¿Prono en ventilación espontánea? Un problema de inducción: una revisión panorámica

Resumen Introducción El prono en ventilación espontánea no es una estrategia reciente, y pese a los muchos años que lleva intentando consolidarse, no ha podido demostrar ser de real utilidad. Durante la reciente pandemia, el prono en ventilación espontánea resurgió como una alternativa práctica y simple, aunque muy cuestionada por su débil nivel de evidencia. Con el tiempo y la experiencia generada, de a poco fue relegada a convertirse únicamente en una atractiva hipótesis. Objetivo Este estudio busca analizar los potenciales beneficios del prono en ventilación espontánea en pacientes con hipoxemia producida por SARS-CoV-2. Método Se realizó una revisión panorámica de los estudios más relevantes publicados en las bases de datos MEDLINE, Embase y Scopus hasta el 20 de diciembre de 2021. Resultados Tras el escrutinio se eligieron para el análisis: 4 estudios observacionales, un ensayo clínico aleatorizado y 3 revisiones sistemáticas. Conclusiones Mediante análisis estadísticos concluimos que el prono en ventilación espontánea, si bien podría retrasar la intubación, no mejoraba la sobrevida de los sujetos hipoxémicos por neumonía viral causada por coronavirus tipo 2. Intoduction Prone position in spontaneous ventilation is not a recent strategy, and despite the many years it has been trying to consolidate, it has not been able to prove to be of real utility. During the recent pandemic, prone spontaneous ventilation re-emerged as a practical and simple alternative, although it was highly questioned due to its weak level of evidence. With time and experience, it was gradually relegated to become only an attractive hypothesis. Objective This study aims to analyze the potential benefits of prone position in spontaneous ventilation in patients with hypoxemia caused by SARS-CoV-2. Methods A panoramic review of the most relevant studies published in the MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus databases up to December 20, 2021 was performed. Results After screening, 4 observational studies, 1 randomized clinical trial, and 3 systematic reviews were selected for analysis. Conclusions By statistical analysis we concluded that prone position in spontaneous ventilation, although it could delay intubation, did not improve survival in hypoxemic subjects with viral pneumonia caused by coronavirus type 2.

Effect of the duration of prone position in ARDS patients during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to bilateral COVID-19 pneumonia on invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and to analyze the effect of prone position >24 h (prolonged) (PPP) compared to prone decubitus <24 h (PP). DESIGN: A retrospective observational descriptive study was carried out, with uni- and bivariate analyses. SETTING: Department of Intensive Care Medicine. Hospital General Universitario de Elche (Elche, Alicante, Spain). PARTICIPANTS: Patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (2020-2021) on IMV due to moderate-severe ARDS, ventilated in prone position (PP). INTERVENTIONS: IMV. PP maneuvers. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Sociodemographic characteristics, analgo-sedation, neuromuscular blockade (NMB), PD duration, ICU stay and mortality, days of IMV, non-infectious complications, healthcare associated infections. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients required PP, and of these, 31 (69.78%) required PPP. No differences were observed in terms of patient characteristics (gender, age, comorbidities, initial severity, antiviral and antiinflammatory treatment received). Patients on PPP had poorer tolerance to supine ventilation (61.29% vs 89.47%, p = 0.031), longer hospital stay (41 vs 30 days, p = 0.023), more days of IMV (32 vs 20 days, p = 0.032), longer duration of NMB (10.5 vs 3 days, p = 0.0002), as well as a higher percentage of episodes of orotracheal tube obstruction (48.39% vs 15%, p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: PPP was associated with greater resource use and complications in patients with moderate-severe ARDS due to COVID-19.

Liver injury due to COVID-19 in critically ill adult patients. A retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged, causing the current pandemic of acute respiratory disease known as COVID-19. Liver injury due to COVID-19 is defined as any liver injury occurring during the course of the disease and treatment of patients with COVID-19, with or without liver disease. The incidence of elevated liver transaminases, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ranges from 2.5 to 76.3%. The aim of the present study was to describe the hepatic biochemical abnormalities, after a SARS-CoV-2-positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and the mortality rate in critically ill patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted that included 70 patients seen at a private hospital in Mexico City, within the time frame of February-December 2021. Median patient age was 44.5 years (range: 37-57.2) and 43 (61.4%) of the patients were men. Liver function tests were performed on the patients at hospital admission. RESULTS: Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were elevated (p = 0.032), as were those of AST (p = 0.011) and ALT (p = 0.021). The patients were stratified into age groups: 18-35, 36-50, and > 50 years of age. The 18 to 35-year-olds had the highest liver enzyme levels and transaminase levels were higher, the younger the patient. Due to the low mortality rate (one patient whose death did not coincide with a hepatic cause), the multivariate analysis showed an R2 association of 0.689, explained by AST, GGT, and C-reactive protein levels. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the increase in transaminases in our study population during the course of COVID-19, there was no increase in mortality. Nevertheless, hospitalized patient progression should be continuously followed.

