Quality Improvement Initiatives in Sepsis in an Emerging Country: Does the Institution's Main Source of Income Influence the Results? An Analysis of 21,103 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the results of a quality improvement initiative in sepsis in an emerging setting and to analyze it according to the institutions' main source of income (public or private). DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of the Latin American Sepsis Institute database from 2005 to 2014. SETTINGS: Brazilian public and private institutions. PATIENTS: Patients with sepsis admitted in the participant institutions. INTERVENTIONS: The quality improvement initiative was based on a multifaceted intervention. The institutions were instructed to collect data on 6-hour bundle compliance and outcomes in patients with sepsis in all hospital settings. Outcomes and compliance was measured for eight periods of 6 months each, starting at the time of the enrollment in the intervention. The primary outcomes were hospital mortality and compliance with 6-hour bundle. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We included 21,103 patients; 9,032 from public institutions and 12,071 from private institutions. Comparing the first period with the eigth period, compliance with the 6-hour bundle increased from 13.5% to 58.2% in the private institutions (p < 0.0001) and from 7.4% to 15.7% in the public institutions (p < 0.0001). Mortality rates significantly decreased throughout the program in private institutions, from 47.6% to 27.2% in the eighth period (adjusted odds ratio, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.32-0.64). However, in the public hospitals, mortality diminished significantly only in the first two periods. CONCLUSION: This quality improvement initiative in sepsis in an emerging country was associated with a reduction in mortality and with improved compliance with quality indicators. However, this reduction was sustained only in private institutions.

Appendicitis: what does really make the difference between private and public hospitals?

BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies and is also a time-sensitive condition. Delays in treatment increase the risk of appendiceal perforation (AP), and thus AP rates have been used as a proxy to measure access to surgical care. It is very well known that in Brazil there are big differences between the public and private healthcare systems. Those differences can reflect in the treatment of what are considered simple cases, like appendicitis. As far as we know, it has no known links to behavioral or social risk factors, and has only one treatment option--appendectomy. The purpose of this study was to compare treatment received by Brazilian people, both by those who depend on the public and private healthcare system, and how it affects their outcome. METHODS: Data was collected from the records of all patients submitted to appendectomy, in a public and in a private Sao Paulo city's hospitals, during January to April of 2010. RESULTS: Patients admitted by the public hospital present symptoms for a longer period of time than those treated by the private one. It took a significantly higher amount of time for the patients from the public hospital undergo surgery, and their length of stay is also significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS: Appendicitis in a public scenario is associated with increased time from onset of symptoms to operative intervention and the main reason is the delayed presentation. Clinical polices for abdominal pain should be instituted by the public healthcare system, based on population education, healthcare professionals training and establishment of strategies that can speed the diagnosis process up.

Acid base variables predict survival early in the course of treatment with continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration.

Metabolic acid-base disorders, especially metabolic acidosis, are common in critically ill patients who require renal replacement therapy. Continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) achieves profound changes in acid-base status, but metabolic acidosis can remain unchanged or even deteriorate in some patients. The objective of this study is to understand the changes of acid-base variables in critically ill patients with septic associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) during CVVHDF and to determine how they relate to clinical outcome.Observational study of 200 subjects with SA-AKI treated with CVVHDF for at least 72 hours. Arterial blood gases and electrolytes and other relevant acid-base variables were analyzed using quantitative acid-base chemistry.Survivors and nonsurvivors had similar demographic characteristics and acid-base variables on day one of CVVHDF. However, during the next 48 hours, the resolution of acidosis was significantly different between the 2 groups, with an area under the ROC curve for standard base excess (SBE) and mortality of 0.62 (0.54-0.70), this was better than APACHE II score prediction power. Quantitative physicochemical analysis revealed that the majority of the change in SBE was due to changes in Cl and Na concentrations.Survivors of SA-AKI treated with CVVHDF recover hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis more rapidly than nonsurvivors. Further study is needed to determine if survival can be improved by measures to correct acidosis more rapidly.

