Employees Perceptions of Job Insecurity and Performance: A Qualitative Approach.

The purpose of this article is to understand the experience of workers' perceptions of job insecurity and its relation to performance. To this end, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 38 workers in the retail, services, education, financial, construction, and pharmaceutical industries in Chile. Using content analysis based on workers' accounts of their own experience, we identified two main categories: (a) the experience of job insecurity viewed in relation to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and emotional aspects of job insecurity, and (b) the relation between job insecurity and performance. The possibility of job loss expresses itself in experiences and emotions that are related to the performance of workers in different ways. These findings are discussed in terms of stress theory and the motivation to preserve jobs.

A living WHO guideline on drugs to prevent COVID-19

Clinical question What is the role of drugs in preventing covid-19? Why does this matter?There is widespread interest in whether drug interventions can be used for the prevention of covid-19, but there is uncertainty about which drugs, if any, are effective. The first version of this living guideline focuses on the evidence for hydroxychloroquine. Subsequent updates will cover other drugs being investigated for their role in the prevention of covid-19. The guideline development panel made a strong recommendation against the use of hydroxychloroquine for individuals who do not have covid-19 (high certainty). How this guideline was created This living guideline is from the World Health Organization (WHO) and provides up to date covid-19 guidance to inform policy and practice worldwide. Magic Evidence Ecosystem Foundation (MAGIC) provided methodological support. A living systematic review with network analysis informed the recommendations. An international guideline development panel of content experts, clinicians, patients, an ethicist and methodologists produced recommendations following standards for trustworthy guideline development using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Understanding the new recommendation The linked systematic review and network meta-analysis (6 trials and 6059 participants) found that hydroxychloroquine had a small or no effect on mortality and admission to hospital (high certainty evidence). There was a small or no effect on laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (moderate certainty evidence) but probably increased adverse events leading to discontinuation (moderate certainty evidence). The panel judged that almost all people would not consider this drug worthwhile. In addition, the panel decided that contextual factors such as resources, feasibility, acceptability, and equity for countries and healthcare systems were unlikely to alter the recommendation. The panel considers that this drug is no longer a research priority and that resources should rather be oriented to evaluate other more promising drugs to prevent covid-19. Updates This is a living guideline. New recommendations will be published in this article and signposted by update notices to this guideline.

A living WHO guideline on drugs for COVID-19

What is the role of drug interventions in the treatment of patients with covid-19? The latest version of this WHO living guidance focuses on remdesivir, following the 15 October 2020 preprint publication of results from the WHO SOLIDARITY trial. It contains a weak or conditional recommendation against the use of remdesivir in hospitalised patients with covid-19 The first version on this living guidance focused on corticosteroids. The strong recommendation for systemic corticosteroids in patients with severe and critical covid-19, and a weak or conditional recommendation against systemic corticosteroids in patients with non-severe covid-19 are unchanged.

Variability in triage practices for critically ill cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Intensive care triage practices and end-user interpretation of triage guidelines have rarely been assessed. We evaluated agreement between providers on the prioritization of patients for ICU admission using different triage guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-centered randomized study on providers from 18 different countries was conducted using clinical vignettes of oncological patients. The level of agreement between providers was measured using two different guidelines, with one being cancer specific. RESULTS: Amongst 257 providers, 52.5% randomly received the Society of Critical Care Prioritization Model, and 47.5% received a cancer specific flowchart as a guide. In the Prioritization Model arm the average entropy was 1.193, versus 1.153 in the flowchart arm (P = .095) indicating similarly poor agreement. The Fleiss' kappa coefficients were estimated to be 0.2136 for the SCCMPM arm and 0.2457 for the flowchart arm, also similarly implying poor agreement. CONCLUSIONS: The low agreement amongst practitioners on the prioritization of cancer patient cases for ICU admission existed using both general triage guidelines and guidelines tailored only to cancer patients. The lack of consensus on intensive care unit triage practices in the oncological population exposes a potential barrier to appropriate resource allocation that needs to be addressed.

