Patient outcomes after noninvasive mechanical ventilation at a high dependency unit of an emergency department.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the outcome of patients after noninvasive ventilation in a high dependency unit (HDU) of an emergency department (ED). Secondary aims were to define the role of intensive care consultation and to identify variables associated with mortality.


METHODS
Observational, prospective 6-month study.


RESULTS
Two hundred and nine cases were analysed. Thirty-four patients were initially rejected by the intensive care unit (ICU). Physicians in the ED did not request ICU consultation in the remaining 175 (83%) because of 'belief of improvable medical condition in the ED in patients without therapeutic limits' in 93 (group 1) and to 'preset therapeutic limits' or 'comfort measures only' in 82 (groups 2 and 3). Ten out of these 175 were subsequently admitted to the ICU. The global in-hospital mortality rate was 22% (3.3% in the high dependency unit), but only 10% in group 1. Place of referral for ventilation (P<0.001), absence of subsequent ventilation on the general ward (P<0.001), group of assignation (P=0.004), intensive care initial rejection (P=0.022), no previous home ventilation (P=0.028), older age (P=0.03) and longer duration on ventilation (P=0.047) were significantly associated with mortality. In the multivariate regression model, ventilating patients from general wards (odds ratio=7.1; 2.3-25, 95% confidence interval) and ventilation under preset limits (odds ratio=3.57; 1.42-8.98, 95% confidence interval) remained significantly associated with mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Noninvasive ventilation is a relatively safe and effective treatment in the ED when performed in carefully controlled settings. ICU consultation may be securely deferred in this setting.
De Miguel-Yanes
Jose M
JM
Servicio de Urgencias (Emergency Department), Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. jdemiguel.hgugm@salud.madrid.org
Muñoz-González
Javier
J
Andueza-Lillo
Juan A
JA
Nuevo-González
Jose A
JA
Cuevas-Tascón
Guillermo
G
Cuenca-Carvajal
Carmen
C
Sevillano-Fernández
Jose A
JA
Fernández-Ormaechea
Itziar
I
Cano-Ballesteros
Juan C
JC
Santano-Magariño
Almudena
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003422:Critical Care; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000401:mortality*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology