Técnicas «Lean» para la mejora del flujo de los pacientes críticos de una región sanitaria con epicentro en el servicio de medicina intensiva de un hospital de referencia / Lean techniques to improve the flow of critically ill patients in a health region with its epicenter in the intensive care unit of a reference hospital

OBJETIVO: Analizar si la aplicación de técnicas «Lean» mejora el flujo de pacientes críticos de una región sanitaria, tomando como epicentro el servicio de medicina intensiva (UCI) del hospital de referencia. DISEÑO: Estudio observacional con análisis pre y postintervención. ÁMBITO: UCI del hospital de referencia. PACIENTES: Diseñamos proyectos y un mapa de flujo y comparamos características pre y postintervención. INTERVENCIONES: Registramos datos demográficos, de traslados de pacientes por el SEM por falta de camas y los tiempos de demora en la hora de alta de la UCI a planta de hospitalización. Realizamos reuniones multidisciplinarias y panel visual diario, con priorización de altas de UCI. Promovimos la reubicación temporal de pacientes críticos en otras áreas especiales del hospital. Cuestionario de satisfacción profesional con valoración pre y postintervención. Análisis estadístico de las comparaciones pre y postintervención. RESULTADOS: Se planificó durante 2013 y se implementó de forma progresiva en 2014. Las medidas principales fueron: 1) análisis de la entrada de pacientes al flujo del proceso de críticos, evaluando los pacientes que deben trasladarse por falta de camas, centrados en un diagnóstico y un área: 10/22 pre vs. 3/21 post (p = 0,045); 2) análisis del tiempo de demora en la hora de alta de UCI a planta de hospitalización: 360,8 ± 163,9 min en el primer periodo vs. 276,7 ± 149,5 en el segundo (p = 0,036); y 3) cuestionario de satisfacción profesional personal, con 6,6 ± 1,5 puntos pre vs. 7,5 ± 1,1 en post (p = 0,001). Análisis de los indicadores de UCI, como son las infecciones adquiridas, los días de estancia, la tasa de reingresos y la mortalidad, sin diferencias significativas entre ambos periodos. CONCLUSIONES: La aplicación de técnicas ‘Lean’ en el proceso de críticos tuvo un impacto positivo en la mejora del flujo de pacientes dentro de la región sanitaria, observando una disminución de los traslados fuera de la región por falta de camas, una reducción en la demora del alta de UCI a hospitalización convencional y un aumento de la satisfacción de los profesionales de la UCI de referencia

OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether the application of Lean techniques to improve the flow of critically ill patients in a health region with its epicenter in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a reference hospital. DESIGN: Observational study with pre and post intervention analysis. SETTING: ICU of a reference hospital. PATIENTS: We design projects and a value stream map of flow and compared pre and post intervention. INTERVENTIONS: We recorded demographic data, patient transfers by EMS for lack of beds and delay times in the discharge from ICU to ward. Multidisciplinary meetings and perform daily visual panel, with high priority ICU discharge. We promote temporary relocation of critically ill patients in other special areas of the hospital. We performed a professional satisfaction questionnaire with pre and post implementation of process. We make a statistical analysis of pre and post-intervention comparisons. Results: We planned for 2013 and progressively implemented in 2014. Analysis of patients entering the critical process flow 1) evaluate patients who must transfer for lack of beds, focusing on a diagnosis: pre 10/22 vs. 3/21 post (P = .045); 2) analysis of time delay in the discharge from the ICU to ward: 360.8 ± 163.9 minutes in the first period vs. 276.7 ± 149.5 in the second (P = .036); and 3) personal professional satisfaction questionnaire, with 6.6 ± 1.5 points pre vs. 7.5 ± 1.1 in post (P = .001). Analysis of indicators such as the ICU acquired infections, length of ICU stay, the rate of re-admissions and mortality, with no significant differences between the two periods. Conclusions: The application of Lean techniques in the critically ill process had a positive impact on improving patient flow within the health region, noting a decrease of transfers outside the region due to lack of beds, reduced delayed discharge from ICU to conventional ward and increased satisfaction of ICU professionals

