Mo 2016.

Methods	Study design: 2‐group parallel RCT Location: China Number of centres: 1 Study period: December 2012 to May 2015 Funding source: Not reported
Participants	Setting: Department of Cardio‐Thoracic Surgery Inclusion criteria: mechanical ventilation > 48 hours Exclusion criteria: Patients with pulmonary infections or oral diseases Number randomised: 210 (Gp A: 105; Gp B: 105) Number evaluated: 210 (Gp A: 105; Gp B: 105) Baseline characteristics: ‐ Gp A: Age: 59.14 (12.06); M/F: 60/45 ‐ Gp B: Age: 56.71 (10.53); M/F: 68/37
Interventions	Comparison: Saline rinse versus saline swab (usual care) Gp A: Rinse with saline for 10 minutes each time, 4 times per day Gp B: Swab with saline 4 times per day
Outcomes	1. Incidence of VAP 2. Mortality
Notes	Sample size calculation: Not reported
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Quote: “randomised patients to the experimental and control group using a random number table”
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not reported
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	High risk	Blinding not described and not possible
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Assessor blinding not described
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	All randomised participants included in analysis
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	Planned outcomes reported
Other bias	Low risk	No other sources of bias identified