Adjuvant treatments to invasive mechanical ventilation in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: This bibliographic review is carried out in order to obtain answers about aspects related to techniques and treatments, as well as care associated with the critically ill patient diagnosed with Covid-19. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the available scientific evidence on the effectiveness of the use of invasive mechanical ventilation together with other adjuvant techniques, in reducing the mortality rate in patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and clinical trial of Covid-19 treated in intensive care units. METHODOLOGY: A systematized bibliographic review was carried out in the Pubmed, Cuiden, Lilacs, Medline, Cinahl and Google Scholar databases, using MeSH terms (Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Mechanical Ventilation, Prone Position, Nitric Oxide, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, Nursing Care) and the corresponding Boolean operators. The selected studies underwent a critical reading carried out between December 6, 2020 and March 27, 2021 using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program tool in Spanish and a cross-sectional epidemiological studies evaluation instrument. RESULTS: A total of 85 articles were selected. After performing the critical reading, a total of 7 articles were included in the review, 6 being descriptive studies and 1 cohort study. After analyzing these studies, it appears that the technique that has obtained the best results is ECMO, with the care provided by qualified and trained nursing staff being very important. CONCLUSION: Mortality from Covid-19 increases in patients treated with invasive mechanical ventilation compared to patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Nursing care and specialization can have an impact on improving patient outcomes.

Prone positioning in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and invasive mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: To identify adverse events related to prone positioning in COVID-19 patients with severe disease and acute respiratory distress syndrome, to analyze the risk factors associated with the development of anterior pressure ulcers, to determine whether the recommendation of prone positioning is associated with improved clinical outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective study performed in 63 consecutive patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to intensive care unit on invasive mechanical ventilation and treated with prone positioning between March and April 2020. Association between prone-related pressure ulcers and selected variables was explored by the means of logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 139 proning cycles were performed. The mean number of cycles were 2 [1-3] and the mean duration per cycle was of 22h [15-24]. The prevalence of adverse events this population was 84.9 %, being the physiologic ones (i.e., hypo/hypertension) the most prevalent. 29 out of 63 patients (46%) developed prone-related pressure ulcers. The risk factors for prone-related pressure ulcers were older age, hypertension, levels of pre-albumin <21mg/dl, the number of proning cycles and severe disease. We observed a significant increase in the PaO2/FiO2 at different time points during the prone positioning, and a significant decrease after it. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high incidence of adverse events due to PD, with the physiological type being the most frequent. The identification of the main risk factors for the development of prone-related pressure ulcers will help to prevent the occurrence of these lesions during the prone positioning. Prone positioning offered an improvement in the oxygenation in these patients.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) over-infection in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to COVID-19 pneumonia: Impact on mortality. / Sobreinfección respiratoria por virus herpes simple tipo1 en pacientes con SDRA secundario a neumonía grave por COVID-19. Impacto sobre la mortalidad.

OBJECTIVE: Herpes simplex virus type1 (HSV-1) reactivation have been described in patients with invasive mechanical ventilation and recently in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to COVID-19 with higher rates of reactivation than were detected previously in critical care, and although the diagnosis of HSV-1 pneumonia is not easy, its presence is associate with an increase in morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study is to determinate if the identification of HSV-1 in lower airway of patients with ARDS secondary to COVID-19 have influence in clinical outcome and mortality. METHOD: Two hundred twenty-four admitted patients in intensive care unit (ICU) of Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Toledo diagnosed of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2) were reviewed and were selected those with mechanical ventilation who had undergone (BAL). It was registered all results of HSV-1 PCR (negative and positive). RESULTS: During the study period (November 28, 2020 to April 13, 2021) was admitted 224 patients in ICU diagnosed of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Eighty-three patients of them had undergone BAL, with HSV-1 PCR positive result in 47 (56%), and negative result in 36 (43.4%). We performed pathological anatomy study in BAL samples on 26 of the total BAL realized. Typical cytopathic characteristics of HSV-1 were found in 13 samples (50%) and 11 of them (84.6%) have had HSV-1 PCR positive result. Thirty days mortality was significantly higher in the group of patients with HSV-1 PCR positive result (33.5% vs. 57.4%, P=.015). This difference was stronger in the group of patients with HSV-1 findings in the pathological anatomy study (30.8% vs. 69.2%, P=.047). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that ARDS secondary to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia is highly associated to HSV-1 reactivation and that the finding of HSV-1 in lower airway is associated with a worst prognostic and with significantly mortality increase. It is necessary to carry out more extensive studies to determinate if treatment with acyclovir can improve the prognosis of these patients.

