Physiologic Changes Induced by Endotracheal Instillation and Suctioning in Critically Ill Preterm Infants with and Without Sedation

Abstract

Endotracheal instillation and subsequent suctioning produces fluctuations of intracranial pressure (ICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) in sick preterm infants. In an attempt to observe if these fluctuations could be minimized using sedation, we studied a group of seven sick mechanically ventilated preterm infants with and without sedation. Continuous monitoring of ICP, MAP, heart rate, CPP, and arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) were obtained. The statistical analysis of the data revealed significant blunting of fluctuations of MAP, ICP, and CPP with sedation.