Effects of path based oral care combined with compound chlorhexidine gargle on oral hygiene, comfort and intubation related complications in ICU patients undergoing tracheal intubation

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the effect of path-based oral care combined with compound chlorhexidine gargle on oral hygiene, comfort and intubation-related complications in patients in intensive care unit (ICU) undergoing tracheal intubation. Methods: One hundred and fifty intensive care unit patients receiving tracheal intubation at Shanghai East Hospital ICU, Shanghai, China were split into study group (routine chlorhexidine gargle 0.2 % with additional path-based oral care) and control group (routine chlorhexidine gargle 0.2 %). This approach was evaluated for its impact on intubation-related complications. Oral health and care effects were assessed before and after a 14-day nursing period. Comparisons were made between the groups for oral cleanliness, mucosa state and odontopathy, Beck and VAS scores, oral odor, inflammation proportions, and post-nursing complications. Results: Before nursing, there was no significant difference in oral health status and oral care between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, after nursing, scores of oral health status and indices increased and decreased in both groups, respectively. The scores for oral health status in the study group were significantly higher than those in control group, while the scores of the oral study indices were significantly lower than those in control group (p < 0.05). After nursing, however, the proportions of patients with oral odor and oral inflammation and the incidence of intubation-related complications in the study group were lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Path-based oral care combined with compound chlorhexidine gargle improves oral care effect and comfort, and reduces the incidence of intubation-related complications in ICU patients undergoing tracheal intubation. This study will need to be conducted in a larger population in the future to validate these findings.