Critical patients COVID-19 has changed the management and outcomes in the ICU after 1 year of the pandemic? A multicenter, prospective, observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical characteristics, treatments, and evolution of critical patients with COVID-19 pneumonia treated in Intensive Care Units (ICU) after one year of pandemic. METHODOLOGY: Multicenter, prospective study, which included critical COVID-19 patients in 9 ICUs in northwestern Spain. The clinical characteristics, treatments, and evolution of patients admitted to the ICU during the months of March-April 2020 (period 1) were compared with patients admitted in January-February 2021 (period 2). RESULTS: 337 patients were included (98 in period 1 and 239 in period 2). In period 2, fewer patients required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (65% vs 84%, p < 0.001), using high-flow nasal cannulas (CNAF) more frequently (70% vs 7%, p < 0.001), ventilation non-invasive mechanical (NIMV) (40% vs 14%, p < 0.001), corticosteroids (100% vs 96%, p = 0.007) and prone position in both awake (42% vs 28%, p = 0.012), and intubated patients (67% vs 54%, p = 0.034). The days of IMV, ICU stay and hospital stay were lower in period 2. Mortality was similar in the two periods studied (16% vs 17%). CONCLUSIONS: After 1 year of pandemic, we observed that in patients admitted to the ICU, CNAF, NIMV, use of the prone position, and corticosteroids have been used more frequently, reducing the number of patients in IMV, and the length of stay in the ICU and hospital stay. Mortality was similar in the two study periods.

Tratamiento con antiinflamatorios en paciente de alto riesgo Covid 19, evolución de la enfermedad, presentación de caso clínico

El 11 de marzo del 2020 la covid 19 fue considerada como una pandemia por la OMS, ese mismo día se confirma el primer caso en Cuba a partir de un turista italiano. En la provincia de las tunas durante el mes de agosto se produce un incremento deliberado del número de casos tensando el sistema de salud, nos referimos a el tratamiento médico de un paciente masculino de 32 años de edad con antecedentes de diabetes mellitus insulinodependiente, obesidad extrema, hipertensión arterial y reacción adversa al tiomersal lo que le impidió utilizar vacunas anticovid, el mismo desarrollo la forma grave de la enfermedad ( síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo, moderado por bronconeumonía viral asociada a la covid, cetoacidosis diabética ) presento signos clínicos y de laboratorio de mal pronóstico, luego de la terapia con fármacos innovadores específicamente antinflamatorios (jusvinza) desarrollados en cuba para tratamiento de otras afecciones pero con buenos resultados en pacientes con covid 19 gravemente enfermos, presento evolución favorable y alta médica con secuelas leves de la enfermedad.Alternate : On March 11, 2020, covid 19 was considered a pandemic by the WHO, that same day the first case in Cuba is confirmed from an Italian tourist. In the province of Las Tunas during the month of August there is a deliberate increase in the number of cases straining the health system, we refer to the medical treatment of a 32-year-old male patient with a history of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, extreme obesity, arterial hypertension and adverse reaction to thiomersal which prevented him from using anti-covid vaccines, which developed the severe form of the disease (acute respiratory distress syndrome moderated by viral bronchopneumonia associated with covid) , diabetic ketoacidosis) he had clinical and laboratory signs of poor prognosis, after therapy with innovative drugs specifically anti-inflammatory (jusvinza) developed in Cuba for the treatment of other conditions but with good results in severely ill patients with covid 19, presented favorable evolution and medical discharge with mild sequelae of the disease.

