Aim: It is known that disease severity and nutritional status are determinants of prognosis in patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU). Different scoring systems are used to evaluate the nutritional status and disease severity of intensive care patients. It will be very useful in clinical practice to determine the intensive care scores that are in harmony with the nutritional parameters and affect the length of stay in the ICU in patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It was aimed to determine the relationship between acute physiology and chronic health evaluation-II (Apache-II), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) with nutritional scores in intensive care patients with a diagnosis of COPD. Also, it was aimed to determine the scoring systems that affect the length of stay in the ICU. Material and Method: Nutritional risk score-2002 (NRS-2002), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), modified nutritional risk in critically ill (mNutric) score, albumin, Apache-II, SOFA and CCI values and intensive care unit length of stay of the patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit due to COPD were recorded. The scoring systems that affect the length of stay in the ICU and the relationship between nutritional scores and Apache-II, SOFA and CCI was analyzed using statistical methods. Results: A significant correlation was found between only CCI and all nutritional scores. Only the CCI value was found to be significantly higher in those found to be at high risk compared to all nutritional scoring systems. CCI cut-off value determined according to nutritional scoring was determined as 4.5 according to PNI and albumin, and 5.5 according to mNutric score and NRS-2002. It was determined that CCI affects the length of stay in the intensive care unit. Conclusion: CCI is a scoring system that is compatible with nutritional parameters and affects the length of stay in the intensive care unit. Therefore, we think that CCI can be used to predict prognosis and nutritional risk in patients with COPD in the intensive care unit and to predict the length of stay in the intensive care unit. In terms of malnutrition risk, a cut-off value of ≥6 can be used for CCI.

Background and Objectives: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may cause acute respiratory failure, but also remains responsible for many other pathologies, including electrolyte disorders. SARS-CoV-2 infection causes disorders in many systems and can disrupt water homeostasis with thirst and appetite abnormalities. Dysnatremia affects prognosis, and may be associated with mortality in patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2. Materials and Methods: The study included 209 patients admitted to the ICU between 12 April 2021 and 1 March 2022 who were over 18 years old and diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection by clinical and thoracic tomography findings or with a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result. The laboratory markers, treatment modalities, nutritional, and respiratory support also for outcome evaluation, length of stay in the ICU, total hospitalization duration, and mortality in the ICU were recorded. The laboratory marker comparison was made using admission with the final assessment performed before the time of mortality in the ICU or after discharge. Results: Inotropic requirements among patients were high, which reflected mortality in the ICU. Hypernatremia presence was associated with an increase in enteral support, the inotropic support requirement, and mortality. Hypernatremia was correlated with diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, and a longer duration under mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: Hypernatremia was an important risk factor in ICU patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection, which was also affected by the treatment regimens given themselves. This complex relationship underlies the importance of proper electrolyte management, especially in patients who were under severe stress and organ failure.

Aim: The convenient cuff pressure of the endotracheal tube, fixes the tube in the correct position , provides sufficient ventilation, and prevents complications. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the adequacy of the training and experience of nurses working in the intensive care units on cuff care in patients with intubation and tracheostomy. Material and Methods: Fifty nurses working in intensive care units in chest diseases hospital agreed to participate in the study. The 10-question questionnaire was asked face-to-face to the participating nurses and their answers were recorded. Results: Twenty three nurses (46%) surveyed had more than 5 years of intensive care experience. Thirty five nurses (70%) had bachelor's degree. To the question of ‘what is the cuff function?’, 72% of the nurses who participated in the survey answered as fixing the tube, 64% as preventing air leakage, and 44% as protecting the lungs from gastric secretions. According to intensive care unit working time, the rate of training on cuff pressure is statistically significantly higher in people who have worked for 5 years or more than those who have worked for less than 5 years. In terms of all questions, there is no statistically significant difference according to education level. Conclusion: The nurses working in our intensive care unit had lack of knowledge and lack of training about cuff pressure monitoring and cuff exercises. Nurses working in intensive care units should be given in-service training on cuff pressure and cuff exercises.

Introduction: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may cause acute respiratory failure but also remains responsible for many other pathologies, including electrolyte disorders. SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause dysfunction of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and disrupt water hemostasis with thirst and appetite abnormalities. Dysnatremia affects prognosis and may be associated with mortality in patients admitted to SARS-CoV2 intensive care. Patients and Methods: The study included 209 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit between April 12, 2021, and March 1, 2022 who were over 18 years old and diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection by clinical and thoracic tomography findings or with a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result. The laboratory markers, treatment modalities, nutritional, and respiratory support also for outcome evaluation, length of stay in the ICU, total hospitalization duration, and mortality in ICU were recorded.The laboratory marker comparison was made admission with the final assessment performed before the time of mortality in ICU or discharge. Results: Inotropic requirements among patients were high which was reflected in the first-month mortality. Hypernatremia presence was associated with an increase in enteral support and inotropic support requirement and mortality. Hypernatremia was correlated with diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, and a longer duration under mechanical ventilation. Discussion: Hypernatremia was an important risk factor in ICU patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection, which was also affected by the treatment regimens given itself. This complex relationship underlies the importance of proper electrolyte management, especially in patients who were under severe stress and organ failure.