Endotracheal Tube Suctioning Versus No Suctioning During Emergence From General Anesthesia (NCT07287293) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Endotracheal Tube Suctioning Versus No Suctioning During Emergence From General Anesthesia
Thailand408 participantsStarted 2026-01-05
Plain-language summary
The goal of this study is to determine whether omitting tracheal suctioning immediately prior to extubation is non-inferior to routine tracheal suctioning with respect to early postoperative oxygenation among adult surgical patients (aged 18-90 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists \[ASA\] physical status I-III) undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation.
The study addresses the following questions:
* Primary outcome (non-inferiority):
* Is the risk of postoperative desaturation (oxygen saturation \[SpO₂\] \<92% within 60 minutes after extubation) in the no-suction group not worse than in the routine-suction group by more than 10 percentage points?
* Secondary outcomes (superiority):
* Does omitting tracheal suctioning reduce postoperative cough severity and sore throat?
* Does omitting tracheal suctioning avoid increasing extubation-related adverse events?
Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1) to one of two groups:
* Routine suctioning (SUC): Endotracheal suctioning plus oropharyngeal suctioning immediately before extubation
* No suctioning (NON-SUC): Oropharyngeal suctioning only, without endotracheal suctioning
All participants will receive standard anesthetic care and postoperative monitoring in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) for 60 minutes. Follow-up for airway symptoms and patient satisfaction will be conducted at 24 hours after surgery.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adults aged 18-90 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III.
* Scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia requiring endotracheal intubation.
* Planned tracheal extubation in the operating room at the end of surgery.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Inability to provide informed consent or the presence of a significant language barrier that prevents effective communication with the clinical team.
* Known diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), active pneumonia, or chronic pulmonary disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, restrictive lung disease).
* Body mass index (BMI) \>35 kg/m².
* Pregnancy or increased aspiration risk (e.g., full stomach).
* Scheduled for maxillofacial, head and neck, or airway surgery.
* Anticipated surgical duration \>3.5 hours.
* Anticipated difficult airway, defined as the presence of ≥2 predictors of difficult mask ventilation (DMV) based on Langeron et al., or a documented history of difficult intubation.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Incidence of postoperative desaturation after extubation