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Se realizó un estudio de carácter retrospectivo descriptivo de los pacientes ingresado con el diagnóstico de leptospirosis durante la epidemia que se produjo en la provincia de Cienfuegos del 1ro. de agosto de 1995 al 31 de octubre de 1995. Se revisaron las historias clínicas de 25 pacientes que ingresaron en el Servicio de Terapia Intermedia y se analizaron variables como: edad, sexo, municipio, evolución, labores agrícolas previas, falla orgánica, teniendo como objetivo conocer la evolución y los factores que incidieron en el desarrollo de la enfermedad. Se empleó un método computadorizado para el procesamiento de datos. Se comprobó la amplia relación de la enfermedad con la realización de labores agrícolas, el grupo etario más afectado fue el de 50 a 59 años, se empleó la plasmaféresis en el tratamiento con buenos resultados y existió evolución satisfactoria en la mayoría de los casos.A retrospective-descriptive study of patients admitted with diagnosed leptospirosis to Intermediate Care Unit during an outbreak from August 1st to October 31st, 1995 in Cienfuegos province was conducted. The medical records of 25 patients admitted to the ICU were checked and variables such as age, sex, municipality, evolution, previous agricultural work, and organ failure were analyzed with the purpose of finding out the factors affecting the development of the disease. A computer-aided method for data provessing was used. A great association between such disease and the agricultural work was shown. The more affected age group was 50-59 years and plasmapheresis was successfully used for the treatment. Most of the cases recovered satisfactorily from the disease.

El traumatismo abdominal representa del 15-20 % del total de las lesiones traumáticas. Nuestro objetivo fue conocer el comportamiento del traumatismo abdominal predominante en el lesionado complejo. Se revisaron las historias clínicas de 24 pacientes ingresados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intermedios Quirúrgicos del Hospital Militar Central “Dr. Luis Díaz Soto” durante el año 2002, con el diagnóstico de trauma abdominal predominante. Hubo una mayor incidencia del traumatismo cerrado (70.8%), predominando en el sexo masculino (75%). El lavado peritoneal diagnóstico y la punción abdominal fueron los procedimientos más utilizados. Las lesiones más frecuentes fueron del hígado, el intestino delgado y el hematoma retroperitoneal. La hepatorrafia (30%) fue la técnica quirúrgica más empleada. Las complicaciones (29.2%) más frecuentes fueron la sepsis intraabdominal, de la herida quirúrgica y los trastornos hidroelectrolíticos. La mortalidad fue del 8.3%. La tendencia del comportamiento del traumatismo abdominal no ha logrado variarse en los últimos años, su frecuencia se mantiene estable y el tratamiento quirúrgico continúa siendo el más empleado.The abdominal traumatism represents the 15-20 % of the total of the traumatic lesions. Our objective was to know the behavior of the abdominal traumatism, predominant in the patients with complex lesions. We went through the clinical records of 24 patients who entered the Surgical Intermediate Care Unit of the Central Military Hospital Luis Díaz Soto during 2002, with diagnosis of predominant abdominal trauma. There was a higher incidence of the closed traumatism (70.8 %), predominating the male sex (75 %). The peritoneal diagnostic lavage and the abdominal punction were the most used procedures. The most frequent lesions were those in the liver, the small intestine and the retroperitoneal hematoma. Hepatorraphy (30 %) was the most used surgical technique. The most frequent complications (29.2 %) intra-abdominal sepsis, complications of the surgical injury and electrolytic disturbs. There was 8.3 % of mortality. There was not any variation of the abdominal traumatism behavior tendency achieved in the last years, its frequency is steady and the surgical treatment is still the most used.

