Caracterización clínica, humoral y epidemiológica de pacientes graves y críticos con la COVID-19 / Clinical, humoral and epidemiological characterization of serious and critically ill patients with COVID-19

Introducción: Los investigadores advierten sobre la existencia de personas con formas muy graves de la COVID-19. Es notable el reporte de estos enfermos, la existencia de complicaciones favorecedoras de situaciones de amenaza vital y las diferencias hemogasométricas y en otros parámetros bioquímicos. Objetivo: Caracterizar aspectos clínicos, epidemiológicos y humorales de enfermos con la COVID-19 durante su estadía en la unidad de cuidados intensivos. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal en 9 pacientes con la COVID-19 ingresados en la unidad de cuidados intensivos, de marzo a mayo de 2020. Los datos se obtuvieron de las historias clínicas. La información procesada se expresó en frecuencias absolutas y porcientos y los resultados se reflejaron en tablas y gráficos. Entre las variables analizadas figuraron: la edad, sexo, estado clínico y al egreso de los pacientes y la letalidad. Resultados: Predominaron los hombres (77,8 por ciento), las mujeres evolucionaron mejor (33,3 por ciento graves, ninguna crítica). El 88,8 por ciento de los enfermos tenían al menos una enfermedad crónica asociada. El 33,3 por ciento de los pacientes fueron asintomáticos al ingreso, la neumonía grave y el síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo, fueron la causa más frecuente de complicación. Conclusiones: Los pacientes fueron mayoría del sexo masculino y todos los críticos fueron de este sexo; con proporciones similares en los grupos etarios; con comorbilidades, el mayor porcentaje, fundamentalmente hipertensión arterial; al ingreso presentaron tos, fiebre, disnea y decaimiento. Todos los críticos demoraron 4 días o más en solicitar asistencia médica. El motivo de ingreso a cuidados intensivos fue la neumonía grave/síndrome de dificultad respiratoria del adulto (AU)

Introduction: Researchers warn of people with severe forms of COVID-19. It is notable the report of these patients, the existence of complications favoring life-threatening situations and the hemogasometric differences and in other biochemical parameters. Objective: To characterize clinical, epidemiological and humoral aspects of patients with COVID-19 during their stay in the intensive care unit. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in 9 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit from March to May 2020. Data were obtained from medical records. The processed information was expressed in absolute frequencies and percentages and the results were reflected in tables and graphs. Among the variables analyzed were: age, sex, clinical status and at discharge of the patients and fatality. Results: Men predominated (77,8 percent), women evolved better (33,3 percent serious, no critical). 88,8 percent of the patients had at least one associated chronic disease. 33,3 percent of the patients were asymptomatic upon admission, severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome were the most frequent cause of complication. Conclusions: Most of the patients were male and all the critics were male; with similar proportions in age groups; with comorbidities the highest percentage, mainly hypertension; on admission they presented cough, fever, dyspnea and decay; all critical patients took 4 days or more to request medical assistance. The reason for admission to the intensive care unit was severe pneumonia/adult respiratory distress syndrome(AU)

Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica en pacientes ingresados en unidades de atención al grave. Cárdenas / Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in in-patients of the intensive care unit. Cárdenas

RESUMEN Introducción: la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica es infradiagnosticada y presenta una elevada morbimortalidad. Constituye la sèptima causa de muerte en Cuba. En la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, del Hospital General Docente "Julio M. Aristegui" de Cárdenas, provincia de Matanzas, resulta una causa de ingresos frecuentes, con evolución desfavorable que prolonga la estadía y elevan la mortalidad. Objetivo: determinar el comportamiento de esta enfermedad en Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal y retrospectivo, en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital General Docente "Julio M. Aristegui", de Cárdenas, durante el periodo de enero del 2015 a diciembre del 2016. El universo fue los pacientes ingresados por la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Las variables estudiadas fueron: sexo, edad, factores de riesgo, diagnóstico al ingreso, complicaciones, estadía, destino al egreso. Resultados: predominó el grupo etáreo de 65-74 años y el sexo masculino. El factor de riesgo más significativo fue el tabaquismo. La estadía y el número de días ventilados fue de 20-30 días. La gran mayoría de los pacientes fallecieron en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Conclusiones: La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, por sus factores de riesgo y complicaciones, conlleva al cuidado hospitalario del paciente en Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (AU).

