Respiratory distress and ideal moment of orotracheal intubation

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the respiratory distress of patients diagnosed with Acute Viral Bronchiolitis (AVB), using the Respiratory Discomfort Scale (Wood-Downes) - Ferrés and correlate the score of the Wood-Downes-Ferrés respiratory scale at the time of orotracheal intubation. METHODS: This is an observational study with design and quantitative character. The assessment of respiratory distress was performed before the time of tracheal intubation using the Wood-Downes scale according to the modification made by Ferrés. The assessment was carried out through the sum of the items: assessment of wheezing, circulation, respiratory rate (RF), heart rate (HR), ventilation and cyanosis, already containing classification and final severity scores. RESULTS: 15 patients were included in the study. Of the patients included, 60% of the sample is female, with a mean age of 4.86 months. RSV etiology was observed in 40% of patients. Four patients included in the study were transferred to another service, due to the lack of pediatric intensive care at the Hospital Geral do Grajau, and it was not possible to collect data on their clinical evolution. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that through the scale of respiratory distress (Wood-Downes) – Ferrés, it was possible to analyze the severity of acute respiratory failure in the patients analyzed in this study. It is necessary that a thorough assessment be made by all members of the multiprofessional team so that appropriate conduct is directed.