Characterization of patients undergoing noninvasive ventilation admitted in unit intermediate care

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is the application of a ventilatory support without resorting to invasive methods. Today it’s considered a credible therapeutic option, with enough scientiic evidence to support its application in various situations and clinical settings related to the treatment of acute respiratory disease, as well as chronic respiratory disease. Objectives: Characterize patients undergoing NIV admitted in Unit Intermediate Care (ICU) in the period from October 1st 2015 to June 30th 2016. Methods: Prospective study conducted in ICU between October 2015 and June 2016. In this study were included all patients hospitalized in this unit (ICU) and in that time period a sample of 57 participants was obtained. As data collection instruments we used a questionnaire for sociodemographic and clinical data and the Braden scale. Results: Participants were mostly male 38 (66.7%), the average age 69.5 ± 11.3 years, ranging between 43 and 92 years. They weighed on average 76.6 kg (52 and 150), with an average body mass index of 28.5 kg/m2 (20 to 58.5). With skin intact 28 (49.1%) with abnormal perfusion 12 (21.1%), with altered sensitivity 11 (19.3%) and a high risk of ulcer on the scale of Braden 37 (65%). The admission diagnosis was respiratory failure 33 (57.3%) and had different backgrounds. We used reused mask 53 (93.0%), the average time of NIV was 7.1 days (1-28), 4.8 days of hospitalization (1-18) and an average of 7.8 IPAP pressure. 11 (19.3%) of the participants developed face ulcer pressure.Conclusions: The NIV is used in patients with advanced age, obesity, respiratory failure and high risk of face ulcer development.