Determination of Dyspnea in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Introduction: 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.