Evidence-based guidelines for the use of tracheostomy in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVES: To provide evidence-based guidelines for tracheostomy in critically ill adult patients and identify areas needing further research. METHODS: A taskforce composed of representatives of 10 member countries of the Pan-American and Iberic Federation of Societies of Critical and Intensive Therapy Medicine and of the Latin American Critical Care Trial Investigators Network developed recommendations based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. RESULTS: The group identified 23 relevant questions among 87 issues that were initially identified. In the initial search, 333 relevant publications were identified, of which 226 publications were chosen. The taskforce generated a total of 19 recommendations, 10 positive (1B, 3; 2C, 3; 2D, 4) and 9 negative (1B, 8; 2C, 1). A recommendation was not possible in 6 questions. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous techniques are associated with a lower risk of infections compared with surgical tracheostomy. Early tracheostomy only seems to reduce the duration of ventilator use but not the incidence of pneumonia, the length of stay, or the long-term mortality rate. The evidence does not support the use of routine bronchoscopy guidance or laryngeal masks during the procedure. Finally, proper prior training is as important or even a more significant factor in reducing complications than the technique used.

Sepsis in vulnerable populations.

Despite the acquisition of a large body of evidence, there are many unanswered questions about sepsis. The definition of this disease is plagued by the lack of a simple pathophysiological description linking cause to effect and the activation of host immune responses that hinders disease progression at the same time producing multiorgan dysfunction. A plethora of inconsistent clinical features has served to obfuscate rather than illuminate. The Surviving Sepsis Guidelines (SSG) are a major advance because it comprehensively interrogates all aspects of care for the critically ill. For vulnerable populations living in low- and middle-income countries, this guideline is ineffectual because of the lack of region-specific data, differences in etiology of sepsis and burden of disease, limited human capacity and infrastructure, as well as socioeconomic realities. Appropriate care must be guided by common sense guidelines that are sensitive to local realities and adapted as relevant data are acquired.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with 2009 influenza A(H1N1) virus infection with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill patients with 2009 influenza A(H1N1). METHODS: An observational study of patients with confirmed or probable 2009 influenza A(H1N1) and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation was performed. RESULTS: We studied 96 patients (mean age, 45 [14] years [mean, SD]; 44% female). Shock and acute respiratory distress syndrome were diagnosed during the first 72 hours of admission in 43% and 72% of patients, respectively. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation was used in 45% of the patients, but failed in 77% of them. Bacterial pneumonia was diagnosed in 33% of cases, 8% during the first week (due to community-acquired microorganisms) and 25% after the first week (due to gram-negative bacilli and resistant gram-positive cocci). Intensive care unit mortality was 50%. Nonsurvivors differed from survivors in the prevalence of cardiovascular, respiratory, and hematologic failure on admission and late pneumonia. Reported causes of death were refractory hypoxia, multiorgan failure, and shock (50%, 38%, and 12% of all causes of death, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with 2009 influenza A(H1N1) and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation often present with clinical criteria of acute respiratory distress syndrome and shock. Bacterial pneumonia is a frequent complication. Mortality is high and is primarily due to refractory hypoxia.

Impacto de la obesidad en pacientes con neumonía grave por virus influenza A/H1N1: estudio multicéntrico chileno / Impact of obesity with severe pneumonia by influenza A/H1N1 virus: a Chilean multicenter study

En la primera pandemia del siglo XXI por virus influenza A/H1N1, una importante proporción de paciente que desarrollaron neumonía y Falla Respiratoria Aguda (FRA) eran obesos. La obesidad ha sido propuesta como un factor de riesgo que aumenta la morbimortalidad; sin embargo, hay controversia al respecto. Objetivo: evaluar el impacto de la obesidad en complicaciones, estadía y/o mortalidad en pacientes adultos graves por virus influenza A/H1N1. Estudio observacional y multicéntrico realizado en 17 UCIs de Chile durante el periodo mayo-agosto 2009. Fueron incluidos en el estudio solo paciente con infección por virus Influenza A/H1N1 confirmada o probable. Los paciente obesos (IMC>30) fueron comparados con pacientes no obesos. Resultados: De un total de 136 pacientes incluidos en el estudio, 64 (47 por ciento) fueron obesos y de estos 13 obesos mórbidos (BMI >40). Los pacientes obesos tienen mayor frecuencia de: comorbilidades, ventilación mecánica y complicaciones. La estadía en UCI y en el hospital fue más prolongada en pacientes obesos (18,1+/-15 vs. 10,9+/-10,2, p=0,002 y 27,2+/-24,7 vs17,7 +/- 14,6, p=0,01 respectivamente). La mortalidad fue mayor en pacientes obesos (36 por ciento vs. 19,4 por ciento; OR 2,32; IC95 por ciento 1,07-5,05, p=0.035). El estudio de regresión logística encuentra que la FOM es un factor pronóstico independiente de mortalidad en pacientes obesos. Conclusiones: Los pacientes obesos con neumonía grave por virus influenza A/H1N1 tienen una mayor morbi-mortalidad y prolongación de su estadía en UCI y en el hospital. El desarrollo de FOM en pacientes obesos es un factor de mal pronóstico.

