An analysis of pharmaceutical care for critical patients of an adult Intensive Care Unit

Abstract This work analyzed the pharmacotherapeutic problems identified by the clinical pharmacist in an intensive care unit (ICU) and the acceptance of pharmaceutical interventions in solving these problems. This is a descriptive cross-sectional retrospective study, carried out in the adult ICU of a public hospital. All patients hospitalized during the study period had their pharmacotherapy monitored and those whose stay at the ICU lasted less than 24 hours were excluded. The pharmacotherapeutic problems were classified according to type, cause, acceptability/implementation, mode of intervention, outcome and related pharmacotherapeutic group. 302 patients were followed up and 350 pharmacotherapeutic problems were identified. Most of them were classified as unnecessary drug-treatment (n=186; 53.1%). The most frequent causes were excessive drug administration (n=181; 97.3%), and antimicrobials was the main group of drugs associated to that type of problem. 350 pharmaceutical interventions were performed, highlighting "prescriber informed only" (n=178; 50.9%), with an average acceptability of 90.7%, with those carried out on site being more effective (93.4%). The number of pharmacotherapeutic problems that were totally solved was 282 (80.6%). Clinical pharmacy activities in the ICU identified, prevented and corrected pharmacotherapeutic problems, contributing to the optimization of pharmacotherapy in aspects related to the need, efficacy and safety of treatments.

Factores organizativos que influyen en el desempeño de una unidad de cuidados intensivos / Organizational Factors Influencing the Performance of An Intensive Care Unit

Algunas deficiencias vinculadas a la organización laboral en el proceso de atención médica repercuten en la supervivencia general, la del paciente crítico y en varias afecciones muy graves como la sepsis y el síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo, entre otros indicadores importantes de las unidades de cuidados intensivos. Este trabajo tiene el objetivo de reflexionar y favorecer el debate sobre los factores organizativos determinantes intermediarios de la calidad de la atención en las terapias intensivas, porque suelen ser desestimados a pesar de ser modificables las fisuras que dichos factores producen en ella. El trabajo en equipo, la disciplina, el liderazgo, la labor investigativa, el humanismo, la docencia, el trabajo multidisciplinario, la superación profesional y el apoyo administrativo son factores fundamentales para que un grupo de trabajo de salud alcance un buen desempeño. A pesar del gran impacto que, en general, la tecnología y el grado de desarrollo socioeconómico ejercen a favor de la salud existen muchos aspectos no vinculados a estos que son decisivos para lograr buenos indicadores de calidad(AU)

Some deficiencies linked to the work organization in the medical care process have an impact on overall survival, that of the critical patient and on several very serious conditions such as sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome, among other important indicators of intensive care units. This work aims to reflect and promote the debate on the organizational factors that determine the quality of care in intensive care units, because they are usually dismissed despite the fissures that these factors produce in it are modifiable. Teamwork, discipline, leadership, research work, humanism, teaching, multidisciplinary work, professional improvement and administrative support are fundamental factors for a health work group to achieve good performance. Despite the great impact that, in general, technology and the degree of socioeconomic development exert in favor of health, there are many aspects not linked to them that are decisive to achieve good quality indicators(AU)

Un desafío sanitario en la gestión del servicio de medicina crítica de un hospital del Ecuador: Vivencias en la pandemia COVID-19 / A health challenge in the management of the critical medicine service of a hospital in Ecuador: Experiences in the COVID-19 pandemic

El SARS COV 2, tomó por sorpresa al mundo, con impacto en el sector salud, generándose una gran crisis sanitaria, golpeados por escasez de insumos, de equipos, de personal y capacidad instalada insuficiente para la atención de la contigencia. Ademas, la infodemia, el pánico y el miedo con sus respectivas consecuencias, se empodero de la sociedad civil, situación que no es ajena a sector salud, por ello, este relato de experiencia tuvo objetivo describir la gestión del servicio de medicina crítica de un hospital de Guayaquil- Ecuador durante la pandemia por el Coronavirus. En los centros asitenciales, el personal se enfrenta all desafío sanitario, principalmente en la gestión del servicio de medicina crítica. Al ser nombrado hospital centinela, con una capacidad instadala redujo de 494 a 200 camas, y se creó además el área de hospitalización de infectología; La interrelación de profesionales de la enfermería, médicos infectólogos, médicos neumólogos, servicios de terapia física y rehabilitación, servicios de nutrición, y los terapistas respiratorios, fue fundamental para afrontar la crisis, para vela por el bienestar del paciente, no solo en la parte física, sino psicología y de humanización. No obtante, el miedo a lo desconocido inherente a la especie humana, se transforma en pánico ante esta enfermedad provocando emociones, sentimientos, vivencias exacerbadas, y la inseguridad y desconfianza en que el sistema sanitario(AU)

