[Contingency plan for the intensive care services for the COVID-19 pandemic]. / Plan de contingencia para los servicios de medicina intensiva frente a la pandemia COVID-19.

In January 2020, the Chinese authorities identified a new virus of the Coronaviridae family as the cause of several cases of pneumonia of unknown aetiology. The outbreak was initially confined to Wuhan City, but then spread outside Chinese borders. On 31 January 2020, the first case was declared in Spain. On 11 March 2020, The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. On 16 March 2020, there were 139 countries affected. In this situation, the Scientific Societies SEMICYUC and SEEIUC have decided to draw up this Contingency Plan to guide the response of the Intensive Care Services. The objectives of this plan are to estimate the magnitude of the problem and identify the necessary human and material resources. This is to provide the Spanish Intensive Medicine Services with a tool to programme optimal response strategies.

Documento sobre la situación del modelo español de Medicina Intensiva. Plan estratégico SEMICYUC 2018-2022 / Document on the state of affairs of the Spanish model of Intensive Care Medicine. SEMICYUC Strategic Plan 2018-2022

El modelo español de Medicina Intensiva requiere una revisión y reflexión continuas. Tenemos valores y fortalezas que se concretan en nuestra actividad y en el importante papel que realizamos a diario a nivel hospitalario. Otras especialidades pugnan por compartir actividades de cuidados del paciente crítico y otras circunstancias pueden hacer mermar esa actividad. Este artículo es el reflejo de la reflexión de un importante número de miembros del Grupo de Trabajo de Planificación, Organización y Gestión de nuestra Sociedad (GTPOG-SEMICYUC). Se afrontan las acciones que se deben llevar a cabo para la actualización del modelo de Medicina Intensiva, hacia un modelo más abierto de UCI sin paredes o UCI extendida. Se aborda desde tres puntos de vista que deben ser complementarios: las acciones a nivel de la Administración, las acciones a nivel de nuestra Sociedad Científica y las llevadas a cabo por cada uno de los Servicios (liderados por sus representantes), tanto a nivel hospitalario como a nivel de las autoridades sanitarias en cada comunidad autónoma

The role of Critical Care Medicine in Spain requires continuous revision and reflection. We have values and strengths that are evidenced in our daily work and by their important effects in routine hospital activity. Other medical specialties seeking to assume activities referred to critical patient care, as well as a number of other circumstances, may have a negative impact upon our routine duties. This article reflects the impressions of an important number of members of the Planning, Organization and Management Task Force of the Spanish Society of Critical Medicine Society (Grupo de Trabajo de Planificación, Organización y Gestión; GTPOG-SEMICYUC). The actions required to upgrade our Critical Care Medicine model are presented, evolving towards a broader view such as the 'ICU without walls' or 'Expanded ICU'. The subject is addressed from three complementary standpoints: actions involving the administrative authorities; actions required on the part of our scientific Society; and initiatives to be implemented locally in each Intensive Care Unit (led by the corresponding Unit representatives) at both hospital level and involving the regional authorities

Document on the state of affairs of the Spanish model of Intensive Care Medicine. SEMICYUC Strategic Plan 2018-2022. / Documento sobre la situación del modelo español de Medicina Intensiva. Plan estratégico SEMICYUC 2018-2022.

The role of Critical Care Medicine in Spain requires continuous revision and reflection. We have values and strengths that are evidenced in our daily work and by their important effects in routine hospital activity. Other medical specialties seeking to assume activities referred to critical patient care, as well as a number of other circumstances, may have a negative impact upon our routine duties. This article reflects the impressions of an important number of members of the Planning, Organization and Management Task Force of the Spanish Society of Critical Medicine Society (Grupo de Trabajo de Planificación, Organización y Gestión; GTPOG-SEMICYUC). The actions required to upgrade our Critical Care Medicine model are presented, evolving towards a broader view such as the 'ICU without walls' or 'Expanded ICU'. The subject is addressed from three complementary standpoints: actions involving the administrative authorities; actions required on the part of our scientific Society; and initiatives to be implemented locally in each Intensive Care Unit (led by the corresponding Unit representatives) at both hospital level and involving the regional authorities.

Decision-making in end of life care. Are we really playing together in the same team? / Decisiones en los cuidados al final de la vida. ¿Jugamos en el mismo equipo?

BACKGROUND: Limitation of life-sustaining treatment is increasingly common in critical care units, and controlled donation after circulatory death is starting to be included as an option within patient care plans. Lack of knowledge and misunderstandings can place a barrier between healthcare professionals. OBJECTIVE: To determine the perceptions, knowledge and attitudes of physicians and nurses working in intensive care units regarding Limitation of life-sustaining treatment and controlled donation after circulatory death. DESIGN, SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional study carried out in 13 Spanish hospitals by means of an ad hoc questionnaire. METHODS: Contingency tables, Pearson's chi-squared test, Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney u-test were used to carry out descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses of responses. RESULTS: Although Limitation of life-sustaining treatment is a widespread practice, the survey revealed that nurses feel excluded from the development of protocols and the decision-making process, whilst the perception of physicians is that they have greater knowledge of the topic, and decisions are reached in consensus. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-disciplinary training programmes can help critical healthcare providers to work together with greater coordination, thus benefitting patients and their next of kin by providing excellent end-of-life care.