ABSTRACT Introduction: the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is under diagnosed and shows a high morbimortality. It is the fifth cause of death in Cuba. It is a frequent cause of admission in the Intensive Care Unit of the Teaching General Hospital "Julio M. Aristegui" of Cardenas, province of Matanzas, with an unfavorable evolution extending the staying and increasing mortality. Objective: to determine this disease behaviour in an intensive care unit. Materials and methods: a retrospective, longitudinal, descriptive study was carried out in the Intensive Care Unit of the General Teaching Hospital "Julio Aristegui" of Cardenas during the period January 2015- December 2016. The universe was the patients admitted due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The studied variables were sex, age, risk factors, diagnosis at the admission, complications, staying, and destination at discharge. Results: the 65-74 years-old age group and male sex predominated. The most significant risk factor was tobacco smoking. Staying and number of days under ventilation were 20-30 days. Most of the patients died in the Intensive Care Unit. Conclusions: the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, due to its risk factors and complications, leads to the hospital care of the patient in intensive care units (AU).

Mortalidad en pacientes con ventilación mecánica ingresados en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos / Mortality in mechanically ventilated patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit

Introducción: La ventilación mecánica es un proceder para la sustitución de la ventilación, que salva la vida de pacientes con insuficiencia respiratoria aguda, al mismo tiempo es una de las primeras causas de complicaciones y de mortalidad. Objetivo: Identificar las características clínico-epidemiológicas en pacientes fallecidos con ventilación mecánica, ingresados en la UCI del hospital Joaquín Albarrán Domínguez en el trienio 2013-2015. Material y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal, con las historias clínicas de dichos pacientes, recopilando la información en una matriz de datos y posteriormente fue analizada con el software SPSS 21.0, a través de frecuencias absolutas y relativas y con la utilización de la prueba de chi2 para las correlaciones bi-variadas, tomando como valor de significación estadística p< 0,05. Resultados: De los 166 pacientes, el 49,4 por ciento superaba los 70 años. La EPOC fue el motivo de ventilación más frecuente. Las mayores complicaciones de la ventilación fueron: fallo multiorgánico 25,3 por ciento, fallo al destete 21,6 por ciento, y distrés respiratorio 20,4 por ciento. Conclusiones: El fallo multiorgánico, las bronconeumonías bacterianas bilaterales y la neumonía asociada a la ventilación mecánica, fueron las principales complicaciones y causas de muerte más frecuentes en los pacientes ventilados(AU)

Introduction: Mechanical ventilation is a procedure used for the replacement of ventilation, which saves the life of patients with acute respiratory failure; but at the same time, it is one of the first causes of complications and mortality. Objective: To identify the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients who died while receiving mechanical ventilation, admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Joaquín Albarrán Dominguez Clinical Surgical Hospital during the triennium 2013-2015. Material and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out with the clinical histories of these patients. The information was collected in a data matrix that was subsequently analyzed with the SPSS 21.0 software, on the basis of absolute and relative frequencies and the use of the chi2 test for the bi-varied correlations; the statistical significance value was p <0.05. Results: Of the 166 patients selected for the study, the 49.4 percent were over 70 years of age. COPD was the most frequent reason for ventilation. The main complications of ventilation were: multiple organ failure (25.3 percent), weaning failure (21.6 percent), and respiratory distress (20.4 percent). Conclusions: Multiple organ failure, bilateral bacterial bronchopneumonia, and pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation were the most frequent complications and causes of death in ventilated patients(AU)

Un acercamiento a la medicina de urgencias y emergencias / An approach to the Urgencies and Emergencies Medicine

Se comunica brevemente acerca del desarrollo de la Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias, sus principales conceptos y peculiaridades, así como también sobre el modelo actual del Sistema Integrado de Urgencias Médicas en Cuba, que ha dado respuesta a la atención al paciente grave, a la vez que ha permitido brindar atención con prontitud y calidad a las demandas de dicho servicio, que incluye: detección precoz, apoyo vital básico avanzado y acceso a los cuidados intensivos, entre otros.

A study on the development of the Urgencies and Emergencies Medicine, its main concepts and peculiarities is carried out. The current pattern of the SIUM in Cuba is approached, which has been the solution to the severely-ill patient and it has allowed to offer care in a fast and qualified way according to the demands of this service, which is characterized by the detection, access, basic and advanced vital support and access to the intensive cares.

