THE EFFECT OF EXPIRATORY MANUAL RIB CAGE COMPRESSION BEFORE SUCTIONING ON BLOOD OXYGEN SATURATION IN PATIENTS

Introduction: One of the most common ways put into practice to the clearance of the airway of patients who are under mechanical ventilation is applying suctioning into trachea. Some physiotherapeutic procedures including rib cage compression parallel to exhale and prior to suctioning can facilitate the egression of discharges. The present study aimed to determine the effect of rib cage compression during the exhale before suctioning on O2 saturation changes in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Methodology: The research is a clinical trial study. The sample involved 55 patients who received mechanical ventilation hospitalized in special sections of health centers at Golestan and Emam-Khomeini hospitals in Ahvaz. The patients were divided into control and intervention groups by convenience sampling as paying attention to random involvement criteria. Blood oxygen saturation, within 5 minutes before and 15 and 25 minutes after suctioning were measured for intervention group using rib cage compression technique and the data were analyzed by independent t-test, and paired t-test as well as repeated measures design. Findings: The level of oxygen saturation increased by the trachea suctioning through rib cage compression technique and it is statistically meaningful at p< 0.05 . Conclusion: With respect to the improvement of blood oxygen saturation in intervention group, the technique is recommended for intubed patients. Keywords: Suctioning, compressing the rib cage, O2saturation, mechanical ventilation