Delayed intensive care unit admission from the emergency department: impact on patient outcomes. A retrospective study. / Retardo na transferência do pronto-socorro para a unidade de terapia intensiva: impacto nos desfechos do paciente. Um estudo retrospectivo.

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of delayed admission by more than 4 hours on the outcomes of critically ill patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study in which adult patients admitted directly from the emergency department to the intensive care unit were divided into two groups: Timely Admission if they were admitted within 4 hours and Delayed Admission if admission was delayed for more than 4 hours. Intensive care unit length of stay and hospital/intensive care unit mortality were compared between the groups. Propensity score matching was performed to correct for imbalances. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore delayed admission as an independent risk factor for intensive care unit mortality. RESULTS: During the study period, 1,887 patients were admitted directly from the emergency department to the intensive care unit, with 42% being delayed admissions. Delayed patients had significantly longer intensive care unit lengths of stay and higher intensive care unit and hospital mortality. These results were persistent after propensity score matching of the groups. Delayed admission was an independent risk factor for intensive care unit mortality (OR = 2.6; 95%CI 1.9 - 3.5; p < 0.001). The association of delay and intensive care unit mortality emerged after a delay of 2 hours and was highest after a delay of 4 hours. CONCLUSION: Delayed admission to the intensive care unit from the emergency department is an independent risk factor for intensive care unit mortality, with the strongest association being after a delay of 4 hours.

OBJETIVO: Estudar o impacto do retardo na admissão à unidade de terapia intensiva em mais do que 4 horas nos desfechos de pacientes críticos. MÉTODOS: Este foi um estudo observacional retrospectivo, no qual pacientes adultos admitidos diretamente do pronto-socorro para a unidade de terapia intensiva foram divididos em dois grupos: Tempo Adequado, se admitidos dentro de 4 horas, e Admissão Retardada, nos casos em que a admissão demorou mais do que 4 horas para ocorrer. Compararam-se, entre os grupos, o tempo de permanência na unidade de terapia intensiva e a taxa de mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva e no hospital. Foi realizado pareamento por escore de propensão para correção de desequilíbrios. Utilizou-se uma análise de regressão logística para explorar retardo da admissão como fator independente de risco para mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva. RESULTADOS: Durante o período do estudo, 1.887 pacientes foram admitidos diretamente do pronto-socorro para a unidade de terapia intensiva, sendo que 42% dessas admissões foram retardadas. Os pacientes com retardo tiveram permanências na unidade de terapia intensiva significantemente mais longas e maior mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva e no hospital. Esses resultados persistiram após pareamento dos grupos por escore de propensão. O retardo da admissão foi fator independente de risco para mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva (RC = 2,6; IC95% 1,9 - 3,5; p < 0,001). A associação de retardo e mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva surgiu após período de retardo de 2 horas e foi mais alta após período de retardo de 4 horas. CONCLUSÃO: O retardo da admissão do pronto-socorro para a unidade de terapia intensiva é fator de risco independente para mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva, sendo a associação mais forte após retardo de 4 horas.

Retardo na transferência do pronto-socorro para a unidade de terapia intensiva: impacto nos desfechos do paciente. Um estudo retrospectivo / Delayed intensive care unit admission from the emergency department: impact on patient outcomes. A retrospective study

