Application of improved Beck oral score in oral care of burn patients with mechanical ventilation

Abstract

Objective: To explore the application effect of improved Beck oral score in oral care of burn patients with mechanical ventilation, to provide practical basis for oral care of such patients.

Methods: A total of 42 patients with tracheotomy and mechanical ventilation in the Department of Burn Surgery of Baogang Hospital in Inner Mongolia from January 2021 to December 2022 were selected as the study objects, and the patients were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 21 cases in each group. The control group was given routine oral care, and the observation group was given oral care according to improved Beck oral score. The following were compared between the two groups: Age, total burn area, third-degree burn area, acute physiological and chronic health assessment scores, as well as improved Beck oral scores; the incidence of oral odor, plaque index, mouth ulcer and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) after 7 days; the detection of microorganism in oral secretions.

Results: After 7 days, the oral condition of patients in observation group was effectively improved, and the oral comfort level was significantly improved. The incidence of oral odor (2.57±1.59), dental plaque index (2.62±1.47), oral ulcer evaluation (2.24±1.09), VAP incidence (9.52%) and improved Beck oral score (8.09±1.92) in observation group were all lower than those in control group, which was (3.95±1.82), (3.57±1.21), (3.14±1.24), (38.09%), and (9.90±2.21) respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p < .05). The oral normal flora in observation group (71.43%) was higher than that in control group (28.57%), and the difference was statistically significant (p < .05). The oral gram-positive bacteria (19.05%) and Gram-negative bacteria (23.81%) in observation group were lower than those in control group, which was 52.38% and 57.14% respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p < .05).

Conclusions: The application of the improved Beck oral assessment method in dynamic oral care can effectively reduce the content of oral pathogens, lower the incidence of pulmonary infection, and improve the quality of life of patients.