Traqueostomía percutánea con asistencia fibrobroncoscópica en pacientes críticos de alto riesgo: seguridad de las indicaciones extendidas / Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy with fiberoptic bronchoscopy assistance in high-risk critically ill patients

Introducción: La traqueostomía percutánea (TP) por dilatación es el método de elección en pacientes críticos que requieren la instalación de una traqueostomía. Sin embargo, una proporción importante de pacientes presentan habitualmente una o más contraindicaciones relativas para la realización de este procedimiento. Objetivo: Comparar la incidencia de complicaciones perioperatorias asociadas a la TP con la técnica de Ciaglia Blue Rhino y asistencia fibrobroncoscópica en pacientes críticos de alto riesgo versus pacientes críticos de bajo riesgo. Pacientes y Método: Se evaluaron en forma prospectiva 180 pacientes sometidos a una TP electiva debido a ventilación mecánica prolongada. Todas las TP fueron realizadas en la Unidad de Pacientes Críticos por un intensivista experimentado en el procedimiento y mediante un abordaje estandarizado. Se registraron variables demográficas, APACHE II, días de ventilación mecánica antes de la TP y la tasa de complicaciones perioperatorias. Resultados: La incidencia de complicaciones operatorias para los pacientes de alto y bajo riesgo fue 4,5 por ciento (3/67) y 5,2 por ciento (6/114), respectivamente (p = 0,81). No se registraron complicaciones operatorias graves, ni muertes asociadas al procedimiento. La incidencia de complicaciones postoperatorias fue 3 por ciento (2/67) para los pacientes de alto riesgo vs. 2,6 por ciento (3/114) para los pacientes de bajo riesgo (p =0,89). La incidencia global de complicaciones perioperatorias fue 7,5 por ciento (5/67) y 7,9 por ciento (9/114) para los pacientes de alto y bajo riesgo, respectivamente (p = 0,92).Conclusión: La TP por dilatación con la técnica de Ciaglia Blue Rhino modificada y asistencia fibrobroncoscópica es segura en pacientes críticos de alto riesgo, cuando es realizada por un intensivista experimentado mediante un abordaje estandarizado.

Background: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is the method of choice in critically ill patients requiring the installation of a tracheostomy. However, a significant proportion of patients usually have one or more relative contraindications for this procedure. Objective: To compare the incidence of perioperative complication of PDT with the modified Ciaglia Blue Rhino technique and fiberoptic bronchoscopy assistance in high-risk critically ill patients versus low-risk critically ill patients. Patients and Methods: We prospectively evaluated 180 patients undergoing an elective PDT due to prolonged mechanical ventilation. All of the PDT were performed in the Critical Care Unit for an intensivist experienced in the procedure, using a standardized approach. We recorded demographic variables, APACHE II, days of mechanical ventilation before the PDT and the rate of perioperative complications. Results: The incidence of operative complications for patients high and low risk was 4.5 percent (3/67) and 5.2 percent (6/114), respectively (p =0.81). There were no serious operative complications or deaths associated with the procedure. The incidence of postoperative complications was 3 percent (2/67) for high risk patients vs 2.6 percent (3/114) for low risk patients (p=0.89). The overall incidence of perioperative complications was 7.5 percent (5/67) and 7.9 percent (9/114) for patients at high and low risk, respectively (p =0.92). Conclusions: PDT with the modified Ciaglia Blue Rhino technique and fiberoptic bronchoscopy assistance is safe in critically ill patients at high risk, when performed by an experienced intensivist using a standardized approach.