RESUMO Objetivo: Estudar o impacto do retardo na admissão à unidade de terapia intensiva em mais do que 4 horas nos desfechos de pacientes críticos. Métodos: Este foi um estudo observacional retrospectivo, no qual pacientes adultos admitidos diretamente do pronto-socorro para a unidade de terapia intensiva foram divididos em dois grupos: Tempo Adequado, se admitidos dentro de 4 horas, e Admissão Retardada, nos casos em que a admissão demorou mais do que 4 horas para ocorrer. Compararam-se, entre os grupos, o tempo de permanência na unidade de terapia intensiva e a taxa de mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva e no hospital. Foi realizado pareamento por escore de propensão para correção de desequilíbrios. Utilizou-se uma análise de regressão logística para explorar retardo da admissão como fator independente de risco para mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva. Resultados: Durante o período do estudo, 1.887 pacientes foram admitidos diretamente do pronto-socorro para a unidade de terapia intensiva, sendo que 42% dessas admissões foram retardadas. Os pacientes com retardo tiveram permanências na unidade de terapia intensiva significantemente mais longas e maior mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva e no hospital. Esses resultados persistiram após pareamento dos grupos por escore de propensão. O retardo da admissão foi fator independente de risco para mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva (RC = 2,6; IC95% 1,9 - 3,5; p < 0,001). A associação de retardo e mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva surgiu após período de retardo de 2 horas e foi mais alta após período de retardo de 4 horas. Conclusão: O retardo da admissão do pronto-socorro para a unidade de terapia intensiva é fator de risco independente para mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva, sendo a associação mais forte após retardo de 4 horas.

Abstract Objective: To study the impact of delayed admission by more than 4 hours on the outcomes of critically ill patients. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study in which adult patients admitted directly from the emergency department to the intensive care unit were divided into two groups: Timely Admission if they were admitted within 4 hours and Delayed Admission if admission was delayed for more than 4 hours. Intensive care unit length of stay and hospital/intensive care unit mortality were compared between the groups. Propensity score matching was performed to correct for imbalances. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore delayed admission as an independent risk factor for intensive care unit mortality. Results: During the study period, 1,887 patients were admitted directly from the emergency department to the intensive care unit, with 42% being delayed admissions. Delayed patients had significantly longer intensive care unit lengths of stay and higher intensive care unit and hospital mortality. These results were persistent after propensity score matching of the groups. Delayed admission was an independent risk factor for intensive care unit mortality (OR = 2.6; 95%CI 1.9 - 3.5; p < 0.001). The association of delay and intensive care unit mortality emerged after a delay of 2 hours and was highest after a delay of 4 hours. Conclusion: Delayed admission to the intensive care unit from the emergency department is an independent risk factor for intensive care unit mortality, with the strongest association being after a delay of 4 hours.

Impact on Efficacy and Safety of Hydrocortisone in Sepsis and Septic Shock - A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis and septic shock are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, associated with a high economic and social burden on healthcare systems and communities, yet with few definite treatment modalities. The efficacy of steroids in the management of sepsis or septic shock remains a controversy and subject of investigation due to their theoretical beneficial effects. METHODS: This was a systematic literature review and meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials of hydrocortisone usage in sepsis or septic shock as of 2000, following the GRADE methodology, considering a primary outcome of 28 day all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Ten randomized control trials were included in the review, 9 of which reported 28 day mortality either as a primary or secondary outcome. Relative risk of dying at 28 days was 0.93 in favor of hydrocortisone (95% CI: 0.86-1.01; P = 0.056). Other secondary outcomes of the review were similarly statistically insignificant. The quality of evidence was graded as very low to low. CONCLUSION: Hydrocortisone, when used in sepsis or septic shock, in critically ill adult patients showed a statistically insignificant trend towards decreasing 28 day all-cause mortality. This warrants consideration of clinical significance for each patient individually.

Intra-Pleural Colistin Methanesulfonate Therapy for Pleural Infection caused by Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii: A Successful Case Report.

Infections caused by carbapenem-resistant, Gram-negative bacteria are an increasing clinical challenge, since the antimicrobial treatment options are often limited to colistin methanesulfonate. No data are available regarding the pharmacokinetics of colistin in pleural fluid. We report the case of a 92-year old man with ventilator-associated pneumonia and pleurisy caused by Acinetobacter baumannii and Escherichia coli, which were both multidrug-resistant. After an unsuccessful treatment with intravenous colistin methanesulfonate and imipen-em-cilastatin, the addition of intra-pleural colistin methanesulfonate to the intravenous treatment led to a prompt clinical, radiological and microbiological resolution. This is the first report of a successful use of intra-pleural colistin in the literature. The intra-pleural colistin therapy should be considered in selected cases of pleurisy caused by multi-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.