Factors that Affect Level of Injury among Mechanical Ventilator Patients

Abstract

Background: Mechanical ventilator patients rely on machines to support or fully control their breathing due to severe respiratory failure or illness. These patients require continuous monitoring and specialized care to prevent complications as infections or lung damage. Proper management is crucial for recovery and minimizing long-term health impacts. Aim: This study aimed to assess factors that affect level of injury among mechanical ventilator patients. Research Design: A descriptive explanatory research design was used in this study. Setting: This study was conducted at critical care unit of king Fahad specialist hospital in Buraydah, King Saudi Arabia. Subjects: Purposive sample of 110 patients. Tools: Three tools: 1st tool: Structured interviewing questionnaire: It consisting of two parts: 1st part: Demographic characteristics of studied patients, 2nd part: Medical history of studied patients, 2nd tool: Level of injury assessment tool and 3rd tool: Assessment tool regarding factor that affect level of injury. Results: Less than one third and less than half of the studied pstients had low and high risk for falling, respectively. Less than half of them were completely immobile and more than half of them were probably inadequate nutrition. While, more than two thirds of them had problem friction and shear, more han half of them had bedfast and moisture less than half occasionally moist skin. Also, less than half of them were completely limited, more than two thirds of the studied pstients had ventilator-associated pneumonia and less than two thirds of them had ventilator induced lung injury and less than two thirds of them had ventilator associated atelectasis. Conclusion: The findings highlight the level of injury among mechanical ventilator patients which including less than half of the studied patients were completely immobile and more than half of them had inadequate nutrition. While, more than two thirds of them were problem friction and shear, more than half of them had bedfast and moisture and less than half of them occasionally moist skin. Also, more than two thirds of the studied pstients had ventilator-associated pneumonia and less than two thirds of them had ventilator-induced lung injury and less than two thirds of them had ventilator associated atelectasis as factors affecting of injury among mechanical ventilator patients. Recommendation: Implement early mobility protocol to reduce pressure ulcer among mechanical ventilated patients.