Alteraciones del sueño en el enfermo grave. Un evento de gran repercusión y poco tomado en cuenta / Sleep disorders in the critically ill patient. An event of great impact and little taken into account

Resumen: El sueño favorece una mejor evolución y recuperación en los enfermos graves. Las alteraciones del sueño afectan con frecuencia a los enfermos internados en la unidad de terapia intensiva, su causa es multifactorial y se asocia con alteraciones del sistema inmunitario, disfunción en el anabolismo, retardo en los procesos regenerativos, desorganización neurofisiológica, disfunción cognitiva, delirio, incremento en los días de hospitalización y mortalidad. Las alteraciones del sueño en el paciente grave se caracterizan por anomalías del ritmo circadiano sueño-vigilia, índice elevado de despertares, fragmentación, reducción del sueño de ondas lentas y disfunción grave de la fase de movimientos oculares rápidos. Las intervenciones para su tratamiento son no farmacológicas y farmacológicas. De las farmacológicas la melatonina es un agente terapéutico promisorio para la profilaxis y para el tratamiento. El objetivo de este trabajo es revisar los conceptos actuales relacionados con la disfunción del sueño en el enfermo grave, su repercusión en la práctica clínica y las medidas a implementar para su profilaxis y tratamiento.

Abstract: Sleep is important for good outcome and recovery in critically ill patients. Sleep disturbances affect commonly critically ill patients and are associated with impair of immune system, anabolic and regenerative processes, neurophysiologic organization, cognitive dysfunction, delirium, prolonged Intensive Care Unit stay and mortality. The critically ill present pathologic sleep patterns characterized by abnormal circadian rhythm, high arousal and awakening index, reduced slow wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep. Melatonin is a promissory prophylactic or therapeutic agent in the management of sleep disturbances. The aim of this paper is to review current concepts related to sleep disturbances in the critically ill, their clinical impact, prevention and the new therapeutic alternatives.

Plano de análise estatística para o Alveolar Recruitment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Trial (ART). Ensaio controlado randomizado / Statistical analysis plan for the Alveolar Recruitment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Trial (ART). A randomized controlled trial

RESUMO Fundamentação: O estudo Alveolar Recruitment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Trial (ART) é um ensaio clínico internacional, multicêntrico, randomizado, pragmático e controlado com ocultação da alocação que envolve 120 unidades de terapia intensiva no Brasil, Argentina, Colômbia, Espanha, Itália, Polônia, Portugal, Malásia e Uruguai, com o objetivo primário de determinar se o recrutamento alveolar gradual máximo associado com titulação da pressão positiva expiratória final, ajustada segundo a complacência estática do sistema respiratório (estratégia ART), é capaz de aumentar, quando comparada aos resultados do tratamento convencional (estratégia ARDSNet), a sobrevivência em 28 dias de pacientes com síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo. Objetivo: Descrever o processo de gerenciamento dos dados e o plano de análise estatística em um ensaio clínico internacional. Métodos: O plano de análise estatística foi delineado pelo comitê executivo e revisado pelo comitê diretivo do ART. Foi oferecida uma visão geral do delineamento do estudo, com foco especial na descrição de desfechos primário (sobrevivência aos 28 dias) e secundários. Foram descritos o processo de gerenciamento dos dados, o comitê de monitoramento de dados, a análise interina e o cálculo do tamanho da amostra. Também foram registrados o plano de análise estatística para os desfechos primário e secundários, e os subgrupos de análise pré-especificados. Detalhes para apresentação dos resultados, inclusive modelos de tabelas para as características basais, adesão ao protocolo e efeito nos desfechos clínicos, foram fornecidos. Conclusão: Em acordo com as melhores práticas em ensaios clínicos, submetemos nossos planos de análise estatística e de gerenciamento de dados para publicação antes do fechamento da base de dados e início das análises. Antecipamos que este documento deve prevenir viés em análises e incrementar a utilidade dos resultados a serem relatados. Registro do estudo: Número no registro ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01374022.

ABSTRACT Background: The Alveolar Recruitment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Trial (ART) is an international multicenter randomized pragmatic controlled trial with allocation concealment involving 120 intensive care units in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Malaysia, Spain, and Uruguay. The primary objective of ART is to determine whether maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration, adjusted according to the static compliance of the respiratory system (ART strategy), is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). Objective: To describe the data management process and statistical analysis plan. Methods: The statistical analysis plan was designed by the trial executive committee and reviewed and approved by the trial steering committee. We provide an overview of the trial design with a special focus on describing the primary (28-day survival) and secondary outcomes. We describe our data management process, data monitoring committee, interim analyses, and sample size calculation. We describe our planned statistical analyses for primary and secondary outcomes as well as pre-specified subgroup analyses. We also provide details for presenting results, including mock tables for baseline characteristics, adherence to the protocol and effect on clinical outcomes. Conclusion: According to best trial practice, we report our statistical analysis plan and data management plan prior to locking the database and beginning analyses. We anticipate that this document will prevent analysis bias and enhance the utility of the reported results. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01374022.

