Establishing A Clinical Pathway For Adult Intubated Patients To Prevent Post-Extubation Complications.

Abstract

Background: An endotracheal tube (ETT) is one of the essential artificial airways that is used forrespiratory support for critically ill patients. However, the presence of ETT is associated with variousfatal complications which diagnosed mainly in post- extubation time. Those complications includelaryngeal edema, laryngospasm, and post-extubation dysphagia (PED) which delay the complete recoveryof critically ill patient. The Clinical pathway (CP) is one of the excellent strategies that help the criticalcare staff to manage and control these complications. Design: A methodological research design wasused to conduct this study. Setting: The study was conducted at Damanhur Chest Hospital in Damanhurcity, Egypt. Subject: A purposive sample of 30 experts in the field of the study was involved for CPcontent validity. Tools: two tools were used. Tool l:" Intubated Patients' Needs Assessment". Tool ll"Integrated Care Pathway Appraisal Tool". Results: There was a high consensus among the appraiserson the established CP items and all appraisers agreed that the established CP was valid. Conclusion: Theestablished CP for adult intubated patients was recommended for use in future practice to prevent postextubationcomplications. Recommendations: Critical care nurses should implement the CP for adultintubated patients to prevent the post-extubation complications.