[Predictive validity of Clinical Risk Groups in chronic patients in primary healthcare]. / Validez predictiva del Clinical Risk Groups en pacientes crónicos en el ambito de la atencion primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse a prediction model for admissions and hospital emergencies based on Clinical Risk Groups, in a population of complex chronic patients demanding primary care. DESIGN: A multicentric retrospective observational study, of a cohort of chronic patients with comorbidity, from January until December 2013. PLACE: The study population was assigned to the Santa Pola and Raval health centres from the Health Department of Elche. PARTICIPANTS: Cohort of chronic patients with comorbidity, from January to December 2013. INTERVENTIONS: Data about the number of admissions, reasons and complexity level associated with the admission were collected by the review of medical records. MAIN MEASURES: To determine the level of complexity, the classification included in the chronicity strategy of the Valencian Community based on Clinical Risk Groups was used. RESULTS: Five hundred and four patients were recruited with a high complexity degree (N3) and 272 with moderate/low complexity (N1-N2). A higher comorbidity was observed in N3 patients with high complexity [Charlson 2.9 (DE 1.8) vs. 1.9 (DE 1.3); P<.001], and higher dependence degree for basic diary activities [Barthel 16.1 (n=81) vs. 7.3 (n=20); P<.001]. Association between the number of admissions [0.4 (DE 0.8) vs. 0.1 (DE 0.5); P<.001] and emergency visits [0.8 (DE 1.5) vs. 0.3 (DE 0.8), P<.001] was significatively higher in patients from N3 group than N1-N2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The predictive capacity of CRG grouper showed high sensibility for the patient classification with a high degree of complexity. Its specificity and positive predictive value were lower for the association of the N3 complexity stratum.

[Importance of outpatient medical consultation prior to going to the hospital emergency department in patients over 65 years of age: Impact on hospitalization results]. / Importancia de la consulta ambulatoria previa a la visita a las urgencias hospitalarias en pacientes mayores: impacto sobre resultados de hospitalización.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate factors associated with a previous outpatient medical consultation (POMC), to the health center or another physician, before attending a hospital emergency department (ED), in patients aged >65 and its impact on the hospitalization rate and variables related to ED stay. SITE: Fifty-two Spanish EDs. PARTICIPANTS: Patients over 65 years consulting an ED. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND DESIGN: A cohort (n=24645) of patients aged >65 attended for one week in 52 ED. We recorded five sociodemographic variables, six functional, three episode-related severity and analyzed their crude and adjusted association with the existence of a POMC at ED consultation. The primary outcome variable was the need for admission and the secondary variables were complementary examinations and ED stay length. We analyzed whether the POMC influenced these outcomes. RESULTS: 28.5% of the patients had performed a POMC prior to their visit to the ED. Living in a residence, NEWS-2 score ≥5, aged ≥80, dependency functions, severe comorbidity, living alone, cognitive impairment, male gender and depression were independently associated with a POMC. Also was associated with a greater need for hospitalization and shorter length of stay in the ED. No minor consumption of diagnostic resources in patients with POMC. CONCLUSION: Patients presenting to the ED following POMC are admitted more frequently, suggesting that they are appropriately referred and that minor emergencies are probably effectively resolved in the POMC. Their stay in the ED prior to hospitalization is shorter, so the POMC would facilitate clinical resolution in the ED.

