Description of Intensive Care and Intermediate Care resources managed by Anaesthesiology Departments in Spain and their adaptation capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: It is essential to understand the strategic importance of intensive care resources in the sustainable organisation of healthcare systems. Our objective has been to identify the intensive and intermediate care beds managed by Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation Services (A-ICU and A-IMCU) in Spain, their human and technical resources, and the changes made to these resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective observational study performed between December 2020 and July 2021 to register the number and characteristics of A-ICU and A-IMCU beds in hospitals listed in the catalogue published by the Spanish Ministry of Health. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 313 hospitals (98% of all hospitals with more than 500 beds, 70% of all hospitals with more than 100 beds). One hundred and forty seven of these hospitals had an A-ICU with a total of 1702 beds. This capacity increased to 2107 (124%) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three hundred and eight hospitals had an A-IMCU with a total of 3470 beds, 52.9% (2089) of which provided long-term care. The hospitals had 1900 ventilators, at a ratio of 1.07 respirators per A-ICU; 1559 anaesthesiologists dedicated more than 40% of their working time to intensive care. The nurse-to-bed ratio in A-ICUs was 2.8. DISCUSSION: A large proportion of fully-equipped ICU and IMCU beds in Spanish hospitals are managed by the anaesthesiology service. A-ICU and A-IMCUs have shown an extraordinary capacity to adapt their resources to meet the increased demand for intensive care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recomendaciones prácticas para el manejo perioperatorio del paciente con sospecha o infección grave por coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 / Practical recommendations for the perioperative management of the patient with suspection or serious infection by coronavirus SARS-CoV

En diciembre del 2019, la Comisión Municipal de Salud y Sanidad de Wuhan (provincia de Hubei, China) informó de una serie de casos de neumonía de etiología desconocida. El 7 de enero del 2020, las autoridades chinas identificaron como agente causante del brote un nuevo tipo de virus de la familia Coronaviridae, denominado SARS-CoV-2. Desde entonces, se han notificado miles de casos con una diseminación global. Las infecciones en humanos provocan un amplio espectro clínico que va desde infección leve del tracto respiratorio superior, hasta síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo grave y sepsis. No existe un tratamiento específico para SARS-CoV-2, motivo por lo que los aspectos fundamentales son establecer medidas adecuadas de prevención y el tratamiento de soporte y manejo de las complicaciones

In December 2019, the Wuhan Municipal Health and health Commission (Hubei Province, China) reported a series of cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology. On January 7, 2020, the Chinese authorities identified as a causative agent of the outbreak a new type of virus of the Coronaviridiae family, called SARS-CoV-2. Since then, thounsands of cases have been reported with global dissemination. Infections in humans cause a broad clinical spectrum ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infection, to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis. There is not specific treatment for SARS-CoV-2, which is why the fundamental aspects are to establish adequate prevention measures and support treatment and management of complications

Practical recommendations for the perioperative management of the patient with suspection or serious infection by coronavirus SARS-CoV. / Recomendaciones prácticas para el manejo perioperatorio del paciente con sospecha o infección grave por coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

In December 2019, the Wuhan Municipal Health and health Commission (Hubei Province, China) reported a series of cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology. On January 7, 2020, the Chinese authorities identified as a causative agent of the outbreak a new type of virus of the Coronaviridiae family, called SARS-CoV-2. Since then, thounsands of cases have been reported with global dissemination. Infections in humans cause a broad clinical spectrum ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infection, to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis. There is not specific treatment for SARS-CoV-2, which is why the fundamental aspects are to establish adequate prevention measures and support treatment and management of complications.

"Low-field" intraoperative MRI: a new scenario, a new adaptation.

AIM: To describe the adaptation of Cruces University Hospital to the use of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (ioMRI), and how the acquisition and use of this technology would impact the day-to-day running of the neurosurgical suite. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With the approval of the ethics committee, an observational, prospective study was performed from June 2012 to April 2014, which included 109 neurosurgical procedures with the assistance of ioMRI. These were performed using the Polestar N-30 system (PSN30; Medtronic Navigation, Louisville, CO), which was integrated into the operating room. RESULTS: A total of 159 procedures were included: 109 cranial surgeries assisted with ioMRI and 50 control cases (no ioMRI use). There were no statistical significant differences when anaesthetic time (p=0.587) and surgical time (p=0.792) were compared; however, an important difference was shown in duration of patient positioning (p<0.0009) and total duration of the procedure (p<0.0009) between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of ioMRI is necessary for most neurosurgical suites; however, a few things need to be taken into consideration when adapting to it. Increase procedure time, the use of specific MRI-safe devices, as well as a checklist for each patient to minimise risks, should be taken into consideration.