SARS COV 2 took the world by surprise, with an impact on the health sector, generating a major health crisis, hit by a shortage of supplies, equipment, personnel and insufficient installed capacity for contingency care. In addition, the infodemic, panic and fear with their respective consequences, empowered civil society, a situation that is not unrelated to the health sector, therefore, this experience report aimed to describe the management of the critical medicine service of a Guayaquil-Ecuador hospital during the Coronavirus pandemic. In care centers, the staff faces the health challenge, mainly in the management of the critical medicine service. Being named a sentinel hospital, with an installed capacity it was reduced from 494 to 200 beds, and the infectious disease hospitalization area was also created; The interrelation of nursing professionals, infectious disease doctors, pulmonologists, physical therapy and rehabilitation services, nutrition services, and respiratory therapists, was essential to face the crisis, to ensure the well-being of the patient, not only in the physics, but psychology and humanization. However, the fear of the unknown inherent in the human species is transformed into panic in the face of this disease, causing emotions, feelings, exacerbated experiences, and insecurity and distrust in the health system(Au)

Percepção de cuidados desproporcionais entre médicos seniores, médicos residentes, enfermeiros e técnicos de enfermagem em um centro de terapia intensiva / Perception of disproportionate care among staff physicians, training physicians, nurses, and practical nurses in an intensive care unit

Introdução: O aumento progressivo de medidas avançadas para manutenção da vida em pacientes com pouca expectativa de sobrevida gera percepção de cuidado desproporcional. Objetivamos averiguar a prevalência de cuidado desproporcional em equipe médica e enfermagem que atuam na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) em um hospital público do Brasil.Métodos: Estudo transversal envolvendo equipe médica e enfermagem em uma UTI multidisciplinar de 34 leitos de um hospital terciário no sul do Brasil de janeiro a julho de 2019. Ao total 151 profissionais responderam a um questionário eletrônico anônimo.Resultados: A taxa de resposta foi de 49,5%. Cento e dezoito (78,1%) profissionais identificaram cuidado desproporcional no ambiente de trabalho. Enfermeiros e técnicos de enfermagem receberam menos treinamento formal em comunicação de fim de vida do que médicos (10,6% versus 57,6%, p < 0,001). Vinte e nove (28,1%) enfermeiros e técnicos de enfermagem e 4 (0,08%) médicos responderam que não havia discussão sobre terminalidade na UTI (p = 0,006). Quarenta e três (89,5%) médicos afirmaram que havia colaboração entre equipe médica e equipe de enfermagem, ao passo que 58 (56,3%) enfermeiros e técnicos de enfermagem discordaram da assertiva (p < 0,001).Conclusão: Este é o primeiro estudo sobre percepção de cuidado desproporcional conduzido na América Latina, envolvendo residentes e técnicos de enfermagem e um centro de alta complexidade do sistema público de saúde. A vasta maioria dos profissionais percebe a existência de cuidado desproporcional em sua prática diária, independentemente da classe profissional.

Introduction: The increased use of life-sustaining measures in patients with poor long- and middle-term expected survival concerns health care providers regarding disproportionate care. The objective of this study was to report the prevalence of perceived inappropriate care among intensive care unit (ICU) staff physicians, training physicians, nurses, and practical nurses in a Brazilian public hospital.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with the medical and nursing team of a 34-bed multidisciplinary ICU of a tertiary teaching hospital in Southern Brazil from January to July 2019. A total of 151 professionals completed an anonymous electronic survey. Results: The response rate was 49.5%. One hundred and eighteen (78.1%) respondents reported disproportionate care in the work environment. Nurses and practical nurses were less likely to receive formal training on end-of-life communication compared to physicians (10.6% vs. 57.6%, p < 0.001). Twenty-nine (28.1%) nurses and practical nurses vs. 4 (0.08%) physicians claimed that there were no palliative care deliberations in the ICU (p = 0.006). Of 48 senior and junior physicians, 43 (89.5%) believed that collaboration between physicians and nurses was good, whereas 58 out of 103 (56.3%) nurses and practical nurses disagreed (p < 0.001).Conclusion: This is the first survey on the perception of inappropriate care conducted in Latin America. The study included junior physicians and practical nurses working in a high-complexity medical center associated with the Brazilian public health system. Most health care providers perceived disproportionate care in their daily practice, regardless of their professional class.