Trombosis asociada a catéter venoso central: reporte de caso

Abstract: The severely infected patient care usually requires the installation of a central venous catheter due to multimedications required. Thrombosis is a common complication of central venous catheters, although often unnoticed. In this report we present the case of this complication and discuss the management

La atención del paciente gravemente infectado habitualmente requiere la instalación de un catéter venoso central, debido a la multimedicación que requiere. La trombosis es una complicación común, aunque muchas veces desapercibidas, de los catéteres venosos centrales. En el presente reporte se presenta el caso de esta complicación y se discute el manejo.

Anemia e transfusões de concentrados de hemácias em pacientes graves nas UTI brasileiras (pelo FUNDO-AMIB) / Transfusion practices in brazilian Intensive Care Units (pelo FUNDO-AMIB)

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A anemia é uma condição comum em pacientes graves. A transfusão de hemoderivados aumenta de forma significativa o risco de transmissão de agentes infecciosos e afeta o perfil imunológico. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a incidência de anemia e a prática de transfusão de hemácias em UTI brasileiras. MÉTODO: Estudo prospectivo, multicêntrico, realizado em 19 UTI em um período de duas semanas. A presença de anemia, as indicações e a utilização de concentrados de hemácias, foram avaliadas diariamente. As complicações que ocorreram durante a internação na UTI e após a transfusão da primeira unidade de concentrado de hemácias foram registradas. RESULTADOS: Um total de 33 por cento apresentava anemia na admissão na UTI e esta proporção aumentou para 55 por cento no final de sete dias de internação. Um total de 348 unidades de concentrado de hemácias foi transfundido em 86 pacientes (36,5 por cento). A média de suas unidades por paciente foi 4,1 ± 3,3 U. O nível de hemoglobina limiar para a transfusão de CH foi 7,7 ± 1,1 g/dL. Pacientes transfundidos tinham mais disfunções orgânicas avaliadas pelo escore SOFA (7,9 ± 4,6 versus 5,6 ± 3,8, transfundidos versus não transfundidos, p < 0,05). As taxas de mortalidade foram 43,5 por cento e 36,3 por cento em pacientes transfundidos e não transfundidos, respectivamente (RR 0,61-11,7, NS). Pacientes transfundidos tiveram número maior de complicações (1,58 ± 0,66 versus 1,33 ± 0,49, p = 0,0001). CONCLUSÕES: A anemia é comum em UTI brasileiras. O limiar transfusional de hemoglobina foi menor do que o observado em outros paises.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anemia of critical illness is a multifactorial condition caused by blood loss, frequent phlebotomies and inadequate production of red blood cells (RBC). Controversy surrounds the most appropriate hemoglobin concentration "trigger" for transfusion of RBC. We aimed to evaluate transfusion practices in Brazilian ICUs. METHODS: A prospective study throughout a 2-week period in 19 Brazilian ICUs. Hemoglobin (Hb) level, transfusion rate, organ dysfunction assessment and 28-day mortality were evaluated. Primary indication for transfusion and pretransfusion hemoglobin level were collected for each transfusion. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-one patients with an ICU length of stay longer than 48h were included. An Hb level lower than 10 g/dL was found in 33 percent on admission in the ICU. A total of 348 RBC units were transfused in 86 patients (36.5 percent). The mean pretransfusion hemoglobin level was 7.7 ± 1.1 g/dL. Transfused-patients had significantly higher SOFA score (7.9 ± 4.6 vs 5.6 ± 3.8, p < 0.05, respectively), days on mechanical ventilation (10.7 ± 8.2 vs 7.2 ± 6.4, p < 0.05) and days on vasoactive drugs (6.7 ± 6.4 vs 4.2 ± 4.0, p < 0.05) than non-transfused patients despite similar APACHE II scores (15.2 ± 8.1 vs 14.2 ± 8.1, NS). Transfused patients had higher mortality rate (43.5 percent) than non-transfused patients (36.3 percent) (RR 0.60-1.15, NS). Only one patient (0.28 percent) had febrile non-hemolytic transfusion and urticarial reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia is common in critically ill patients.It seems from the present study that transfusion practices in Brazil have had a more restrictive approach with a lower limit "transfusion trigger".