Introduction: Frailty screening can be performed with different tools and in multiple settings. Among the different evaluation systems, gait speed (GS) and Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) are postulated as simple and easy to apply systems. There are few data on the prevalence of frailty in intermediate care centre inpatients., Material and Methods: Descriptive study to determine the applicability of GS and TUG as frailty screening tools in an intermediate care hospital, as well as an estimate of frailty prevalence at discharge. Frailty was considered when GS<1m/s and / or TUG>12seconds. The study included all patients attending the rehabilitation unit of the centre throughout 2015., Results: A total of 909 patients were included (mean age of 80.12 years). Only 205 (22.6%) were able to perform GS and TUG at discharge from the rehabilitation unit. Frailty prevalence for this group was between 89.8% (GS) and 92.2% (TUG), with no statistical differences between both tools (P=.25)., Conclusions: The applicability of GS and TUG for frailty screening in intermediate care hospitals is limited. Despite this, the results obtained suggest a high prevalence of frailty. More studies will be necessary to corroborate this data., (Copyright © 2020 SEGG. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To apply 3advanced chronic disease evaluation tools in elderly patients admitted to an intermediate and long-term care centre, and evaluate its relationship with mortality., Methods: The NECPAL tool, PROFUND prognostic index, and Charlson comorbidity index were applied to 87 patients., Results: The NECPAL tool identified 31 patients (35.6%) in need of palliative care, and according to the PROFUND index, 45 (54.7%) had high/very high risk of mortality (≥7 points), and according to Charlson index, 31 (35.6%) had high comorbidity (≥4 points). Of the NECPAL positive patients, 80.5% had a PROFUND index score ≥7, and 48.3% a Charlson index ≥ 4. These percentages were 34.4% and 28.5% in negative NECPAL patients (P<.001 and P≤.06, respectively). Correlations between the 3tools: quantitative (Spearman) number of responses in NECPAL with PROFUND (r=.57; P<.001); with Charlson (r=.214; P<.047) and between PROFUND and Charlson (r=.157; P=.148). Qualitative (kappa) NECPAL (positive/negative) with PROFUND (cut-off 6/7) (0.40; P<.001), and Charlson (cut-off 3/4) (0.19; P=.080) and between PROFUND and Charlson (0.08; P=.399). Mortality prediction (area under the curve): NECPAL 3 months 0.81 (95% CI: 0.62-1.00); 6 months 0.71 (95% CI: 0.53-0.89) and 12 months 0.67 (95% CI: 0.52-0.82). PROFUND 3 months 0.71 (95% CI: 0.50-0.91); 6 months 0.73 (95% CI: 0.58-0.87), and 12 months 0.69 (95% CI: 0.57-0.81). Charlson 3 months 0.72 (95% CI: 0.52-0.91); 6 months 0.62 (95% CI: 0.45-0.80), and 12 months 0.64 (95% CI: 0.50-0.78)., Conclusions: The 3tools were significantly associated with high mortality. A low concordance was found between the results of the different tools., (Copyright © 2017 SEGG. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of an intermediate care model based on a system of care focused on integrated care pathways compared to the traditional model of geriatric care (usual care) in Catalonia., Patients and Methods: The design is a quasi-experimental pre-post non-randomised study with non-synchronous control group. The intervention consists of the development and implementation of integrated care pathways and the creation of specialised interdisciplinary teams in each of the processes. The two groups will be compared for demographic, clinical variables on admission and discharge, geriatric syndromes, and use of resources., Discussion: This quasi-experimental study, aims to assess the clinical impact of the transformation of a traditional model of geriatric care to an intermediate care model in an integrated healthcare organisation. It is believed that the results of this study may be useful for future randomised controlled studies., (Copyright © 2016 SEGG. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The unplanned transfers (UT) from post-acute intermediate care facilities, are associated with adverse outcomes for patients, and a significant cost to the system. We present a practical protocol and the design of an intervention study aimed at reducing avoidable UT from a geriatric post-acute rehabilitation setting to acute care hospitals., Patients and Methods: A quasi-experimental non randomized study. The intervention consists in: 1) protocol for early detection of symptoms in order to conduct a pro-active management of decompensation; 2) an advanced care planning structured protocol for the acute decompensations. We will compare the intervention group with a parallel and a historical cohort for demographic, functional, cognitive, comorbidity and social variables., Outcome: number of UT to acute care hospitals., Discussion: This is a quasi-experimental study, focused on everyday care practice that intends to assess the impact of multi-disciplinary and multi-factorial intervention to reduce UT from a post-acute rehabilitation unit. We expect that the project results will be useful for future randomized and controlled studies., (Copyright © 2016 SEGG. