Organización más allá de los algoritmos en la vía aérea dificultosa. "PENSAR globalmente y ACTUAR localmente" / Organization beyond the algorithms in the airway difficult. "THINK globally and ACT locally "

Objetivo: Evaluar el impacto sobre la tasa de complicaciones en la intubación orotraqueal con la implementación de un protocolo de actuación en el manejo de la vía aérea. Materiales y Métodos: Pacientes admitidos al Servicio de Terapia Intensiva polivalente entre agosto de 2012 y marzo de 2014, que requirieron intubación orotraqueal. Se utilizó un protocolo de actuación "Pensar globalmente y Actuar localmente" durante el proceso de preintubación, intubación y posintubación, que incluye valoración de las vías aéreas, planes de seguridad, optimización cardiovascular y pulmonar. Las complicaciones fueron: 1) intubación dificultosa, 2) intubación esofágica, 3) traumatismo de la vía aérea superior, 4) broncoaspiración, 5) arritmias cardíacas, 6) paro cardiocirculatorio. Se compararon las tasas de complicaciones durante dos períodos: Período 1 (P1): de agosto de 2010 a julio de 2012, en el que se realizó la intubación orotraqueal mediante la Secuencia de Intubación Rápida, y Período 2 (P2): de agosto de 2012 a marzo de 2014, en el que se implementó el protocolo "Pensar globalmente y Actuar localmente". Se evaluaron características demográficas, puntajes APACHE II y SOFA, complicaciones de la intubación, estancia en Terapia Intensiva y mortalidad. El análisis estadístico se realizó utilizando la media, la desviación estándar y la prueba de Fisher para las variables cuantitativas y la prueba de χ2 para las variables dicotó- micas. Se consideró significativa una probabilidad de error <5% (p <0,05). Resultados: 374 pacientes requirieron intubación orotraqueal: 180 (48,1%) en el P1 y 194 (51,8%) en el P2; edad: 59 ± 18 años (P1) y 61 ± 18 años (P2); APACHE II: 18 (P1) y 16 (P2); SOFA: 8 ± 2 y 7 ± 3, respectivamente; complicaciones: P1, 24 (13%), P2, 7 (3,6%) (p <0,001); intubación dificultosa: P1, 8 (33,3%), P2, 1 (14,2%) (p <0,005); intubación esofágica: P1, 3 (12,5%), P2, 1 (14,2%); traumatismo de la vía aérea superior: P1, 5 (21,3%), P2, 2 (28,5%); broncoaspiración: P1, 4 (16,6%), P2, 1 (14,2%); arritmias: P1, 3 (12,5%), P2,2 (28,5%), paro cardiocirculatorio: P1, 1 (4,1%), P2: 0. Estancia en Terapia Intensiva: 13.5 ± 3 días (P1) y 12.8 ± 1.2 días (P2). Mortalidad 10% (P1) y 6,2% (P2) (NS). Conclusión: La aplicación de un protocolo para el manejo de la vía aérea redujo, con significación estadística, la tasa de complicaciones, en particular, la intubación dificultosa. (AR)

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a protocol for the management of the airway on the complication rate in tracheal intubation. Materials and Methods: Patients requiring orotracheal intubation admitted to the Intensive Care Unit from August 2012 to March 2014 were included. The "Think globally and Act locally" protocol was used during pre-intubation, intubation and after intubation, including assessment of the airway, safety plans, cardiovascular and pulmonary optimization. Complications: 1) difficult intubation, 2) esophageal intubation, 3) upper airway trauma, 4) aspiration, 5) arrhythmias, 6) cardiac arrest. Rates of complications were compared during two periods: Period 1 (P1): from August 2010 to July 2012 where orotracheal intubation was conducted through rapid sequence intubation, and Period 2 (P2) from August 2012 to March 2014, where "Think globally and Act locally" protocol was implemented. Demographic characteristics, APACHE II and SOFA scores, complications of intubation, length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit, and mortality were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using mean, standard deviation, and Fisher test for quantitative variables and chi square test for dichotomous variables; a probability of error <5% (p <0,05) was considered significant. Results: 374 patients required tracheal intubation: 180 (48.1%) during P1 and 194 (51.8%) during P2; mean age: 59 ± 18 years (P1) and 61 ± 18 years (P2); APACHE II score: 18 (P1) and 16 (P2); SOFA score: 8 ± 2 (P1) and 7 ± 3 (P2); complications: P1, 24 (13%); P2, 7 (3.6%) (p <0.001); difficult intubation: P1, 8 (33.3%), P2, 1 (14.2%) (p <0.005); esophageal intubation: P1, 3 (12.5%), P2, 1 (14.2%), upper airway trauma: P1, 5 (21.3%), P2, 2 (28.5%); aspiration: P1, 4 (16.6%), P2, 1 (14.2%); arrhythmias: P1, 3 (12.5%), P2, 2 (28.5%); cardiac arrest: P1, 1 (4.1%), P2, 0; stay in the Intensive Care Unit: 13.5 ± 3 (P1) and 12.8 ± 1.2 days (P2); mortality: 10% (P1) and 6.2% (P2) (NS). Conclusion: Implementation of a protocol for the management of the airway decreased complications with statistical significance, including difficult intubation.(AR)

Decompressive craniectomy and brain death prevalence and mortality: 8-year retrospective review.

Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a surgical practice that has been used since the late 19th century. The cerebral blood flow increase after the performance of a DC can delay and even prevent the development of cerebral circulatory arrest and brain death (BD). We aimed to determine the prevalence of BD, the use of DC, and the evolution to BD with versus without DC. This retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study was performed in a single high-intensity center in Argentina from January 2003 to December 2010. Inclusion criteria were all patients with Glasgow Coma Score of at most 7 on admission or during their stay in the intensive care units. Exclusion criteria were patients with incomplete data. In cases of death, we assessed whether they fulfilled BD criteria or if the cause of death was a cardiac arrest (CA). The 698 patients considered for analysis showed a 60% (n = 418) global mortality rate. The causes were: CA (n = 270); BD (n = 108) and others considered to be "undefined," namely not assessed completely for the diagnosis of BD (n = 40). According to diagnosis category, traumatic brain injury (TBI) was largest (nearly 50%). The DC group (n = 206) showed significant differences regarding sex and diagnosis category versus no DC group. Mortality was significantly lower in this group (48% versus 65%, P < .001). No significant differences were observed comparing causes of death (CA, BD, or undefined). The use of DC did not influence the frequency of BD development (24% versus 26%, P = .72). The average DC rate was 30% and of BD 16%. The prevalence of DC and better survival were recorded compared with subjects without DC. The prevalence of BD was lower than expected in accordance with national registries; however, among our group, DC did not seem to modify the evolution to BD.