Fiber optic bronchoscopy-assisted percutaneous tracheostomy: a decade of experience at a university hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous tracheostomy by means of single-step dilation with fiber optic bronchoscopy assistance in critical care patients under mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Between the years 2004 and 2014, 512 patients with indication of tracheostomy according to clinical criteria, were prospectively and consecutively included in our study. One-third of them were high-risk patients. Demographic variables, APACHE II score, and days on mechanical ventilation prior to percutaneous tracheostomy were recorded. The efficacy of the procedure was evaluated according to an execution success rate and based on the necessity of switching to an open surgical technique. Safety was evaluated according to post-operative and operative complication rates. RESULTS: The mean age of the group was 64 ± 18 years (203 women and 309 males). The mean APACHE II score was 21 ± 3. Patients remained an average of 11 ± 3 days on mechanical ventilation before percutaneous tracheostomy was performed. All procedures were successfully completed without the need to switch to an open surgical technique. Eighteen patients (3.5%) presented procedure complications. Five patients experienced transient desaturation, 4 presented low blood pressure related to sedation, and 9 presented minor bleeding, but none required a transfusion. No serious complications or deaths associated with the procedure were recorded. Eleven patients (2.1%) presented post-operative complications. Seven presented minor and transitory bleeding of the percutaneous tracheostomy stoma, 2 suffered displacement of the tracheostomy cannula, and 2 developed a superficial infection of the stoma. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous tracheostomy using the single-step dilation technique with fiber optic bronchoscopy assistance seems to be effective and safe in critically ill patients under mechanical ventilation when performed by experienced intensive care specialists using a standardized procedure.

Effects of the implementation of a preventive interventions program on the reduction of medication errors in critically ill adult patients.

PURPOSE: Medication errors (MEs) are a major factor limiting the effectiveness and safety of pharmacological therapies in critically ill patients. The purpose was to determine if a preventive interventions program (PIP) is associated with a significant reduction on prevalence of patients with MEs in intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: A prospective before-after study was conducted in a random sample of adult patients in a medical-surgical ICU. Between 2 observational phases, a PIP (bundle of interventions to reduce MEs) was implemented by a multidisciplinary team. Direct observation was used to detect MEs at baseline and postintervention. Each medication process, that is, prescription, transcription, dispensing, preparation, and administration, was compared with what the prescriber ordered; if there was a difference, the error was described and categorized. Medication errors were defined according to the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention. RESULTS: A total of 410 medications for 278 patients were evaluated. A 31.7% decrease on the prevalence of patients with MEs (41.9%-28.6%; P < .05) was seen. Main variations occurred in anti-infectives for systemic use and prescription and administration stage. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of PIP by a multidisciplinary team resulted in a significant reduction on the prevalence of patients with ME at an adult ICU.

Traqueostomía percutánea con asistencia fibrobroncoscópica: una década de experiencia en un hospital universitario / Fiber optic bronchoscopy-assisted percutaneous tracheostomy: a decade of experience at a university hospital

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar eficacia y seguridad de la traqueostomía percutánea, mediante dilatación única con asistencia fibrobroncoscópica, en pacientes críticos sometidos a ventilación mecánica. Métodos: Entre los años 2004 y 2014, se incluyeron prospectivamente 512 enfermos consecutivos con indicación de traqueostomía según los criterios clínicos de nuestro centro. Un tercio de los pacientes fueron de alto riesgo. Se registraron variables demográficas, puntaje APACHE II, y días de ventilación mecánica previo a traqueostomía percutánea. La eficacia del procedimiento fue evaluada mediante tasa de éxito en su ejecución y necesidad de conversión a técnica abierta. La seguridad fue evaluada por tasa de complicaciones operatorias y postoperatorias. Resultados: La edad media del grupo fue 64 ± 18 años (203 mujeres y 309 varones). El puntaje APACHE II fue 21 ± 3. Los pacientes permanecieron en promedio 11 ± 3 días en ventilación mecánica antes de la realización de la traqueostomía percutánea. Todos los procedimientos se completaron exitosamente, sin necesidad de convertir a técnica abierta. Dieciocho pacientes (3,5%) presentaron complicaciones operatorias. Cinco pacientes experimentaron desaturación transitoria, cuatro presentaron hipotensión relacionada a la sedación, y nueve presentaron sangrado menor, pero ninguno requirió transfusión. No se registraron complicaciones graves, ni muertes asociadas al procedimiento. Once pacientes (2,1%) presentaron complicaciones postoperatorias. Siete presentaron sangrado menor y transitorio del estoma de la traqueostomía percutánea, 2 sufrieron desplazamiento de la cánula de traqueostomía y 2 desarrollaron infección superficial del estoma. Conclusión: La traqueostomía percutánea mediante la técnica de dilatación única con asistencia fibrobroncoscópica, parece ser efectiva y segura en enfermos críticos sometidos a ventilación mecánica, cuando es realizada por intensivistas experimentados mediante un abordaje ...

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous tracheostomy by means of single-step dilation with fiber optic bronchoscopy assistance in critical care patients under mechanical ventilation. Methods: Between the years 2004 and 2014, 512 patients with indication of tracheostomy according to clinical criteria, were prospectively and consecutively included in our study. One-third of them were high-risk patients. Demographic variables, APACHE II score, and days on mechanical ventilation prior to percutaneous tracheostomy were recorded. The efficacy of the procedure was evaluated according to an execution success rate and based on the necessity of switching to an open surgical technique. Safety was evaluated according to post-operative and operative complication rates. Results: The mean age of the group was 64 ± 18 years (203 women and 309 males). The mean APACHE II score was 21 ± 3. Patients remained an average of 11 ± 3 days on mechanical ventilation before percutaneous tracheostomy was performed. All procedures were successfully completed without the need to switch to an open surgical technique. Eighteen patients (3.5%) presented procedure complications. Five patients experienced transient desaturation, 4 presented low blood pressure related to sedation, and 9 presented minor bleeding, but none required a transfusion. No serious complications or deaths associated with the procedure were recorded. Eleven patients (2.1%) presented post-operative complications. Seven presented minor and transitory bleeding of the percutaneous tracheostomy stoma, 2 suffered displacement of the tracheostomy cannula, and 2 developed a superficial infection of the stoma. Conclusion: Percutaneous tracheostomy using the single-step dilation technique with fiber optic bronchoscopy assistance seems to be effective and safe in critically ill patients under mechanical ventilation when performed by experienced intensive care specialists using ...

Impacto del cuidado multidisciplinario en los desenlaces clínicos de los pacientes críticos / Impact of multidisciplinary teams on clinical outcomes of critically ill patients

La seguridad de los pacientes críticos en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI), ha sido progresivamente reconocida como un componente esencial de la práctica de la medicina intensiva moderna. La creación y promoción de equipos multidisciplinarios liderados por un intensivista ha demostrado mejorar la seguridad de la atención de salud. La incorporación de un farmacéutico con entrenamiento especializado a la UCI, ha generado un impacto positivo en los desenlaces clínicos y económicos. El fomento de la cultura de la seguridad en la UCI y el rediseño de los procesos defectuosos pueden mejorar significativamente la seguridad y calidad de la atención de los pacientes críticos.

The safety of critically ill patients in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has been increasingly recognized as an essential component of the practice of modern intensive care. The creation and promotion of intensivist-led multidisciplinary teams has shown to improve the safety of health care. The addition in the ICU of a pharmacist with specialized training has generated a positive impact on clinical and economic outcomes. The promotion of safety culture in the ICU and the redesign of faulty processes can significantly improve the safety and quality of care of critically ill patients.