mouth care/intubated patient

Specialties MICU

Published

Hi,

I'm currently a tech in an ICU and will graduate and take my boards this summer. I'm looking forward to starting my job in a MICU/SICU/CCU Level II trauma center after boards.

Can you share with me what interventions you use to care for patients' mouths who are intubated? Where I currently work, I don't see a standard being used. Some nurses use hydrogen peroxide, some mouthwash, and some just water. We have the prepackaged toothbrushes/sponges that attach to suction, and sometimes I use them. But as a tech, I'll admit that they don't always work to remove dried fluids on the mouth and teeth. I've noticed that some patients' tongues become brown and beefy looking. Seems that some patients' mouths can tolerate the tube more than others. I'm sure some of this relates to their illness/medications, frequent cleaning, and current dental status.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Classicaldreams

Ooh...oral care pet peeve: Oral care done without suctioning above the ETT/trach cuff afterward!!! All that crap builds up and breeds nasties...or if the cuff leaks they're aspirating!!

We use the Sage Qcare Q4 hours, but you know it never gets done that often by everyone. Check it out:

http://www.sageproducts.com/products/qCare.asp

~Lauren

another also very good oral care item are glycerine swabs there brilliant and very affective and they come in many different flavours and are also very durable just thought i would let u no bye for now.

Look at the AACN guidelines. Also check out Sage Oral Care Products. Often intitutions will purchase these.

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