[COVID-19 pandemic impact on primary care emergency services activity: Comparative study between 2019 and 2020 periods]. / Impacto de la pandemia de la COVID-19 en la actividad de los servicios de urgencias de atención primaria: estudio comparativo entre periodos de 2019 y 2020.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the care provided by primary care emergency services during the COVID19 lockdown (March-June 2020) and the same period in 2019. DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study. SETTING: Basic Health Area of Granada. POPULATION: 10.790 emergency reports, 3.319 in 2020 and 7.471 in 2019. OUTCOMES: Age, sex, service, shifts, referrals, priority levels, care times, previous processes, and reasons for consultation. T-Student and Chi Square were used for continuous and categorical variables. Effect size (Cohen's d) and OR along with 95% CI were calculated. RESULTS: The patients attended by primary care emergency services decreased in 2020 compared to 2019, but the percentage of Priority V cases (p<0.01), home discharges (p=0.01) and hospital transfers (p<0.01) increased, and referrals to family doctors (p<0.01) decreased. In 2020, the percentage of emergencies at night (p<0.01) and in low-income neighborhoods (p<0.01) increased. Waiting time for classification decreased (p<0.01), but total care time increased in 2020 (p<0.01). The patients seen in 2020 were older (p<.001), and with a greater number of previous processes (p<0.01), highlighting patients with anxiety, depression, or somatization (p<0.01) and diabetes (p=0.041). Consultations related to various symptoms of COVID19, mental health problems and chronic pathologies increased. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care emergency services offer additional advantages in situations such as the COVID19 pandemic, as they allow channeling part of the health demand.

[Return rate to the Primary Care Emergency Service for elderly patients over 65 years old and their assistance requirements]. / Tasa de retorno y características asistenciales de pacientes mayores de 65 años en un servicio de Urgencias en Atención Primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the unexpected return rate to the Primary Care Emergency Service of elderly patients over 65 years old within the following 72h of a previous visit, as well as to determine the clinical and assistance requirements of these patients. PROCEDURE: Retrospective and observational epidemiologic study. LOCATION: Cotolino's Primary Care Emergency Service in Cantabria, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: 1940 elderly patients over 65 years old were included. These patients returned to the Primary Care Emergency Service in 2016. MAIN DATA FOR THE STUDY: The dependent variable was the return rate to the Primary Care Emergency Service. The independent variables were socio-demographic characteristics, health details and medical assistance information. All data was collected from the Primary Care Emergency Service Management Office database. All variables were analysed applying Pearson's chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test, with statistical significance P≤.05. RESULTS: The rate of unexpected return was 2.3%. The average age was 77.4 years old (standard deviation (SD): 8.4), of which the 37.6% were male. The most frequent range of age was from 75 to 84 years old, with males being the predominant group. A history of polymedication was detected in 54.4% of the cases, as well as a medium cardiovascular risk within this group. Nursing professionals attended the 42.2% of these return cases (P<.001). Patients with dysnea (P=.015), scheduled care or scheduled injection returned with a higher frequency (P<.001). It was as well noticed a higher frequency of return for subsequent attention during the months of December and January (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of unexpected return is low. The main causes why elderly patients returned to the service requiring urgent assistance were issues categorised as unspecific general health indicators and/or respiratory system illnesses. Our proposal is to develop specific protocols combining the work from both Geriatrics and Gerontology professionals, in order to improve the support to this group of population at every Primary Care Emergency Service.

Consensus on improving the comprehensive care of patients with acute heart failure. / Consenso para la mejora de la atención integral de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca aguda.

The latest acute heart failure consensus document from the Spanish Society of Cardiology, Spanish Society of Internal Medicine, and Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine was published in 2015, which made an update covering the main novelties regarding acute heart failure from the last few years necessary. These include publication of updated European guidelines on heart failure in 2016, new studies on the pharmacological treatment of patients during hospitalization, and other recent developments regarding acute heart failure such as early treatment, intermittent treatment, advanced heart failure, and refractory congestion. This consensus document was drafted with the aim of updating all aspects related to acute heart failure and to create a document that comprehensively describes the diagnosis, treatment, and management of this disease.