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: A favourable work environment contributes to greater job satisfaction and improved working conditions for nurses, a fact that could influence the quality of patient outcomes. The aim of the study is two-fold: Identifying types of centres, according to the working environment assessment made by nurses in intermediate care units, and describing the individual characteristics of nurses related to this assessment., Methods: An observational, descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional, and multicentre study was conducted in the last quarter of 2014. Nurses in intermediate care units were given a questionnaire containing the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) which assesses five factors of the work environment using 31 items. Sociodemographic, employment conditions, professional and educational variables were also collected., Results: From a sample of 501 nurses from 14 centres, 388 nurses participated (77% response). The mean score on the PES-NWI was 84.75. Nine centres scored a "favourable" working environment and five "mixed". The best valued factor was "work relations" and the worst was "resource provision/adaptation". Rotating shift work, working in several units at the same time, having management responsibilities, and having a master degree were the characteristics related to a better perception of the nursing work environment., Conclusions: In most centres, the working environment was perceived as favourable. Some employment conditions, professional, and educational characteristics of nurses were related to the work environment assessment., (Copyright © 2015 SEGG. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) utilization has experienced an exponential growth in the last 25 years immediately after the introduction of the positive pressure and the nasal mask. Patients with acute, chronic and acute on chronic respiratory failure are candidates to be treated by this therapeutic modality. Its utilization inside the hospital is very heterogeneous being indicated for diverse patients by different levels of complexity and severity levels. We have scientific evidence of the maximum level for certain problems such as COPD exacerbations with respiratory acidosis, acute pulmonary edema, or patients with solid and hematologic transplantation, although its utilization has been generalized to many other clinical scenes using minor levels of evidence. NIV is also used successfully in patients of advanced age, patients with do not intubate orders or even patients with severe comorbidities. Finally, NIV could be used as a palliative tool. The continuous technological evolution and the need of formation of the professionals demands organizational changes in the hospitals and the necessity to define specific areas for most severe patients, such as respiratory intermediate care units., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pediatric noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is infrequently used for acute respiratory failure (ARF), BiPAP/CPAP applied through nasal mask can be attempted if strict selection rules are defined., Aim: To evaluate the outcome of NIV in a Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit., Material and Methods: The medical records of 14 patients (age range 1 month-13 years, six female), who participated in a prospective protocol of NIV from January to October 2004, were reviewed. Oxygen therapy, delivered through a reservoir bag attached to the ventilation circuit, was used to maintain SaO2 over 90%., Results: The main indication of BiPAP, in 80% of cases, was pulmonary restrictive disease. Indications of NIV were acute exacerbations in patients with chronic domiciliary NIV in three patients, hypoxic ARF in six and hypercapnic ARF in five. The diagnoses were pneumonia/atelectasis in seven patients, bilateral extensive pneumonia in three, RSV bronchiolitis in two, apnea in one, and asthma exacerbation in one. Only one patient required intubation for mechanical ventilation, all others improved. The procedures did not have complications. NIV lasted less than three days in 5 patients, 4 to 7 days in four patients and more than 7 days in five. One third of the patients required fiberoptic bronchoscopy for massive or lobar atelectasis and one third remained on domiciliary NIV program., Conclusions: NIV can be useful and safe in children with ARF admitted to a Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit. If strict inclusion protocols are followed, NIV might avoid mechanical ventilation.