Abstract

ABSTRACT

History: Ocular injuries are common complications in critically ill patients, related to multiple factors such as the effects of mechanical ventilation, use of sedatives, and lack of eye care. Aim: To carry out the study of ocular injuries in patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation according to nutritional status for the prevention of ophthalmological injuries at the Western Regional Hospital (HRO), Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Material and methods: Observational, prospective, cross-sectional and correlational study with a mixed approach, in 18 patients who met inclusion criteria, from May to October 2023, using a structured instrument for data collection. Results: It was evident that the main ocular injury is exposure keratopathy, the signs of ocular injury appear mainly in men, the corneas were the most affected, with corneal ulcer being 40%, followed by lesions in the conjunctiva, the main anomaly. was conjunctival hyperemia with 48%, a Schirmer test was performed, presenting 67% and 61% of patients without significant production of tears to moisturize the right and left eyes respectively. In relation to nutritional status, it was observed that ocular lesions did not increase regardless of the BMI result. Discussion. In relation to the results, it was determined that nutritional status is not a determining risk factor for the development of ocular lesions in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), But it is important to develop a care protocol to prevent these injuries.