Introduction:

damage caused by exposure to the endotracheal tube is associated with an acute inflammatory response in tissues, involving innate immune response mechanisms.

Objective:

to characterize the histopathological changes of the tracheal mucosa in patients with endotracheal intubation.

Methods:

an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in deceased patients attended at Manuel Ascunce Domenech University Hospital in the period May 2018 - January 2020 who required endotracheal intubation. The tracheal epithelium was studied by necropsy, macroscopic and microscopic examination of the trachea was performed.

Results:

congestion was the main histopathological change of the tracheal mucosal epithelium (100 %) and acute inflammation that of the lamina propria (100 %). There was a predominance of patients between 60 and 79 years old (44,4 %), with greater presence of congestion and ulceration (44,5 % and 46,1 % respectively). There was a predominance of male patients (55,6 %), with greater presence of congestion and ulceration (55,6 % and 61,5 % respectively). A significant statistical relationship was found between histopathological changes and intubation time (p<0,01) and between lamina propria changes and intubation time (p<0,01).

Conclusions:

in intubated patients, mainly male and past the sixth decade of life, the presence of congestion of the mucosal epithelium and acute inflammation of the lamina propria was frequent. Histopathological changes and changes in the lamina propria were found to be related to intubation time.

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