Multidisciplinary Management of the Oral Cavity in COVID-19 Patients under Invasive Mechanical Ventilation. Role of the Dental Team

Humeres Sigala Carlos; Márquez Agustín; González Ritchie Paulina; Valenzuela Ramos Ricardo; Rivera Saavedra Marcelo; Vásquez Pablo & Araya Salas Cristóbal

Summary

The aim of this sutudy dental considerations and an oral cavity maintenance and care protocol in patients on invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in hospital intensive care units. Since the development of COVID-19 in the world, cases of prolonged IMV have increased and together with them, the complications of this type of therapy have been made visible, among which we find those that affect the oral cavity. Hospital centers normally have dental services made up of different specialties, which in a joint effort can provide tools and educate the personnel in charge of the care of the oral cavity in these patients if they are required, being the dentist the one in charge of evaluating and deliver guidelines for the prevention and treatment of pathology of the oral cavity. This work describes the steps to be followed to carry out correct oral hygiene in these patients and the management of the different complications that may be observed, along with local experience on how to best solve them. We consider important that the intensive care units (ICU) get to know the role of the dentist in the hospital environment and that they become part of the care of hospitalized patients to reduce the risks associated with prolonged ventilation, based mainly on oral hygiene management and associated injuries.

KEY WORDS: COVID-19, Odontology, Invasive Mechanical Ventilation, Dental team.

How to cite this article

HUMERES, S. C.; MÁRQUEZ, A.; GONZÁLEZ, R. P.; VALENZUELA, R. R.; RIVERA, S. M.; VÁSQUEZ, P. & A. S. C. Multidisciplinary management of the oral cavity in COVID-19 Patients under invasive mechanical ventilation. Role of the dentalteam. Int. J. Odontostomat., 14(4):701-704, 2020.