Processo de passagem de plantão: o olhar de enfermeiras nas unidades de terapia intensiva / Procedimiento de paso de guardia: la mirada de las enfermeras en las unidades de cuidados intensivos / Procedure for the handover: nurses' perspective in intensive care units

Objetivo: compreender o processo de passagem de plantão das enfermeiras nas Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Adulto. Método: estudo com abordagem qualitativa, cuja coleta de dados foi realizada entre outubro e dezembro de 2020, por meio de observação não participativa e entrevista semiestruturada realizada em cinco unidades intensivas de hospital público do estado da Bahia, Brasil. Resultados: emergiram duas categorias principais: Práxis da passagem de plantão para melhoria do cuidado e Barreiras que prejudicam a comunicação durante a passagem de plantão. Foi possível compreender o processo de passagem de plantão, com base nos olhares das enfermeiras intensivistas, as quais dispõem de elementos estruturais para comunicação efetiva que reverberam na continuidade da assistência. Considerações finais: no processo de passagem de plantão das enfermeiras, condições estruturais e ambientais, tais como conversas paralelas, dispersão, falta de atenção, interrupções, saídas antecipadas e ruídos foram caracterizadas como barreiras que causavam falhas e interferiam no processo de comunicação.

Objetivo: comprender el proceso de paso de guardia de las enfermeras en las Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Adulto. Método: estudio con enfoque cualitativo, cuya recopilación de datos fue realizada entre octubre y diciembre de 2020, por medio de observación no participativa y entrevista semiestructurada realizada en cinco unidades intensivas de hospital público del estado de Bahía, Brasil. Resultados: surgieron dos categorías principales: Praxis del paso de guardia para mejora del cuidado y Barreras que perjudican la comunicación durante el paso de guardia. Fue posible comprender el proceso de paso de guardia, con base en las miradas de las enfermeras intensivistas, las cuales disponen de elementos estructurales para comunicación efectiva que reverberan en la continuidad de la asistencia. Consideraciones finales: en el proceso de paso de guardia de las enfermeras, condiciones estructurales y ambientales, tales como conversaciones paralelas, dispersión, falta de atención, Las interrupciones, salidas anticipadas y ruidos fueron caracterizadas como barreras que causaban fallas e interferían en el proceso de comunicación.

Objective: to understand the process of handover of nurses in Adult Intensive Care Units. Method: study with a qualitative approach, whose data collection was performed between October and December 2020, through non-participant observation and semi-structured interview conducted in five intensive care units of a public hospital in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Results: two main categories emerged: Praxis of the handover to improve care and barriers that impair communication during the handover. It was possible to understand the process of shift, based on the looks of intensive nurses, which have structural elements for effective communication that reverberate in the continuity of care. Final considerations: in the process of handover of nurses, structural and environmental conditions, such as parallel conversations, dispersion, lack of attention, interruptions, anticipated egress and noise were characterized as barriers that caused failures and interfered in the communication process.

Sistema hospitalario en situación de crisis: implementación de sistema de comando de incidentes para enfrentar pandemia SARS-CoV-2 en Clínica Las Condes, Chile / Implementation of incident command system to deal with SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Clínica Las Condes, Chile

La pandemia en Chile generó un desafío de modernización y gestión de los Cuidados Intensivos, haciendo necesario que las unidades de pacientes críticos realizaran un aumento de su capacidad hospitalaria, lo que requiere preparar una infraestructura, un equipamiento mínimo, protocolos y un equipo humano preparado y alineado, para garantizar la seguridad y calidad de atención a los pacientes. Una forma de lograrlo es la incorporación de la estrategia militar de Sistema de Comando de Incidentes, utilizado para enfrentar distintos tipos de desastres, con una estructura modular de comando y sus seccionales de trabajo, con diferentes equipos y líderes para hacer frentes a los variados desafíos. El objetivo de este artículo es describir la instauración del sistema de comando de incidentes en un hospital privado, detallando su conformación y los resultados logrados.

The pandemic in Chile has been a real challenge in terms of modernization and management of intensive care. Critical care units have been forced to increase their hospital capacity in terms of infrastructure, equipment, protocols and human team, while guaranteeing safety and high-quality patient care.One approach to achieve this objective is to develop the army strategy called incident command system that has been used to face different types of disaster. A modular command structure is developed based on the creation of teams each lead by an expert in different areas in order to cope with a variety of upcoming challenges.The objective of this article is to describe the setting up of a successful incident command system in a private hospital, detailing its formation and results obtained.

