Consensus Statements on Airway Clearance Interventions in Intubated Critically Ill Patients—Protocol for a Delphi Study
Issued Date
2025-08-01
Resource Type
eISSN
20751729
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105015541454
Journal Title
Life
Volume
15
Issue
8
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Life Vol.15 No.8 (2025)
Suggested Citation
Esmeijer A.A., Nasa P., Ntoumenopoulos G., Battaglini D., Juneja D., Ball L., Ehrmann S., Schultz M.J., Paulus F., Stilma W. Consensus Statements on Airway Clearance Interventions in Intubated Critically Ill Patients—Protocol for a Delphi Study. Life Vol.15 No.8 (2025). doi:10.3390/life15081292 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/112153
Title
Consensus Statements on Airway Clearance Interventions in Intubated Critically Ill Patients—Protocol for a Delphi Study
Author's Affiliation
Universiteit van Amsterdam
Università degli Studi di Genova
Medizinische Universität Wien
IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital
Université de Tours
Nuffield Department of Medicine
Royal Perth Hospital
Centre Hospitalier Regional et Universitaire de Tours
Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit
New Cross Hospital
Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi
Università degli Studi di Genova
Medizinische Universität Wien
IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital
Université de Tours
Nuffield Department of Medicine
Royal Perth Hospital
Centre Hospitalier Regional et Universitaire de Tours
Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit
New Cross Hospital
Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Intubated critically ill patients are susceptible to secretion accumulation because of compromised airway clearance. Various airway clearance interventions are employed to prevent complications arising from mucus retention. This Delphi study aims to collect global opinions in an international expert panel of ICU professionals on the usefulness of these various airway clearance interventions. A steering committee performed a literature search informing the formulation of statements. Statements are grouped into two distinct parts: (1) Humidification and Nebulization, and (2) Suctioning and Mucus mobilization techniques. For each part, a diverse panel of 30–40 experts will be selected, with concerted effort to involve experts from various medical specialties involved in airway clearance methods. Multiple choice questions (MCQs) or 7-point Likert-scale statements will be used in the iterative Delphi rounds to reach consensus on various airway clearance interventions. Rounds will continue until stability is achieved for all statements. Consensus will be deemed achieved when a choice in MCQs or a Likert-scale statement achieves ≥75% agreement or disagreement. Starting from the second round of the Delphi process, stability will be assessed using non-parametric χ<sup>2</sup> tests or Kruskal–Wallis tests. Stability will be defined by a p-value of ≥0.05.