Effect of open versus closed endotracheal suctioning on intracranial pressure in severe brain‐injured children: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

AIM: To compare the effects and safety of open and closed endotracheal suction in children with severe brain injury. DESIGN: A single‐blinding, single‐centre randomized controlled trial (RCT). METHODS: The children with severe brain injury admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from 1 September 2020–31 August 2022 will be included. And a total of 172 children with severe brain injury are expected to be included. The intracranial pressure, SpO(2) and heart rate before suctioning, at the end of suction, and at 5 and 10 min after suction, the estimated sputum volume for each suction, the incidence of ventilator‐associated pneumonia, the duration of mechanical ventilation and the length of ICU stay will be analysed. RESULTS: This present RCT has been prospectively registered in China Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2000030963). This present study is expected to provide reliable evidence to the airway management in children with severe brain injury.