Objective: To compare the effect of subglottic secretions drainage endotracheal tubes with conventional endotracheal tubes on the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia in patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

Design: A prospective, quasi experimental comparative study

Setting: A 28 bed general ICU

Patients: One hundred patients with an expected duration of mechanical ventilation > 48 hours were enrolled in the study.

Intervention: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a subglottic secretions drainage (ssd) endotracheal tube or a standard endotracheal tube.

Results: 48 patients were randomized to receive subglottic secretions drainage endotracheal tubes and 52 patients received standard endotracheal tubes (control group). The two groups were similar at the time of randomization with respect to demographic characteristics and severity of illness. Ventilator Associated Pneumonia was seen in 2 patients (4.20%) receiving subglottic secretions drainage and in 12 patients (23.10%) in the control group.

Conclusion: Intermittent subglottic secretion drainage reduces the incidence of VAP in patients receiving mechanical ventilation.