In the first pandemic of the 21st century due to influenza A/H1N1 virus, a significant proportion of patients who developed pneumonia and acute respiratory failure (ARF) were obese. Obesity has been proposed as a risk factor that increases morbidity and mortality, however, there is controversy about it. Objective: To determine the impact of obesity on complications, stay and / or mortality in adult patients with severe influenza A/H1N1 virus. Multicenter observational study conducted in 17 ICUs of Chile during the period May to August 2009. Were included only patients with influenza A/H1N1 virus infection confirmed or probable. Obese patients (BMI> 30) were compared with non obese patients. The results: Of a total of 136 patients included in the study, 64 (47 percent) were obese and of these 13 morbidly obese (BMI> 40). Obese patients have a higher frequency of: comorbidities, mechanical ventilation and complications. The stay in ICU and hospital was longer in obese patients (18.1 +/- 15 vs. 10.9 +/- 10.2, p = 0.002 and 27.2 +/- 24.7 vs17, 7 +/- 14.6, p = 0.01 respectively). Mortality was higher in obese patients (36 percent vs. 19.4 percent, OR 2.32, 95 percent CI 1.07 to 5.05, p = 0,035). The logistic regression analysis found that the MOF is an independent predictor of mortality in obese patients. Conclusions: Obese patients with severe pneumonia due to the influenza A/H1N1 virus have a high morbidity and mortality and prolonged stay in ICU and hospital. MOF development in obese patients is a poor prognostic factor.

Delirium epidemiology in critical care (DECCA): an international study.

INTRODUCTION: Delirium is a frequent source of morbidity in intensive care units (ICUs). Most data on its epidemiology is from single-center studies. Our aim was to conduct a multicenter study to evaluate the epidemiology of delirium in the ICU. METHODS: A 1-day point-prevalence study was undertaken in 104 ICUs from 11 countries in South and North America and Spain. RESULTS: In total, 975 patients were screened, and 497 fulfilled inclusion criteria and were enrolled (median age, 62 years; 52.5% men; 16.7% and 19.9% for ICU and hospital mortality); 64% were admitted to the ICU because of medical causes, and sepsis was the main diagnosis (n = 76; 15.3%). In total, 265 patients were sedated with the Richmond agitation and sedation scale (RASS) deeper than -3, and only 232 (46.6%) patients could be evaluated with the confusion-assessment method for the ICU. The prevalence of delirium was 32.3%. Compared with patients without delirium, those with the diagnosis of delirium had a greater severity of illness at admission, demonstrated by higher sequential organ-failure assessment (SOFA (P = 0.004)) and simplified acute physiology score 3 (SAPS3) scores (P < 0.0001). Delirium was associated with increased ICU (20% versus 5.7%; P = 0.002) and hospital mortality (24 versus 8.3%; P = 0.0017), and longer ICU (P < 0.0001) and hospital length of stay (LOS) (22 (11 to 40) versus 7 (4 to 18) days; P < 0.0001). Previous use of midazolam (P = 0.009) was more frequent in patients with delirium. On multivariate analysis, delirium was independently associated with increased ICU mortality (OR = 3.14 (1.26 to 7.86); CI, 95%) and hospital mortality (OR = 2.5 (1.1 to 5.7); CI, 95%). CONCLUSIONS: In this 1-day international study, delirium was frequent and associated with increased mortality and ICU LOS. The main modifiable risk factors associated with the diagnosis of delirium were the use of invasive devices and sedatives (midazolam).

Influenza A pandemics: clinical and organizational aspects: the experience in Chile.