[Evaluation of a training model for health professionals in the care of critical patients: AIPCAP Study]. / Evaluación de un modelo formativo para profesionales sanitarios en la atención del paciente crítico: Estudio AIPCAP.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity, acceptability, and impact on the level of knowledge and skills of Primary Care health professionals of a training model aimed at improving the care of critical patients. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental interventional, multicentre study. LOCATION: Eight health care teams in Barcelona. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 272 professionals. INTERVENTIONS: A training program consisting of 48 simulations of acute myocardial infarction and stroke. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: A checklist was used to evaluate critical patient skills, effect of training on the knowledge of the participants, and a satisfaction survey. The training was carried out after 2 series of simulations (AMI+Stroke). In the second series, 3evaluations were made: in situ, one week after, and at 3weeks. Concordance and reliability were measured. The differences in means were analysed using the Student t test for paired data. RESULTS: A total of 449 knowledge tests were answered, with a higher score being obtained at the end of each simulation (3.89 -SD 1.01 vs. 3.21 -SD 1.09). Doctors obtained better medical scores than nurses (3.81 - SD 0.87 vs. 3.32 - SD 1.15), and professionals with a specialty completed scored more than those in training (MIR) (3.6 - SD 1.08 vs. 3.4 - SD 1.18). The mean score was 7.7 points (SD 1.56) in the first evaluation, and improved to 9.1 points (SD 0.78). The kappa index was greater than 0.40 in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: A training methodology in the management of emergencies in Primary Care based on simulations is valid, reliable and well accepted, achieving an improvement in the level of knowledge and skills of the participating professionals.

Poisoning among the elderly. / Intoxicaciones en la tercera edad.

OBJECTIVES: Poisonings continue to be an important public health problem. Herein, we analyzed the epidemiology of poisonings in elderly individuals. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study conducted between 2011 and 2019 in a university hospital. We analyzed demographic variables, type of poison involved, suicidal or accidental nature of the poisoning, and the probability of admission, or death to the hospital. RESULTS: A total of 880 (6.1%) of the 14,300 poisonings treated in the same period occurred in people over 65 years of age. The most numerous group were individuals between 65-69 years-old (39%), followed by the group of 70-75 years-old (20%), being men 57%. In 88% of the cases a single poison participated, being by frequency alcohol (51.6%), drugs (29.5%), and household or industrial products (12.8%). Alcohol intoxication predominated in men up to 75 years of age, and above this age drug or suicidal intoxication predominated, mainly in women. A total of 145 (16%) subjects were hospitalized, the drugs most frequently implicated being digoxin and benzodiazepines. The probability of hospital admission was associated with intoxication by metformin, digoxin, lithium or with the age of the patient (OR per year = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.0-1.06). A total of 19 patients died (2.16%), mainly due to suicidal caustic ingestion (OR = 5.7: 95% CI: 1.4-23.6) or by drugs, directly related to metformin (OR = 10.1; 95% CI: 2.4-42.4). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of poisoning in the elderly is not negligible, and physicians should have a high index of suspicion in a complex situation.

Frequency, profile and results of patients with acute heart failure transferred directly to home hospitalisation from emergency departments. / Frecuencia, perfil y resultados de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca aguda que ingresan directamente en hospitalización a domicilio desde urgencias.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the frequency, clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with acute heart failure (AHF) transferred directly from emergency departments to home hospitalisation (HH) and to compare them with those hospitalised in internal medicine (IM) or short-stay units (SSU). METHOD: We included patients with AHF transferred to HH by hospitals that considered this option during the Epidemiology of Acute Heart Failure in Spanish Emergency Departments (EAHFE) 4-5-6 Registries and compared them with patients admitted to IM or SSU in these centres. We compared the adjusted all-cause mortality at 1 year and adverse events 30 days after discharge. RESULTS: The study included 1473 patients (HH/IM/SSU: 68/979/384). The HH rate was 4.7% (95% CI, 3.8-6.0%). The patients in HH had few differences compared with those hospitalised in IM and SSUs. The HH mortality was 1.5%, and the HH median stay was 7.5 days (IQR, 4.5-12), similar to that of IM (median stay, 8 days; IQR, 5-13; p=.106) and longer than that of SSU (median stay, 4 days; IQR, 3-7; p<.001). The all-cause mortality at 1 year for HH did not differ from that of IM (HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.73-1.14) or SSU (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.46-1.27); however, the emergency department readmission rate during the 30 days postdischarge was lower than that of IM (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.25-0.97) and SSU (HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.19-0.74). There were no differences in the need for new hospitalisations or in the 30-day mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS: Direct transfer from the emergency department to HH is infrequent despite being a safe option for a certain patient profile with AHF.

