Understanding Pain and Stress During Endotracheal Suctioning in ICU Patients

This study is looking at how endotracheal tube (ETT) suctioning, a routine procedure for patients on breathing machines (ventilators) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), affects pain and stress in the body. We want to see if this procedure, which helps keep airways clear, increases pain levels, measured by a tool called CPOT (Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool). We also want to find out if it raises certain chemicals in the blood, like hypoxanthine, that can show stress and a lack of oxygen. You might be able to join if you are an adult (18 or older) in the ICU with conditions like flu, pneumonia, COVID, or sepsis, are on a ventilator, have an arterial line, and need ETT suctioning. The study aims to enroll 110 participants. The status of this study is currently unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study aiming to enroll 110 adult participants. It is designed to observe the effects of a standard medical procedure.
What's involved
You would undergo endotracheal tube suctioning as part of your normal care. Blood samples would be taken at baseline and 30 minutes after suctioning to measure certain chemicals.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your pain level and blood markers will be measured at baseline and 30 minutes after suctioning.

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NCT06692400

The Effects of Endotracheal Suctioning on Pain and Serum Markers

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalSupportive care
Loma Linda University
~110 participants
Updated 2026-07-10 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:endotracheal tube suctioning

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Impact of ETT suctioning on subject pain level
Measured over Change between baseline CPOT score and 30-minutes post suctioning CPOT score.
+1 more outcome measured
Intensive Care Unit ICU
Intubation
Critical Illness
Mechanical Ventilation
Pain Measurement
Pain, Procedural
Oxidative Stress
Hypoxia
Biomarkers / Blood
Adult
Uric Acid
Sepsis
COVID
Influenza
Pneumonia
1 sites across 1 states
California1
  • Elizabeth Johnston Taylor, PhD, FAAN · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Loma Linda University School of Nursing

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Adults (aged 18 years and older)
Current diagnosis of flu, pneumonia, COVID, or sepsis
Intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation.
Have arterial lines placed
Require endotracheal suctioning as part of their care

Exclusion

Patients receiving neuromuscular blocking agents
Contraindications for blood draws (hemoglobin levels below 8.0 g/dL; Jehovah's Witness)
  • Impact of ETT suctioning on subject pain levelChange between baseline CPOT score and 30-minutes post suctioning CPOT score.

    The Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) is a composite measurement used to assess pain in non-verbal ICU patients by evaluating four behavioral indicators: facial expression, body movements, muscle tension, and ventilator compliance (for intubated patients) or vocalization (for non-intubated patients). Each indicator is scored from 0 (no pain behavior) to 2 (intense pain behavior), resulting in a total score from 0 to 8. Higher scores indicate higher pain levels, guiding clinicians in pain management. For example, a score of 0 indicates no pain, while a score of 2 in any category suggests more severe pain, prompting possible adjustments in analgesic care.

  • Impact of ETT suctioning on subject serum markers of hypoxia and oxidative stress (Hypoxanthine).Change between baseline serum marker blood draw and 30-minutes post suctioning serum marker blood draw

    Serum markers will be obtained via arterial line blood draw 5 minutes pre-ETT suctioning and again post-ETT suctioning. Normal blood concentrations of hypoxanthine in healthy adult individuals are less than 5 µmol. Levels greater than 5 µmol indicate hypoxia and oxidative stress.