[Transient ventricular dysfunction (Takotsubo cardiomyopathy)]. / Síndrome da disfunção apical reversível (Takotsubo).

The patient was a male with myasthenia gravis, hospitalized with acute respiratory failure due to decompensation of the underlying disease. He evolved with findings suggestive of acute myocardial infarction, with electrocardiographic and enzymatic alterations compatible with that diagnosis. The patient underwent emergency coronary angiography, which showed no severe coronary obstruction, although his left ventricle had significant systolic dysfunction with characteristic alterations, on ventriculography, of the syndrome described as transient ventricular dysfunction or Takotsubo syndrome. On evolution, complete recovery of the electrocardiographic alterations and systolic ventricular function assessed on echocardiography occurred, confirming the syndrome.

Inaccuracy of Venous Point-of-Care Glucose Measurements in Critically Ill Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Current guidelines and consensus recommend arterial and venous samples as equally acceptable for blood glucose assessment in point-of-care devices, but there is limited evidence to support this recommendation. We evaluated the accuracy of two devices for bedside point-of-care blood glucose measurements using arterial, fingerstick and catheter venous blood samples in ICU patients, and assessed which factors could impair their accuracy. METHODS: 145 patients from a 41-bed adult mixed-ICU, in a tertiary care hospital were prospectively enrolled. Fingerstick, central venous (catheter) and arterial blood (indwelling catheter) samples were simultaneously collected, once per patient. Arterial measurements obtained with Precision PCx, and arterial, fingerstick and venous measurements obtained with Accu-chek Advantage II were compared to arterial central lab measurements. Agreement between point-of-care and laboratory measurements were evaluated with Bland-Altman, and multiple linear regression models were used to investigate interference of associated factors. RESULTS: Mean difference between Accu-chek arterial samples versus central lab was 10.7 mg/dL (95% LA -21.3 to 42.7 mg/dL), and between Precision PCx versus central lab was 18.6 mg/dL (95% LA -12.6 to 49.5 mg/dL). Accu-chek fingerstick versus central lab arterial samples presented a similar bias (10.0 mg/dL) but a wider 95% LA (-31.8 to 51.8 mg/dL). Agreement between venous samples with arterial central lab was the poorest (mean bias 15.1 mg/dL; 95% LA -51.7 to 81.9). Hyperglycemia, low hematocrit, and acidosis were associated with larger differences between arterial and venous blood measurements with the two glucometers and central lab. Vasopressor administration was associated with increased error for fingerstick measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Sampling from central venous catheters should not be used for glycemic control in ICU patients. In addition, reliability of the two evaluated glucometers was insufficient. Error with Accu-chek Advantage II increases mostly with central venous samples. Hyperglycemia, lower hematocrit, acidosis, and vasopressor administration increase measurement error.

Evidências de revisões sistemáticas Cochrane sobre antibioticoprofilaxia em cirurgia / Evidence of Revisions Cochrane systematic reviews antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery

