Oral Care of Intubated Intensive Care Patient

The aim of the research was to examine the effect of oral care bundle application on oral health, salivary pH (power of hydrogen), dry mouth and ventilator associated pneumonia in intubated patients compared to standard oral care.

Maintaining the integrity of the oral mucosa in intensive care unit patients is very important due to its close relationship with systemic health, disease risk and self-image, as well as comfort and nutrition. Serious problems develop in patients who have no or insufficient saliva movement or production, are unconscious, or have an artificial airway. Oral health problems, which begin with the deterioration of the saliva flow and content of intubated patients, lead to much more risky and costly situations that end in ventilator associated pneumonia. In the literature, it is seen that oral care practices performed in accordance with protocols increase the risk of complications and that bundle care practices used in different care areas increase the performance of care.In this randomized controlled study, people who were aged between 18 and 70, had received mechanical ventilation support, were intubated orally and in the first 24 hours of intubation, and had a stable hemodynamic status were included in the study.