Role of respiratory intermediate care units during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Mónica Matute-Villacís¹  Judith Armas¹  Montserrat Medina¹  Isabel Fernández¹  Oriol Sibila²  Joan Ramón Badia²  Jorge Moisés²  Cristina Embid²  Miquel Ferrer² 

[1] Servei de Pneumologia i Al·lèrgia Respiratòria, Institut Clínic Respiratori, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain;Servei de Pneumologia i Al·lèrgia Respiratòria, Institut Clínic Respiratori, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain;CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain;

关键词: COVID-19;    SARS-CoV-2;    RICU;    Intermediate care;    Intensive care;    Respiratory failure;    Tracheostomy;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12890-021-01593-5

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

RationaleThe SARS-CoV2 pandemic increased exponentially the need for both Intensive (ICU) and Intermediate Care Units (RICU). The latter are of particular importance because they can play a dual role in critical and post-critical care of COVID-19 patients. Here, we describe the setup of 2 new RICUs in our institution to face the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and discuss the clinical characteristics and outcomes of the patients attended.MethodsRetrospective analysis of the characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients admitted to 2 new RICUs built specifically in our institution to face the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, from April 1 until May 30, 2020.ResultsDuring this period, 106 COVID-19 patients were admitted to these 2 RICUs, 65 of them (61%) transferred from an ICU (step-down) and 41 (39%) from the ward or emergency room (step-up). Most of them (72%) were male and mean age was 66 ± 12 years. 31% of them required support with oxygen therapy via high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and 14% non-invasive ventilation (NIV). 42 of the 65 patients stepping down (65%) had a previous tracheostomy performed and most of them (74%) were successfully decannulated during their stay in the RICU. Length of stay was 7 [4–11] days. 90-day mortality was 19% being significantly higher in stepping up patients than in those transferred from the ICU (25 vs. 10% respectively; p < 0.001).ConclusionsRICUs are a valuable hospital resource to respond to the challenges of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic both to treat deteriorating and recovering COVID-19 patients.

【 授权许可】

CC BY