Gobernanza de enfermería: adaptación en tiempos de pandemia: experiencia en Clínica Las Condes / Nursing governance: adaptation in times of pandemic: experience at Clínica Las Condes

La pandemia SARS-CoV-2 ha desafiado el despliegue de todo el equipo de salud, movilizando no solo un recurso humano, también equipamiento, insumos y una infraestructura, que permita responder una alta demanda de pacientes críticos, que requirió abrir más camas críticas, manejada por un personal sanitario sin experiencia en UCI y con equipamiento e insumos limitados. El trabajo en equipo, la comunicación efectiva y el liderazgo en enfermería, son competencias esenciales en la primera ola de la pandemia, por lo que el objetivo de este artículo es describir la innovación de la orgánica estructural de enfermería, especialmente en las áreas de hospitalización de paciente crítico, para velar por el cuidado del paciente, la familia y el equipo de salud.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has challenged the deployment of the entire health team, mobilizing not only a human resource, but also equipment, supplies and an infrastructure, which allows responding to a high demand for critical patients, which required opening more critical beds, managed by health personnel without ICU experience and with limited equipment and supplies. Teamwork, effective communication and leadership in nursing are essential competencies in the first wave of the pandemic, so the objective of this article is to describe the innovation of the structural nursing organization, especially in hospitalization areas. Critical patient, to ensure the care of the patient, the family and the health team

Rehabilitación en tiempos de pandemia: Síndrome Post Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. (Un síndrome que requiere atención) / Rehabilitation in times of pandemic: Post-intensive care syndrome. (A syndrome that requires attention)

La epidemia de COVID-19 ha llevado a la necesidad de decisiones sin precedentes. Esta sistematización aborda la toma de decisiones operativas que el equipo de Terapia Ocupacional del Hospital estatal San José de Santiago ha trabajado durante la epidemia.

The COVID-19 epidemic has led to the need for unprecedented decisions. This systematization addresses the operational decision-making that the Occupational Therapy team of the San José de Santiago State Hospital has worked on during the epidemic.

Lista de medicamentos esenciales para el manejo de pacientes que ingresan a unidades de cuidados intensivos con sospecha o diagnóstico confirmado de COVID-19 / List of essential drugs for the management of patients admitted to intensive care units with suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19

En el transcurso de la pandemia de COVID-19, numerosos países, de ingresos bajos, medianos y alto, han visto agotadas sus reservas de medicamentos esenciales necesarios para el manejo de los pacientes con COVID-19 en las unidades de cuidados intensivos (UCI). El plan de preparación para emergencias sanitarias de los países requiere incluir una lista de medicamentos esenciales y otros dispositivos médicos necesarios en las UCI para afrontar emergencias sanitarias. La lista de medicamentos esenciales para el manejo de pacientes que ingresan a unidades de cuidados intensivos con sospecha o diagnóstico confirmado de COVID-19 es un documento de orientación fundamental que ayuda a los sistemas de salud de los países a priorizar los medicamentos esenciales que deben estar ampliamente disponibles y ser asequibles para manejar los pacientes en las UCI durante las situaciones de emergencia sanitaria, en este caso con sospecha o diagnóstico confirmado de COVID-19. Está dirigida a las autoridades sanitaras y a los encargados del manejo del sistema de salud de los países. Esta lista incluye fundamentalmente los medicamentos considerados esenciales para el manejo de los cuadros clínicos que con se observan con mayor frecuencia en pacientes hospitalizados en UCI a causa de una infección por SARS-CoV-2. No se incluyen la mayoría de los medicamentos que comúnmente se encuentran en las UCI para el manejo de otras patologías, comorbilidades o la estabilización del paciente (p. ej., insulina o antihipertensivos), salvo aquellos que pueden requerirse para el tratamiento o apoyo (p. ej., bloqueantes neuromusculares o anestésicos) de las dolencias generadas por la infección. Tampoco se incluyen medicamentos específicos para el tratamiento de la infección por SARS-CoV-2, puesto que no existe, por el momento, evidencia científica de alta calidad que avale su uso, salvo en el contexto de ensayos clínicos controlados. Un equipo de expertos en el tema realizó una búsqueda de información sobre la atención de pacientes en UCI durante la pandemia de COVID-19, en Medline (a través de PubMed), Cochrane, Tripdatabase, Epistemonikos y en buscadores generales de internet (Google). Se identificaron también revisiones o guías generadas por ministerios de Salud de varios países de la Región de las Américas, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS), el Instituto Nacional de Salud y Excelencia Clínica (NICE) de Reino Unido, los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) de Estados Unidos y los Institutos Nacionales de Salud (NIH) de Estados Unidos.