Use of BIS VISTA™ bilateral monitor for diagnosis of intraoperative seizures, a case report / Utilidad del monitor BIS-bilateral en el diagnóstico de crisis intraoperatorias, descripción de un caso

Changes in BIS (bispectral index) VISTA™ bilateral monitoring system associated with intraoperative episodes of generalized and focal seizures, during total intravenous anesthesia for resection of a left frontal parasagittal meningioma, are herein described (AU)

Describimos los cambios que se produjeron en el monitor BIS vista bilateral durante dos episodios de crisis generalizada uno de ellos convulsivo, el otro no convulsivo, así como la presencia de crisis focales durante la exéresis de un meningioma frontal izquierdo (AU)

Algunos comentarios a la carta «Controversia en cuanto al uso del icatibant como profilaxis en el angioedema» / Some comments to the letter «Controversy to use icatibant for prophylaxis in angioedema»

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Use of BIS VISTA bilateral monitor for diagnosis of intraoperative seizures, a case report.

Changes in BIS (bispectral index) VISTA bilateral monitoring system associated with intraoperative episodes of generalized and focal seizures, during total intravenous anesthesia for resection of a left frontal parasagittal meningioma, are herein described.

Uso profiláctico de icatibant en un caso de angioedema hereditario tipo III. (Revisión de la literatura sobre manejo perioperatorio en pacientes con angioedema hereditario tipo III) / Prophylactic use of icatibant before tracheal intubation of a patient with hereditary angioedema type III. (A literature review of perioperative management of patients with hereditary angioedema type III)

El angioedema hereditario tipo iii es una forma de angioedema familiar poco frecuente, descrito como entidad patológica recientemente. El alto riesgo de exacerbación del angioedema hereditario en relación con la cirugía, incluso con procedimientos dentales, y la alta mortalidad en esta enfermedad cuando el edema de vía aérea es causado por las maniobras de intubación orotraqueal, obligan a establecer un tratamiento profiláctico cuando dichas maniobras son necesarias. Describimos el uso por primera vez de icatibant (Firazyr®) como profilaxis eficaz del desarrollo de edema de vía aérea asociado a intubación orotraqueal en este tipo de pacientes. Dada la inexistencia de publicaciones en relación con el manejo anestésico de estos pacientes, hemos realizado una revisión sistemática de esta enfermedad y de su posible relación con los procedimientos anestésicos, y usamos nuestro caso como base de esta revisión (AU)

Type III hereditary angioedema is a rare familial disorder that has recently been described as a separate condition. Triggers for episodes of angioedema include surgery, dental procedures, and tracheal intubation maneuvers. Since episodes affecting the upper airway are potentially life-threatening, prophylactic treatment is recommended in these situations. The use of icatibant (Firazyr®), for prevention of angioedema prior to tracheal intubation, is reported in a patient with type iii hereditary angioedema. A literature review on the anesthetic management of this condition was conducted (AU)

[Prophylactic use of icatibant before tracheal intubation of a patient with hereditary angioedema type III. (A literature review of perioperative management of patients with hereditary angioedema type III)]. / Uso profiláctico de icatibant en un caso de angioedema hereditario tipo III. (Revisión de la literatura sobre manejo perioperatorio en pacientes con angioedema hereditario tipo III).

Type III hereditary angioedema is a rare familial disorder that has recently been described as a separate condition. Triggers for episodes of angioedema include surgery, dental procedures, and tracheal intubation maneuvers. Since episodes affecting the upper airway are potentially life-threatening, prophylactic treatment is recommended in these situations. The use of icatibant (Firazyr(®)), for prevention of angioedema prior to tracheal intubation, is reported in a patient with type iii hereditary angioedema. A literature review on the anesthetic management of this condition was conducted.

[Perioperative considerations in vagal nerve stimulator implantation]. / Aspectos perioperatorios de la implantación de un estimulador vagal.

Vagal nerve stimulation has become an a important tool in the treatment of refractory epilepsy, which continues to be the main indication for this technique. Other therapeutic indications are emerging, however, and vagal nerve stimulation has now been approved for major depression. Additional possible uses under study include morbid obesity, Alzheimer disease, chronic pain syndromes, and certain neuropsychologic disorders. This review considers perioperative aspects relevant to using this therapeutic procedure with a view to facilitating better and more integrated management of its application.

Aspectos perioperatorios de la implantación de un estimulador vagal / Perioperative considerations in vagal nerve stimulator implantation

La estimulación vagal se ha convertido en una modalidad importante en el tratamiento de la epilepsia refractaria, que sigue siendo su indicación principal. Sus indicaciones terapéuticas se han visto ampliadas, siendo aprobado para el tratamiento de la depresión mayor. En la actualidad siguen en estudio otras posibles indicaciones como la obesidad mórbida, la enfermedad de Alzheimer, síndromes de dolor crónico y algunos trastornos neuropsiquiátricos. En este artículo se revisan los aspectos perioperatorios de este procedimiento terapéutico, lo cual permitirá un mejor y más integral manejo del mismo(AU)

Vagal nerve stimulation has become an a important tool in the treatment of refractory epilepsy, which continues to be the main indication for this technique. Other therapeutic indications are emerging, however, and vagal nerve stimulation has now been approved for major depression. Additional possible uses under study include morbid obesity, Alzheimer disease, chronic pain syndromes, and certain neuropsychologic disorders. This review considers perioperative aspects relevant to using this therapeutic procedure with a view to facilitating better and more integrated management of its application(AU)