INTUBATION

The need to reduce ventilator associated events is the primary reason the Shiley™ evac oral endotracheal tube with TaperGuard™ cuff is critical for all patients on a ventilator in the ICU.

Advanced airway protection

Subglottic secretion drainage (SSD) helps remove oral and/or gastric secretions from above the endotracheal tube cuff before they can be aspirated. Such aspirations may lead to a very serious complication known as VAP or Ventilator Associated Pneumonia.

SSD must be done with a specialized endotracheal tube with a separate dorsal suction lumen located just above the cuff. Based upon clinical evidence, the following organizations recommend the use of SSD to reduce the incidence of VAP:

• SHEA Guidelines
• American Thoracic Society/ Infectious Diseases Society of America (ATS/IDSA) – Level I
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – Category II
• American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)