Caracterização clínica dos pacientes sob ventilação mecânica internados em unidade de terapia intensiva

Objective: The study's aim has been to describe the clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Methods: It is a cohort study with a quantitative approach. Sampling of 90 patients admitted to a referral hospital for cardiopulmonary diseases, located in the city of Fortaleza (Ceara State, Brazil). Data collection conducted in October 2016 through a structured instrument. The study was approved by the Institutional Research Ethics Committee under the Protocol CAAE-53956816.2.0000.5052. Results: It was observed that 56.7% were female, in the age group from 50 to 59 years old (59%). The main reasons for hospitalization were cardiovascular diseases (53.3%); 88.9% were undergoing antibiotic therapy; 34.4% presented pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation; 80% used vasoactive drugs and only 25.6% performed tracheostomy after hospitalization 36.7%. Conclusion: The critical health patient has peculiarities that require from the nursing professional planning for care actions aiming to reduce both severe and lethal complications.