Characteristics and Outcomes of Intensive Care Unit Survivors: Experience of a Multidisciplinary Outpatient Clinic in a Teaching Hospital

OBJECTIVES: To describe the experience of an outpatient clinic with the multidisciplinary evaluation of intensive care unit survivors and to analyze their social, psychological, and physical characteristics in a low-income population and a developing country. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Adult survivors from a general intensive care unit were evaluated three months after discharge in a post-intensive care unit outpatient multidisciplinary clinic over a period of 6 years (2008-2014) in a University Hospital in southern Brazil. RESULTS: A total of 688 out of 1945 intensive care unit survivors received care at the clinic. Of these, 45.2% had psychological disorders (particularly depression), 49.0% had respiratory impairments (abnormal spirometry), and 24.6% had moderate to intense dyspnea during daily life activities. Patients experienced weight loss during hospitalization (mean=11.7%) but good recovery after discharge (mean gain=9.1%), and 94.6% were receiving nutrition orally. One-third of patients showed a reduction of peripheral muscular strength, and 5.7% had moderate to severe tetraparesis or tetraplegia. There was a significant impairment in quality of life (SF-36), particularly in the physical and emotional aspects and in functional capacity. The economic impacts on the affected families, which were mostly low-income families, were considerable. Most patients did not have full access to rehabilitation services, even though half of the families were receiving financial support from the government. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of intensive care unit survivors evaluated 3 months after discharge had psychological, respiratory, motor, and socioeconomic problems; these findings highlight that strategies aimed to assist critically ill patients should be extended to the post-hospitalization period and that this problem is particularly important in low-income populations.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Intensive Care Unit Survivors: Experience of a Multidisciplinary Outpatient Clinic in a Teaching Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the experience of an outpatient clinic with the multidisciplinary evaluation of intensive care unit survivors and to analyze their social, psychological, and physical characteristics in a low-income population and a developing country. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Adult survivors from a general intensive care unit were evaluated three months after discharge in a post-intensive care unit outpatient multidisciplinary clinic over a period of 6 years (2008-2014) in a University Hospital in southern Brazil. RESULTS: A total of 688 out of 1945 intensive care unit survivors received care at the clinic. Of these, 45.2% had psychological disorders (particularly depression), 49.0% had respiratory impairments (abnormal spirometry), and 24.6% had moderate to intense dyspnea during daily life activities. Patients experienced weight loss during hospitalization (mean=11.7%) but good recovery after discharge (mean gain=9.1%), and 94.6% were receiving nutrition orally. One-third of patients showed a reduction of peripheral muscular strength, and 5.7% had moderate to severe tetraparesis or tetraplegia. There was a significant impairment in quality of life (SF-36), particularly in the physical and emotional aspects and in functional capacity. The economic impacts on the affected families, which were mostly low-income families, were considerable. Most patients did not have full access to rehabilitation services, even though half of the families were receiving financial support from the government. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of intensive care unit survivors evaluated 3 months after discharge had psychological, respiratory, motor, and socioeconomic problems; these findings highlight that strategies aimed to assist critically ill patients should be extended to the post-hospitalization period and that this problem is particularly important in low-income populations.

[Practicing silence: educational intervention for reducing noise in the intensive care unit]. / Praticando o silêncio: intervenção educativa para a redução do ruído em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the sound pressure levels are decreased in the ICU after an educational intervention with the multidisciplinary team. Noise levels were measured inside the ICU (using a decibelimeter installed near the bedside of a patient) for seven days, and repeated the procedure after an educational intervention, which consisted of lectures, posters and dramatizations, among others. There was a large reduction in noise level between the pre and postintervention period, at all times evaluated. The main sources of noise in the ICU were the own team. The noise levels were higher than recommended. The study showed that with an educational intervention with the ICU staff and their awareness of the mechanisms and effects, it is possible to have reduced levels of noise and consequent estresse environment.

