Resp Care
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Multicenter Study Controlled Clinical Trial
A low-sodium solution for airway care: results of a multicenter trial.
Normal saline is sometimes instilled into the endotracheal tube preparatory to airway suctioning, to assist in removing thick secretions. However, saline can damage the antimicrobial properties of airway secretions. We previously described a low-sodium physiologically based solution for airway care and reported a small (n = 60) randomized trial in neonates, which showed trends toward less ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and less chronic lung disease with the new solution. We now report a multicenter trial of that solution. ⋯ The test solution significantly reduced the VAP and chronic lung disease rates.