Effects of manual hyperinflation with rib cage compression and endotracheal suctioning on arterial blood gas parameters in mechanically ventilated patients at a university hospital, Egypt

BACKGROUND: Manual hyperinflation and expiratory rib cage compression are methods of chest physiotherapy. They are commonly applied but their value and their early utilization managing mechanically ventilated remain questionable. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of manual hyperinflation with rib cage compression and endotracheal suctioning on arterial blood gas parameters in mechanically ventilated patients. RESULTS: Seventy mechanically ventilated patients at a teaching hospital in Egypt were assigned to the clinical trial study. The age of more than half of the studied samples ranged between 60 and 69 years with a mean age of 53.64 ± 16.44 years. Initially, the ABG parameters were assessed. Then, the patients were exposed to manual hyperinflation for 5 min and 20 min external expiratory chest compression followed by endotracheal suctioning. Later, ABG parameters were assessed again and compared to the initial one. The findings revealed significant differences in ABG parameters before and after completion of MHI and ERCC and ETT suctioning in relation to PaO(2) (t = 3.892) and SaO(2) (t= 5.904). Also, it showed significant improvement in PaO(2) and SaO(2) after the completion of interventions, while no significant differences were found in other ABG parameters. This study was registered retrospectively with an ISRCTN number 39983 on 5/6/2021. CONCLUSION: Applying manual hyperinflation with rib cage compression and endotracheal suctioning improved mainly the arterial oxygenation parameters in mechanically ventilated patients despite no significant changes observed in other ABG parameters.