Neumomediastino en pacientes con COVID-19: Una serie de 10 casos

Resumen En la actualidad la enfermedad por Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) es un problema de salud pública que ha causado más de 100.000 muertes en Colombia y alrededor de 4,13 millones de muertes en todo el mundo. El síndrome de Distress Respiratorio Agudo (SDRA) secundario a esta infección viral, puede llevar a un serie de complicaciones como el neumomediastino, este es poco frecuente pero potencialmente mortal y se encuentra relacionado con la ventilación mecánica. Presentamos una serie de casos de 10 pacientes que ingresaron a la unidad de cuidados intensivos con requerimiento de ventilación mecánica invasiva y que desarrollaron neumomediastino. La serie de casos más grande reportada hasta el momento. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a current public health problem that has caused more than 100,000 deaths in Colombia and around 4.13 million deaths worldwide. The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to this viral infection can lead to a series of complications such as pneumomediastinum, which is rare but potentially fatal and is related to mechanical ventilation. We present a case series of 10 patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit requiring invasive mechanical ventilation and developed pneumomediastinum. Largest case series reported to date

Description of ovine model for testing ventilator prototypes in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a ventilator deficit in the global health system for this scenario. For this reason, several national and international projects have been developed to get done prototypes of ventilators which could be easy and fast to manufacture. One of the requirements of the AEMPS for conducting clinical studies with new prototypes is through the validation of these new prototypes in an animal model. Therefore, it is important to achieve an animal model which allows us to easily reproduce different clinical scenarios. In this article, we describe the use of a sheep as a research model to assess a prototype ventilator. The animal was anesthetized for 10 h in which the prototype was tested in up to 6 different scenarios. This model is effective and easy to reproduce, making it an excellent choice for this kind of research.

Planning for the assistance of critically ill patients in a Pandemic Situation: The experience of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: In the context of community transmission of the virus, the impact of the pandemic on health-care systems, mainly on intensive care units (ICU), was expected to be devastating. Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (HUVH) implemented an unprecedented critical patient-care planning and management of resources. METHODS: We describe a cohort of critically ill patients during the first two months of the pandemic (from March 3, 2020, to May 2, 2020) in HUVH, Barcelona. In this manuscript, we report our previsions, strategies implemented, and the outcomes obtained. RESULTS: Three-thousand and thirty-three patients were admitted to the HUVH Critical Care Units. Throughout the study period, the proportion of patients on IMV or IMV and ECMO remained above 78%. Most patients were men (65%); the most common age group was 60-70 years. Twenty-three patients received ECMO, and eighteen were cannulated at another center and transferred to HUVH. At the end of the study, fourteen patients were successfully decannulated, three patients died, and the rest of the patients were still on ECMO. Eight pregnant women have been treated in the ICU, with a survival rate of 100%. The ICU mortality of patients younger than 60 years was 3.2%. The mean ICU stay of both survivors and nonsurvivors was 14 days. CONCLUSION: The adequate preparation for resource expansion for critically ill patients care, main challenges, and overall positive results can serve as a precedent for similar future scenarios.

Iatrogenic tracheal rupture in a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

Iatrogenic tracheal rupture (ITR) is a serious complication secondary to procedures such as emergent orotracheal intubation or tracheostomy, among others. The management of ITR depends on the size, extension and location of the injury, along with the patient's respiratory status and comorbidities. The priority of treatment is to keep the airway permeable to ensure adequate ventilation. We present the case of a tracheal rupture after performing a percutaneous tracheostomy, in a patient diagnosed with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to bilateral interstitial pneumonia due to SARS-Cov-2. The issues are discussed, such as the management (conservative vs. surgical) depending on the features of the injury and the patient, in the extraordinary context that the COVID-19 pandemic has entailed.

Colchicine: A potential therapeutic tool against COVID-19. Experience of 5 patients.

COVID-19 is a newly emerged disease that has become a global public health challenge. Due to a lack of knowledge about the virus, a significant number of potential targets for using a particular drug have been proposed. Five cases with a clinical history of biopolymers in the gluteal region that developed iatrogenic allogenosis (IA) are presented here. The 5 cases were put under colchicine treatment for IA crisis and had non-specific symptoms (headache, cough without dyspnea, and arthralgias) with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Their close contacts had mild to severe symptoms and three of them died. In the SARS-CoV-2 infection different inflammatory pathways are altered where colchicine reduces cytokine levels as well as the activation of macrophages, neutrophils, and the inflammasome. The possible mechanisms that colchicine may use to prevent acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients with COVID-19 infection are also reviewed in this article.