RESUMO Introdução: Devido à susceptibilidade a infecções no pós-operatório, a antibioticoterapia profilática visa reduzir morbimortalidade em pacientes submetidos a cirurgia. Por outro lado, seu uso indiscriminado contribui para o desenvolvimento de resistência microbiana. Assim, é fundamental mapear a efetividade e a segurança do uso profilático de antibiótico para cada modalidade cirúrgica, identificando evidências para a tomada de decisão. Objetivo: Avaliar evidências de revisões sistemáticas (RS) Cochrane sobre efetividade e segurança de antibioticoprofilaxia em cirurgia. Métodos: Overview de RS Cochrane que avaliaram os efeitos de antibióticos profiláticos administrados antes, durante ou após a cirurgia. Resultados: Foram incluídas 20 RS, que concluíram que: (a) há evidências (de níveis variados) que mostram benefícios da antibioticoprofilaxia em cirurgia de câncer de mama, apendicectomia, cesárea, curetagem após aborto no pri- meiro trimestre da gestação, hernioplastia, cirurgia colorretal, cirurgia de reconstrução arterial, cirurgia de derivação ventricular interna, cirurgias de fraturas não expostas de ossos longos e cirurgia femoral proximal e na prevenção de infecção periestomal; (b) há evidências suficientes não recomendando a antibioticoprofilaxia em tonsilectomia; (c) não há evidências suficientes sobre efeitos da antibioticoprofilaxia em partos com fórceps e extração a vácuo, cirurgia de trauma abdominal penetrante, colecistectomia eletiva, biópsia transretal de próstata, sobre uso de cateteres impregnados com antibióticos e sobre os efeitos da antibioticoprofilaxia nos neonatos. Conclusão: Apesar de ter benefício comprovado ou potencial em alguns procedimentos cirúrgicos, os efeitos da antibioticoprofilaxia precisam ser avaliados em muitos outros. Para isso, ainda são necessários ensaios clínicos randomizados, de qualidade metodológica adequada e particularizados para cada procedimento cirúrgico.

Guidelines for potential multiple organ donors (adult): part I. Overview and hemodynamic support. / Diretrizes para manutenção de múltiplos órgãos no potencial doador adulto falecido: parte I. Aspectos gerais e suporte hemodinâmico.

There is a relative shortage of appropriate organs available for transplantation. The appropriate diagnosis of brain death, a suitable family approach and the maintenance of the deceased donor are fundamental in addressing this issue. The intensive care physician plays a key role in the maintenance of the deceased donor, thereby reducing losses and increasing the number of successful transplants.

Echocardiography for hemodynamic evaluation in the intensive care unit.

The use of echocardiography in the intensive care unit for patients in shock allows the accurate measurement of several hemodynamic variables in a noninvasive way. By using echocardiography as a hemodynamic monitoring tool, the clinician can evaluate several aspects of shock states, such as cardiac output and fluid responsiveness, myocardial contractility, intracavitary pressures, and biventricular interactions. However, to date, there have been few guidelines suggesting an objective hemodynamic-based examination in the intensive care unit, and most intensivists are usually not familiar with this tool. In this review, we describe some of the most important hemodynamic parameters that can be obtained at the bedside with transthoracic echocardiography.

Survey on physicians' knowledge of sepsis: do they recognize it promptly?

PURPOSE: In Brazil, sepsis has a high mortality; and early recognition is essential in outcome. The aim of the study was to evaluate physicians' knowledge about systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock concepts. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational study performed in 21 hospitals in Brazil, which enrolled physicians working in the participant institutions. A previously validated questionnaire was applied to physicians including 5 clinical cases. RESULTS: Twenty-one Brazilian institutions enrolled 917 physicians. The percentage of physicians correctly recognizing SIRS, infection, sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock was 78.2%, 92.6%, 27.3%, 56.7%, and 81.0%, respectively. Intensivists performed better in all diagnoses. There was a significantly higher rate of correct answers for SIRS (P < .001), sepsis (P = .001), and severe sepsis (P = .032) among physicians from university hospitals as compared with those from public hospitals. A mean global score of 3.36 ± 1.08 was found, with better performance for residents (P = .012) and intensivists (P < .001); but no difference was found for emergency physicians (P = .875). CONCLUSION: The prompt recognition of sepsis and its severity is not satisfactory. This difference is probably due to the difficulty in the recognition of organ dysfunction, which hampers early identification of septic patients.

Myocardial depression in sepsis.

Since the ancient Greeks, we have learned that the pathophysiology of the human diseases relies on blood-borne humoral factors. This was the case with the sepsis myocardial depression, whose associated morbidity and mortality remained untouched during the last decades. Despite the growing knowledge of the possible involved mechanisms, our understanding of this serious condition is still in its infancy. Controversies have surrounded the real origin of septic-induced myocardial dysfunction, and it has been ascribed to inflammatory mediators, NO generation, interstitial myocarditis, coronary ischemia, calcium trafficking, endothelin receptor antagonist, and apoptosis. Although not fully understood, myocardial injury/depression remains a challenge for critical care practitioners.

