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BACKGROUND: Value-based healthcare (VBHC) is an approach that focuses on delivering the highest possible value for patients while driving cost efficiency in health services. It emphasizes improving patient outcomes and experiences while optimizing the use of resources, shifting the healthcare system's focus from the volume of services to the value delivered. Our study assessed the effectiveness of implementing a VBHC-principled, tailored preoperative evaluation in enhancing patient care and outcomes, as well as reducing healthcare costs. METHODS: We employed a quality improvement, before-and-after approach to assessing the effects of implementing VBHC strategies on the restructuring of the preoperative evaluation clinics at Humanitas Research Hospital. The intervention introduced a VBHC-tailored risk matrix during the postintervention phase (year 2021), and the results were compared with those of the preintervention phase (2019). The primary study outcome was the difference in the number of preoperative tests and visits at baseline and after the VBHC approach. Secondary outcomes were patient outcomes and costs. RESULTS: A total of 9722 patients were included: 5242 during 2019 (baseline) and 4,480 during 2021 (VBHC approach). The median age of the population was 63 (IQR 51-72), 23% of patients were classified as ASA 3 and 4, and 26.8% (2,955 cases) were day surgery cases. We found a considerable decrease in the number of preoperative tests ordered for each patient [6.2 (2.5) vs 5.3 (2.6) tests, p < 0.001]. The number of preoperative chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, and cardiac exams decreased significantly with VBHC. The length of the preoperative evaluation was significantly shorter with VBHC [373 (136) vs 290 (157) min, p < 0.001]. Cost analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in costs, while there was no difference in clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the feasibility, safety, and cost-effectiveness of a tailored approach for preoperative evaluation. The implementation of VBHC enhanced value, as evidenced by decreased patient time in preoperative evaluation and by a reduction in unnecessary preoperative tests.
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BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, a critical care outreach team was implemented in our hospital to guarantee multidisciplinary patient assessment at admission and prompt ICU support in medical wards. In this paper, we report the activity plan results and describe the baseline characteristics of the referred subjects. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated data from 125 subjects referred to the critical care outreach team from March 22 to April 22, 2020. We considered subjects with a ceiling of care decision, with those deemed eligible assigned to level 3 care (ward subgroup), and those deemed ineligible admitted to the ICU (ICU subgroup). Quality indicators of the outreach team plan delivery included number of cardiac arrest calls, number of intubations in level 2 areas, and ineffective palliative support. RESULTS: We enrolled 125 consecutive adult subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. We did not report any emergency endotracheal intubations in the clinical ward. In the care ceiling subgroup, we had 2 (3.3%) emergency calls for cardiac arrest, whereas signs of ineffective palliative support were reported in 5 subjects (12.5%). Noninvasive forms of respiratory assistance were delivered to 40.0% of subjects in the ward subgroup (median 3 d [interquartile range (IQR) 2-5]), to 45.9% of subjects in the care ceiling subgroup (median 5 d [IQR 3-7]), and to 64.7% of subjects in the ICU subgroup (median 2.5 d [IQR 1-3]). Thirty of the 31 ward subjects (96.7%), 26 of the 34 ICU subjects, (76.4%), and 19 of the 61 ceiling of care subjects (31.1%) were discharged. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of a hospital and ICU surge, a multidisciplinary daily plan supported by a dedicated critical care outreach team was associated with a low rate of cardiac arrest calls, no emergency intubations in the ward, and appropriate palliative care support for subjects with a ceiling of care decision.
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COVID-19 , Adulto , Cuidados Críticos , Hospitais , Humanos , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva , Estudos Retrospectivos , SARS-CoV-2RESUMO
Rationale: Treatment with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is frequent. Shortage of intensive care unit (ICU) beds led clinicians to deliver NIV also outside ICUs. Data about the use of NIV in COVID-19 is limited.Objectives: To describe the prevalence and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 treated with NIV outside the ICUs. To investigate the factors associated with NIV failure (need for intubation or death).Methods: In this prospective, single-day observational study, we enrolled adult patients with COVID-19 who were treated with NIV outside the ICU from 31 hospitals in Lombardy, Italy.Results: We collected data on demographic and clinical characteristics, ventilatory management, and patient outcomes. Of 8,753 patients with COVID-19 present in the hospitals on the study day, 909 (10%) were receiving NIV outside the ICU. A majority of patients (778/909; 85%) patients were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which was delivered by helmet in 617 (68%) patients. NIV failed in 300 patients (37.6%), whereas 498 (62.4%) patients were discharged alive without intubation. Overall mortality was 25%. NIV failure occurred in 152/284 (53%) patients with an arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio <150 mm Hg. Higher C-reactive protein and lower PaO2/FiO2 and platelet counts were independently associated with increased risk of NIV failure.Conclusions: The use of NIV outside the ICUs was common in COVID-19, with a predominant use of helmet CPAP, with a rate of success >60% and close to 75% in full-treatment patients. C-reactive protein, PaO2/FiO2, and platelet counts were independently associated with increased risk of NIV failure.Clinical trial registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04382235).
