https://doi.org/10.4081/ecj.2021.9859

SARS-CoV-2 management in Emergency Department: risk stratification and care setting identification proposal based on first pandemic wave in Pisa University Hospital

Vol. 17 No. 4 (2021)
Submitted: 16 May 2021
Accepted: 29 November 2021
Published: 20 December 2021
COVID-19, ventilation, pneumonia, emergency department, management strategy
Abstract Views: 2353
PDF: 294
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Authors

Greta Barbieri
greta.barbieri@phd.unipi.it
Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, Pisa; Emergency Medicine Department, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
Alessandro Cipriano
Emergency Medicine Department, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
Stella Carrara
Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
Stefano Spinelli
Emergency Medicine Department, Pisa University Hospital, Italy, Italy.
Francesco Cinotti
Emergency Medicine Department, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
Francesca Foltran
Medical Directional Department, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
Matteo Filippi
Medical Directional Department, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
Ferruccio Aquilini
University Hospital of Pisa, Italy.
Michele Tonerini
Department of Emergency Radiology, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
Massimo Santini
Emergency Medicine Department, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
Paolo Malacarne
Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
Lorenzo Ghiadoni
Emergency Medicine Department, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy.

SARS-CoV-2 management in Emergency Department: risk stratification and care setting identification proposal based on first pandemic wave in Pisa University Hospital

Background: COVID-19 patients require early treatment and admission to an appropriate care setting, considering possible rapid and unpredictable to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

Objective: A flow-chart was developed by a multidisciplinary team of Emergency Department (ED) clinicians, intensivists and radiologists aiming to provide tools for disease severity stratification, appropriate ventilation strategy and hospitalization setting identification.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective application of our model on 313 hospitalized patients at Pisa University Hospital including 222 patients admitted to ED for respiratory failure between March and April 2020. Risk stratification score was based on respiratory and chest imaging parameters, while management strategy on comorbidities and age. 

Results: Age, comorbidities, clinical respiratory and arterial blood gas parameters, semi-quantitative chest computed tomography score were significant predictors of mortality (p<0,05). Mortality rate was higher in patients treated in intensive care units (26,5%) and undergoing endo-tracheal intubation (32,7%), compared to medical area (21,3%). We verified a good concordance (81,7%) between the proposed model and actual evaluation in ED. Outcomes analysis of subgroups of patients homogeneous for baseline features allowed to verify safety of our model: in non-elderly and/or non-comorbid patients (15% mortality) our scheme overestimates the risk in 30% of cases, but it suggests non-intensive management in patients with reduced functional reserve, elderly and with comorbidities (50% mortality).

Conclusion: Correct management of respiratory failure COVID-19 patients is crucial in this unexpected pandemic. Our flow-chart, despite retrospectively application in small sample, could represents a valid and safe proposal for evaluation in ED.

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Ferruccio Aquilini, University Hospital of Pisa

Medical Directional Department, University Hospital of Pisa

How to Cite

Barbieri, G., Cipriano, A., Carrara, S., Spinelli, S., Cinotti, F., Foltran, F., Filippi, M., Aquilini, F., Tonerini, M., Santini, M., Malacarne, P., & Ghiadoni, L. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 management in Emergency Department: risk stratification and care setting identification proposal based on first pandemic wave in Pisa University Hospital. Emergency Care Journal, 17(4). https://doi.org/10.4081/ecj.2021.9859

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