Occurrence of ventilator associated pneumonia using a tracheostomy tube with subglottic secretion drainage

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients who require mechanical ventilation (MV). Subglottic secretions above the endotracheal cuff are associated with bacteria colonization of lower respiratory tract, causing VAP. A preventive strategy to avoid subglottic secretion progression is the drainage with special tracheal tubes effective in preventing both early onset and late onset VAP. The purpose of this study was to measure VAP incidence in tracheostomized patients with suction above the cuff.