ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: There is uncertainty over the optimal level of systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the setting of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the early manipulation of SBP in non-thrombolised patients. The key hypothesis under investigation was that clinical outcomes vary across ranges of SBP in AIS. METHODS: 218 patients were randomized within 12 h of AIS to maintain the SBP during 24 h within three ranges: Group 1 140-160 mmHg, Group 2 161-180 mmHg or Group 3 181-200 mmHg. Vasoactive drugs and fluids were used to achieve these targets. Good outcome was defined as a modified Rankin score 0-2 at 90-days. RESULTS: The median SBP in the three groups in 24 h was: 153 mmHg, 163 mmHg, and 178 mmHg, respectively, P < 0.0001. Good clinical outcome did not differ among the different groups (51% vs 52% vs 39%, P = 0.27). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) was more frequent in the higher SBP range (1% vs 2.7% vs 9.1%, P = 0.048) with similar mortality rates. No patient had acute neurological deterioration related to the SBP reduction in the first 24 h. In our logistic regression analysis, the odds of having good clinical outcome was higher in Group 2 (OR 2.83) after adjusting for important confounders. Regardless of the assigned group, the probability of good outcome was 47% in patients who were manipulated to increase the BP, 42% to decrease and 62% in non-manipulated (P = 0.1). Adverse effects were limited to Group 2 (4%) and Group 3 (7.6%) and were associated with the use of norepinephrine (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Good outcome in 90 days was not significantly different among the 3 blood pressure ranges. After logistic regression analysis, the odds of having good outcome was greater in Group 2 (SBP 161-180 mmHg). SICH occurred more frequently in Group 3 (181-200 mmHg).
Subject(s)
Antihypertensive Agents/administration & dosage , Arterial Pressure/physiology , Brain Ischemia/physiopathology , Hypertension/drug therapy , Hypertension/physiopathology , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Saline Solution/administration & dosage , Stroke/physiopathology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Arterial Pressure/drug effects , Brain Ischemia/complications , Female , Humans , Hypertension/etiology , Male , Middle Aged , Single-Blind Method , Stroke/complicationsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Emergency department (ED) care for acute vascular diseases faces the challenge of overcrowding. A vascular unit is a specialized, protocol-oriented unit in the ED with a team trained to manage acute vascular disorders, including stroke, coronary syndromes, pulmonary embolism (PE), and aortic diseases. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to compare case fatality rates for selected cardiovascular conditions before and after the implementation of a vascular unit. METHODS: Patients with the selected diagnoses admitted to the ED in two different time periods, 2002 through 2005 (before unit opening) and 2007 to 2010 (after vascular unit opening), were identified by ICD-10 codes, and their electronic records were reviewed. Case fatality rates were calculated and compared for both time periods. RESULTS: The period prior to unit implementation (2002 through 2005) included 4,164 patients, and the vascular unit period (2007 to 2010) included 6,280 patients. Overall, the case fatality rate for acute vascular conditions decreased from 9% to 7.3% with vascular unit implementation (p = 0.002). The in-hospital mortality rates for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) dropped from 6% to 3.8% (p = 0.003), and for acute PE dropped from 32.1% to 10.8% (p < 0.001). The stroke case-fatality rate did not decrease despite improvements in the quality of stroke health care indicators. CONCLUSIONS: The vascular unit strategy has the potential to reduce overall mortality for most acute vascular conditions.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/mortality , Emergency Service, Hospital/organization & administration , Hospital Mortality , Hospital Units/organization & administration , Brazil , Cardiovascular Diseases/therapy , Crowding , Emergency Medical Services , Female , Hospitals, Public/organization & administration , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Stroke/mortality , Stroke/therapy , Tertiary Care Centers/organization & administrationABSTRACT
O uso de hemocomponentes em hospitais de alta complexidade é elevado, sendo necessário controle e racionalização de sua utilização, dada sua escassez e alto custo. Para tal, muitos hospitais desenvolveram protocolos para uso de hemocomponentes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever as características epidemiológicas das solicitações de hemoderivados e sua adequação em conformidade ao protocolo vigente no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Por meio de estudo retrospectivo transversal, foram avaliadas a freqüência de transfusões e suas indicações no ano de 2005 em três áreas (Internação Clínica, Cirúrgica e Centro de Terapia Intensiva). Analisaram-se as justificativas de cada solicitação em conformidade com o protocolo vigente. Foram identificadas 12.175 solicitações de hemoderivados no ano de 2005. O hemocomponente mais solicitado foi o concentrado de hemácias (6.578 solicitações), seguido do concentrado de plaquetas (4.133), plasma fresco (1.296) e do crioprecipitado (168). As perdas representaram 2,96 por cento dos eventos. As três áreas foram responsáveis por 59,77 por cento das solicitações de hemocomponentes. A internação clínica apresentou 85,57 por cento de solicitações em conformidade com o protocolo, seguida da CTI com 81,4 por cento e da cirurgia com 71,42 por cento. A maioria das solicitações de hemocomponentes esteve de acordo com o protocolo da instituição no ano de 2005. A internação clínica teve o perfil mais adequado de solicitações no ano de 2005, seguida do CTI e, por fim, da internação cirúrgica.
The use of blood-based products in a tertiary hospital is elevated so control and rational use is necessary. Many hospitals have protocols for the use of blood components. The aim of this work was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of blood-based product requests and their adjustment to the protocol of Hospital de Clínicas in Porto Alegre. Using a cross-sectional retrospective study, we analyzed the frequencies and indications of transfusion requests in 2005 in three different sectors (Clinical, Surgical and Intensive Care Unit). Each transfusion request was analyzed according to the current protocol. A total of 12,175 transfusion requests were analyzed. Requests for blood (6,578) were the commonest, followed by platelets (4,133), fresh frozen plasma (1296) and cryoprecipitate (168). Lost data represented 2.96 percent of the total events. The three sectors were responsible for 59.77 percent of blood-based product requests. The Clinical Sector requested 85.57 percent of its transfusions satisfactorily, followed by the ICU (81.4 percent) and finally the Surgical Sector (71.42 percent). The majority of transfusion requests in HCPA in 2005 were adequate according to the protocol. The Clinical Sector had the best request profile, followed by the ICU and the Surgical Sectort.
