MEDAP S VAC INT

Tapping unit
for intermittent
aspiration

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a type of pneumonia that can occur in ventilated patients. It is the most common fatal nosocomial infection. According to current studies, the incidence is 13 percent. For the first five days of ventilation, the incidence is 3 percent per day, then 2 percent per day up to day 10, and 1 percent per day from day 10. Ventilator-associated pneumonia increases the length of hospital stays by about 6–9 days.

Subglottic aspiration is only possible if the endotracheal tube or the tracheal cannula has a lumen for suction that is above the cuff.

Subglottic aspiration is recommended especially for ventilation lasting more than 72 hours. Several studies and meta-analyses have shown that the incidence of pneumonia in these patients could be lowered by up to 50 percent.

In the case of bronchial aspiration, the nursing staff hears when suction is required. Whether and when secretion has accumulated above the cuff cannot be heard. Since the amount of secretion produced varies depending on the patient, you do not know when it is time to suction.

With continuous suction, there is a greater risk that the lumen of the cannula will attach to the tracheal mucosa and cause damage.

In accordance with the international standard ISO 10079 for medical suction equipment, the use of a hydrophobic overflow protection device and a bacterial filter is mandatory. The MEDAP S VAC INT has the same connection as the MEDAP S VAC and the MEDAP S AIR. That means the same adapter, and therefore the same hydrophobic bacterial and viral filter, can be connected to the MEDAP S VAC INT as to the other two tapping units.