EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS SUBMITTED TO MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN EMERGENCY CARE UNITS OF A BRAZILIAN CAPITAL

Abstract

Introduction: Emergency Care Units (UPAs in portuguese) are units of lesser complexity implemented with care and risk classification in all units. Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological profile in patients on mechanical ventilation in emergency care units in a Brazilian capital. Methods: The study was carried out in three UPAs in the city of Recife, and the data were collected through the analysis of medical records, from January to June 2013. The variables evaluated were: age, gender, time between admission and intubation, use of oxygen and / or non-invasive ventilation, cause of intubation, comorbidities, epidemiological outcome. Results: A total of 283 medical records were evaluated, corresponding to 0.12% of the total number of patients admitted to the selected ECUs. The male gender (54.4%), with age of 63.39 ± 21.6 years, was highlighted. Most patients seen in UPAs lived near these (73.8%). 83.4% were intubated in the first 24 hours after admission. The main cause of intubation was cardiorespiratory arrest (36.7%). In 39.9% of the records there was no record of comorbidities. 52, 6% of the patients had death. Conclusion: The study showed, from the evidenced profile, that there are fragilities in the information record. It is necessary to discuss the implementation of a health information system for the storage and processing of data in emergency care units, facilitating the search, analysis and interpretation for decision-making.