Mechanical ventilated patients are a high-risk group with impaired cough ability and require corresponding medical techniques for cough assistance to clear airway secretions. Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) technology is widely used in patients with cough weakness caused by neuromuscular diseases. However, there is currently a lack of standardized application procedures for mechanically ventilated patients who retain artificial airways, which can affect treatment outcomes. Chinese Society of Critical Care Medicine organized experts including critical care physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists that focused on the clinical application of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation in mechanically ventilated patients. Through systematic collection, extraction, and summary of evidence-based clinical practice evidence and clinical experience, suggestions are proposed. Expert recommendations on the clinical application of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation in mechanically ventilated patients (2024) was formed by using improved Delphi method, hoping to provide references for standardized application of this technology. At the same time, those recommendations will also provide a reference for future clinical research on the application of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation technology in mechanically ventilated patients.

Mechanical ventilation; Airway clearance; Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation; Expert recommendations