Praticando o silêncio: intervenção educativa para a redução do ruído em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva / Practicing silence: educational intervention for reducing noise in the Intensive Care Unit / Practicando el silencio: intervención educativa en la reducción del ruido en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se os níveis de pressão sonora dentro da UTI são diminuídos após intervenção educativa com a equipe multiprofissional. Foram mensurados os níveis de ruído no interior da UTI (através de um decibelímetro instalado próximo à cabeceira de um paciente) durante sete dias, sendo repetido o procedimento após uma intervenção educativa, a qual consistiu de palestras, cartazes e dramatizações, entre outros. Houve grande redução do nível de ruído entre o período pré e pós-intervenção, em todos os horários avaliados. As principais fontes de ruídos dentro da UTI foram da própria equipe. Os níveis de ruído encontrados estiveram acima do recomendado. O estudo mostrou que, com uma intervenção educacional junto à equipe da UTI e sua conscientização sobre os mecanismos e efeitos, é possível haver redução dos níveis de ruído e consequente eestressee do ambiente.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the sound pressure levels are decreased in the ICU after an educational intervention with the multidisciplinary team. Noise levels were measured inside the ICU (using a decibelimeter installed near the bedside of a patient) for seven days, and repeated the procedure after an educational intervention, which consisted of lectures, posters and dramatizations, among others. There was a large reduction in noise level between the pre and postintervention period, at all times evaluated. The main sources of noise in the ICU were the own team. The noise levels were higher than recommended. The study showed that with an educational intervention with the ICU staff and their awareness of the mechanisms and effects, it is possible to have reduced levels of noise and consequent estresse environment.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar si los niveles de presión sonora se redujeron en la UCI después de una intervención educativa con el equipo multidisciplinario. Se midieron los niveles de ruido en la UCI (utilizando un decibelímetro instalado cerca de la cabecera de un paciente) durante siete días, y se repite el procedimiento después de una intervención educativa con el equipo, que consistió en conferencias, carteles y dramatizaciones, entre otros. Hubo una gran reducción en el nivel de ruido entre el período pre y post-intervención, en todos los tiempos evaluados. Las principales fuentes de ruido en la UCI fueron del proprio equipo. Los niveles de ruidos encontrados eran más altos que los recomendados. Este estudio mostró que con una intervención educativa y de sensibilización acerca de los mecanismos y los efectos del ruido con el personal de la UCI, es posible lograr la reducción de los niveles de ruido y el estrés ambiental consecuente.

A instituição asilar como fator potencializador da disfagia / The asylum as worsening factor for dysphagia

OBJETIVO: verificar se as condições referentes à estrutura geral dos asilos, recursos humanos e rotinas diárias de alimentação em instituições asilares, podem potencializar alterações da dinâmica da deglutição em idosos. MÉTODOS: foi aplicado questionário aos dirigentes de cinco instituições asilares do município do Rio de Janeiro, no qual constavam perguntas em relação aos recursos materiais, humanos e rotina alimentar. RESULTADOS: o asilo do sistema privado foi o único a aproximar-se das condições ideais da estrutura geral para o atendimento do idoso. Em relação aos recursos humanos existentes, nenhum dos asilos possuía todos os profissionais exigidos pela portaria nº810/89. Em relação às rotinas diárias de alimentação, em uma das instituições pesquisadas, cuja maioria dos residentes não faziam uso de próteses dentárias, não havia restrição na consistência alimentar oferecida. Outro fator significativo diz respeito à negligência referente à higiene bucal, favorecendo a colonização de bactérias na cavidade oral, podendo agravar infecções pulmonares no caso de microaspirações. O fato dos idosos deitarem para dormir logo após o término das refeições, como ocorrido em três das instituições pesquisadas, tem grande importância na medida em que favorece a ocorrência de episódios de refluxo gastroesofágico. CONCLUSÃO: foram observados que em todas as instituições pesquisadas há fatores que podem potencializar um distúrbio de deglutição, como problemas em relação à estrutura geral e ou aos recursos humanos e ou relativos à rotina alimentar estabelecida.

PURPOSE: to check if the conditions related to general structure, human resources and daily routine of feeding in asylums can increase the chances for an alteration in the deglutition process of the elderlies. METHODS: a questionnaire was elaborated to be applied to the directors of five institutions in the city of Rio de Janeiro. RESULTS: it can be observed that the sole factor related to the structure of the place that had relevance in the obtained results was the nature of the institution, as the private system was the only one that was considered near the ideal conditions. Regarding the existing human resources, none of the institutions had all the professionals demanded by the Ordinance nº810/89. In relation to the daily feeding routines, in one of the investigated institutions, where the majority of the residents did not use denture, there was no restriction as for the offered food consistency. Another significant factor was the carelessness in terms of oral hygiene, favoring the settling of bacteria in the mouth, which can cause serious consequences in case of microaspirations. In three of the investigated institutions, it was observed that the elderlies lay down to sleep soon after the meals, fact that also had great importance, as this favors the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux episodes that can lead to gradual dysphagia. CONCLUSION: despite the fact that the asylum directors did not mention any referring problem in the process of deglutition of the elderlies, they show proper characteristics that can increase the possibilities for occurrence of alterations in the deglutition of these elderlies.