Surviving sepsis campaign: a project to change sepsis trajectory.

Sepsis is an acute and severe disease associated with early and late high mortality, high and growing prevalence, and impressive costs. In October 2002, during the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine annual congress, the Surviving Sepsis Campaign was launched through a "Barcelona Declaration" -- a document calling critical care providers, governments, health agencies and lay people to join the fight against sepsis. The aim of the campaign was to reduce the sepsis mortality rate by 25% within 5 years (actually, this deadline has been ended from 2007 to 2009). In 2003, a group of international critical care and infectious disease experts in the diagnosis and management of infection and sepsis met to develop guidelines that the bedside clinician could use to improve the outcome of severe sepsis and septic shock. A comprehensive document created from the committee's deliberations was published in prestigious journals. Thus, the SSC is a global, multi-organizational initiative to fight sepsis and undoubtedly, this campaign is a historic step for critical care medicine. This paper highlights the recommendations and the strategies proposed by SSC to implement them in intensive care units.

Diretrizes para manutenção de múltiplos órgãos no potencial doador adulto falecido: parte I. Aspectos gerais e suporte hemodinâmico / Guidelines for potential multiple organ donors (adult): part I. Overview and hemodynamic support

A desproporção entre a grande demanda por transplantes de órgãos e a baixa realização de transplantes é um grave problema de saúde pública. O reconhecimento da morte encefálica, a adequada abordagem da família e a manutenção clínica do doador falecido são fundamentais para a diminuição desta desproporção. Neste cenário, o intensivista tem importância central e a aplicação do conjunto de informações disponíveis para manutenção do potencial doador falecido está claramente associada à redução de perdas de doadores e ao aumento da qualidade e da efetivação de transplantes.

There is a relative shortage of appropriate organs available for transplantation. The appropriate diagnosis of brain death, a suitable family approach and the maintenance of the deceased donor are fundamental in addressing this issue. The intensive care physician plays a key role in the maintenance of the deceased donor, thereby reducing losses and increasing the number of successful transplants.

[Part II: basic hemodynamic monitoring and the use of pulmonary artery catheter]. / Parte II: monitorização hemodinâmica básica e cateter de artéria pulmonar.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Monitoring of vital functions is one of the most important tools in the management of critically ill patients. Nowadays is possible to detect and analyze a great deal of physiologic data using a lot of invasive and non-invasive methods. The intensivist must be able to select and carry out the most appropriate monitoring technique according to the patient requirements and taking into account the benefit/risk ratio. Despite the fast development of non invasive monitoring techniques, invasive hemodynamic monitoring using Pulmonary Artery Catheter still is one of the basic procedures in Critical Care. The aim was to define recommendations about clinical utility of basic hemodynamic monitoring methods and the Use of Pulmonary Artery Catheter. METHODS: Modified Delphi methodology was used to create and quantify the consensus between the participants. AMIB indicated a coordinator who invited more six experts in the area of monitoring and hemodynamic support to constitute the Consensus Advisory Board. Twenty-five physicians and nurses selected from different regions of the country completed the expert panel, which reviewed the pertinent bibliography listed at the MEDLINE in the period from 1996 to 2004. RESULTS: Recommendations were made based on 55 questions about the use of central venous pressure, invasive arterial pressure, pulmonary artery catheter and its indications in different settings. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of central venous pressure and invasive arterial pressure, besides variables obtained by the PAC allow the understanding of cardiovascular physiology that is of great value to the care of critically ill patients. However, the correct use of these tools is fundamental to achieve the benefits due to its use.

