Determination of Dyspnea in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Background: Although dyspnea is the most common suffering and devastating symptom in the mechanically ventilated patients (MVPs), it is not routinely measured.

Aim of the study: To assess dyspnea and factors contributing to it in MVPs.

Design: A descriptive research design

Settings: Intensive Care Units of Alexandria Main University Hospital.

Subjects: Forty critically ill conscious adult MVPs

Tool of data collection: Dyspnea assessment tool used to collect the data.

Results: 55% of the study sample had dyspnea and 86.4% of dyspneic MVPs had moderate to intense level of dyspnea.

Conclusion: Dyspneais present in more than half of the MVPs. Moderate to intense dyspnea is more frequent in MVPs.