Description of ovine model for testing ventilator prototypes in the COVID-19 pandemic. / Descripción de un modelo ovino para la prueba de ventiladores de urgencia en la pandemia de COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a ventilator deficit in the global health system for this scenario. For this reason, several national and international projects have been developed to get done prototypes of ventilators which could be easy and fast to manufacture. One of the requirements of the AEMPS for conducting clinical studies with new prototypes is through the validation of these new prototypes in an animal model. Therefore, it is important to achieve an animal model which allows us to easily reproduce different clinical scenarios. In this article, we describe the use of a sheep as a research model to assess a prototype ventilator. The animal was anesthetized for 10hours in which the prototype was tested in up to 6different scenarios. This model is effective and easy to reproduce, making it an excellent choice for this kind of research.

Iatrogenic tracheal rupture in a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. / Rotura traqueal iatrogénica en paciente con síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo por neumonía SARS-CoV-2.

Iatrogenic tracheal rupture is a serious complication secondary to procedures such as emergent orotracheal intubation or tracheostomy, among others. The management of iatrogenic tracheal rupture depends on the size, extension and location of the injury, along with the patient's respiratory status and comorbidities. The priority of treatment is to keep the airway permeable to ensure adequate ventilation. We present the case of a tracheal rupture after performing a percutaneous tracheostomy, in a patient diagnosed with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to bilateral interstitial pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2. The issues are discussed, such as the management (conservative vs. surgical) depending on the features of the injury and the patient, in the extraordinary context that the COVID-19 pandemic has entailed.

Interaction between age and vitamin D deficiency in severe COVID-19 infection.

INTRODUCTION: Background: coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can induce an exaggerated inflammatory response. Vitamin D is a key modulator of the immune system. We hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency (VDD) could increase the risk of developing severe COVID-19 infection. Methods: patients with confirmed COVID-19 seen at the emergency department of our hospital with recent measurements of 25(OH)D were recruited. We explored the association of vitamin D deficiency (VDD), defined as 25-hydroxyvitamin D < 20 ng/mL, with a composite of adverse clinical outcomes. Results: we included 80 patients, of which 31 (39 %) presented the endpoint. VDD tended to predict an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 after adjusting for age, gender, obesity, cardiac disease, and kidney disease [OR 3.2 (95 % CI: 0.9-11.4), p = 0.07]. Age had a negative interaction with the effect of VDD on the composite outcome (p = 0.03), indicating that the effect was more noticeable at younger ages. Furthermore, male gender was associated with VDD and with severe COVID-19 at younger ages. Conclusions: in this retrospective study, vitamin D deficiency showed a signal of association with severe COVID-19 infection. A significant interaction with age was noted, suggesting VDD may have a greater impact in younger patients. These findings should be confirmed in larger, prospective, adequately powered studies.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Antecedentes: la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) puede inducir una respuesta inflamatoria exagerada. La vitamina D es un modulador clave del sistema inmune. Planteamos que la deficiencia de vitamina D (VDD) podría aumentar el riesgo de desarrollar infección grave por COVID-19. Métodos: se reclutaron pacientes consecutivos que acudieron al servicio de urgencias de nuestro centro con diagnóstico de COVID-19 confirmado (PCR-COVID-19 positiva) y mediciones recientes de 25(OH)D. Exploramos la asociación de la deficiencia de vitamina D (VDD), definida como una 25-hidroxivitamina D < 20 ng/ml, con un compuesto de resultados clínicos adversos. Resultados: se incluyeron 80 pacientes, de los cuales 31 (39 %) presentaron el criterio de valoración primario. El VDD tendió a predecir un mayor riesgo de desarrollar COVID-19 grave después de ajustar edad, sexo, obesidad, enfermedad cardíaca y enfermedad renal [OR: 3,2 (IC 95 %: 0,9-11,4), p = 0,07]. La edad tuvo una interacción negativa con el efecto de la VDD en el resultado compuesto (p = 0,03), lo que indica que el efecto fue más notable a edades más tempranas. Además, el género masculino se asoció con la VDD y con la COVID-19 grave en las edades más jóvenes. Conclusiones: en este estudio retrospectivo, la deficiencia de vitamina D mostró una tendencia de asociación con la infección grave por COVID-19. Se observó una interacción significativa con la edad, lo que sugiere que la VDD puede tener un mayor impacto en los pacientes más jóvenes. Estos hallazgos deben confirmarse en estudios más grandes, prospectivos y con potencia adecuada.

