OBJECTIVE: To identify non-clinical complications of the newborn in mechanical ventilation. METHODS: A sample of newborns from a public institution in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, who remained in mechanical ventilator for at least 12 hours, participated in this exploratory descriptive study. Data were collect from April to June 2004 using a specific data collection form designed for this study. RESULTS: Non-clinical complications of the newborn in mechanical ventilation vary: 14.3% had obstruction of the endotracheal tube by cork, 23.8% had bleeding without trauma, 40.5% had accidental extubation, and 7.1% has skin lesions. CONCLUSION: Non-clinical complications related to newborn mechanical ventilation present a challenge to health care professionals in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Infant, newborn; Respiration, artificial; Respiration, artificial; Nursing care
