Impact of oral hygiene in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, can present respiratory complications that often lead patients to depend on mechanical ventilation (MV) for several days. It is known that Pneumonia Associated with Mechanical Ventilation (PAMV) is frequent in patients who use this equipment for a long time. As a consequence of COVID-19, its prolonged use can lead to a worse prognosis for the patients. For this reason, in addition to the insufficiency of devices for mechanical ventilation to meet the current demand, it is necessary to adopt measures aimed at preventing complications that may aggravate the patient's clinical condition and, consequently, increase the average hospital stay and the respective hospital care costs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to discuss, in a concise and practical way, and based on the available literature, the importance of adopting adequate oral hygiene protocols for patients on mechanical ventilation. Based on the data obtained, it was identified that the adoption of effective oral hygiene measures, especially under the supervision of dental professionals, can contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality associated with MV, resulting in greater availability of mechanical ventilation equipment. Since such equipment is in great demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, the knowledge and implementation of effective oral hygiene measures will undoubtedly have an impact on improving the quality of care offered to patients, therefore benefiting all those in critical health conditions and assisted in ICUs.

Impact of oral hygiene in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in the COVID-19 pandemic

SUMMARY COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, can present respiratory complications that often lead patients to depend on mechanical ventilation (MV) for several days. It is known that Pneumonia Associated with Mechanical Ventilation (PAMV) is frequent in patients who use this equipment for a long time. As a consequence of COVID-19, its prolonged use can lead to a worse prognosis for the patients. For this reason, in addition to the insufficiency of devices for mechanical ventilation to meet the current demand, it is necessary to adopt measures aimed at preventing complications that may aggravate the patient's clinical condition and, consequently, increase the average hospital stay and the respective hospital care costs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to discuss, in a concise and practical way, and based on the available literature, the importance of adopting adequate oral hygiene protocols for patients on mechanical ventilation. Based on the data obtained, it was identified that the adoption of effective oral hygiene measures, especially under the supervision of dental professionals, can contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality associated with MV, resulting in greater availability of mechanical ventilation equipment. Since such equipment is in great demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, the knowledge and implementation of effective oral hygiene measures will undoubtedly have an impact on improving the quality of care offered to patients, therefore benefiting all those in critical health conditions and assisted in ICUs.

RESUMO A COVID-19, causada pelo Sars-CoV-2, pode apresentar complicações respiratórias que, muitas vezes, levam o paciente a depender da ventilação mecânica por vários dias. Sabe-se que a Pneumonia Associada à Ventilação Mecânica (PAVM) é frequente nos pacientes que utilizam esse equipamento por um longo período de tempo e que sua ocorrência, consequente à COVID-19, pode cursar com um pior prognóstico para o paciente. Por esse motivo, e somado à insuficiência de aparelhos para atendimento da demanda atual, faz-se necessária a adoção de medidas que visem à prevenção de complicações que possam agravar o quadro clínico do paciente e, consequentemente, aumentar o tempo médio de internação e os respectivos custos da assistência. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi discorrer de forma concisa e prática, com base na literatura disponível, sobre a importância da adoção de protocolos adequados de higiene oral nos pacientes em ventilação mecânica. Com base nos dados obtidos, identificou-se que a adoção de medidas efetivas de higiene oral, principalmente sob a supervisão do profissional dentista, pode contribuir para a redução da morbimortalidade associada à PAVM, resultando em maior disponibilidade de equipamentos de ventilação mecânica. Desde que tais equipamentos estão sendo muito demandados durante a pandemia da COVID-19, o conhecimento e a implantação de medidas efetivas de higiene oral, indubitavelmente, repercutirão na melhoria da qualidade da assistência oferecida aos pacientes, portanto, beneficiando todos aqueles em situação crítica de saúde e assistidos em UTIs.