[Brazilian consensus of monitoring and hemodynamic support - part III: alternative methods for cardiac output monitoring and volemia estimation]. / Consenso brasileiro de monitorização e suporte hemodinâmico - parte III: métodos alternativos de monitorização do débito cardíaco e da volemia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiac output and preload as absolute data do not offer helpful information about the hemodynamic of critically ill patients. However, monitoring the response of these variables to volume challenge or inotropic drugs is a very useful tool in the critical care setting, particularly for patients with signs of tissue hypoperfusion. Although PAC remains the " gold standard" to measure cardiac output and preload, new and alternative technologies were developed to evaluate these hemodynamic variables. METHODS: Modified Delphi methodology was used to create and quantify the consensus between the participants. AMIB indicated a coordinator who invited more six experts in the area of monitoring and hemodynamic support to constitute the Consensus Advisory Board. Twenty three physician and two nurses selected from different regions of the country completed the expert panel, which reviewed the pertinent bibliography listed at the MEDLINE in the period from 1996 to 2004. RESULTS: Recommendations regarding the use of arterial pulse pressure variation during mechanical ventilation, continuous arterial pulse contour and lithium dilution cardiac output measurements, esophageal Doppler waveform, thoracic electrical bioimpedance, echocardiography and partial CO2 rebreathing for monitoring cardiac output and preload were created. CONCLUSIONS: The new and less invasive techniques for the measurement of cardiac output, preload or fluid responsiveness are accurate and may be an alternative to PAC in critically ill patients.

Disfunção cardíaca na sepse / Cardiac dysfunction in sepsis

A ligação entre depressão miocárdica clínica e efeitos de substâncias depressoras do miocárdio, circulantes no soro de pacientes sépticos, já é conhecida desde meados de 1970. Mediadores inflamatórios têm participação nessa patogênese, tais como fator de necrose tumoral e interleucina...

Impacto de cada ação dos pacotes da Surviving Sepsis Campaign na mortalidade hospitalar de pacientes portadores de sepse grave/choque séptico / The impact of each action in the Surviving Sepsis Campaign measures on hospital mortality of patients with severe sepsis/septic shock

Objetivo: Fazer uma avaliação do impacto de cada medida presente nos pacotes de seis e 24 horas, em uma coorte de pacientes hospitalizados durante um Programa Gerenciado de Cuidados ao Paciente com SG/CS. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo com 316 pacientes consecutivos com SG/CS avaliando o impacto na mortalidade através do cálculo de Odds Ratio de cada ação isoladamente, com nível de significância de 5%. Rresultados: A população era composta por 57% do sexo masculino, com idade média de 65,24 anos; 39,2% tinham APACHE  II acima de 25, sendo que 71,8% tinham o diagnóstico de CS e 65,5% necessitaram de ventilação mecânica. Ainda, 88,9% dos pacientes tinham no mínimo duas disfunções orgânicas na apresentação inicial. Apenas a coleta de hemoculturas antes do início de antibióticos e a introdução de antibióticos em até 120 minutos apresentaram significância com, respectivamente: OR = 0,54 (95% IC: 0,33-0,87; p < 0,009) e OR = 0,44 (95% IC: 0,23-0,87; p < 0,009). Os outros itens dos pacotes de seis horas foram todos tendendo a um pior desfecho. No caso do pacote de 24 horas houve um melhor resultado com a intervenção em todos os quatro itens, porém sem significância estatística. Cconclusões: O impacto isolado das intervenções previstas nos pacotes se deveu, nesta amostra, a apenas dois itens dos pacotes: a coleta de hemoculturas antes do antibiótico e a execução precoce (até 120 minutos) de antibiótico. Futuras avaliações em bancos maiores e com possibilidade de análise multivariada devem comprovar estes achados.

