Medición del subtriaje como indicador de calidad y seguridad en un servicio de urgencias / Undertriage as quality of care parameter in an emergency department

Background: Undertriage or the underestimation of the urgency of the condition of a person arriving in an emergency department (ED) represents a measure of quality care. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of undertriage in a high complexity hospital of Argentina; to describe characteristics and mortality of these patients. Material and Methods: All consultations admitted to the ED during 2014 were analyzed. Those assigned to a lower level of admission risk (classified as Emergency Severity Index -ESI- 3 to 5) but required hospitalization in intensive care units (ICU) as the first hospitalization place were considered as an undertriage. A random sample of correctly categorized admissions (ESI 1 or 2), who were subsequently hospitalized in the ICU, was selected as a comparison group. Results: The global undertriage prevalence was 0.30% (316/104,832). Among patients admitted to the ICU, the prevalence was 21% (316/1,461; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 19-24). The 316 patients whose severity was underestimated had a median age of 73 years, and admitted between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. in a greater proportion. Overall hospital mortality was 8.9% (95% CI 6.78-11.38), and all deaths occurred after the patient was transferred from the emergency room. There were no differences in mortality between patients with correct triage or undertriage (11 and 7% respectively, p = 0.09). No differences were observed either in the total number of critical interventions during care in the first 24 hours. Significant differences were observed in requirements for mechanical ventilation (11 and 4% respectively, p = 0.01), orotracheal intubation (10 and 5% respectively p = 0.01) and non-invasive ventilation (8 and 4% respectively, p = 0.05). Conclusions: Undertriage rate in this series was low, but it can be improved.

Pacientes con Influenza A subtipo H3N2 y soporte ventilatorio durante el brote estacional en una central de emergencias en Argentina / Patients with Influenza A Subtype H3N2 and Ventilatory Support During A Seasonal Outbreak in an Emergency Department in Argentina

Objetivo: Describir las características de los pacientes con Influenza A subtipo H3N2 y requerimiento de soporte ventilatorio durante el brote del 2017, así como la evolución y los resultados clínicos. Materiales y métodos: Cohorte retrospectiva. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes con diagnóstico confirmado de H3N2 durante el mes de junio 2017 con requerimientos de asistencia respiratoria mecánica invasivo, no invasivo, terapia de alto flujo por cánula nasal y/o presión continua en la vía aérea que consultaron a la central de emergencias. Resultados: Se incluyeron 34 pacientes, 52.9% hombres, media de edad 81 (DE 10) años. Las principales comorbilidades de los pacientes al ingreso fueron: 73.5% hipertensión arterial, 44.1% enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y 76.5% insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva. La media del score de Charlson fue de 6 (DE 2), la mediana de APACHE II fue de 17 (IIC 14-20) y la de SOFA al día 1 de 5 (IIC 3-7). Al ingreso, 23 pacientes requirieron ventilación no invasiva, 5 presión continua en la vía aérea, 4 asistencia respiratoria mecánica invasiva y 2 terapia de alto flujo. Se registró un 47.8% (IC95% 26.8-69.4) de falla de la ventilación no invasiva y finalmente el 38.2% fueron intubados y ventilados mecánicamente. La mortalidad hospitalaria fue de 52.9% (IC95% 35.1-70.2). Conclusiones: se observó una alta mortalidad en una población añosa y comórbida durante el brote de H3N2. La mayoría realizó una prueba de ventilación no invasiva al ingreso, un alto porcentaje falló. El cuadro inicial pudo ser interpretado como enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica reagudizada y/o insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva.

Patients with Influenza A Subtype H3N2 and Ventilatory Support During A Seasonal Outbreak in an Emergency Department in Argentina / Pacientes con Influenza A subtipo H3N2 y soporte ventilatorio durante el brote estacional en una central de emergencias en Argentina

Objective: To describe the characteristics of patients with influenza A subtype H3N2 requiring ventilatory support during the 2017 outbreak, as well as the evolution of the disease and clinical results. Materials and Methods: Retrospective cohort. We included all patients admitted to the Emergency Department with confirmed diagnosis of H3N2 during June 2017, requiring invasive or noninvasive mechanical respiratory assistance, high-flow nasal cannula treatment or continuous airway pressure. Results: 34 patients were included; 52.9% men, mean age 81 years (Standard Deviation [SD] 10). Main comorbidities of patients on admission were: 73.5% hypertension, 44.1% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 76.5% congestive heart failure. The mean Charlson Index score was 6 (SD 2), the APACHE II median (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) was 17 (IQR 14-20) and the SOFA median (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) on day 1 was 5 (IQR 3-7). On admission, 23 patients required noninvasive ventilation, 5 continuous positive airway pressure, 4 invasive mechanical ventilation and 2 high-flow nasal cannula therapy. The rate of noninvasive ventilation failure was 47.8% (95% CI [confidence interval] 26.8-69.4) and finally 38.2% of patients were intubated and mechanically ventilated. Hospital mortality was 52.9% (95% CI 35.1-70.2). Conclusions: A high mortality rate was observed among elderly patients with comorbidities during the H3N2 outbreak. Most patients underwent a noninvasive ventilation trial on admission, however a high percentage failed. The initial condition could have been interpreted as acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or congestive heart failure.