Smart Breathing Tube Suction Timing for Critically Ill Patients

This trial is testing a new way to decide when to clear secretions from breathing tubes in patients on ventilators. Instead of relying on clinical signs alone, doctors would use continuous monitoring of airway resistance — a measurement of how much buildup is in the breathing tube — to guide suctioning decisions. The goal is to help doctors remove secretions at the right time, which could improve outcomes for very sick patients.

Patients on breathing machines often need their tubes cleared of fluid and mucus, but doctors currently guess when to do this based on physical signs. Doing it too often or not often enough can cause problems. This trial is testing whether using objective measurements of airway resistance could help find the perfect timing for suctioning.