Recently, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic mediated by the novel A H1N1 influenza virus. Soon after the first report from Mexico, the disease arrived in Chile, where it spread quickly from south to north, mimicking cold weather progression through the country. Between May and September 2009, 366,624 cases of H1N1 were reported; 12,248 were confirmed by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and 1562 were hospitalized. One hundred thirty-two deaths were attributable to the infection, creating a death rate of 0.78 per 100,000 inhabitants. Common comorbidities were present in 59%, including obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, type II diabetes, and congestive heart failure. Nine percent were pregnant. Severe disease developed early; the median time to admittance was 5 days, and the most common clinical manifestations were cough, fever, dyspnea, and myalgia. Mean acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II and sequential organ failure assessment scores were 14 and 5, respectively. Highlighted laboratory data were lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase elevation, leukocytosis in 50%, elevated creatinine in a 25%, and thrombocytopenia in 20%. Severe respiratory failure requiring high-frequency oscillatory ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as sophisticated modes of respiratory support was seen in 17%. Acute renal failure occurred in 25% of the intensive care unit patients, with death rates near 50%. Health systems reinforced outpatient guards with extra staff and extension of the duty schedules. Antivirals were supplied free for medically diagnosed cases. Admissions for severe cases were prioritized, reconverting hospital beds into advanced care ones; a central coordination station rationed their assignment. Recommendations for small hospitals include adding ventilators, using videoconferences, providing tutorial activity from experts, developing guidelines for disease management, and outlining criteria for transport.

Anemia en el paciente crítico y el rol de la hepcidina: entendiendo los nuevos conceptos sobre la interacción entre lesión, inflamación y anemia / Anemia in critically ill patient: role of hepcidin

La anemia es un trastorno multifactorial común en el paciente crítico, en que influyen hemodilución, aumento de pérdidas sanguíneas, inflamación y déficit de hierro, a través de una homeostasis patológica de hierro, con producción alterada de eritropoyetina y alteración de la eritropoyesis. Durante la inflamación los elevados niveles de hepcidina se correlacionan con la disminución del hierro disponible para la eritropoyesis quedando almacenado en depósitos principalmente en los macrófagos tisulares. Por el contrario cuando los niveles de hepcidina son bajos, el hierro se vuelve disponible para la eritropoyesis. La hepcidina sería un factor clave tanto en la homeostasis del hierro como en la eritropoyesis, sin embargo, nuestro conocimiento de su comportamiento en el trauma, la sepsis y otras condiciones críticas, es todavía limitado. Recientes estudios han venido a ampliar nuestra comprensión del rol de la hepcidina durante la sepsis o el síndrome de respuesta inflamatoria sistémica (SIRS). Los ensayos de hepcidina en plasma u orina aún no están ampliamente disponibles y es deseable que haya muy pronto un desarrollo permanente y una validación clínica de estos ensayos. Adicionalmente, la introducción de agonistas y antagonistas farmacológicos de la hepcidina pudieran mejorar las terapias corrientes de los desórdenes del hierro. Resumimos en este artículo información actual sobre la anemia en el paciente crítico y discutimos los avances recientes.

Anemia is a common multifactorial disorder in critically ill patients, which hemodilution influence, increased blood loss, swelling and deficit iron through a pathological iron homeostasis, with production erythropoietin altered and impaired erythropoiesis. During the inflammation high hepcidin levels correlate with decrease the iron available for erythropoiesis being stored in deposits primarily in tissue macrophages. On the contrary when hepcidin levels are low iron becomes available for erythropoiesis. Hepcidin would be a key factor in both the homeostasis as iron in erythropoiesis, however, our knowledge of behavior intrauma, sepsis and other critical conditions, is still limited. Recent studies have expanded our understanding the role of hepcidin during sepsis or response syndrome systemic inflammation (SIRS). Trials of hepcidin in plasma or urine even are not widely available and it is desirable to development and clinical validation of these tests has been published assoon is possible. Additionally, the introduction of pharmacological agonists and antagonists hepcidin could improve current therapies for disorders iron. This article summarized current information on anemia in critically ill patient and discuss recent developments.

Evento cerebro vascular isquémico / Ischemic vascular brain event

Las enfermedades vasculares cerebrales son la tercera causa de muerte en el mundo occidental y el ictus isquémico sigue siendo una causa importante de morbilidad y mortalidad, pues representa un tercio de las muertes en Norteamérica. Los pacientes con mayor riesgo de desarrollar un Evento Cerebro Vascular Isquémico (ECVI) son aquellos que presentan fibrilación auricular, estenosis arterial sintomática de una de las arterias carótidas internas o vertebrales, amaurosis fugaz u otros eventos isquémicos. La tomografía computada de cerebro inicial resulta normal en un tercio de los pacientes. Existe evidencia de que el ingreso a unidades especializadas en el manejo del ictus disminuye su riesgo de muerte, incapacidad y cuidados crónicos institucionalizados. A pesar de todo, muchos pacientes fallecen en muerte cerebral. Aunque no existen estudios clínicos sobre la mejor forma de proteger la vía aérea en pacientes con ECVI, cuando hay compromiso de conciencia e incapacidad de protegerla se utiliza de preferencia la intubación endotraqueal. Se recomienda ser prudente en el manejo de la HTA en la fase aguda del ictus isquémico. La administración intravenosa o intraarterial de agentes trombolíticos puede lograr la re-permeabilización del vaso ocluido y mejorar el resultado neurológico de los pacientes con un infarto cerebral. Sólo el rt-PA tiene clara evidencia de su beneficio. Se revisan el tratamiento del EVCI y de sus complicaciones.

