PROFILE OF PATIENTS INTUBATED IN A HOSPITAL IN THE SOUTH REGION OF SANTA CATARINA

Abstract

COVID-19 is caused by an RNA virus belonging to the coronavirus family, specifically SARS-CoV-2, which was identified in December 2019. In March 2020, the World Health Organization classified the outbreak as a global pandemic. This virus mainly affects the respiratory system in a wide range of severities, which can lead to cases of severe respiratory failure, which in turn requires Orotracheal Intubation to guarantee adequate oxygenation to patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the profile of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who needed to undergo this procedure in a hospital emergency unit, as well as to analyze the clinical outcome. The information analyzed was collected through a review of electronic medical records from a medium-sized hospital located in Santa Catarina and was subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. The medical records of 11 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were analyzed, all of whom underwent the Orotracheal Intubation (OTI) procedure in the emergency unit. Most patients who had adverse outcomes were male and over 50 years of age. These findings highlight the importance of specific strategies to protect groups at highest risk, as a fundamental part of combating the disease during the pandemic period.