Saliva management options for difficult-to-wean people with tracheostomy following severe acquired brain injury (ABI): A review of the literature

Abstract

Methods: The search was conducted on Medline, Embase, Cinahl and Central databases since 1990 and the evidence has been critiqued and summarized. Saliva management options were identified and analysed to see whether they had evidence or clinical support for the population.Primary objective: To evaluate the evidence on saliva management options in those people who have a tracheostomy in situ following an acquired brain injury and to ascertain whether any of these treatments may facilitate tracheostomy decannulation.Conclusion and future directions: This group of people is complex and requires a multi-disciplinary team to guide decision-making. High quality control studies looking at the effec..