ENDOTRACHEAL ASPIRATION: INSTILLATION OF DISTILLED WATER OR SALINE? EVIDENCE OR CONTROVERSY

Abstract

Introduction: The endotracheal aspiration technique is a procedure that aims to remove accumulated pulmonary secretions. It is intended for patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), tracheostomized or intubated. Due to needs over time, strategies were developed such as instillation of saline solution (0.9%) or distilled water associated with implementation in practice. Objectives: Review the literature regarding the use of distilled water or saline solution (0.9%) in endotracheal aspiration.Methodology: This is a bibliographical review, where searches were carried out in the following databases: SciELO, Google Scholar and LILACS. The inclusion criteria were: most recent articles published in the period from 2020 to 2022. A total of 7 studies were found, which corresponded to the previously established inclusion criteria. The following descriptors were used: Endotracheal aspiration, 0.9% saline, Distilled water.  Results and discussions: The study analyzed seven articles on the use of saline and distilled water for endotracheal suctioning, finding agreement on the preference for saline due to its effectiveness in removing secretions and better acceptance by patients. However, concerns have been raised about the potential displacement of pathogenic bacteria and possible adverse effects. However, although some articles mentioned benefits of distilled water, such as availability and cost, they warned of risks such as electrolyte imbalance and bacterial contamination. Therefore, the result of this research concludes that saline solution is the best choice. Conclusion: Despite this, the research concluded that saline is the best option for endotracheal aspiration, as it shows versatility that is often used in health treatments, due to its safety and compatibility with biological tissues due to its composition. simple.