Brain vascular diseases are the third leading cause of death in the Western world, while ischemic ictus continues to be a major cause of morbimortality, accounting for one third of all deaths in North America. Patients with a higher risk of developing an Ischemic Cerebrovascular Event (ICE) are those presenting auricular fibrillation, symptomatic arterial stenosis in one of the vertebral or internal carotids, amaurosis fugax or other ischemic events. Initial brain computed tomography is found to be normal in a third of all patients. It has been evidenced that timely admission to Centers specialized in ictus treatment reduces death risk rates, handicaps, and residential health care for chronically ill patients. Nevertheless, many patients die from brain death. Despite the non-existence of clinical studies on how to best protect aerial pathway in ICE patients, when there is consciousness compromise and no possibility of protecting it, endotracheal intubation is performed preferably. During acute stage of ischemic ictus a sensible management of AHT is recommended. Intravenous or intraarterial administration of thrombolytic agents may produce repermeabilization of the occluded vessel and improve neurological outcome in patients with brain infarction. Only rt-PA has proved to be clearly beneficial. Management of ICE and its complications are revised.

Agitación y sedación conciente en cuidados intensivos / Agitation and conscious sedation in intensive care

La sedación y la analgesia son parte integral en el manejo de los pacientes críticos en las unidades intensivas, estos pacientes tienen mayor riesgo de presentar ansiedad, agitación, combatividad, delirio y síndromes de abstinencia. Con el fin de proporcionar una guía simple y práctica para la toma de decisiones en sedación y analgesia en el año 2005 la Federación Panamericana e Ibérica de Sociedades de Medicina Crítica y Terapia Intensiva (FEPIMCTI) propuso la realización de un consenso con un enfoque regional, basado en la mejor evidencia disponible en la literatura médica. En este contexto nosotros realizamos la presente guía de sedación vigil y agitación. Se tratan temas importantes relacionados con el uso cauto de la sedación y optimización de la sincronía ventilador paciente, como también el control de la agitación y de los procedimientos invasivos mínimos en UCI. Cada recomendación está hecha en base a dos criterios: su aceptabilidad como recomendación fuerte o débil (considerada de acuerdo al consenso de los asistentes expertos) y su sostén en la literatura médica obtenida mediante revisión sistemática y calificada por, al menos, dos grupos de expertos en epidemiología clínica.

Sedation and analgesia play a major role in critical patients management in ICUs. These patients face a higher risk of developing anxiety, agitation, combativity, delirium, and deprivation syndromes. In order to offer a simple and practical guideline for decision making in sedation and analgesia, the Pan-American and Iberian Federation of Critical Medicine and Intensive Therapy Societies (FEPIMCTI) proposed a regional-focused consensus based on best available evidence in medical literature. It is in this context that the current Guideline on Conscious Sedation and Agitation has been developed. Important issues related to the appropriate use of sedation and improvement of ventilator-patient synchrony, as well as control of agitation and minimally invasive procedures in ICU are dealt with. Each proposed recommendation is based on two main criteria: its acceptability as a strong or weak recommendation (according to consensus of participating experts) and its support in medical literature, which has been systematically reviewed and assessed by, al least, two groups of clinical epidemiology experts.