Fatores estressantes para familiares de pacientes criticamente enfermos de uma unidade de terapia intensiva / Stressful factors for families of critically ill patients of the intensive care unit

OBJETIVO: Identificar os principais estressores ambientais, conforme a percepção de familiares de pacientes internados em uma UTI-G de adultos de um hospital público universitário. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal descritivo com familiares de pacientes gravemente enfermos internados na UTI de um hospital escola. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se uma escala contendo 25 itens relacionados a eventos da referida UTI. Para análise dos resultados, as respostas foram classificadas como estressores ambientais, referentes à equipe, ao paciente e à visita. RESULTADOS: Participaram 53 familiares, 67,9 por cento mulheres, com média de idade de 39,7 anos. Os fatores relacionados ao paciente foram mais estressantes do que aqueles referentes à equipe e ao ambiente (p < 0,005). Os eventos mais estressantes para os familiares estiveram relacionados à insegurança e ao medo quanto ao estado clínico do paciente, dentre esses, o motivo e o tempo de internação e ver o paciente em coma. CONCLUSÃO: A internação de um parente próximo na UTI foi considerada pelos familiares que efetivamente participaram desse processo um evento estressante. Todos os participantes indicaram pelo menos um evento causador de estresse capaz de provocar diferentes reações emocionais. Conhecer tais eventos pode facilitar as estratégias de humanização hospitalar, propiciando alternativas para reduzir os níveis de estresse e alterações psiquiátricas subsequentes.

OBJECTIVE:To identify main environment stressors according to the perception of relatives of patients hospitalized in an adult ICU in a university public hospital. METHOD: It is a transversal descriptive study involving family members of critically ill patients hospitalized in an ICU of a school hospital. To collect data we used a 25-item scale related to the referred ICU. For result analysis, answers were classified as environmental stressors concerning the team, patients, and visits. RESULTS: There were 53 family-member participants where 67.9 percent were women averaging 39.7 years of age. Factors related to patients were more stressing than those concerning the hospital team and the environment (p < 0.005). The most stressed events for the family members were related to uncertainty and fear of the clinical state of the patient, among them reason and length of hospital stay, and witness the patients in a coma. CONCLUSION: Hospital ICU stay of a relative was considered by the close to kin, who actually participated in the process, a stressful event. All participants indicated at least one event that causes stress as capable of provoking diverse emotional reactions. Knowing such events can favor hospital humanization strategies thus providing alternatives to reduce stress levels and subsequent psychiatrical disorder.

O uso da ausculta cervical na inferência de aspiração traqueal em crianças com paralisia cerebral / The use of cervical auscultation in tracheal aspiration in children with cerebral palsy

OBJETIVO: comparar a detectabilidade da ausculta cervical na avaliação clínica com a comprovação da aspiração na videofluoroscopia da deglutição em crianças com paralisia cerebral tetraparética espástica com disfagia orofaríngea. MÉTODOS: estudo retrospectivo com análise de 101 prontuários de crianças, na faixa etária de 1 a 12 anos, pertencentes a uma instituição, com diagnóstico de paralisia cerebral tetraparética espástica e que foram encaminhadas e avaliadas por equipe interdisciplinar. Foi realizada anamnese com avaliação clínica da alimentação com ausculta cervical e videofluoroscopia da deglutição. RESULTADOS: os resultados estatísticos mostraram que há relação significante entre a ausculta cervical positiva e a penetração ou aspiração laríngea constatada na videofluoroscopia da deglutição e que a ausculta cervical negativa está mais associada à não penetração/aspiração. CONCLUSÃO: concluiu-se que a ausculta cervical pode ser utilizada para inferência do risco de aspiração e, portanto, como alerta para atuação precoce nessa população, além da vantagem de ser um método não invasivo.

PURPOSE: to compare the efficacy of cervical auscultation during the clinical evaluation with the confirmation of aspiration in the videofluoroscopy of deglutition in oropharyngeal dysphagic children with tetraparetic cerebral palsy. METHODS: retrospective study with analysis of 101 notes of children, between 1 and 12-year old, enrolled in one institution, with the diagnosis of cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia and referred and evaluated by interdisciplinary team. Clinical history, clinical evaluation of feeding with cervical auscultation and videofluoroscopy of deglutition were performed. RESULTS: the statistical results showed significance between positive cervical auscultation and laryngeal penetration or aspiration during the videofluoroscopy of deglutition and a negative cervical auscultation is correlated to non penetration/aspiration. CONCLUSION: cervical auscultation can be used as an inference to risk of aspiration, therefore a sign to early intervention in this population. Furthermore, it is a non-invasive method.