A retrospective study on the oral health of patients in the intesive care unit

Abstract

<p><strong>Introduction</strong>: the oral condition of patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is extremely important for clinical status monitoring,<br />as lesions in the oral mucosa may imply complications and worsening of the health status of these patients. A higher probability<br />of adherence, colonization, and bacterial infection in the oral cavity of patients in the ICU has also been reported. The poor oral<br />hygiene conditions of these patients may be related to the reduction of salivary flow and difficulties in maintaining oral hygiene in a<br />hospital environment, which rarely employs dentists on staff. <strong>Objective</strong>: to analyze the dental condition of patients admitted to the<br />ICU of Roberto Santos General Hospital, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. <strong>Methodology</strong>: a total of 73 patients were evaluated through an oral<br />examination performed with a wooden spatula and sterile gauze under natural light, and data were collected and analyzed. <strong>Results</strong>:<br />The most commom oral lesions were tongue-coating (41%) and ulcerations in the oral mucosa caused by trauma or dehydration<br />(19.1%). The occurrence of pseudomembranous candidiasis (8.2%), dehydration of the lips and mucosa (26%), and angular cheilitis<br />(9.5%) was additionally recorded. It was observed that 31.5% patients had more than 10 days of hospitalization and of these, 26%<br />presented pseudomembranous candidiasis. This clinical condition was not seen in patients with a shorter hospital stay. <strong>Conclusions</strong>:<br />this study suggest a possible association between the length of stay of these patients and the clinical conditions presented. Thus, the<br />results of this study may guide preventive and curative measures implemented by dental surgeons who may, in the future, be part<br />of the multidisciplinary team of professionals working in the hospital environment, especially in ICUs.</p>