Radiologic aspects of COVID-19 pneumonia: outcomes and thoracic complications. / Aspectos radiológicos de la neumonía COVID-19: evolución y complicaciones torácicas.

Outcomes vary widely in patients with COVID-19. Whereas some patients have only mild symptoms of short duration, others develop severe disease that leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring prolonged stays in intensive care units. Radiologically, the initial stage is characterized by viral pneumonia with mild expression. In some patients, however, the onset of the immune response results in acute lung damage with organizing pneumonia and diffuse alveolar damage. Moderate-severe disease is associated with a high incidence of pulmonary embolisms, generally peripherally distributed and associated with endothelial damage, prolonged stays in bed, and coagulopathy. Other relatively common complications are spontaneous pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum due to the rupture of alveolar walls and barotrauma in mechanically ventilated patients. Superinfection, generally bacterial and less commonly fungal, is more common in patients with severe disease.

Critically ill COVID-19 patients attended by anesthesiologists in northwestern Spain: a multicenter prospective observational study. / Pacientes críticos COVID-19 atendidos por anestesiólogos en el Noroeste de España: estudio multicéntrico, prospectivo, observacional.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are limited information on outcome, complications and treatments of critically ill COVID-19 patients requiring admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of this study is to describe the clinical ICU course, treatments used, complications and outcomes, of critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted in seven ICU in Galicia region during the 2020 March-April pandemic peak. METHODS: Between March 21 and April 19, 2020, we evaluated critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU of Anesthesia of seven hospitals in Galicia, northwestern Spain. Outcome, complications, and treatments were monitored until May 6, 2020, the final date of follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 97 critically ill COVID-19 patients were included. During ICU stay, mechanical ventilation became necessary in 80 (82.5%) patients, and tracheostomy in 22 (22.7%) patients. Prone position was used frequently in both intubated (67.5%) and awake (27.8%) patients. Medications consisted of antivirals agents (92.7%), corticosteroids (93.8%), tocilizumab (57.7%), and intermediate or high doses of anticoagulants (83.5%). The most frequent complications were ICU-acquired infection (52.6%), thrombosis events (16.5%), and reintubation (9.3%). After a median follow-up of 42 (34-45) days, 15 patients (15.5%) deceased, 73 patients (75.2%) had been discharged from ICU, and nine patients (9.3%) were still in the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of our critically ill COVID-19 patients required mechanical ventilation, prone positioning, antiviral medication, corticosteroids, and anticoagulants. ICU complications were frequent, mainly infections and thrombotic events. We had a relatively low mortality of 15,5%.

Planning for the assistance of critically ill patients in a Pandemic Situation: The experience of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital. / Organización de la atención a pacientes críticos en situación de pandemia: Experiencia del Hospital Vall d'Hebron durante el brote de neumonía por SARS-CoV-2.

INTRODUCTION: In the context of community transmission of the virus, the impact of the pandemic on health-care systems, mainly on intensive care units (ICU), was expected to be devastating. Vall d́Hebron University Hospital (HUVH) implemented an unprecedented critical patient-care planning and management of resources. METHODS: We describe a cohort of critically ill patients during the first two months of the pandemic (from March 3, 2020, to May 2, 2020) in HUVH, Barcelona. In this manuscript, we report our previsions, strategies implemented, and the outcomes obtained. RESULTS: Three-thousand and thirty-three patients were admitted to the HUVH Critical Care Units. Throughout the study period, the proportion of patients on IMV or IMV and ECMO remained above 78%. Most patients were men (65%); the most common age group was 60-70 years. Twenty-three patients received ECMO, and eighteen were cannulated at another center and transferred to HUVH. At the end of the study, fourteen patients were successfully decannulated, three patients died, and the rest of the patients were still on ECMO. Eight pregnant women have been treated in the ICU, with a survival rate of 100%. The ICU mortality of patients younger than 60 years was 3.2%. The mean ICU stay of both survivors and nonsurvivors was 14 days. CONCLUSION: The adequate preparation for resource expansion for critically ill patients care, main challenges, and overall positive results can serve as a precedent for similar future scenarios.