[Frequent attenders in Primary Health Care Centres and frequent attenders in Emergency Departments]. / Hiperfrecuentación en Atención Primaria e hiperfrecuentadores en Urgencias.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of frequent attenders (HF) in Primary Health Care (PHC) centres in a sample of frequent attenders (HF) in Emergency Departments (ED). DESIGN: This was an observational, retrospective, multicentre cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: The HF patients were selected from patients seen in the ED between January 1 and December 31, 2013. Setting Patients were recruited from 17 public hospitals of the Community of Madrid, Spain. METHOD: Variables on the index visit to the ED were collected. The sample was analysed in terms of being or not being an HF user in PHC. An HF user is considered a patient who made at least 10 visits in each level of care for a year. RESULTS: A total of 1284 HF patients were included. An analysis was performed on 423 (32.9%) HF users in ED with 16 (12-25) visits to PHC vs. 861 (67.1%) non-HF users in ED, with 4 (2-6) visits to PHC. Independent predictors of HF in PHC: over 65 years (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.07-2.13; P=.019), cognitive impairment (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.01-2.65; P=.049), taking >3 drugs (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.06-2.30; P=.025), and living in the community vs. nursing home or homeless (OR: 3.05; 95% CI: 1.14-8.16; P=.026). CONCLUSIONS: Among HF patients in the ED, the fact that of being over 65 years, taking 3or more drugs, suffering cognitive impairment, and living in the community, are also considered to be predictors of HF in PHC.

Lesiones por causa externa en el servicio de urgencias de un hospital en un periodo de cinco años.

INTRODUCCIÓN: En el Estado de México no existen investigaciones que proporcionen información para toma de decisiones y administración de recursos relacionados con la atención de las lesiones por causa externa (LCE). OBJETIVO: Describir las LCE en un servicio de urgencias durante un periodo de cinco años. MÉTODO: Se diseñó un estudio retrospectivo con pacientes que ingresaron al servicio de urgencias (2010-2015) por diagnóstico de LCE. Se realizó análisis descriptivo y de clúster. RESULTADOS: En el servicio de urgencias, 16.59 % de las atenciones derivaron de LCE. Se incluyeron 16 567 pacientes de 14 a 99 años (media o promedio = 37.7, DE = 17.28), 69.2 % fue del sexo masculino. Las LCE principalmente ocurrieron en la vía pública (26.3 %) y en el hogar (23.7 %). Las causas más frecuentes fueron agresiones fuera del hogar (32.7 %), en promedio a los 34 años; caídas (25 %) en promedio a los 45 años; accidentes ocasionados por vehículos de motor (9.7 %), en promedio a los 33 años. El análisis por clúster identificó cuatro grupos: agresiones fuera del hogar 32.7 % (5417), contactos traumáticos 26.30 % (4363), accidentes de tránsito 15.9 % (2,640) y caídas 25 % (4147). CONCLUSIÓN: Las LCE relacionadas con vehículos de motor mostraron consecuencias más severas. BACKGROUND: In the State of Mexico there are no investigations that provide information for decision-making and administration of resources related to the care of externally-caused injuries (ECI). OBJECTIVE: To describe ECIs seen in an emergency department over a 5-year period. METHOD: A retrospective study was designed with patients admitted to emergency department (2010-2015) with ECI diagnosis. Descriptive and cluster analyses were performed. RESULTS: At the emergency department, 16.59% of emergency care was related to ECI. A total of 16,567 patients of 14 to 99 years of age (average = 37.7; SD = 17.28) were included; 69.2% were males. ECIs occurred mainly in public places (26.3%) and at home (23.7%). The main causes were aggression outside the home (32.7%), on average at 34 years of age, falls (25%) on average at 45 years, and motor vehicle accidents (9.7%) on average at 33 years. The cluster analysis identified four groups: aggression outside the home 32.7% (5,417), traumatic contacts, 26.30% (4,363), road traffic accidents 15.9% (2,640) and falls 25% (4,147). CONCLUSIONS: Motor vehicle accident-related ECIs showed the most severe consequences.

Effect of the inadequacy of antibiotic therapy in the Emergency Department on hospital stays. / Efecto de la inadecuación de la antibioterapia en Urgencias sobre la eficiencia en la hospitalización.