Audits in real time for safety in critical care: Definition and pilot study / Análisis aleatorios de seguridad en medicina intensiva: definición y estudio piloto

Adverse events significantly impact upon mortality rates and healthcare costs. Purpose To design a checklist of safety measures based on relevant scientific literature, apply random checklist measures to critically ill patients in real time (safety audits), and determine its utility and feasibility. Methods A list of safety measures based on scientific literature was drawn up by investigators. Subsequently, a group of selected experts evaluated these measures using the Delphi methodology. Audits were carried out on 14 days over a period of one month. Each day, 50% of the measures were randomly selected and measured in 50% of the randomized patients. Utility was assessed by measuring the changes in clinical performance after audits, using the variable improvement proportion related to audits. Feasibility was determined by the successful completion of auditing on each of the days on which audits were attempted. Results The final verified checklist comprised 37 measures distributed into 10 blocks. The improvement proportion related to audits was reported in 83.78% of the measures. This proportion was over 25% in the following measures: assessment of the alveolar pressure limit, checking of mechanical ventilation alarms, checking of monitor alarms, correct prescription of the daily treatment orders, daily evaluation of the need for catheters, enteral nutrition monitoring, assessment of semi-recumbent position, and checking that patient clinical information is properly organized in the clinical history. Feasibility: rounds were completed on the 14 proposed days. Conclusions Audits in real time are a useful and feasible tool for modifying clinical actions and minimizing errors

Los eventos adversos impactan significativamente en la mortalidad y costes sanitarios. Objetivos Elaborar un listado de verificación de medidas de seguridad basadas en la literatura científica más relevante, aplicarlo en tiempo real y aleatoriamente (rondas de seguridad) y determinar su utilidad y factibilidad. Diseño Los investigadores desarrollaron un listado de medidas de seguridad basado en la literatura científica. Posteriormente, mediante el método Delphi un grupo de expertos consensuaron las medidas. Las auditorías fueron realizadas en 14 días durante un mes. Cada día se seleccionaron aleatoriamente el 50% de las variables y se midieron en el 50% de los pacientes. La utilidad se determinó midiendo las modificaciones en la actuación clínica usando la variable «proporción de mejora relacionada con las auditorías». La factibilidad fue determinada por la capacidad de realizar los análisis cada día que fueron previstos. Resultados El listado de verificación estuvo formado por 37 medidas distribuidas en 10 bloques. En el 83,78% de las medidas se produjeron modificaciones después de las rondas. La proporción de mejora relacionada con las rondas fue superior al 25% en las siguientes medidas: evaluación del límite de presión alveolar, revisión de las alarmas de la ventilación mecánica, revisión de las alarmas del monitor, prescripción correcta de las órdenes de tratamiento, evaluación diaria de la necesidad de catéteres, monitorización de la nutrición enteral, posición semiincorporada e información clínica del paciente. Factibilidad: las rondas fueron completadas los 14 días que se propusieron. Conclusiones Las rondas de seguridad aleatorizadas son una herramienta útil y factible para modificar actuaciones clínicas minimizando los errores

Audits in real time for safety in critical care: definition and pilot study.

UNLABELLED: Adverse events significantly impact upon mortality rates and healthcare costs. PURPOSE: To design a checklist of safety measures based on relevant scientific literature, apply random checklist measures to critically ill patients in real time (safety audits), and determine its utility and feasibility. METHODS: A list of safety measures based on scientific literature was drawn up by investigators. Subsequently, a group of selected experts evaluated these measures using the Delphi methodology. Audits were carried out on 14 days over a period of one month. Each day, 50% of the measures were randomly selected and measured in 50% of the randomized patients. Utility was assessed by measuring the changes in clinical performance after audits, using the variable improvement proportion related to audits. Feasibility was determined by the successful completion of auditing on each of the days on which audits were attempted. RESULTS: The final verified checklist comprised 37 measures distributed into 10 blocks. The improvement proportion related to audits was reported in 83.78% of the measures. This proportion was over 25% in the following measures: assessment of the alveolar pressure limit, checking of mechanical ventilation alarms, checking of monitor alarms, correct prescription of the daily treatment orders, daily evaluation of the need for catheters, enteral nutrition monitoring, assessment of semi-recumbent position, and checking that patient clinical information is properly organized in the clinical history. Feasibility: rounds were completed on the 14 proposed days. CONCLUSIONS: Audits in real time are a useful and feasible tool for modifying clinical actions and minimizing errors.

Factores pronósticos en la neumonía comunitaria grave / Prognostic factors in severe community pneumonia

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Índice biespectral del encefalograma (BIS) y muerte cerebral / Electroencephalographic bispectral index (BIS) and brain death

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