Digitalisation of information and management optimisation in Multiple Victim Incidents. Analytical study.

INTRODUCTION: Triage is a crucial tool for managing a Multiple Victim Incident (MVI). One particularly problematic issue is the communication of results to the chain of command and control. Favourable data exists to suggest that digital triage can improve some features of analogue triage. Within this context we have witnessed the emergence of the Valkyries Project, which is working to develop strategies to respond to MVIs, and especially cross-border incidents. To that end, an IT platform called "SIGRUN" has been created which distributes, in real time, all the information to optimise MVI management. A full-scale simulation, held on the Spain-Portugal border and featuring contributions from different institutions on both sides of the border, put to the test the role of information digitalisation in this type of incidents. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the synchronous digitalisation of information on the optimal management of Multiple Victim Incidents. METHOD: Clinical evaluation study carried out on a cross-border simulation between Spain and Portugal. A Minimum Data Set (MDS) was established by means of a modified Delphi by a group of experts. The digital platform "SIGRUN" integrated all the information, relaying it in real time to the chain of command and control. Each country assigned two teams that would carry out digital and analogue triage synchronously. Analogue triage variables were gathered by observers accompanying the first responders. Digital triage times were recorded automatically. Each case was evaluated and classified simultaneously by the two participating teams, to carry out a reliability study in a real time scenario. RESULTS: The total duration of the managing of the incident in the A group of countries involved compared to the B group was 72.5 minutes as opposed to 73 minutes. The total digital assistance triage (AT) time was 37.5 seconds in the digital group, as opposed to 32 minutes in the analogue group. Total evacuation (ET) time was 28 minutes in the digital group compared with 65 minutes in the analogue group. The average differences in total times between the analogue and the digital system, both for primary and secondary evaluation, were statistically significant: p = 0.048 and p = 0.000 respectively. For the "red" category, AT obtained a sensitivity of 100%, also for ET, while with regard to AT safety it obtained a PPV of 61.54% and an NPV of 100%, and for ET it obtained a PPV of 83.33% and an NPV of 100%. For the analogue group, for AT it obtained a sensitivity of 62.50%, for ET, 70%, for AT safety it obtained a PPV of 45.45% and an NPV of 92.31%, while for ET it obtained a PPV of 70% and an NPV of 92.50%. The gap analysis obtained a Kappa index of 0.7674. CONCLUSION: The triage system using the developed digital tool demonstrated its validity compared to the analogue tool, as a result of which its use is recommended.

Factors associated with in-hospital mortality and readmission in a cohort of patients treated with noninvasive ventilation during emergency department or out-of-hospital emergency care: the VentilaMadrid study. / Factores asociados a la mortalidad intrahospitalaria y reingreso en una cohorte tratada con ventilación no invasiva en urgencias extrahospitalarias y hospitalarias: estudio VentilaMadrid.

OBJECTIVES: To describe clinical, outcome, and risk factors in a cohort of patients treated with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in a hospital emergency department (ED) or by out-of-hospital emergency medical services (OHEMSs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multicenter, prospective cohort study enrolling consecutive patients with acute pulmonary edema and/or exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who were treated with NIV between November 2018 and November 2020 in a hospital ED or OHEMS setting in Madrid. We recorded baseline data, variables related to the acute episode, and outcome variables, including in-hospital mortality and 30-day readmission. RESULTS: A total of 317 patients were included; 132 (41.6%) were treated in an OHEMS setting and 185 (58.4%) in a hospital ED. Forty-seven (16.3%) in-hospital deaths occurred, and 78 patients (28.8%) were readmitted within 30 days. Mortality in the hospital ED and OHEMS subsamples did not differ, but the patients who received NIV in an OHEMS setting had a lower 30-day readmission rate. On multivariate analysis, in-hospital mortality was associated with prior dependence in activities of daily living in the multivariate analysis (odds ratio [OR], 2.4; 95% CI, 1.11-5.27) and a low-moderate score on the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) versus a high-very high one (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.26-5.77). Mortality after OHEMS ventilation was associated with discontinuance of NIV during transfer (OR, 8.57; 95% CI, 2.19-33.60). Readmission within 30 days was associated with group (in-hospital ED application of NIV) (OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 2.62-6.45) and prior dependence (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.02-4.22). CONCLUSION: Patients treated in the hospital ED and OHEMS setting have similar baseline characteristics, although acute episodes were more serious in the OHEMS group. No significant differences were found related to in-hospital mortality. Higher mortality was associated with dependence, a SAPS II score greater than 52, and discontinuance of NIV. Readmission was associated with dependence and NIV treatment in the hospital ED setting.

OBJETIVO: Describir las características clínicas, evolutivas y los factores pronóstico de una cohorte de pacientes tratados con ventilación no invasiva (VNI) en servicios de urgencias extrahospitalarios (SUEH) y hospitalarios (SUH). METODO: Estudio de cohortes multicéntrico, prospectivo con inclusión consecutiva de pacientes con edema agudo de pulmón o agudización de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica tratados con VNI entre noviembre 2018 y noviembre de 2020 en SUEH y SUH de la Comunidad de Madrid. Se recogieron características basales, del episodio agudo, así como variables de resultado incluyendo la mortalidad hospitalaria y el reingreso a 30 días. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 317 pacientes, 132 (41,6%) en SUEH y 185 (58,4%) en SUH. Hubo 47 muertes intrahospitalarias (16,3%) y 78 reingresos a los 30 días (28,8%). No hubo diferencias en la mortalidad, pero el grupo VNI-SUEH tuvo menor reingreso a 30 días. En el análisis multivariado la mortalidad intrahospitalaria se asoció con la dependencia previa (OR = 2,4; IC 95%: 1,11-5,27) y el SAPS-II bajo-moderado frente al alto-muy alto (OR = 2,69; IC 95%: 1,26-5,77). En la cohorte extrahospitalaria, la mortalidad intrahospitalaria se asoció con la retirada de la VNI en la transferencia del paciente (OR = 8,57; IC 95%: 2,19-33,60). Los reingresos a los 30 días se asociaron con inicio de VNI en el hospital (OR = 3,24; IC 95%: 2,62-6,45) y dependencia previa (OR = 2,08; IC 95%: 1,02-4,22). CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes de ambos grupos, SUH y SUEH, tienen un perfil clínico basal similar, aunque con mayor gravedad del episodio en el grupo SUEH. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la mortalidad intrahospitalaria. Se asociaron a una mayor mortalidad la dependencia, la escala SAPS-II > 52 y la retirada de la VNI. El reingreso se asoció con la dependencia y pertenecer al grupo SUH.