RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Patients with a history of substance misuse may develop tolerance to analgesics and psychotropic drugs which alter the need for sedation and analgesia after ICU admittance. AIMS: The objective was to qualify and quantify the needs for sedation and analgesia in critically ill patients with and without a history of substance misuse admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN: A 2-year prospective, observational study. METHODS: Patients admitted to an ICU who required sedation and analgesia for ≥72 h were included and were classified as substance misusers and non-substance misusers. We analysed demographic data and the consumption of alcohol and other substances. Comparisons between groups were made using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test for quantitative variables and Fisher's exact test for qualitative variables. The analysis was made using SPSS version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) for Windows. Statistical significance was established as p < 0·05. RESULTS: We included 44 patients, of whom 31 (70·3%) were users of ≥1 substance. The median age was 47 years, 8 (18·2%) patients were female. The most-consumed substances were tobacco (56·8%), alcohol (54·5%), cannabis (13·6%), amphetamines (11·4%) and cocaine (9·1%). Toxicological samples were positive for alcohol (65·2%, mean blood alcohol level 1·38 ± 1·05 g/L). There were no significant differences in the need for sedation between substance misusers and non-substance misusers (p > 0·05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of substance misuse in this population was high. We found no greater need for sedation in patients with a history of substance misuse although these patients often require three or more drugs to achieve optimal sedation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Physicians and nurses should be aware of substance misuse in order to provide adequate care by optimizing drug administration and dosages in the ICU.
RESUMEN
Resumen: La ecocardiografía es una herramienta que desde hace años se ha introducido en las unidades de reanimación. La ausencia de una formación reglada, la larga curva de aprendizaje y el hecho de que la mayoría de protocolos orientados al estudio de la inestabilidad hemodinámica se basan en un concepto estructural, complican su aplicación rutinaria en un contexto tan complejo. Este artículo pretende dar una visión funcional de la ecocardiografía de manera que, integrándola junto con la clínica y otros sistemas de monitorización, se convierta en una herramienta de monitorización hemodinámica a pie de cama. Mediante el uso de un número limitado de planos explicaremos la valoración de diversas herramientas que nos permiten estimar las variables determinantes de la perfusión (precarga estática y dinámica, función biventricular), que a su vez integradas mediante un mapa mental nos asistirán en la toma de decisiones clínicas.
Abstract: Echocardiography has gained wide acceptance between intensive care physicians during the last fifteen years. The lack of accredited formation, long learning curve and structural orientation of the limited algorithms to study hemodynamic instability hampers its daily use in the intensive care unit. This article aims to explain a functional approach to echocardiography in which it serves as a hemodynamic monitoring tool, useful at the bed site in conjunction with clinical assessment and other monitoring devices. Through a limited number of planes and measurements we will explain how to asses perfusion determinants (static and dynamic preload, biventricular function) and integrate them with a mind map to help everyday decision making in the complex environment of the critical care unit.
Resumo: O ecocardiograma é uma ferramenta que foi introduzida há anos nas unidades de terapia intensiva. A ausência de treinamento formal, a curva de aprendizagem prolongada e o fato de que a maioria dos protocolos orientados ao estudo da instabilidade hemodinâmica são baseados em um conceito estrutural complicam sua aplicação de rotina em um contexto tão complexo. Este artigo tem como objetivo dar uma visão funcional da ecocardiografia de modo que, integrando-a com a clínica e outros sistemas de monitoramento, transforme-se em uma ferramenta de monitoramento hemodinâmico na cabeceira do paciente. Usando um número limitado de imagens e medições explicaremos a valorização de várias ferramentas que nos permitem estimar as variáveis determinantes de perfusão (pré-carga estática e dinâmica, função biventricular), que por sua vez integrados por um mapa mental nos ajudará a tomar decisões clínicas.