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Health practitioners from different regions have held their differences when it comes to prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. This has stemmed from differences in interpretation of literature talking about it and even the medical practices put forth to cub the condition. Hand-washing is one of the easiest ways of preventing this condition but not many give it attention. Below is a discussion on VAP prevention.
Placing the patient in a semi-recumbent position has been demonstrated to be effective in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, this approach is not widely used because professionals in the health sector have not come to a consensus on the degree of head elevation. Some have given a range which is mainly from thirty to forty degrees but there are those who do not agreed with this.
There is an exception to patients who have undergone neurosurgery and those having certain fractures. Experts emphasize the need for head elevation even if one is not sure just how high the elevation should be because at the end the patient stands to benefit even if the bed is just slightly raised.
Withdrawal of sedatives and a weaning assessment should be conducted on a daily basis and if possible twice in a day. According to research, avoiding prolonged intubation minimizes the chances of the patients suffering from VAP. Therefore, the patient should be given a break of about eight hours every day to observe how well he or she fairs without the drugs. Spontaneous trials when it comes to independent breathing should be focuses on too.
Continuous secretion removal is encouraged in lowering the risk of VAP too. The newer tubes which have dorsal lumen made separately allow easier suctioning. This new tubes are very expensive by the virtue of them being silver-coated. However, if a life can be saved by using this tube, the extra expenses are not an issue. The problem with the old generation tubes is that their probability of malfunctioning is high.
Oral tubes are beneficial than nasal ones in Ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention. The nasally inserted tubes lead to sinus blockage which interferes with their drainage. If secretions remain there for long, they are likely to get infected and this is a major contributor to VAP. Nasal tubes should only be used in special cases when oral tubes are contraindicated.
Using chlorhexidine in oral hygiene has been termed as beneficial in pneumonia prevention in patients on a ventilator. The literature focusing on this does not explain the mechanism of action of this measures but its benefits have been confirmed though research. All that has to be done is gum stimulation, oral washes and brushing the teeth using this solution. The practices are not expensive and they take a very short time. Care providers should do this for the benefit of their patients.
Provision of prophylaxis for stress ulcers has been recently cleared as an effective strategy in VAP avoidance. Sucrasulfate use has been confirmed to minimize VAP and gastric bleeding. Gastrointestinal bleeding is a major cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia though the mechanism through which this happens is not clearly outlined. Antacids, H2 blockers and PPIs produce a similar effect but research studies focusing on them have not received much attention.
Placing the patient in a semi-recumbent position has been demonstrated to be effective in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, this approach is not widely used because professionals in the health sector have not come to a consensus on the degree of head elevation. Some have given a range which is mainly from thirty to forty degrees but there are those who do not agreed with this.
There is an exception to patients who have undergone neurosurgery and those having certain fractures. Experts emphasize the need for head elevation even if one is not sure just how high the elevation should be because at the end the patient stands to benefit even if the bed is just slightly raised.
Withdrawal of sedatives and a weaning assessment should be conducted on a daily basis and if possible twice in a day. According to research, avoiding prolonged intubation minimizes the chances of the patients suffering from VAP. Therefore, the patient should be given a break of about eight hours every day to observe how well he or she fairs without the drugs. Spontaneous trials when it comes to independent breathing should be focuses on too.
Continuous secretion removal is encouraged in lowering the risk of VAP too. The newer tubes which have dorsal lumen made separately allow easier suctioning. This new tubes are very expensive by the virtue of them being silver-coated. However, if a life can be saved by using this tube, the extra expenses are not an issue. The problem with the old generation tubes is that their probability of malfunctioning is high.
Oral tubes are beneficial than nasal ones in Ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention. The nasally inserted tubes lead to sinus blockage which interferes with their drainage. If secretions remain there for long, they are likely to get infected and this is a major contributor to VAP. Nasal tubes should only be used in special cases when oral tubes are contraindicated.
Using chlorhexidine in oral hygiene has been termed as beneficial in pneumonia prevention in patients on a ventilator. The literature focusing on this does not explain the mechanism of action of this measures but its benefits have been confirmed though research. All that has to be done is gum stimulation, oral washes and brushing the teeth using this solution. The practices are not expensive and they take a very short time. Care providers should do this for the benefit of their patients.
Provision of prophylaxis for stress ulcers has been recently cleared as an effective strategy in VAP avoidance. Sucrasulfate use has been confirmed to minimize VAP and gastric bleeding. Gastrointestinal bleeding is a major cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia though the mechanism through which this happens is not clearly outlined. Antacids, H2 blockers and PPIs produce a similar effect but research studies focusing on them have not received much attention.
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