Factores pronósticos en pacientes críticos sometidos a cirugía digestiva: desarrollo de un modelo predictivo de mortalidad / Factors pressage in subjected critical patients to digestive surgery: development of a prediction model of mortality

La mayor parte de los score predictivos en pacientes críticos provienen de la literatura extranjera, estudiamos los factores pronósticos en pacientes críticos sometidos a cirugía digestiva en un centro nacional. Material y Métodos: se estudiaron retrospectivamente todos los pacientes sometidos a cirugía digestiva ingresados a la UCI del Hospital del Salvador desde 01/2000 hasta 08/2004, registrando sus datos epidemiológicos, clínicos y de terapia en una base de datos informatizada. Se realizó análisis univariado y luego se refinó en un modelo de regresión logística multivariado, integrando todas las variables que resultaron estadísticamente significativas. Resultados: se incluyeron 153 pacientes consecutivos con cirugía digestiva: 82 mujeres (53,6 por ciento), con un promedio de edad de 60,3±16,9 años. Fallecieron 29 (18,9 por ciento). Motivo de la cirugía: cáncer en 45 por ciento, abdomen agudo 37,9 por ciento, ictericia obstructiva 9,2 por ciento, hernias 7,2 por ciento, hemorragia digestiva 4,6 por ciento, trauma 3,9 por ciento, drenaje de abscesos 2,6 por ciento y otros 5,2 por ciento. Un 73,9 por ciento presentó comorbilidad 35,3 por ciento HTA, 14,4 por ciento DM, 13,1 por ciento EPOC, 9,15 por ciento cardiopatía coronaria, 9,15 por ciento insuficiencia cardíaca, 5,2 por ciento IRC, 4,6 por ciento úlcera péptica, 5,3 por ciento, cirrosis y 39,9 por ciento otras. Ninguna fue un factor pronóstico independiente. Se encontró un aumento logístico de probabilidad de morir según edad y se construyó curva analítica, con una OR 1,3 por cada año. No se encontró diferencias significativas por sexo ni entre cirugías electivas o de urgencia. Un 60,5 por ciento necesitó ventilación mecánica (VM). Fue un factor de riesgo significativo (OR 7,89; p=0,001), como la presencia de infección (I) (OR 3,3; p=0,007) y el número de focos (OR 1,8; p=0,001). En regresión logística multivariada, el foco de peor pronóstico fue el intraabdominal (IA) (RR 7,42; IC 5,01-7,89; p <0,0001). Un 15,9 por ciento presentó insuficiencia renal aguda (IRA) que fue un factor de mal pronóstico (OR 6,01; p <0,0001), 4,6 por ciento necesitó diálisis, lo que no aportó un factor protector significativo, tampoco al ajustarlo por falla renal.

Proteína ligadora de ácidos grasos de miocito: marcador precoz de infarto agudo al miocardio / Myoccityc fatty acid-binding protein: early markers in acute myocardial infarction

La cardiopatía coronaria es la primera causa de muerte en Chile y el infarto agudo del miocardio una de las patologías con garantías explícitas recientemente implementadas, exigiendo un diagnóstico precoz (30 minutos desde el momento de la consulta). Las troponinas e isoformas mb de la creatinfosfoquinasa son marcadores tardíos de daño miocárdico. La proteína ligadora de ácidos grasos de miocito (h-FABP), proteína citosólica del citoesqueleto miocárdico, es un marcador precoz de necrosis miocárdica detectándose ya a los 30 minutos de la injuria. Objetivo: Determinar la presencia temprana de h-FABP en síndrome coronario agudo (SCA) con supradesnivel del segmento ST (SDST) y su correlación tardía con diagnóstico infarto agudo del miocardio (IM). Materiales y métodos: Se reclutó a pacientes con SCA SDST con <6 horas de inicio de sus síntomas entre el 1/8/04 al 6/9/05 en el Servicio de Urgencias del Hospital del Salvador. Con registro de antecedentes personales, clínicos, electrocardiográficos, troponinas y/o CPK mb. Se correlacionó h-FABP (test rápido inmunoensayo de anticuerpos monoclonales, cualitativo (Cardiodetect®)) con diagnóstico confirmado de IM. Se analizaron sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo (VPP), negativo (VPN), cociente probabilidad positivo y negativo con programa estadístico PRIMER 4,06®. Resultados: 45 pacientes con SCA SDST. El 65,9 por ciento de género masculino. Rango de edades entre 38 y 82 con promedio de 63,4±16,4 años. Se registraron como factores de riesgo: tabaquismo 68,1 por ciento, hipertensión arterial 46,7 por ciento, dislipidemia 29,3 por ciento, cardiopatía coronaria 13,8 por ciento. Características electrocardiográficas: pared anterior 43,5 por ciento, inferior 36,7 por ciento, bloqueo completo de rama izquierda 19,8 por ciento. Se obtuvo una sensibilidad de 85,7 por ciento, especificidad: 60 por ciento, valor predictivo positivo: 80,2 por ciento y valor predictivo negativo: 54,7 por ciento. Cociente de probabilidad positiva 2,41 y cociente de probabilidad negativa 0,24 Taylor. Chi cuadrado por Mantel Haenszel p=0,0007. Conclusiones: La h-FABP es un marcador precoz, de fácil implementación y rápido resultado en el infarto agudo del miocardio, potencialmente útil para el diagnóstico en IM dada su alta sensibilidad y cociente de probabilidad.