The Covid-19 pandemic seen from the frontline

ABSTRACT COVID-19 disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus produces respiratory symptoms, predominantly of the upper airways, which can progress to pneumonia after 7 days with persistent fever, cough and dyspnea, and even develop a syndrome of acute respiratory distress (ARDS), multi-organ failure and death. Since COVID-19 disease was declared by the WHO there has been a redistribution of the healthcare system for these types of patients, especially in the front line, which is, in primary care, emergencies and in intensive care units (ICU). In primary care, the fundamental role is the diagnosis of the suspected patients, follow-up mainly by telemedicine (specially telephone calls) to detect warning signs in case of worsening and subsequent referral to the emergency department; as well as explaining home isolation measures. In the emergency department, it is included the management of suspicious cases and, if it any risk factor is found, complementary tests are carried out for precise diagnosis and admission assessment; In case of oxygen saturation <95% and poor general condition, valuation is requested for admission to the ICU. Depending on the severity of the patient, he/she would be or not a candidate for invasive mechanical ventilation, which must be performed by trained personnel to prevent the spread of the infection minimizing the risk of contagion. ARDS's treatment strategies include pulmonary protection ventilation, prone position, recruitment maneuvers and, less frequently, oxygenation by extracorporeal membrane. Among the specific treatments for COVID-19 stand out mainly drugs to reduce viral load, although sometimes specific drugs will be needed to treat hyperinflammation, hypercoagulability and concomitant infections. One of the goals to be achieved is for patients to recover and be able to successfully return to work; for this purpose, an adequate physical and psychological rehabilitation program is essential, as about 50% have symptoms of anxiety and depression.

COVID-19 en la terapia intensiva: Análisis de la experiencia durante el primer mes de la pandemia / COVID-19 in the intensive care unit. Analysis of the experience during the first month of pandemic

Se trata de un análisis de características clínicas, hallazgos radiológicos, variables de laboratorio y mecánica respiratoria en pacientes con enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) durante el primer mes de la pandemia en Buenos Aires. Es un estudio descriptivo de casos, de un solo centro. Se incluyeron todos los casos confirmados de COVID-19 internados en la unidad de terapia intensiva de adultos (UTIA) del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Todos los casos se confirmaron por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con transcriptasa inversa. Un total de 7 pacientes con COVID-19 fueron atendidos en la UTIA. La mediana de edad fue de 71 años (intervalos intercuartílicos: 52-75), 4 hombres y 3 mujeres. Las manifestaciones clínicas más comunes fueron fiebre (7), tos (5), astenia (4) y disnea (3). Entre los hallazgos radiológicos, cinco de ellos mostraron opacidades intersticiales y un paciente consolidación pulmonar bilateral. Cinco requirieron ventilación mecánica invasiva y múltiples sesiones de decúbito prono. Ninguno murió durante la hospitalización, aunque aún tres permanecen en UCI.

This is an analysis of clinical characteristics, images findings, laboratory variables and respiratory mechanics in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the first month of the pandemic outbreak in Buenos Aires. In this descriptive case study of a single-centre, we included all confirmed cases of COVID-19 hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU). All cases were confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. A total of 7 patients with confirmed COVID-19 were referred to out ICU. The median age was 71 years (interquartile range 52-75), including 4 men and 3 women. Patients most common clinical manifestations were fever (7), cough (5), asthenia (4) and shortness of breath (3). Among the radiological findings, five of them showed interstitial opacities and one patient had bilateral pulmonary consolidation. Five required invasive mechanical ventilation and multiple prone sessions. None died during hospitalization, although three still remain in the ICU. According to imaging examination, 71.4% showed interstitial opacities and one patient bilateral consolidation. Five patients required invasive mechanical ventilation and multiple prone sessions. None of them died during hospitalization, although three still remain in the ICU.

Recomendaciones para la gestión de recursos en las unidades de cuidados intensivos durante la pandemia de COVID-19 / Recommendations for resource management in intensive care units during the COVID-19 pandemi

El presente documento tiene como fin proporcionar recomendaciones basadas en la evidencia para estimar los equipos de proteccion personal (EPP), los dispositivos médicos y los medicamentos comúnmente utilizados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática de la literatura y evaluación de la literatura gris. La evidencia se clasificó utilizando la metodología GRADE. Luego, se construyó un modelo predictivo para apoyar la estimación de recursos durante 30 días de la pandemia. En el desarrollo de estas recomendaciones se incluyeron 33 publicaciones con calidad de evidencia variable (calidad baja a muy baja), acerca del uso de EPP según el riesgo de exposición; manejo y re-uso de EPP, y las necesidades de fármacos y dispositivos médicos para la atención de pacientes con COVID-19. Es destacable lo difícil que resulta estimar y administrar la cantidad de suministros y equipos esenciales necesarios durante una pandemia. El modelo nos permitió predecir los recursos necesarios para proporcionar cuidados críticos durante 30 días de actividad pandémica. Dada la evolución constante de COVID-19, estas recomendaciones pueden cambiar a medida que evolucione la evidencia.

