• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.111-121
• /
• 2010

Purpose: This meta-analysis was aimed to investigate the evidence of proper period of the ventilator circuit change using existing research. Methods: For this study, 14 published studies between 1995 and 2010 were tested by Macaskill, Funnel Plot, the Odds Ratio of DerSimonian and Laird, Fisher and Liptak analysis. Results: There were no publication bias found in the subjects. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated no statistically significant differences were observed in neither the Odds Ratio (OR=1.18, 95% CI=0.94-1.47) of the frequency of ventilator-associated pneumonia and the mortality based on the period of the ventilator circuit change (Fisher p=.332, Liptak p=.498), nor the ventilation duration of ventilator (Fisher p=.843, Liptak p=.506), and the hospital length of stay (Fisher p=.254, Liptak p=.480). Conclusion: In order to present more concrete guidelines on the period of the ventilator circuit change, further research is warranted to thoroughly control confounding variables which related to the periods of the ventilator circuit change.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.799-807
• /
• 2010

Purpose: To determine whether the practice of not routinely changing ventilator circuits in patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation is associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Methods: Patients were divided into two groups, ventilator circuits were routinely changed every 7 days for the control group (39) and every 14 days for the experimental group (40) over a period of 1 yr (April 1, 2009-March 31, 2010). Pediatric patients (age 17 yr or less) were not included. VAP was diagnosed by the criteria of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Incidence of VAP and characteristics of infection were evaluated. Results: In the experimental group, 2 episodes of pneumonia were observed in 40 patients and 1,322 ventilator days. The rate of VAP was 1.5 per 1,000 ventilator days. There was 1 episode of pneumonia in 39 patients and 481 ventilator days for the control group. The rate of VAP was 2.1 per 1,000 ventilator days. The difference between both groups was not significant (p=.695). Conclusion: Extending ventilator circuit change interval from 7 days to 14 days does not increase the risk for VAP.