Efecto de la implementación de recomendaciones de sedoanalgesia en una UCI general / Effect of the implementation of recommendations about sedoanalgesia in a general ICU

A great part of the patients in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) need sedo-analgesia (SA), specially in mechanic ventilation (MV). Our unit is a general ICU where a diversity of therapeuticschemes and farmacological presentations have been used, without standard practices. At a first stage we introduced SA recommendations, reinforcing its use. We conducted the present study to evaluate its effect in our clinical practice. Methodology: Indicators of adverse incidents were registered, associated to MV, mortality, permanence in MV,hospitalization in ICU, use of medicines and cost, the results were measured during the 3 months prior to beginning and the 3 months following implementation of the SA recommendations, which ruled the use of the association of midazolam (MZ) (Dormonid (R), Laboratorio Roche (R) and morphine; in cases of the renal insufficiency, hemo-dynamic instability or allergic reaction it was chosen to associate MZ and fentanyl, both associations in continuous infusion and with suspension of morning sedation. The sedation level had to be evaluated with ramsay scale. Neurological patients were excluded. It was considered "strict compliance" when the recommended combination of medicines were utilized, adjusted by sedation scale and with matinal suspension; "partial compliance" when these were utilized without complying with the scale adjustement or the matinal suspension. The results obtained were analyzed utilizing the Primer(R) statistical program. Results: Before the introduction of the recommendations we observed an average MV duration of 5,8 days (Range: 1-82), duration of ICU hospitalization of 9,8 days (Range: 1-101), a mortality of 28 per cent, one case of auto-extubation, with the use of one average dose of MZ of 10±1,8 mg/hr, with a montly use of MZ in the unit of 22,2 g., a montly expense in sedatives, analgesics and relaxants of US$3018. After its introduction we observed an average duration at MV of 4,5 days (Range: 1-41) (NS), duration of hospitalization at ICU of 5,0 days (Range: 1-45) (p=0,001), a mortality of 22 per cent (NS), one case of auto-extubation, with an average dose of MZ of 4,2 g. (p=0,001), a montly expense in sedatives, analgesics and relaxants of US$809 (p=0,0001). Average compliance with the recommendations was 68 per cent (46 per cent partial, 22 per cent strict).

Encuesta sobre grado de satisfacción y evaluación de calidad de atención por familiares de enfermos de UCI / Survey on the degree of satisfaction and evaluation of the quality of attention by family of ICU patients

El soporte familiar puede disminuir la ansiedad, favorecer la recuperación y la integración del paciente en nuestras unidades. La familia como grupo social de la UCI también tiene necesidades de apoyo psíquico y emocional. Hemos estudiado el grado de satisfacción y la evaluación de calidad que hacen los familiares de enfermos (FE) de nuestro servicio. Metodología: Aplicamos una encuesta anónima a los FE con un cuestionario estructurado que pide respuestas definidas ("bueno", "malo") y que no permite términos medios, sobre diversos aspectos ambientales y del proceso de atención en nuestra unidad. También se solicitó la opinión acerca de la técnica y humana del equipo de salud. los resultados se recogieron en una base de datos informática y se aplicó prueba de Chi2. Resultados: De los 12 aspectos analizados los que recibieron una mejor evaluación fueron la calidad técnica-humana del equipo de salud y el respeto a las creencias personales y religiosas (100 por ciento aprobación), el régimen de una visita por día recibió la menor apreciación favorable (65,2 por ciento) y la única valoración negativa fue la información telefónica (47,3 por ciento). La evaluación subjetiva de la calidad técnica y humana de la atención de los funcionarios se muestra en el gráfico. Conclusión: Existe un fuerte predominio de apreciación favorable. Resultó con menor calificación positiva la existencia de una sola visita diaria y fue evaluada negativamente la información telefónica entregada. La opinión sobre calidad de la atención brindada por funcionarios tuvo una tendencia más propicia para los profesionales.