Canada’s Drug Agency | Drugs, Health Technologies and Systems.
Canada’s Drug Agency | Drugs, Health Technologies and Systems.

Timing of Ventilator Circuit Tubing Replacement

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Project Status:
Completed
Project Line:
Health Technology Review
Project Sub Line:
Rapid Review
Project Number:
RC1498-000

Question

  1. What is the clinical effectiveness of different fixed or nonfixed intervals for timing ventilator circuit tubing replacements for patients with mechanical ventilation?
  2. What are the evidence-based guidelines regarding ventilator circuit replacement for patients with mechanical ventilation?

Key Message

​In adult patients with mechanical ventilation, more frequent ventilator circuit tubing replacement may increase the odds of ventilator-associated pneumonia, but the findings are imprecise. In pediatric patients with mechanical ventilation, more frequent and less frequent intervals of ventilator circuit tubing replacement may result in similar a risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia, all-cause mortality, and ventilator-associated pneumonia mortality, and similar durations of mechanical ventilation and hospital stay. For preterm neonates, children, and adult patients, it is recommended to replace the ventilator circuit tubing if it is visibly soiled, not functioning properly, or as recommended in the manufacturer's instructions. We did not find any guidelines about fixed versus nonfixed ventilator circuit tubing replacement.

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Timing of Ventilator Circuit Tubing Replacement View PDF
Last Updated : September 8, 2023