Background: To determine changes in pulse rate, arterial blood pressures, splanchnic and cerebral

oxygen saturation and arterial oxygen saturation during endotracheal suctioning in patients requiring

ventilation support in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Methods: This prospective study was performed between June 2014 and December 2014 with patients

requiring mechanical ventilation support in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. All patients underwent

superficial endotracheal suctioning. Patients’ cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2), splanchnic oxygen

saturation (rBO2), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), and heart rate were recorded at the beginning of

preoxygenation, at the beginning of and at 5 and 10 sec during suctioning, and over 1 min following

suctioning. rSO2 and rBO2 levels were measured using a near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device.

Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures were measured before and 60 sec after suctioning.

Fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) values were made up to 100% before suctioning, and

preoxygenation was performed for 10 sec. FiO2 values returned to basal levels at 80 sec.

Results: No statistically significant difference was observed in rSO2, rBO2, heart rate or arterial

oxygen saturation during and after suctioning. Statistically significant increases were determined in

systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures after suctioning. The most significant decrease in

rSO2 and rBO2 was observed at 30 sec, while the most significant decrease in arterial oxygen saturation

and the most significant increase in heart rate were observed at 40 sec. rSO2 and rBO2 decreased 10 sec

before SO2.

Conclusions: Standard endotracheal suctioning does not cause any deterioration in rSO2, rBO2, SO2 or

heart rate.