INTRODUCTION: The main objective of the study was to determine the frequency of patients receiving inappropriate empiric antibiotic therapy and to assess the impact in terms of increase length of hospital stay, 30-day re-admissions, and 30-day mortality. METHODS: An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted over a one-month period that included all patients hospitalised from an Emergency Department (ED) due to infection. Demographic variables, comorbidity, multi-resistance risk factors, site of infection, microbiological findings, and antibiotic prescribed in ED were collected. Outcomes were length of hospital stay, 30-day re-admissions, and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 376 patients were included, with a mean age of 71.1 (SD 21) years. The most frequent causes were respiratory (45.7%) and urine (23.9%) infections. The number of patients with length of stay over the median (≥9 days) was 165 (46.1%), with re-admissions 74 (19.7%), and mortality at 30 days 44 (11.7%). There was inappropriate antibiotic treatment in 42 (11.2%) cases. After adjusting for demographic data, comorbidity, risk factors for multidrug resistant organism, presence of sepsis criteria in ED, and site of infection, inappropriate treatment was associated with an extended length of hospital stay (OR 2.22; 95% CI; 1.07-4.60; P=.032), but did not to an increase in mortality (P=.271) or re-admission (P=.784) at 30 days. CONCLUSION: The inappropriate empirical antibiotic therapy in patients admitted from the ED leads to an extended hospital stay, but did not increase mortality or readmission.

Predictive factors of bacterial meningitis in the patients seen in emergency departments. / Factores predictores de meningitis bacteriana en los pacientes atendidos en urgencias.

OBJETIVES: To analyse and compare predictive factors of bacterial meningitis in the patients seen in the Emergency Departments (ED) due to an episode of acute meningitis (AM). METHODS: A prospective, observational study was carried out in patients aged 15 years and older seen in ED due to AM between August 2009 and November 2015. Thirty-two variables for predicting bacterial meningitis were assessed. They covered epidemiological, comorbidity, clinical and analytical factors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: The study included 154 patients. The diagnosis was bacterial meningitis in 53 (34.4%) patients. Four variables were significantly associated with bacterial aetiology: cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate concentration ≥33mg/dl (odds ratio [OR] 50.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.63-119.47, P<.001), serum procalcitonin (PCT) ≥0.8ng/ml (OR 46.34; 95%CI: 19.71-108.89; P<.001), CSF glucose <60% of blood value (OR 20.82; 95%CI: 8.86-48.96; P=.001), CSF polymorphonuclears greater than 50% (OR 20.19; 95%CI: 8.31-49.09; P=.002]. The area under the curve for the model serum PCT≥0.8ng/ml plus CSF lactate ≥33mg/dl was 0.992 (95%CI: 0.979-1; P<.001), and achieved 99% sensitivity and 98% specificity for predicting bacterial meningitis. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PCT with CSF lactate, CSF glucose and CSF polymorphonuclears evaluated in an initial assessment in the ED for patients with AM, achieved an excellent diagnostic usefulness for predicting bacterial meningitis.

Level of impact on the public health of universal human immunodeficiency virus screening in an Emergency Department. / Estudio del impacto a nivel de salud pública del cribado universal del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en un servicio de Urgencias.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV and the acceptability of rapid testing in an emergency department (ED), Barcelona (6/07/2011 to 8/03/2013). METHOD: A convenience sample was used, depending on nurse availability in the ED. Participants signed an informed consent. Results were confirmed by conventional methods. RESULT: A total of 2,140 individuals were offered testing, and 5% rejected taking part (107/2,140). Three subjects (3/2,033 [0.15%]) had confirmed reactive test. Individuals with a higher education were more likely to perform a rapid HIV test in ED (P<.005). CONCLUSION: A low prevalence of new HIV diagnoses was found among participants, although there was a high acceptability rate to perform rapid testing in the ED.

