Efficacy Study of a Novel Device to Clean the Endotracheal Tube

"EndOclear device will be used for ETT cleaning maneuver. This is a commercially available device. It consists of an ETT cleaning apparatus with a flexible central tube and a cleaning device at its distal end. The cleaning device has a mechanically expandable mesh structure which can be adapted to selectively move between a radially-collapsed position and a radially-expanded one. In operation, the collapsed cleaning apparatus is inserted into the ETT through a Y-shaped connector. The device is then expanded by a safety toggle protected trigger mechanism that, when fired, presses the device's smooth silicone disc against the inside surface of the ETT. The cleaning apparatus is then pulled out of the ETT removing mucus deposits and secretions.~We will add endOclear to the standard ICU practice, scheduling the systematic use of the device every 8 hours for the whole intubation period."