Prevalência e classificação de interações entre medicamentos dispensadospara pacientes em terapia intensiva / Prevalence and classification of drug-drug interactions in intensive care patients

Objetivo: Identificar, quantificar e classificar as interaçõesmedicamentosas entre os medicamentos mais dispensados na UTIde adultos de um hospital privado, de grande porte e de atendimentoterciário no período de 30 dias. Métodos: Coleta em base de dadoseletrônica do consumo e de interações medicamentosas referentesà dispensação dos 50 medicamento mais utilizados. Resultados:No período estudado foram dispensadas 395 marcas comerciais,representando 258 princípios ativos, classificados em 10 grandesgrupos e 36 subgrupos segundo a Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical. Foram identificadas 409 interações medicamentosas, 174 de gravidadealta e 235 de gravidade moderada. As interações medicamentosasforam classificadas como farmacocinética (30%), neurológica (22%),cardiológica (18%) que somadas chegam a 70% das interaçõesmedicamentosas rastreadas por meio da base de dados eletrônicaMicromedex Healthcare Series®. As demais interações classificadascomo hematológica, renal, endócrino-metabólica, respiratória, muscular,gastrointestinal, hepática e outras detiveram os 30% restantes.Conclusão: As interações medicamentosas são muito comuns naUTI. Elas podem potencialmente produzir grande impacto econômicoe clínico. A utilização de sistemas eletrônicos informatizados permitemelhor abordagem da prescrição médica possibilitando prevenir eintervir sobre interações prejudiciais e eventos adversos mesmo antesda administração dos medicamentos.

Parte II: monitorização hemodinâmica básica e cateter de artéria pulmonar / Part II: basic hemodynamic monitoring and the use of pulmonary artery catheter

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A monitorização de funções vitais é uma das mais importantes e essenciais ferramentas no manuseio de pacientes críticos na UTI. Hoje é possível detectar e analisar uma grande variedade de sinais fisiológicos através de diferentes técnicas, invasivas e não-invasivas. O intensivista deve ser capaz de selecionar e executar o método de monitorização mais apropriado de acordo com as necessidades individuais do paciente, considerando a relação risco-benefício da técnica. Apesar do rápido desenvolvimento de técnicas de monitorização não-invasiva, a monitorização hemodinâmica invasiva com o uso do cateter de artéria pulmonar (CAP) ainda é um dos procedimentos fundamentais em UTI. O objetivo destas recomendações é estabelecer diretrizes para o uso adequado dos métodos básicos de monitorização hemodinâmica e CAP. MÉTODO: O processo de desenvolvimento de recomendações utilizou o método Delphi modificado para criar e quantificar o consenso entre os participantes. A AMIB determinou um coordenador para o consenso, o qual escolheu seis especialistas para comporem o comitê consultivo. Outros 18 peritos de diferentes regiões do país foram selecionados para completar o painel de 25 especialistas, médicos e enfermeiros. Um levantamento bibliográfico na MedLine de artigos na língua inglesa foi realizado no período de 1966 a 2004. RESULTADOS: Foram apresentadas recomendações referentes a 55 questões sobre monitorização da pressão venosa central, pressão arterial invasiva e cateter de artéria pulmonar. Com relação ao CAP, além de recomendações quanto ao uso correto foram discutidas as indicações em diferentes situações clínicas. CONCLUSÕES: A avaliação da pressão venosa central e da pressão arterial, além das variáveis obtidas com o CAP permite o entendimento da fisiologia indispensável para o cuidado de pacientes graves. Entretanto, a correta utilização dessas ferramentas é fundamental para os possíveis benefícios decorrentes do uso.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Monitoring of vital functions is one of the most important tools in the management of critically ill patients. Nowadays is possible to detect and analyze a great deal of physiologic data using a lot of invasive and non-invasive methods. The intensivist must be able to select and carry out the most appropriate monitoring technique according to the patient requirements and taking into account the benefit/risk ratio. Despite the fast development of non invasive monitoring techniques, invasive hemodynamic monitoring using Pulmonary Artery Catheter still is one of the basic procedures in Critical Care. The aim was to define recommendations about clinical utility of basic hemodynamic monitoring methods and the Use of Pulmonary Artery Catheter. METHODS: Modified Delphi methodology was used to create and quantify the consensus between the participants. AMIB indicated a coordinator who invited more six experts in the area of monitoring and hemodynamic support to constitute the Consensus Advisory Board. Twenty-five physicians and nurses selected from different regions of the country completed the expert panel, which reviewed the pertinent bibliography listed at the MEDLINE in the period from 1996 to 2004. RESULTS: Recommendations were made based on 55 questions about the use of central venous pressure, invasive arterial pressure, pulmonary artery catheter and its indications in different settings. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of central venous pressure and invasive arterial pressure, besides variables obtained by the PAC allow the understanding of cardiovascular physiology that is of great value to the care of critically ill patients. However, the correct use of these tools is fundamental to achieve the benefits due to its use.

