A IMPORTÂNCIA DO CIRURGIÃO DENTISTA NA UNIDADE DE TERAPIA INTENSIVA
A IMPORTÂNCIA DO CIRURGIÃO DENTISTA NA UNIDADE DE TERAPIA INTENSIVA
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.80892726080410
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Palavras-chave: Manifestações bucais, Unidade de Terapia Intensiva e Pacientes Internados
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Keywords: Oral Manifestations, Intensive Care Unit, Hospitalized Patients
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Abstract: The ICU is a hospital unit where patients with clinical decompensation are hospitalized. Hospital dentistry promotes the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral diseases that affect these hospitalized patients. The proliferation of bacteria and fungi that affect the mouth can cause several serious complications, such as nosocomial pneumonia, infectious endocarditis, among other diseases. This paper presents an integrative literature review, with a search for articles in the SCIELO, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases, using DeCs descriptors such as "Oral Manifestations," "Intensive Care Unit," and "Hospitalized Patients." The inclusion criteria were articles published in the last 11 years, in English and Portuguese, that corresponded to the objective of the topic. The objective of this study was to present the relevance of the dental surgeon within the Intensive Care Unit in diagnosing oral diseases, treatments, and proper execution of the oral hygiene protocol for hospitalized patients. The results of the literature objectively demonstrate that the presence of the dental surgeon in the Intensive Care Unit is indispensable; the professional not only treats and prevents oral manifestations resulting from the critical condition but also contributes to patient safety by reducing rates of severe nosocomial infections, such as Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, positively impacting hospital stay duration and patient recovery. Several studies indicate that the application of standardized oral hygiene protocols, supervised by this professional, reduces hospital stay and improves clinical prognosis. A lack of qualified professionals was also observed in some units, reinforcing the need to expand hospital dental care. The dental surgeon is a very important member of the ICU team; their role, focused on oral hygiene and the elimination of infection sources, is crucial to preventing severe systemic infections, such as VAP, reducing the risk of death and ensuring the improvement of the critical patient’s prognosis.
- FLÁVIA JULIANA MARCOS
- AMANDA ANTONELLI ROSA
- DÉBORAH LAMEIRA VEDANA