Work practices relating to intubation and associated procedures in intensive care units in Sweden

A survey into the current usage of tracheal tubes and associated procedures, such as various sedation regimes and antacid therapy, in intensive care units was carried out in Sweden by sending a questionnaire to physicians in charge of intensive care units in 70 acute hospitals which included seven main teaching hospitals. The purpose of the survey was to see how far the recent advances in tube and cuff design and awareness of the problems caused by prolonged therapeutic paralysis in intensive care units have influenced the attitudes and work practices of physicians in Sweden. Forty-nine replies were received (a 70% response rate). All hospitals used polyvinyl chloride tubes of Magill design, with high residual volume, low pressure cuffs. Intensive care units in 85.7% of teaching hospitals and 47.6% of non-teaching hospitals preferred the nasal route for intubation. Most non-teaching hospitals used a size 7 tube in both adult male and female patients for nasal intubation. The majority of units changed from tracheal tubes to tracheostomy after a period of 1-2 weeks. 85% of all hospitals monitored intracuff pressure as a routine, and in most intensive care units the cuff was inflated to no-leak ventilation. The majority of units rarely used muscle relaxants. Phenoperidine and diazepam were the most popular drugs used for the sedation technique. 71.4% of teaching hospitals and 40.9% of non-teaching hospitals used antacids routinely in patients on intermittent positive pressure respiration. The results are discussed.