Consenso brasileiro de monitorização e suporte hemodinâmico - parte III: métodos alternativos de monitorização do débito cardíaco e da volemia / Brazilian consensus of monitoring and hemodynamic support - part III: alternative methods for cardiac output monitoring and volemia estimation

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A interpretação do débito cardíaco e da pré-carga como números absolutos não traz grandes informações sobre a hemodinâmica do paciente crítico. Em contrapartida, a monitorização da resposta do débito cardíaco à expansão volêmica ou suporte inotrópico é uma ferramenta muito útil na unidade de terapia intensiva, quando o paciente apresenta algum sinal de má perfusão tecidual. Apesar do CAP ser considerado como " padrão-ouro" na avaliação destes parâmetros, foram desenvolvidas tecnologias alternativas bastante confiáveis para a sua monitorização. MÉTODO: O processo de desenvolvimento de recomendações utilizou o método Delphi modificado para criar e quantificar o consenso entre os participantes. A AMIB determinou um coordenador para o consenso, o qual escolheu seis especialistas para comporem o comitê consultivo. Outros 18 peritos de diferentes regiões do país foram selecionados para completar o painel de 25 especialistas, médicos e enfermeiros. Um levantamento bibliográfico na MEDLINE de artigos na língua inglesa foi realizado no período de 1966 a 2004. RESULTADOS: Foram apresentadas recomendações referentes à análise da variação da pressão arterial durante ventilação mecânica, débito cardíaco contínuo por contorno de pulso arterial, débito cardíaco por diluição do lítio, Doppler transesofágico, bioimpedância transtorácica, ecocardiografia e reinalação parcial de gás carbônico. CONCLUSÕES: As novas e menos invasivas técnicas para medida do débito cardíaco, pré-carga e fluidoresponsividade apresentam adequada precisão e podem ser uma alternativa ao uso do CAP em pacientes graves.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiac output and preload as absolute data do not offer helpful information about the hemodynamic of critically ill patients. However, monitoring the response of these variables to volume challenge or inotropic drugs is a very useful tool in the critical care setting, particularly for patients with signs of tissue hypoperfusion. Although PAC remains the " gold standard" to measure cardiac output and preload, new and alternative technologies were developed to evaluate these hemodynamic variables. METHODS: Modified Delphi methodology was used to create and quantify the consensus between the participants. AMIB indicated a coordinator who invited more six experts in the area of monitoring and hemodynamic support to constitute the Consensus Advisory Board. Twenty three physician and two nurses selected from different regions of the country completed the expert panel, which reviewed the pertinent bibliography listed at the MEDLINE in the period from 1996 to 2004. RESULTS: Recommendations regarding the use of arterial pulse pressure variation during mechanical ventilation, continuous arterial pulse contour and lithium dilution cardiac output measurements, esophageal Doppler waveform, thoracic electrical bioimpedance, echocardiography and partial CO2 rebreathing for monitoring cardiac output and preload were created. CONCLUSIONS: The new and less invasive techniques for the measurement of cardiac output, preload or fluid responsiveness are accurate and may be an alternative to PAC in critically ill patients.