Ventilación mecánica no invasiva: Percepciones del paciente

Abstract

Introduction: Patient’s involvement is essential for the success of non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV), and it is closely related to the information he/she receives about it. Objectives: 1. To know patients’ perceptions about the information they receive so as to improve NIMV tolerance. 2. To study patients’ impressions about NIMV-related safety. 3. To describe those complications that disturbed them most. Material and methods: Prospective descriptive study in a critical care unit of a tertiary hospital, using a non-validated standardized questionnaire for patients with NIMV during their hospitalization. Results and discussion: 61.5% of the patients stated that the information had been clear enough to allow them to accept the treatment with condence. Regarding safety, 16.6% of patients stated that some professional had taught them to remove the mask in case it was necessary and veried that they knew how to do it. 92.3% were able to ask for help if needed and 69.2% received help immediately. The most discomforting complications were dry mouth and eyes and excessive noise (53.8%). Technique management, support and promptness in correcting and preventing adverse effects are essential to guarantee a good adaptation to the ventilator. Conclusions: It is highly important to standardize the information and incorporate into the protocol how to teach to remove the mask oneself and verify that the patients know how to do it. In addition, the skin and mucous membranes hydration plan should be modied, since the results show that it is insufficient.