ANALYSIS OF VENTILATORY PARAMETERS AND HOSPITAL OUTCOMES IN MECHANICALLY VENTILATED PATIENTS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Mechanical ventilation is essential for advanced life support, however, if conducted improperly, it can damage the lungs. Parameters such as driving pressure (DP) and mechanical power (MP) are important measurements that help to reduce ventilator-induced lung injuries (VILI).
OBJECTIVE: To verify if the adjusted parameters in the intensive care units (ICU) in an emergency hospital, were within the recommended by the literature, and verify the patient`s outcomes.
METHODS: Cross-sectional study of individuals admitted to the ICUs of an emergency hospital. Data regarding hospitalization, vital signs and ventilatory parameters were collected.
RESULTS: 99 individuals were studied, 71% male. Only 8.1% of the DP values were high (greater than 15 cmH2O). The MP, in 21.2% of the patients, was above 17/min. The main outcome observed in the sample was the mortality rate of 63.8%. SpO2 values were above 95% in 64.6% of the evaluations.
CONCLUSION: In some situations, ventilatory parameters were adjusted in a non-protective way according to the scientific literature (8.1% increased DP and 21.2% increased MP). SpO2 values were frequently high, which is directly related to VILI. Such findings may be associated with the mortality in the studied population.