Ricard Ferrer1, Marcelino Báguena2, Joan Balcells3, Jordi Bañeras4, Alfons Biarnes5, Miriam de Nadal5, Rosa María Gracia6, Jesús Martinez7, Xavier Nuvials6, Jordi Riera6, Oriol Roca6, Juan Carlos Ruiz-Rodriguez6. 1. Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Sepsis Organ Dysfunction and Resuscitation (SODIR) Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: r.ferrer@vhebron.net. 2. Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Universitario de Traumatología, Rehabilitación y Quemados Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. 3. Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. 4. Acute Cardiovascular Care Unit, Department of Cardiology, Centre de Simulació Clínica Avançada VHISCA, Vall d'Hebron Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, CIBERCV, Barcelona, Spain. 5. Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. 6. Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Sepsis Organ Dysfunction and Resuscitation (SODIR) Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain. 7. Coordinador de Críticos, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In the context of community transmission of the virus, the impact of the pandemic on health-care systems, mainly on intensive care units (ICU), was expected to be devastating. Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (HUVH) implemented an unprecedented critical patient-care planning and management of resources. METHODS: We describe a cohort of critically ill patients during the first two months of the pandemic (from March 3, 2020, to May 2, 2020) in HUVH, Barcelona. In this manuscript, we report our previsions, strategies implemented, and the outcomes obtained. RESULTS: Three-thousand and thirty-three patients were admitted to the HUVH Critical Care Units. Throughout the study period, the proportion of patients on IMV or IMV and ECMO remained above 78%. Most patients were men (65%); the most common age group was 60-70 years. Twenty-three patients received ECMO, and eighteen were cannulated at another center and transferred to HUVH. At the end of the study, fourteen patients were successfully decannulated, three patients died, and the rest of the patients were still on ECMO. Eight pregnant women have been treated in the ICU, with a survival rate of 100%. The ICU mortality of patients younger than 60 years was 3.2%. The mean ICU stay of both survivors and nonsurvivors was 14 days. CONCLUSION: The adequate preparation for resource expansion for critically ill patients care, main challenges, and overall positive results can serve as a precedent for similar future scenarios.
INTRODUCTION: In the context of community transmission of the virus, the impact of the pandemic on health-care systems, mainly on intensive care units (ICU), was expected to be devastating. Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (HUVH) implemented an unprecedented critical patient-care planning and management of resources. METHODS: We describe a cohort of critically ill patients during the first two months of the pandemic (from March 3, 2020, to May 2, 2020) in HUVH, Barcelona. In this manuscript, we report our previsions, strategies implemented, and the outcomes obtained. RESULTS: Three-thousand and thirty-three patients were admitted to the HUVH Critical Care Units. Throughout the study period, the proportion of patients on IMV or IMV and ECMO remained above 78%. Most patients were men (65%); the most common age group was 60-70 years. Twenty-three patients received ECMO, and eighteen were cannulated at another center and transferred to HUVH. At the end of the study, fourteen patients were successfully decannulated, three patients died, and the rest of the patients were still on ECMO. Eight pregnant women have been treated in the ICU, with a survival rate of 100%. The ICU mortality of patients younger than 60 years was 3.2%. The mean ICU stay of both survivors and nonsurvivors was 14 days. CONCLUSION: The adequate preparation for resource expansion for critically ill patients care, main challenges, and overall positive results can serve as a precedent for similar future scenarios.