BACKGROUND Accumulation of secretions in an endotracheal tube can increase the resistance to flow resulting in an increased patient work of breathing when the patient is interacting with the ventilator. Retained secretions can also serve as an infection risk. Standard suction catheters are limited in their ability to keep the lumen of the endotracheal tube clear. A novel closed-suction catheter has been introduced that incorporates a balloon at its distal end that, when inflated, physically scrapes secretions out of the endotracheal tube (CleanSweep catheter (CSC), Teleflex, Morrisville NC). We hypothesized that the CSC would be more efficient at removing secretions from inside the endotracheal tube than a standard suction catheter (SSC). METHODS We performed a bench study examining resistive pressures across different sizes of endotracheal tubes when cleaned by the CSC as compared with an SSC. This study was followed by a prospective crossover study again comparing the CSC with an SSC in intubated intensive care unit patients receiving mechanical ventilation and requiring frequent suctioning. RESULTS For the bench study the CSC was significantly better in reducing airway resistive pressures (P < 0.001). In the prospective crossover study the CSC over 2 h also removed significantly more secretions than the SSC (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Both our bench and crossover clinical study demonstrated improved clearance of secretions with the CSC vs an SSC. Further research is needed to ascertain the clinical outcome benefits of enhanced secretion removal.