ABSTRACT
The demographic shift, together with financial constraint, justify a re-evaluation of the trajectory of care of very old critically ill patients (VIP), defined as older than 80 years. We must avoid over- as well as under-utilisation of critical care interventions in this patient group and ensure the inclusion of health care professionals, the patient and their caregivers in the decision process. This new integrative approach mobilises expertise at each step of the process beginning prior to intensive care unit (ICU) admission and extending to long-term follow-up. In this review, several international experts have contributed to provide recommendations that can be universally applied. Our aim is to define a minimum core dataset of information to be shared and discussed prior to ICU admission and to facilitate the shared-decision-making process with the patient and their caregivers, throughout the patient journey. Documentation of uncertainty may contribute to a tailored level of care and ultimately to discussions around possible limitations of life sustaining treatments. The goal of ICU care is not only to avoid death, but more importantly to maintain an acceptable quality of life and functional autonomy after hospital discharge. Societal consideration is important to highlight, together with alternatives to ICU admission. We discuss challenges for the future and potential areas of research. In summary, this review provides a state-of-the-art current overview and aims to outline future directions to address the challenges in the treatment of VIP.
Subject(s)
Critical Illness , Quality of Life , Humans , Critical Illness/therapy , Critical Care , Health Personnel , HospitalizationABSTRACT
Infecções hospitalares estão entre as principais complicações associadas a óbito em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva(UTI). Entretanto, existem poucas ferramentas validadas em UTI para tentar caracterizar o risco de tais complicações. Objetivo: Caracterizar a resposta a testes cutâneos de hipersensibilidade tardia no momento da admissão de pacientes em UTI, relacionando-a ao desenvolvimento de infecção hospitalar. Pacientes e métodos: Foram analisadas as respostas dos testes cutâneos (pápulas formadas) para quatro antígenos: PPD, candidina, tricofitina e estreptoquinase em 78 pacientes, à admissão em UTI. Os pacientes foram divididos em três grupos: A) sem infecção na admissão e durante a internação; B)sem infecção na admissão e que desenvolveram infecção durante a internação; C) infecção diagnosticada na admissão. Foram ainda divididos em: eutróficos, obesos e desnutridos. Resultados: Tanto pacientes que desenvolveram infecção na UTI (24 pacientes) quanto aqueles que já apresentavam infecção à admissão (15 pacientes) apresentaram menor positividade dos testes ao PPD (1,75 e 0,53mm) e à candidina (1,45 e 1,06mm), quando comparados a 34 pacientes que nãodesenvolveram infecção (4,97 para PPD e 4,74mm para candidina)(p<0,05). Observou-se ainda que os 40 desnutridos apresentaram menor positividade à candidina (1,91mm) quando comparados aos 21 eutróficos (3,17mm) (p<0,05). Conclusão: Observamos que pacientes com diagnóstico de infecção à internação em UTI e os que evoluíram para infecção na UTI apresentaram uma menor resposta aos testes cutâneos de hipersensibilidade tardia ao PPD e à candidina. Acreditamos que a aplicação dos testes cutâneos possa ser uma ferramenta útil na avaliação de risco de infecção hospitalar em UTI.
The hospital infections are among the major complications associated with death in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, there are few validated tools in the ICU to try to characterize the risk of such complications. Objective: To characterize the response to skin tests for delayed hypersensitivity at the time of admission of patients inthe ICU and its relation to the development of nosocomial infection. Patients and Methods: We analyzed the responses of skin tests (papules formed) to four antigens: PPD, candidina, trichophytinand streptokinase in 78 patients at the ICU admission. Patients were divided into three groups: A) no infection at admission and during hospitalization; B) without infection on admission and who developed infections during hospitalization; C) infection diagnosed on admission. Patients were further divided into: normal weight, obese and malnourished. Results: The patients that developed infections in the ICU(24 patients) and those that already had infection on admission(15 patients) had lower positivity to PPD (1.75 and 0.53mm) and candidina tests (1.45 and 1.06mm), when they were compared to 34 patients without infection (4.97 for PPD and 4.74mm for candidina) (p<0.05). It was also observed that the 40 malnourished patients had lower positivity for candidina (1.91 mm) when they were compared to 21 normal weight(3,17mm) (p<0.05). Conclusion: We found that patients with a diagnosis of infection at admission in the ICU and who progressed to infection in the ICU had a lower response to skin tests for delayed hypersensitivity to PPD and candidina. We believe that the application of skin tests may be a useful tool in assessing risk of nosocomial infection in ICU.