Short-term prognostic factors in the elderly patients seen in emergency departments due to infections. / Factores pronósticos a corto plazo en los ancianos atendidos en urgencias por infección.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse factors associated with short-term mortality in elderly patients seen in emergency departments (ED) for an episode of infectious disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, observational, multicentre, analytical study was carried out on patients aged 75years and older who were treated in the ED of one of the eight participating hospitals. An assessment was made of 26 independent variables that could influence mortality at 30days. They covered epidemiological, comorbidity, functional, clinical and analytical factors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: The study included 488 consecutive patients, 92 (18.9%) of whom died within 30days of visiting the ED. Three variables were significantly associated with higher mortality: severe functional dependence, with Barthel index ≤60 [odds ratio (OR) 8,92; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.98-15.98, P=.003], systolic blood pressure <90mmHg [OR 7.34; 95%CI: 4.39-12.26, P=.005] and serum lactate >4mmol/l [OR 21.14; 95%CI: 8.94-49.97, P=.001]. The area under the curve for the model was 0.971 (95%CI: 0.951-0.991; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Several factors evaluated in an initial assessment in the ED, including the level of functional dependence, systolic blood pressure and, especially, serum lactate, were found to determine a poor short-term prognosis in the elderly patients who presented with an episode of an infectious disease.

The opinion of health professionals regarding the presence of relatives during cardiopulmonary resucitation. / La opinión de los profesionales sanitarios sobre la presencia de familiares durante las maniobras de resucitación cardiopulmonar.

BACKGROUND: The latest recommendations from the American Heart Association and the European Resuscitation Council invite allowance for the presence of relatives (PR) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as an extra measure of family care. OBJECTIVE: To discover the opinion of health professionals on the PR during CPR. METHOD: Cross-sectional observational study through an online survey in Spain, based on a non-probability sample (n=315). RESULTS: 45% consider that the PR during CPR is not demanded by users. 64% value the implementation of this practice in a negative or a very negative way. 45% believe that the practice would avoid the feeling of abandonment that is instilled in the relatives, this being the most widely perceived potential benefit. 30% do not believe that it can help reduce the anxiety of relatives. The majority remarked that PR would cause situations of violence, psychological harm in witnesses, and more mistakes during care. 48% feel prepared to perform the role of companion. CONCLUSIONS: Most professionals perceive more risks than benefits, and are not in favour of allowing PR due to a paternalistic attitude, and fear of the reactions that could be presented to the team. Extra-hospital emergency personnel seems to be the group most open to allowing this practice. Most professionals do not feel fully prepared to perform the role of companion.

Impact on patient outcome of emergency department length of stay prior to ICU admission.

OBJECTIVE: The favorable evolution of critically ill patients is often dependent on time-sensitive care intervention. The timing of transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU) therefore may be an important determinant of outcomes in critically ill patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact upon patient outcome of the length of stay in the Emergency Care Department. DESIGN: A single-center ambispective cohort study was carried out. SETTING: A general ICU and Emergency Care Department (ED) of a single University Hospital. PATIENTS: We included 269 patients consecutively transferred to the ICU from the ED over an 18-month period. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were first grouped into different cohorts based on ED length of stay (LOS), and were then divided into two groups: (a) ED LOS ≤5h and (b) ED LOS >5h. VARIABLES: Demographic, diagnostic, length of stay and mortality data were compared among the groups. RESULTS: Median ED LOS was 277min (IQR 129-622). Patients who developed ICU complications had a longer ED LOS compared to those who did not (349min vs. 209min, p<0.01). A total of 129 patients (48%) had ED LOS >5h. The odds ratio of dying for patients with ED LOS >5h was 2.5 (95% CI 1.3-4.7). Age and sepsis diagnosis were the risk factors associated to prolongation of ED length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: A prolonged ED stay prior to ICU admission is related to the development of time-dependent complications and increased mortality. These findings suggest possible benefit from earlier ICU transfer and the prompt initiation of organ support.

End-of-life practices in patients with devastating brain injury in Spain: implications for organ donation. / Prácticas clínicas al final de la vida en pacientes con daño cerebral catastrófico en España: implicaciones para la donación de órganos.

