Side Effects of Suction Catheter and Nelaton Catheter in Patients with Brain Trauma

One of the major goals of nursing in trauma patients is clearing the airway. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the side effects of suction and nelaton catheter in patients with brain trauma. This study is a randomized clinical trial consisting of 80 patients admitted to intensive care unit of Shahid Rahnemun hospital in Yazd. Underlying variables and suction side effects were evaluated in both suction and nelaton groups. Finally, descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Ver 16 such as Chi-square and T-test. The nelaton reduced the patients’ need to suction (P-Value for third and fourth days was respectively 0. 003 and 0. 004). After total suction with nelaton catheter, O2SAT decreased for the patients (P-Value of first day=0. 06, second day=0. 004, third day=0.002, fourth day =0. 001). Comparing O2SAT between these two types of catheter, a significant difference was observed on the fourth day(P-Value = 0. 002). The mean heart rate increased in both groups after suctioning(P-Value = 0. 0001), though no difference was found in heart rate between the two groups (P-Value of first day=0. 37, the second day=0. 13,the third day=0. 57, fourth day=0. 09). The difference between the two groups in regard with frequency of bleeding chips after suctioning proved to be significant from the third day of the study. In other words, patients in suction catheter were reported to have more bleeding chips. (P-Value of first day =0. 9, second day=0. 14, third day=0. 001, fourth day=0. 001). No significant difference was found with respect to infection (P-Value = 0. 8). The study findings revealed that applying catheter nelaton can reduce the injury and bleeding to the patient's trachea to a significant percentage and can lead to less O2SAT fall.