en-us
The need to reduce ventilator associated events is the primary reason the Shiley™ evac oral endotracheal tube with TaperGuard™ cuff is critical for all patients on a ventilator in the ICU.
Subglottic secretion drainage (SSD) helps remove oral and/or gastric secretions from above the endotracheal tube cuff before they can be aspirated. Such aspirations may lead to a very serious complication known as VAP or Ventilator Associated Pneumonia.
SSD must be done with a specialized endotracheal tube with a separate dorsal suction lumen located just above the cuff. Based upon clinical evidence, the following organizations recommend the use of SSD to reduce the incidence of VAP:
Friction or pressure between the tracheal cuff and the trachea’s sensitive mucosa can lead to irritation, ischemia and tracheal trauma.2,3
Endotracheal tubes with TaperGuard™ cuff technology have features that may help reduce the tracheal impact of intubation with a unique, taper-shaped cuff design that provides a smaller area of contact with the patient’s airway than traditional barrel-shaped cuffs.3
Tapered-cuff advantages
Unique TaperGuard™ cuff design: