheal suction immediately after and at 30 seconds after suctioning were statistically significant (p=0.005). The increase in heart rate at one minute after suctioning was also significant (p=0.023). The increase in heart rate continued until 10 minutes after the endotracheal suction, but was not statistically significant In this study, endotracheal suctioning with hyperoxygenation and hyperinflation was effective in preventing a decrease in $PaO_2$ after suctioning, but not in preventing cardiac arrhythmias. Nurses should be aware of the complications of endotracheal suctioning and do effective hyperoxygenation and hyperinflation before and after suctioning. Further research is needed to develop a efficient endotracheal suction method which will minimize complications. This study needs to be replicated with different population of patients intubatted or having a tracheostomy, specifically, patients who cardiac or pulmonary desease. The data were analyzed by using an S. P. S. S. computerized program for mean, standard deviation, percentage and paired t-test. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The increase in $PaO_2$ after hyperoxygenation and hyperinflation was highly statistically significant(p=0.041), and the increase in $PaO_2$ immediately after suctioning was not significant (p=0.752). The time of lowest $PaO_2$ was 30 seconds after the endotracheal suction. 2. The occurrance of cardiac arrhythmia after the endotracheal suction included sinus tachycardia, sinus arrhythmia, sinus bradycardia, premature atrial contraction (PAC), and premature ventricular contraction (PVC). The most frequent cardiac arrhythmia was sinus tachycardia (a subjects). Sinus arrhythmia was observed in 5 subjects and continued till 10 minutes after suctioning in two of these. Sinus bradycardia occurred in only 3 subjects and among them, 1 subjects shows sinus arrythmia till 10 minutes after suctioning along. PAC was observed in only one subject and continued till five minutes after suctining along with sinus arrhythmia. PVC was observed in three subjects: it lasted for only 30 seconds after suctioning in two subjects. but continued for 10 minutes after suctioning in the third. 6 subjects manifested two kinds of Cardiac arrhythmia Three of them showed sinus tachycardia with PVC, another 2 showed sinus bradycardia with sinus arrhythmia, and the other subject showed sinus arrhythmia with PAC. 3. The increases in heart rate during the endotracheal suction immediately after and at 30 seconds after suctioning were statistically significant (p=0.005). The increase in heart rate at one minute after suctioning was also significant (p=0.023). The increase in heart rate continued until 10 minutes after the endotracheal suction, but was not statistically significant In this study, endotracheal suctioning with hyperoxygenation and hyperinflation was effective in preventing a decrease in $PaO_2$ after suctioning, but not in preventing cardiac arrhythmias. Nurses should be aware of the complications of endotracheal suctioning and do effective hyperoxygenation and hyperinflation before and after suctioning. Further research is needed to develop a efficient endotracheal suction method which will minimize complications. This study needs to be replicated with different population of patients intubatted or having a tracheostomy, specifically, patients who cardiac or pulmonary desease.