Description of Intensive Care and Intermediate Care resources managed by Anaesthesiology Departments in Spain and their adaptation capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic

Autores de IIS La Fe

• Raquel Ferrandis Comes

  Autor

Participantes ajenos a IIS La Fe

• Medel, G. Tamayo
• Rueda, F. Ramasco
• Ortola, C. Ferrando
• de Castro, R. Gonzalez
• Pastorini, C.
• Hernandez, R. Mendez
• Fernandez, J. Garcia
• Grp REGISTRO UCI SCI SEDAR

Grupos

• Anestesia y Cuidados Críticos

  Investigador Principal

  María Azucena Pajares Moncho

• Medicina Perioperatoria, Anestesiología y Reanimación

  

  Leader

  Óscar Díaz Cambronero

Abstract

Introduction: It is essential to understand the strategic importance of intensive care resources in the sustainable organisation of healthcare systems. Our objective has been to identify the intensive and intermediate care beds managed by Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation Services (A -ICU and A-IMCU) in Spain, their human and technical resources, and the changes made to these resources during the COVID -19 pandemic. Material and methods: Prospective observational study performed between December 2020 and July 2021 to register the number and characteristics of A -ICU and A-IMCU beds in hospitals listed in the catalogue published by the Spanish Ministry of Health. Results: Data were obtained from 313 hospitals (98% of all hospitals with more than 500 beds, 70% of all hospitals with more than 100 beds). One hundred and forty seven of these hospitals had an A -ICU with a total of 1,702 beds. This capacity increased to 2,107 (124%) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three hundred and eight hospitals had an A-IMCU with a total of 3,470 beds, 52.9% (2,089) of which provided long-term care. The hospitals had 1,900 ventilators, at a ratio of 1.07 respirators per A -ICU; 1,559 anaesthesiologists dedicated more than 40% of their working time to intensive care. The nurse -to -bed ratio in A -ICUs was 2.8. Discussion: A large proportion of fully -equipped ICU and IMCU beds in Spanish hospitals are managed by the anaesthesiology service. A -ICU and A-IMCUs have shown an extraordinary capacity to adapt their resources to meet the increased demand for intensive care during the COVID-19 pandemic. (c) 2023 Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. on behalf of Sociedad Espanola de Anestesiologia, Reanimacion y Terapeutica del Dolor.

Keywords

• ICU; ICU-A; PACU; Resources; COVID-19; Anaesthesiology