The human factor and ergonomics in Patient Safety.

The human condition is linked to error in any activity that is performed, and the healthcare world is no exception. The origin of human error does not lie within the perversity of human nature, instead, it has its origins in latent failures in the healthcare environment and is a consequence of the processes and procedures applied. The science of the Human Factor deals with the application of knowledge to people (capabilities, characteristics and limitations), with the design and the management of the equipment they use and with the environments in which they work and the activities they carry out. Part of the Human Factor are the non-technical skills. These skills greatly influence people's behavior and, therefore, their performance and the quality of healthcare in a very complex socio-technical system.

Characteristics and outcome of patients with solid tumour requiring admission to the intensive care unit. Usefulness of three severity score systems / Características y evolución de los pacientes con tumores sólidos que requieren ingreso en la unidad de cuidados intensivos. Utilidad de 3 escalas de gravedad

Background and objective: To describe the characteristics and the evolution of patients with solid tumours admitted to the ICU and to identify factors associated with hospital mortality and to evaluate three illness severity scores. Material and methods: Descriptive study including 132 patients with solid tumour admitted to the ICU (2010-2016). Demographics and cancer-related data, organ failures, life-supporting therapies and severity scores: APACHE II, SOFA and ICU Cancer Mortality Model (ICMM) were collected. Results: There were 58 patients admitted for medical reasons and 74 for scheduled surgery. The ICU and hospital mortality rate were 12.9% and 19.7%, respectively. The medical reason for admission, the number of organ failures, and the need of life-supporting therapies were significantly associated with a higher mortality (p<0.05). In the logistic regression analysis, the three severity scores: SOFA (OR 1.18, 95% IC 1.14-1.48), APACHE II (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.09-1.27), and ICMM (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.07) were independently associated with a higher mortality (p<0.05). To evaluate the discrimination, the area under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUROC) were calculated: APACHE II (0.795, 95% CI 0.69-0.9), SOFA (0.77, 95% CI 0.69-0.864) and ICMM (0.794, 95% CI 0.697-0.891). The comparison of AUC ROC after DeLong's test showed no difference between them. Conclusion: Hospital mortality was associated with the type and severity of acute illness. The three severity scores were useful to assess outcome and accurate in the discrimination, but we did not find a significant difference between them

Introducción y objetivo: Describir las características generales y la evolución de los pacientes con tumores sólidos ingresados en una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI), identificar los factores asociados a la mortalidad y evaluar el valor pronóstico de 3 escalas de gravedad. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo de 132 pacientes con diagnóstico de tumour sólido admitidos en la UCI (2010-2016). Se analizaron los datos demográficos relacionados con el tumour, la disfunción orgánica y las terapias de soporte vital, así como las escalas de gravedad APACHE II, SOFA e ICMM. Resultados: Ingresaron 58 pacientes por causa médica y 74 tras cirugía programada. La tasa de mortalidad en la UCI y hospitalaria fue del 12,9% y 19,7%, respectivamente. La causa médica de ingreso, el número de fallos orgánicos y la necesidad de terapias de soporte vital se asociaron significativamente con mayor mortalidad (p<0,05). En el análisis por regresión logística las 3 escalas evaluadas: SOFA (OR: 1,18; IC 95%: 1,14-1,48), APACHE II (OR: 1,11; IC 95%: 1,09-1,27) e ICMM (OR: 1,03; IC 95%: 1,02-1,07) se asociaron de forma independiente con una mayor mortalidad (p<0,05). Para evaluar la discriminación, se calcularon las AUROC: APACHE II (0,795; CI 95%: 0,69-0,9), SOFA (0,77; CI 95%: 0,69-0,864) e ICMM (0,794; CI 95%: 0,697-0,891). La comparación de las mismas por el test DeLong no mostró diferencias entre los sistemas de puntuación. Conclusiones: La mortalidad hospitalaria se asoció con el tipo y la gravedad de la enfermedad aguda. Las e escalas de gravedad evaluadas fueron igualmente útiles para evaluar el pronóstico, sin mostrar diferencias entre ellas

Characteristics and outcome of patients with solid tumour requiring admission to the intensive care unit. Usefulness of three severity score systems.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics and the evolution of patients with solid tumours admitted to the ICU and to identify factors associated with hospital mortality and to evaluate three illness severity scores. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive study including 132 patients with solid tumour admitted to the ICU (2010-2016). Demographics and cancer-related data, organ failures, life-supporting therapies and severity scores: APACHE II, SOFA and ICU Cancer Mortality Model (ICMM) were collected. RESULTS: There were 58 patients admitted for medical reasons and 74 for scheduled surgery. The ICU and hospital mortality rate were 12.9% and 19.7%, respectively. The medical reason for admission, the number of organ failures, and the need of life-supporting therapies were significantly associated with a higher mortality (p<0.05). In the logistic regression analysis, the three severity scores: SOFA (OR 1.18, 95% IC 1.14-1.48), APACHE II (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.09-1.27), and ICMM (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.07) were independently associated with a higher mortality (p<0.05). To evaluate the discrimination, the area under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUROC) were calculated: APACHE II (0.795, 95% CI 0.69-0.9), SOFA (0.77, 95% CI 0.69-0.864) and ICMM (0.794, 95% CI 0.697-0.891). The comparison of AUC ROC after DeLong's test showed no difference between them. CONCLUSION: Hospital mortality was associated with the type and severity of acute illness. The three severity scores were useful to assess outcome and accurate in the discrimination, but we did not find a significant difference between them.

Local low-dose urokinase thrombolysis for the management of haemodynamically stable pulmonary embolism with right ventricular dysfunction.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of local low-dose urokinase thrombolysis (LLDUT) in haemodynamically stable pulmonary embolism with right ventricular dysfunction (RVD). METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a prospective study. LLDUT with a 200,000 IU bolus followed by a 100,000 IU/hr infusion was given. Treatment duration was determined through radiological control performed 48-72 hrs into treatment. A follow-up echocardiogram was performed within seven days after LLDUT completion. Evolution of thrombus burden, pulmonary artery pressures (PAP) and RVD were studied, and haemorrhagic complications and mortality were recorded. Eighty-seven patients were included (62.5±16.5 years). In 67 patients (77%), the baseline echocardiogram showed mild-to-severe RVD, a dilated right ventricle (diameter: 44.4±6.2 mm) and a decreased tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (14 mm [12-17]). Seventy-six patients (87.4%) experienced radiological improvement. Initially high PAP (mmHg) decreased after LLDUT: systolic 52.4 vs. 35.2 (17.2 [95% CI: 14.5-19.9]; p<0.0001), mean 34.2 vs. 23.5 (10.7 [95% CI: 9.0-12.5]; p<0.0001) and diastolic 23.9 vs. 16.0 (7.9 [95% CI: 6.1-9.7]; p<0.0001). Follow-up echocardiography showed overall improvement of RVD. No life-threatening haemorrhagic complications were reported. Six-month survival was 96.5%. CONCLUSIONS: LLDUT rapidly decreased thrombus burden and PAP, improving right ventricular function, and was not associated with any life-threatening complications or pulmonary embolism (PE)- or treatment-related mortality.