This document aims to provide evidence-based recommendations to estimate the personal protective equipments (PPE), medical devices, and drugs commonly used in the Intensive Care Unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic literature review and gray literature assessment was performed, and the evidence was categorized using the GRADE methodology. Then a predictive model was built to support the estimation of resources needed during 30 days of the pandemic. In the development of these recommendations, 33 publications were included, with variable quality of evidence (low to very low quality). They refer to the use of PPE according to the risk of exposure; management and reuse of PPE, and the stock of drugs and medical devices needed for the care of patients with COVID-19. It is important to remark the difficult in estimating and managing the number of essential supplies and equipment required during a pandemic. The model allowed us to predict the resources required to provide critical care during 30 days of pandemic activity. Given the constant evolution of COVID-19, these recommendations might change as evidence evolves.

Recomendaciones clínicas para la nutrición enteral de pacientes con infección por COVID-19 en unidades de cuidados intensivos / Clinical recommendations for enteral nutrition of patients with COVID-19 infection in intensive care units

GENERALIDADES: Objetivos: Brindar recomendaciones clínicas para la nutrición enteral de pacientes con infección por COVID-19 en unidades de cuidados intensivos. Población a la cual se aplicará el documento: Pacientes con infección por COVID-19 en unidades de cuidados intensivos. Usuarios del documento: Estas recomendaciones están dirigidas al personal de salud involucrado en la nutrición de pacientes con infección por COVID-19 en unidades de cuidados intensivos. MÉTODOS: El 11 de mayo de 2020 se buscó protocolos de manejo, guías de práctica clínica, y documentos técnicos que aborden recomendaciones clínicas para la nutrición enteral de pacientes con infección por COVID-19 en unidades de cuidados intensivos, cuya versión a texto completo se encuentre en español o inglês. Luego de eliminar los duplicados, se identificaron 4 documentos que abordaron el tema de interés. Posterior a ello, se procedió a evaluar y seleccionar los documentos que cumplan los siguientes criterios en su totalidad: El documento fue realizado por una institución o entidad reconocida, como entidades gubernamentales, sociedades médicas o similares. El documento aborda el tema de interés. DESARROLLO DE LOS LINEAMIENTOS: El presente documento propone recomendaciones clínicas para la nutrición enteral de pacientes con infección por COVID-19 en unidades de cuidados intensivos (UCI) en el seguro social del Perú (EsSalud). Para ello, se evaluará el tiempo para la provisión de nutrición enteral, suministro de la nutrición enteral, selección de la fórmula, dosis, monitoreo, consideraciones cuando el paciente adoptará una posición de pronación, y consideraciones en pacientes con oxigenación de membrana extracorpórea (ECMO). La indicación para el inicio de la suplementación nutricional debe ser indicada cuando la ingesta oral es aproximadamente menor al 60%.

La criticidad de las Unidades de Intensivo. Ampliando las Unidades en tiempos de pandemia / Expanding ICU facilities in a pandemic scenario

Our country is suffering the effects of the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Because the vulnerability of healthcare systems, especially the intensive care areas they can rapidly be overloaded. That challenge the ICUs simultaneously on multiple fronts making urgent to increase the number of beds, without lowering the standards of care. The purpose of this article is to discuss some aspects of the national situation and to provide recommendations on the organizational management of intensive care units such as isolation protocols, surge in ICU bed capacity, ensure adequate supplies, protect and train healthcare workers maintaining quality clinical management.

Transformational leadership: journal club for emergency and intensive care nurse managers / Liderazgo transformacional: club de lectura para enfermeros gerentes de urgencia y emergência / Liderança transformacional: clube de leitura para enfermeiros gerentes de urgência e emergência

ABSTRACT Objectives: to understand the meaning of transformational leadership and develop an educational intervention addressing this theme. Methods: content analysis and action research for the collective construction of an educational intervention addressing management practices and their association with transformational leadership. The setting was the emergency and intensive care network, and nine nurse managers participated in the research. Data was collected from recorded and individualized interviews, and by using the journal club strategy. Results: the unveiled themes were: factors related to the team, to the leadership processes and to the leader. Difficulties in decision-making and planning processes were revealed; the leader needs to work in teams, which in turn should be appropriately sized. The journal club and planning model used provided the praxis of this work. Final Considerations: reflection and training for the development of transformational leadership were fundamental to solidify the decision-making processes involved in the managers' practice.

