Suctioning the breathing tube versus skipping suctioning when waking from general anesthesia
Official title: Comparison of Endotracheal Tube Suctioning Versus No Suctioning During Emergence From General Anesthesia With Endotracheal Intubation: A Randomized, Single-Blind Study
Run by Mahidol University · NCT07287293 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This tests whether skipping suctioning of the breathing tube right before removal is as safe for adults (18–90) having elective surgery under general anesthesia.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 408 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Mahidol University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Samut Sakhon) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 5, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | March 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | January 12, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07287293 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults 18–90 years old with ASA physical status I–III scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia with planned tracheal extubation who can provide informed consent and do not have significant lung disease or high aspiration risk.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea, chronic pulmonary disease, BMI >35 kg/m², pregnancy, increased aspiration risk, airway/head-and-neck surgery, or an anticipated difficult airway are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from skipping suctioning.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Adults undergoing elective surgery with endotracheal intubation are randomly assigned 1:1 to routine tracheal suctioning or omission of suctioning immediately before extubation. The primary non-inferiority outcome is postoperative desaturation (SpO2 <92% within 60 minutes after extubation) with a predefined 10 percentage-point margin. Secondary outcomes compare postoperative cough severity, sore throat, and extubation-related adverse events between groups. Key exclusions include obstructive sleep apnea, chronic pulmonary disease, BMI >35, pregnancy, airway or head/neck surgery, high aspiration risk, and anticipated difficult airway.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, omitting suctioning could reduce coughing and sore throat and avoid the discomfort of suctioning while keeping early oxygen levels safe after extubation.
How similar studies have gone: Smaller observational studies and physiological reports suggest suctioning can provoke cough and sore throat and may not improve oxygenation, but randomized non-inferiority data are limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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.
Where it's running
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Somdetphraphutthaloetla hospital
Samut Sakhon, Thailand Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Saowaluk Sotananan, Doctor of Medicine
- Email: pum.sotananan@gmail.com
- Phone: +66894549111
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.