Impacto de una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos de puertas abiertas en un hospital de cuarto nivel en la ciudad de Bogotá

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Family visiting to intensive care patients has been controversial. However, flexible visiting hours have shown a reduction in incidence of delirium and improvement of quality perception. Increase of sepsis have not been proven. AIM: To determine if there are differences in key performance Indicators in Hospital San Rafael’s Intensive Care Unit before and after the implementation of flexible visiting hours. METHODS: Quasi-experimental study. We measured delirium, painkillers use, days of hospitalization, patient falls and skin injuries three months before and after the implementation of a “flexible visiting hours” strategy. RESULTS: Total hospital stay, occupation, bed shift, mean hospital stay and total days of mechanical ventilation was significantly different after the strategy (p<0.0001). There was a significant reduction in the incidence of intra- hospital infections after intervention (p=0,012). There were no differences in mortality 48 hours after admission, prevalence of delirium, skin injuries or removal of intravenous catheters and tubes by patients between the two periods of observation (p>0,05). There were an increase in dexmedetomidine and Meperidine consumption and a decrease in Hydromorphone, Midazolam, Tramadol, Morphine, Fentanyl consumption after the intervention (p=0.0001). DISCUSSION: Flexible visiting hours do not increase serious infections but reduce significant pain in intensive care patients.