OBJECTIVE: To describe end-of-life care practices relevant to organ donation in patients with devastating brain injury in Spain. DESIGN: A multicenter prospective study of a retrospective cohort. PERIOD: 1 November 2014 to 30 April 2015. SETTING: Sixty-eight hospitals authorized for organ procurement. PATIENTS: Patients dying from devastating brain injury (possible donors). Age: 1 month-85 years. PRIMARY ENDPOINTS: Type of care, donation after brain death, donation after circulatory death, intubation/ventilation, referral to the donor coordinator. RESULTS: A total of 1,970 possible donors were identified, of which half received active treatment in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) until brain death (27%), cardiac arrest (5%) or the withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (19%). Of the rest, 10% were admitted to the ICU to facilitate organ donation, while 39% were not admitted to the ICU. Of those patients who evolved to a brain death condition (n=695), most transitioned to actual donation (n=446; 64%). Of those who died following the withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (n=537), 45 (8%) were converted into actual donation after circulatory death donors. The lack of a dedicated donation after circulatory death program was the main reason for non-donation. Thirty-seven percent of the possible donors were not intubated/ventilated at death, mainly because the professional in charge did not consider donation alter discarding therapeutic intubation. Thirty-six percent of the possible donors were never referred to the donor coordinator. CONCLUSIONS: Although deceased donation is optimized in Spain, there are still opportunities for improvement in the identification of possible donors outside the ICU and in the consideration of donation after circulatory death in patients who die following the withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy.

Impact on Quality of Life in Dermatology Patients Attending an Emergency Department.

INTRODUCTION: Dermatological complaints have been estimated to represent up to 5-10% of all the visits to emergency departments. The main objective of our study was to determine how affected is the Health related Quality of Life (HRQL) in a series of patients attending an emergency department due to skin symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study during one month (July 2016) was conducted in a hospital with full-time on-call dermatologists. The Short-Form SF-12v2 Health Survey and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were offered to all the patients over 18 years old attending the emergency department with cutaneous complaints. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics were also collected. RESULTS: In total 108 patients completed the study. Mean age found was 45.1±16.1 years. Mean DLQI score found was 10.56±6.12. Fifty-three patients (49%) had a score of 11 or higher in the DLQI questionnaire. Most affected subscales were "Symptoms and Feelings" in DLQI scale and "Overall Health" and "Vitality" for the SF-12. A very significant difference (p<0.0001) was found between women's (12.4±5.7) and men's (7.5±5.6) DLQI mean score (mean difference of 4.9; 95% confidence interval of the difference: 2.7-7.1). CONCLUSIONS: Patients visiting emergency units with cutaneous complaints seem to feel a moderate-large impact on their quality of life which is mainly related to the symptoms and feelings that they are experiencing. This impact is significantly higher among women.

Focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) versus multidetector computed tomography in hemodynamically unstable emergency patients. / ¿Eco-FAST o tomografía computarizada multidetectora en el paciente hemodinámicamente inestable tras traumatismo de urgencias?

This critically appraised topic (CAT) study aims to evaluate the quality and extent of the scientific evidence that supports the use of focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) versus multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in hemodynamically unstable trauma patients in the emergency room. An efficient search of the literature yielded several recent articles with a high level of evidence. The CAT study concludes that FAST is an acceptable initial imaging test in hemodynamically unstable patients, although its performance is limited in certain circumstances. The decision whether to use MDCT should be determined by evaluating the patient's degree of instability and the distance to the MDCT scanner. Nevertheless, few articles address the question of the distance to MDCT scanners in emergency departments.

Nontraumatic head and neck injuries: a clinical approach. Part 2. / Urgencias no traumáticas de cabeza y cuello: aproximación desde la clínica. Parte 2.

Nontraumatic emergencies of the head and neck represent a challenge in the field of neuroradiology for two reasons. As explained in the first part of this update, these entities affect an area where the thorax joins the cranial cavity and can thus compromise both structures; second, they are uncommon, so they are not well known. Maintaining the same approach as in the first part, focusing on the clinical presentations in the emergency department rather than on the anatomic regions affected, we will study the entities that present with two patterns: those that present with a combination of cervical numbness, dysphagia, and dyspnea and those that present with acute sensory deficits. In the latter group, we will specifically focus on visual deficits, because this is the most common symptom that calls for urgent imaging studies.