"Comparison of Two Methods of Securing Endotracheal Tubes in Intensive Care : Elastic Adhesive Strips vs Lace In A Protective Sheath."

"Comparison of Two Methods of Securing Endotracheal Tubes in Intensive Care : Elastic Adhesive Strips vs Lace In A Protective Sheath. A Randomized Multicenter, Cluster and Crossover Controlled Study. FIXATUB"

Every year, in France, nearly 100,000 patients hospitalized in intensive care more than 48 hours require invasive respiratory assistance via an endotracheal tube.

Appropriate tube fixation is essential to ensure effective ventilation while minimizing potential complications such as accidental extubations. However, the fixation system chosen may lead to peribuccal lesions such as bedsores, shearing or cutaneous-mucous tear. These lesions are painful for patients and often unsightly as scar may remain.

There are no formal recommendations for the use of any type of fixing system. Thus, systems used to secure the endotracheal tube vary from one ICU to another.

The objective of this study is to demonstrate that the fixing strategy by elastic adhesive tape reduces the risk of developing a peribuccal lesion during the time of the endotracheal tube's maintenance.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit
• Age over 18
• Intubation for estimated duration > 48h
• Patient treated with vasopressors
• Patient or relative who received the information and are not opposed to study participation or patient included under the emergency procedure in the absence of contactable family members.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pre-existing face lesions at ICU admission along the path of the endotracheal tube fixing.
• Admitted patient already intubated upon transfer from another ICU
• Nasotracheal intubation
• Patient in isolation for suspected COVID or clinically proven COVID
• Admitted tracheotomized patient
• Pregnant, nursing, parturient woman
• Lack of social security affiliation
• Moribund
• Incapable major (under guardianship, curatorship)
• Patient deprived of liberty by court order