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COVID-19/terapia , Pressão Positiva Contínua nas Vias Aéreas/métodos , Mortalidade Hospitalar , Hipóxia/terapia , Intubação Intratraqueal/estatística & dados numéricos , Ventilação não Invasiva/métodos , Quartos de Pacientes , Insuficiência Respiratória/terapia , Idoso , Cânula , Feminino , Humanos , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva , Itália , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Oxigenoterapia , Estudos Prospectivos , SARS-CoV-2 , Falha de TratamentoRESUMO
Acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) are severe forms of bilateral lung inflammation with poor clinical outcomes. However, the pathophysiology of ALI/ARDS remains largely obscure. Soluble receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (sRAGE) plays a key regulatory role during the acute phase of inflammation, and baseline plasma levels of sRAGE were recently found to be associated with severity of ALI/ARDS. We analyzed, in ALI/ARDS patients, plasma and alveolar levels of sRAGE over time and the association with severity of lung injury. We enrolled 21 ALI/ARDS patients admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU) and assayed plasma sRAGE on the first 2 days after diagnosis, every three days for the first month and then once a week, until ICU discharge or death. We also measured sRAGE levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, obtained when clinically indicated. At each sampling time, we recorded physiological and clinical data of the patients. Plasma sRAGE levels peaked at day 1 and decreased over time. When all samples were considered, plasma and alveolar sRAGE levels were significantly higher in patients with worse oxygenation and higher need for ventilatory support (i.e., patients with more severe lung dysfunction). Moreover, the presence of lung infection yielded higher alveolar sRAGE levels. In conclusion, we show that the plasma and alveolar levels of sRAGE in ALI/ARDS patients are correlated to lung injury severity and to lung infection. Our findings may, in time, lead to the development of more effective therapies against ALI/ARDS.
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Alvéolos Pulmonares/metabolismo , Receptores Imunológicos/metabolismo , Síndrome do Desconforto Respiratório/metabolismo , Idoso , Biomarcadores/análise , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Líquido da Lavagem Broncoalveolar/química , Proteína C-Reativa/análise , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Alvéolos Pulmonares/fisiopatologia , Receptor para Produtos Finais de Glicação Avançada , Receptores Imunológicos/análise , Síndrome do Desconforto Respiratório/fisiopatologia , Testes de Função Respiratória , Componente Amiloide P Sérico/análise , Índice de Gravidade de DoençaRESUMO
An increasing prevalence of antiretroviral therapy (ART) resistance in ART-experienced and ART-naive pregnant women has been reported. Some studies suggest that antiretroviral drug-resistant viruses might have decreased replication capacity and transmissibility. However, cases of perinatal transmission of multidrug-resistant HIV type-1 (HIV-1) have been described. Here, we report the case of one child with vertically-acquired multidrug-resistant HIV-1 and the outcome of a rescue therapy with a darunavir/ritonavir- and etravirine-containing antiretroviral regimen. During the 15 months of therapy, the child showed clinical improvement, including no side effects, persistent suppression of viral replication and a great increase in CD4+ T-cell count. Paediatric HIV specialists should be prepared to manage a small, but increasing, number of babies with a 'nightmare' multidrug-resistant virus with no available treatment options. The use of experimental agents might become a compelling issue in vertically HIV-infected children born in the era of highly active ART.
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Fármacos Anti-HIV/administração & dosagem , Farmacorresistência Viral Múltipla , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , HIV-1 , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/tratamento farmacológico , Piridazinas/administração & dosagem , Ritonavir/administração & dosagem , Sulfonamidas/administração & dosagem , Terapia Antirretroviral de Alta Atividade , Contagem de Linfócito CD4 , Darunavir , Farmacorresistência Viral Múltipla/genética , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/imunologia , Infecções por HIV/transmissão , HIV-1/efeitos dos fármacos , HIV-1/genética , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Transmissão Vertical de Doenças Infecciosas , Masculino , Nitrilas , Gravidez , Piridazinas/efeitos adversos , Pirimidinas , Ritonavir/efeitos adversos , Sulfonamidas/efeitos adversos , Resultado do Tratamento , Carga ViralAssuntos
Pulmão/fisiopatologia , Ventilação Pulmonar/fisiologia , Síndrome do Desconforto Respiratório/fisiopatologia , Mecânica Respiratória/fisiologia , Idoso , Impedância Elétrica , Feminino , Decúbito Inclinado com Rebaixamento da Cabeça/fisiologia , Humanos , Pulmão/diagnóstico por imagem , Medidas de Volume Pulmonar , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Posicionamento do Paciente , Síndrome do Desconforto Respiratório/terapia , Decúbito Dorsal/fisiologia , Parede Torácica , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios XRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The influence of percutaneous tracheostomy on ventilator-dependence and clinical outcomes has been investigated in a number of studies. However, except for the variations during the procedure, the impact of tracheostomy on gas exchange has been scarcely explored. We investigated the effect of tracheostomy on respiratory function in a cohort of ICU patients. METHODS: In this retrospective study, clinical records of 107 patients from a general ICU and neurosurgical ICU who underwent percutaneous tracheostomy were reviewed to compare ventilator setting, gas exchange, and hemodynamic parameters on the day before and on the day after the procedure. Further, a pre-established subgroup analysis on hypoxemic patients (Pao2/Fio2 < 300 mm Hg) was performed. RESULTS: Among all patients analyzed, a marginal decrease in Paco2 (43 ± 9 mm Hg vs 42 ± 7 mm Hg, before vs after P = .004) and an increase in pH (7.43 ± 0.04 vs 7.44 ± 0.03, before vs after P = .03) were observed after tracheostomy. In the subgroup of hypoxemic patients (n = 38), after the tracheostomy an increase in Pao2/Fio2 (222 ± 60 mm Hg vs 256 ± 84 mm Hg, before vs after P = .001) and a decrease in Paco2 (46 ± 11 mm Hg vs 43 ± 9 mm Hg, before vs after P = .001) were found. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous tracheostomy did not worsen gas exchange in a cohort of ICU patients. In hypoxemic patients, tracheostomy appeared to improve oxygenation and ventilation.