Relationship between intensive care surge capacity and hospital factors: an extensive experience.

As a prolonged surge scenario, the COVID-19 pandemic has offered an unparalleled opportunity to improve hospital surge capacity (SC) understanding and the ability to manage it. In this study, the authors report the experience of a large hospital network and evaluate potential relationships between Intensive Care Units SC (ICU-SC) and some hospital-related variables: bed occupancy, emergency department admissions, ward admission from ED, and elective surgery procedures. Pearson's partial correlation coefficient (r) has been used to define the relationship between SC and the daily values of the above variables, collected through a dedicated digital platform that also ensured a regular quality check of the data.

Regional Cerebral Oxygen Saturation to Predict Favorable Outcome in Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the role of regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO) in predicting survival and neurologic outcomes after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR).

Design: The study authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all available literature.

Setting: The authors searched relevant databases (Pubmed, Medline, Embase) for studies measuring precannulation rSO in patients undergoing ECPR and reporting mortality and/or neurologic outcomes.

Dynamic assessment of surge capacity in a large hospital network during COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an unprecedented scenario to deepen knowledge of surge capacity (SC), assessment of which remains a challenge. This study reports a large-scale experience of a multi-hospital network, with the aim of evaluating the characteristics of different hospitals involved in the response and of measuring a real-time SC based on two complementary modalities (actual, base) referring to the intensive care units (ICU).

Methods: Data analysis referred to two consecutive pandemic waves (March-December 2020).

ECMO in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: To analyze the survival rates of patients with COVID-19 supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and compare the survival rates of patients with COVID-19 supported with ECMO to patients with influenza supported with ECMO.

Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the impact of ECMO as supportive therapy of COVID-19.

Setting: The authors performed a search through the Cochrane, EMBASE, and MEDLINE/PubMed databases from inception to February 19, 2021, for studies reporting hospitalized patients with COVID-19 managed with ECMO.

Reduction of Emergency Calls and Hospitalizations for Cardiac Causes: Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic and Lockdown in Tuscany Region.

Containment measures were established to flatten the curve of COVID-19 contagion in order to avoid a crash of the healthcare system. However, these measures influenced the rate of hospitalization of cardiac patients. In this study, we aimed to analyse the impact of COVID-19 and the effects of lockdown measures on hospital admissions and alerts of emergency medical system (EMS) for cardiac causes in the Tuscany region.

Helmet CPAP as a Bridge From a Rapid Response Activation for Hypoxia Through Awake Tracheostomy in the Operating Room in a Patient With a Difficult Airway: A Case Report.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been used in multiple clinical settings with increasing frequency. However, its use in improving blood oxygenation for difficult airways has never been a specific consideration. Here, we present a rapid response team (RRT) intervention in a patient with severe hypoxia requiring emergent surgical tracheostomy.