Consensus Statements on Airway Clearance Interventions in Intubated Critically Ill Patients-Protocol for a Delphi...

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Respiratory Therapy
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Intubated critically ill patients face challenges with airway clearance, leading to secretion accumulation.
• Mucus retention in these patients can cause significant complications.
• Current airway clearance interventions vary in application and perceived efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather global consensus from an international expert panel on the utility of airway clearance interventions.
• To assess the usefulness of humidification, nebulization, suctioning, and mucus mobilization techniques.
• To inform best practices for airway management in intensive care units.

Main Methods:

• A Delphi methodology involving an international panel of 30-40 ICU professionals.
• Literature review to formulate statements on airway clearance interventions.
• Iterative rounds using multiple-choice questions and 7-point Likert scales to achieve consensus.
• Consensus defined as ≥75% agreement/disagreement; stability assessed using non-parametric tests (χ², Kruskal-Wallis) with p≥0.05.

Main Results:

• Consensus levels on the usefulness of specific airway clearance interventions will be determined.
• Identification of areas of agreement and disagreement among experts regarding humidification, nebulization, suctioning, and mucus mobilization.
• Data will provide insights into the perceived value of different techniques in clinical practice.

Conclusions:

• The study will establish expert consensus on the effectiveness of various airway clearance interventions for intubated critically ill patients.
• Findings will guide clinical decision-making and potentially refine protocols for secretion management.
• This research contributes to optimizing airway clearance strategies in intensive care settings.