RESUMEN Objetivos: identificar el significado del liderazgo transformacional y desarrollar una intervención educativa sobre liderazgo. Métodos: análisis de contenido e investigación-acción para elaborar colectivamente una intervención educativa sobre la práctica gerencial y su interfaz con el liderazgo transformacional. Se realizó en la red de urgencia y emergencia, y participaron nueve enfermeros gerentes. La recolección de datos se hizo mediante entrevistas grabadas en audio individualmente y también mediante la estrategia del club de lectura. Resultados: los temas desvelados fueron los factores relacionados al equipo, a los procesos de liderazgo y al líder. Se revelaron dificultades en el proceso decisorio y en la planificación; el líder necesita trabajar en equipo y con el tamaño del personal adecuado. El club de lectura y la matriz de planificación utilizada proporcionaron la praxis. Consideraciones Finales: la reflexión e instrumentalización para desarrollar el liderazgo transformacional fue fundamental en la práctica de los gerentes, lo que fortalece el proceso decisorio en la gestión del servicio.

RESUMO Objetivos: compreender o significado de liderança transformacional e desenvolver uma intervenção educativa sobre liderança. Métodos: análise de conteúdo e pesquisa-ação para a construção coletiva de uma intervenção educativa sobre a prática gerencial e sua interface com a liderança transformacional. O cenário foi a rede de urgência e emergência e participaram nove enfermeiros gerentes. A coleta de dados foi por meio de entrevistas áudio gravadas e individualizadas e pela estratégia do clube de leitura. Resultados: os temas desvelados foram: fatores relacionados à equipe, aos processos de liderança e ao líder. Revelou-se dificuldades no processo decisório e no planejamento; o líder necessita trabalhar em equipe e com dimensionamento de pessoal adequado. O clube de leitura e a matriz de planejamento utilizada proporcionaram a práxis. Considerações Finais: a reflexão e instrumentalização para o desenvolvimento de liderança transformacional foi fundamental para a prática dos gerentes solidificando o processo decisório no gerenciamento do serviço.

Modificaciones en las prácticas de los kinesiólogos de cuidados Críticos durante y después de la Pandemia COVID-19 en Chile: protocolo de una Encuesta Nacional / Modifications in Critical Care Physiotherapists Practices during and after COVID-19 Pandemic in Chile: Study Protocol of a National Survey

ANTECEDENTES: El 11 de marzo de 2020, la Organización Mundial de la Salud declaró la enfermedad por coronavirus (COVID-19) como pandemia, cuyos casos y gravedad en Chile han sido elevados. Internacionalmente, los profesionales de la salud han debido adaptar sus actividades laborales hacia pacientes mecánicamente ventilados por agravamiento de los síntomas respiratorios. La terapia respiratoria y terapia física que realizan los kinesiólogos en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) es fundamental, y existe la urgencia por agrupar datos nacionales que permitan describir la situación y así prepararse para futuros aumentos de la carga asistencial en UCI. OBJETIVO: Describir las modificaciones institucionales, laborales y asistenciales, experimentadas por kinesiólogos que se desempeñan en UCI durante y después de la pandemia COVID-19 en Chile. MÉTODOS: Este es el protocolo de un estudio observacional analítico transversal, el cual recopilará información desde el inicio hasta un año iniciada la pandemia. Se incluirán todas las UCI adulto existentes y las creadas por contingencia COVID-19. Se excluirán aquellas que no hayan recibido pacientes en UCI con COVID-19 confirmado. Se aplicará una encuesta online (REDCap®) al kinesiólogo representante de cada centro, la cual recopilará la información anonimizada principalmente a través de selección múltiple y escala Likert. RESULTADOS ESPERADOS: Se espera identificar un alto porcentaje de modificaciones institucionales en las UCI de Chile, y kinesiólogos que se vieron en la necesidad decambiar sus condiciones laborales y asistenciales durante la pandemia, en comparación al período pre-pandemia;cambios que en un menor porcentaje se mantuvieron en el tiempo.

BACKGROUND: On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a pandemic, whose cases and severity in Chile have been high. Worldwide, health staffs have adapted their working activities focusing mainly on mechanically ventilated patients due to respiratory decline. Respiratory therapy and physical therapy by physiotherapists in the intensive care unit (ICU) are essential, and national data needs to be collected to describe the pandemic-related context to prepare for future increases in the ICU demand. OBJECTIVE: To describe the institutional, workforce and healthcare modifications experienced by the ICU physiotherapists during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile. METHODS: This is the protocol of a cross-sectional study, which will collect information from the beginning to 1 year after the pandemic begins. All existing adult ICUs and those ICUs created during the pandemic will be included. Those who have not received ICU patients with confirmed COVID-19 will be excluded. An online survey will be applied to the physiotherapists representing each ICU, which will collect the anonymous information mainly through multiple selection-choice and Likert scale.EXPECTED RESULTS: We will be expected to identify a high percentage of institutional modifications in the ICUs in Chile, and that the physiotherapists would need of changing their working and healthcare conditions during the pandemic, compared to the pre-pandemic period; changes that in a smaller percentage would be maintained over time.

