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


Submitted: 16 May 2021
Accepted: 29 November 2021
Published: 20 December 2021
Abstract Views: 2248
PDF: 232
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Authors

  • Greta Barbieri 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

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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