Traqueostomía percutánea con asistencia fibrobroncoscópica: evaluación prospectiva de 100 casos consecutivos y revisión de la literatura / Fiberoptic bronchoscopy assisted percutaneous tracheostomy: report of 100 patients

Background: Development of percutaneous techniques for tracheostomy have facilitated its implementation in the intensive care unit (ICU). Aim: To evaluate the safety of performing percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) using the Ciaglia Blue Rhino thechnique with fiberoptic bronchoscopy assistance in patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation. Patients and methods: Prospective evaluation of 100 consecutive patients aged 62±16 years (38 women) subjected to percutaneous tracheostomy. AU the procedures were performed in the ICU. Demographic variables, APACHE II, days of mechanical ventilation before PT, operative and post operative complications were recorded. Results: Mean APACHE II score was 20±3. Patients required on average 16±7 days of mechanical ventilation before PT. Eight patients (8 percent) had operative complications. One had an episode of transitory desaturation, one had a transitory hypotension related to sedation and six had mild bleeding not requiríng transfusión. No patient required conversión to surgical tracheostomy. Four patients (4 percent) presentedpost operative complications. Two had a mild and transitory bleeding ofthe ostomy and two had a displacement ofthe cannula. No other complications were observed. Conclusions: PT using the Ciaglia Blue Rhino technique with fiberoptic bronchoscopy assistance is a safe procedure that can be performed in the ICU by trained intensivists.

Etiología de la neumonía asociada a ventilación mecánica en un hospital clínico: Asociación con co-morbilidad, uso previo de antimicrobianos y mortalidad / Etiology of ventilator-associated pneumonia in a university hospital: Association with comorbidity, previous use of antibiotics and mortality

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a complication with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Inadequate antibiotic treatment is a risk factor of mortality which can be improved. For this reason it is important to know the local etiology of VAP. During a one year-period we investigated the etiology of VAP in a teaching hospital. Forty eight VAP were included, of which 19 were women. The median age was 59.5 (range 17-91 years), twelve VAP were early onset. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was the main microorganism isolated, regardless of timing of diagnosis of VAP, followed by polimicrobial etiology, Acinetobacter sp and P. aeruginosa. Etiology was not associated with comorbidity; however previous antibiotic use was related with MRSA and polymicrobial etiology. Mortality was 35 percent and was mainly associated with P. aeruginosa isolation. Conclusion: MRSA was the main cause of VAP regardless of the timing of its occurrence.

La neumonía asociada a la ventilación mecánica (NAVM) es una complicación relacionada con un aumento de morbilidad y mortalidad. Dentro de los factores de mal pronóstico, el tratamiento antimicrobiano inadecuado es una de las variables que puede corregirse. Para esto debe conocerse la etiología institucional de la NAVM. Durante un año se recopilaron las NAVM con documentación microbiológica en un hospital universitario. En total, 48 neumonías fueron incluidas, 19 en pacientes femeninas, la mediana de la edad fue de 59,5 años (rango 17-91), 12 de ellas precoces. Staphylococcus aureus meticilina resistente (MRSA) fue el principal agente involucrado, independiente del momento de su génesis, seguido por la etiología polimicrobiana, Acinetobacter sp y Pseudomonas aeruginosa, en ese orden. La etiología no se asoció con la existencia de co-morbilidad, el uso previo de antimicrobianos se asoció con la presencia de MRSA y etiología polimicrobiana. La letalidad fue de 35 por ciento y se relacionó, principalmente, con la presencia de P. aeruginosa. Conclusión: La principal causa de NAVM en esta experiencia fue SAMR, independiente del momento evolutivo de su ocurrencia.

Características de la enfermedad cerebrovascular en un Servicio de Cuidados Intermedios Neurológicos, en Chile. Análisis de 459 pacientes consecutivos / Cerebrovascular disease in a Neurologic Intermediate Care Unit in Chile. Analysis of 459 consecutive patients

Background: Stroke is the second cause of mortality and the first cause of morbidity in Chile and worldwide. Nowadays there is a major interest in introducing new therapies applying evidence based medicine for these patients. Aim: To describe the clinical profile of patients attended after a stroke, to determine stroke subtypes and their risk factors. Material and methods: Retrospective review of clinical records of 459 patients (mean age 65±48 years, 238 female) that were admitted to our unit during a period of 37 months. Results: Sixty three percent of patients had an ischemic stroke, 14% had an hemorrhagic stroke, 15% had a transient ischemic attack, 2% had a cerebral venous thrombosis and 6% a subarachnoidal hemorrhage. The global mortality was 1%. Seventy percent of patients had a history of high blood pressure. Conclusions: The most common type of stroke is ischemic and high blood pressure is the main risk factor.