Oral lesions and saliva alterations of COVID-19 patients in an intensive care unit: A retrospective study.
Spec Care Dentist
; 42(5): 494-502, 2022 Sep.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1723399
ABSTRACT
AIM:
To detect the type and frequency of oral lesions and clinical conditions suggestive of saliva alterations in COVID-19 patients in an intensive care unit (ICU), as well as to describe the patient´s management in each caseMETHODS:
Information about oral conditions and mechanical ventilation was collected from oral medicine records of COVID-19 patients in an ICU (n = 519)RESULTS:
From the total collected, 472 patients (90.9%) were examined by the oral medicine staff. In 242/472 patients (51.3%), alterations in the oral cavity were noted. The most frequent changes were mechanical trauma (18.1%, derived mainly from intubation), vascular/coagulation disturbances (24.1%, petechiae, bruises, varicoses, and oral bleeding), and saliva alterations (24.4%, dry mouth, and sialorrhea). Infectious lesions were mentioned in the oral medicine records (16.9%), most associated with a viral infection (15.7%), mainly herpesvirus. Improved oral change protocols included oral hygiene, use of specific medications, and laser therapyCONCLUSION:
COVID-19 patients in the ICU often showed dryness in the oral and mucosa oral lesions related to vascular/coagulation disturbances, and mechanical trauma derived from orotracheal tube. An oral medicine staff must be aligned with the ICU multidisciplinary team to manage COVID-19 patients, as well as to establish diagnoses and oral cavity treatments.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Saliva
/
COVID-19
/
Mouth Diseases
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Spec Care Dentist
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Scd.12705
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