ABSTRACT
Purposes:
to evaluate and describe the degrees of capacity and functional disability in tracheostomized patients of a public hospital and their interrelations.
Methods:
quantitative, descriptive, cross-cutting, case-control study carried out at a tertiary hospital from the Unified Health System. Capacity and functional disability were assessed using the Barthel Index and the Karnofsky Performance Scale in tracheostomized and non-tracheostomized patients in four hospital wards. The study group was matched with a control group taking into account age, gender and illness that led to hospitalization.
Results:
the sample consisted of 52 patients, 30 males and 22 females. The mean age of the study group was 55.4 years and in the control group, 55.1 years. Statistical analysis of the Barthel Index in the study group scored 84.62% of patients as totally dependent to perform the ten domains of the instrument, differing from the control group with only 15.38% of patients presenting this degree of physical dependence while 53.85% showed complete independence in the same activities. Karnofsky scale assessment showed that 57.69% of the study group had a 40% score, unlike the control group with 42.31% scoring 90%.
Conclusion:
there was capacity hindrance and functional disability in the tracheostomized patients, which demands a new look on the part of the multidisciplinary team confronting disabilities, and showing that despite tracheostomy facilitates weaning off mechanical ventilation and consequently the hospitalization period, it causes important impact on quality of life.
Keywords:
Dysphagia; Tracheostomy; Dependency; Physiotherapy