Practical Considerations for Converting Operating Rooms and Post-anaesthesia Care Units into Intensive Care Units in the COVID-19 Pandemic - Experience from a Large Singapore Tertiary Hospital

COVID-19 has spread globally, infecting and killing millions of people worldwide. The use of operating rooms (ORs) and the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) for intensive care is part of surge response planning. We aim to describe and discuss some of the practical considerations involved in a large tertiary hospital in Singapore. Firstly, considerations for setting up a level III intensive care unit (ICU) include that of space, staff, supplies and standards. Secondly, oxygen supply of the entire hospital is a major determinant of the number of ventilators it can support, including those on non-invasive forms of oxygen therapy. Thirdly, air flows due to positive pressure systems within the OR complex need to be addressed. In addition, due to the worldwide shortage of ICU ventilators, the US Food and Drug Administration has granted temporary approval for the use of anaesthesia gas machines for patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Lastly, planning of logistics and staff deployment needs to be carefully considered during a crisis. Although OR and PACU are not designed for long-term care of critically ill patients, they may be adapted for ICU use with careful planning in the current pandemic.

Do-not-resuscitate and treatment limitation decisions - Six years of experience from a Portuguese General Intensive Care Unit

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE Treatment limitation, as well as do-not-resuscitate (DNR) directives, are difficult but important to improve patients' quality of life and minimize dysthanasia. We aimed to study the approach to withholding, withdrawal, and DNR decisions, patients' characteristics, and process documentation in a general Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Portugal. METHODS A retrospective analysis of data regarding the limitation of treatment decisions collected from previously-designed forms and complemented by medical record consultation. RESULTS A total of 1602 patients were admitted to the ICU between 2011 and 2016. DNR decisions were documented in 127 cases (7.9%). Patients with treatment limitations were older and had higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II. The most frequent diagnosis preceding these decisions was sepsis (52.0%, n = 66); the most common main reason for limiting treatment was a poor prognosis of acute illness. Of the patients to whom a DNR was implemented, 117 (92.1%) died in the ICU (40.1% of the total number of ICU deaths), and hospital mortality was 100%. Participants in these decisions, as well as types of treatment withdrawn and their respective timings, were not registered in medical records. CONCLUSION Treatment limitation and DNR decisions were relatively common, in line with other Southern European studies, but behind Northern European and North American centers. Patients with these limitations were older and more severely ill than patients without such decisions. Documentation of these processes should be clear and detailed, either in specific forms or computerized clinical records; there is room for improvement in this area.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Decisões de limitação terapêutica (DLT) e de não reanimação (DNR) são difíceis, mas importantes, visando melhorar a qualidade de vida dos doentes e minimizar distanásia. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a abordagem das DNR e DLT, as características dos doentes e a documentação dessas decisões numa Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Polivalente (Ucip) em Portugal. MÉTODOS Análise retrospectiva dos dados referentes a DLT e DNR, recolhidos a partir de formulários previamente elaborados e complementados por consulta de processo clínico. RESULTADOS Um total de 1.602 doentes foi internado na Ucip entre 2011 e 2016. DNR foi documentada em 127 casos (7,9%). Doentes com DLT eram mais velhos e tinham um Simplified Acute Physiology Score II mais elevado. O diagnóstico mais frequente que precedeu essas decisões foi sepse (52,0%, n=66); A razão mais comum para limitar o tratamento foi mau prognóstico da doença aguda. Dos doentes nos quais a DNR foi implementada, 117 (92,1%) morreram na Ucip (40,1% do total de óbitos na Ucip) e a mortalidade hospitalar foi de 100%. Os intervenientes nessas decisões, bem como os tipos de tratamento retirados, não foram rotineiramente registrados. CONCLUSÃO As DLT e DNR foram relativamente comuns, em consonância com outros estudos do sul da Europa, mas atrás dos centros do norte da Europa e da América do Norte. Os doentes com essas limitações eram mais velhos e mais gravemente doentes. A documentação dessas decisões deve ser clara e detalhada, seja em formulários específicos, seja em registros clínicos informatizados. Há espaço para melhorias nessa área.