Emergency guidelines for professionals who treat patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Abstract

Objective. This article attempts a literature review of guidelines on emergency Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for health profession­als. Method. We conducted a literature review and the last ten years. We searched in the databases LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, PEDRO and PUBMED articles of the systematic review, guidelines, manuals associations, electronic documents and other studies. Results. Most of the manuals found address changes that can be observed in patients with ALS as sleep disorders, ulcers and skin lesions, drooling, dysar­thria, dysphagia, but does not emphasize the procedures to be taken by health professionals when their patients have such symptoms, other essential items in the emergency care of patients with ALS as: caring for the oxygenation of these patients, invasive mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, weaning, among others. Conclusion. Through the re­search in question was found that the literature is scarce and it is sug­gested the elaboration of a comprehensive emergency guide book that addresses the primary care that health professionals should perform in an emergency situation in the hospital or at home.