Lean techniques to improve the flow of critically ill patients in a health region with its epicenter in the intensive care unit of a reference hospital. / Técnicas «Lean¼ para la mejora del flujo de los pacientes críticos de una región sanitaria con epicentro en el servicio de medicina intensiva de un hospital de referencia.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether the application of Lean techniques to improve the flow of critically ill patients in a health region with its epicenter in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a reference hospital. DESIGN: Observational study with pre and post intervention analysis. SETTING: ICU of a reference hospital. PATIENTS: We design projects and a value stream map of flow and compared pre and post intervention. INTERVENTIONS: We recorded demographic data, patient transfers by EMS for lack of beds and delay times in the discharge from ICU to ward. Multidisciplinary meetings and perform daily visual panel, with high priority ICU discharge. We promote temporary relocation of critically ill patients in other special areas of the hospital. We performed a professional satisfaction questionnaire with pre and post implementation of process. We make a statistical analysis of pre and post-intervention comparisons. RESULTS: We planned for 2013 and progressively implemented in 2014. Analysis of patients entering the critical process flow 1) evaluate patients who must transfer for lack of beds, focusing on a diagnosis: pre 10/22 vs. 3/21 post (P=.045); 2) analysis of time delay in the discharge from the ICU to ward: 360.8±163.9minutes in the first period vs. 276.7±149.5 in the second (P=.036); and 3) personal professional satisfaction questionnaire, with 6.6±1.5 points pre vs. 7.5±1.1 in post (P=.001). Analysis of indicators such as the ICU acquired infections, length of ICU stay, the rate of re-admissions and mortality, with no significant differences between the two periods. CONCLUSIONS: The application of Lean techniques in the critically ill process had a positive impact on improving patient flow within the health region, noting a decrease of transfers outside the region due to lack of beds, reduced delayed discharge from ICU to conventional ward and increased satisfaction of ICU professionals.

Low troponin-I levels on admission are associated with worse prognosis in patients with fulminant myocarditis.

BACKGROUND: The clinical outcomes of patients with fulminant acute myocarditis (FAM) range from death to complete recovery. We sought to identify clinical, biological, and echocardiographic characteristics of prognostic value for this population. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively included 185 patients with the diagnosis of acute myocarditis who were admitted to our institution between 2000 and 2007, selecting 15 who displayed FAM, namely, severe congestive heart failure or cardiogenic shock, requiring inotropic and/or mechanical circulatory support. Their mean age was 27.9 +/- 12.4 years (range, 12-52) and mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 22 +/- 8.4% (range, 10-35). Seven subjects had poor outcomes, defined as death (n = 4), urgent transplantation (x = 2), or persistent left ventricular dysfunction (n = 3). The other 6 individuals experienced complete recovery of ventricular function. Troponin-I values below 1 ng/mL on admission were significantly associated with greater in-hospital (P = .05) and mid-term poor outcomes (P = .001). Additionally, patients with poor outcomes showed significantly lower LVEF (17.6 +/- 6.2% vs 28.8 +/- 6.9%; P = .006). CONCLUSION: Among patients with FAM, normal or minimal elevation of troponin-I and low LVEF on admission were associated with worse in-hospital and mid-term prognosis.

[Late amniotic fluid embolism among the diferential diagnosis of acute respiratory failure in the postpartum: case report and review]. / Embolia tardía de líquido amniótico como diagnóstico diferencial de la insuficiencia respiratoria aguda en el posparto: caso clínico y revisión.

The amniotic fluid embolism is an uncommon condition with a high mortality. The cardinal symptoms are hypoxia, hypotension, altered mental status and disseminated intravascular coagulation. This syndrome occurs during delivery or in the immediate postpartum period, and its onset in the late postpartum is very unusual. We describe a case of a primigravida who, after an uneventful delivery, suffers an acute respiratory failure in the late postpartum period. Exclusion of other causes of acute respiratory failure occurring during delivery or in the postpartum period led to establish the diagnosis.

Embolia tardía de líquido amniótico como diagnóstico diferencial de la insuficiencia respiratoria aguda en el posparto: caso clínico y revisión / Late amniotic fluid embolism among the diferential diagnosis of acute respiratory failure in the postpartum: case report and review

La embolia de líquido amniótico es un síndrome poco frecuente, y a menudo fatal, cuyas principales manifestaciones clínicas son la hipoxia, la hipotensión, la alteración del estado de consciencia y la coagulación intravascular diseminada. Tiene lugar durante el parto o en el posparto inmediato, siendo excepcional su aparición en el posparto tardío. Presentamos el caso de una primigrávida que tras un parto sin complicaciones desarrolla un cuadro de insuficiencia respiratoria aguda en el posparto tardío. La exclusión de otras causas de insuficiencia respiratoria aguda durante el parto y posparto permitió establecer el diagnóstico

The amniotic fluid embolism is an uncommoncondition with a high mortality. The cardinalsymptoms are hypoxia, hypotension, alteredmental status and disseminated intravascular coagulation.This syndrome occurs during deliveryor in the immediate postpartum period, and its onsetin the late postpartum is very unusual. We describea case of a primigravida who, after an uneventfuldelivery, suffers an acute respiratory failurein the late postpartum period. Exclusion ofother causes of acute respiratory failure occurringduring delivery or in the postpartum periodled to establish the diagnosis (AU)