Ignacio A. Gemio-del Rey, Servicio de Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara, Guadalajara; Departamento de Cirugía, Ciencias Médicas y Sociales, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid; España
Antonio García-Blanco, Servicios Generales y Suministros, Secretaría General del Servicio de Salud de Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, España
Beatriz Pérez-López, Dirección de Gestión, Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Cristina Sabater-Maroto, Dirección Médica, Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Antonio Sanz-Villaverde, Dirección de Gerencia, Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, España
Roberto De la Plaza-Llamas, Servicio de Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara, Guadalajara; Departamento de Cirugía, Ciencias Médicas y Sociales, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid; España
Objective: COVID-19 pandemic produced a deficit situation of intensive care units (ICU) beds. To optimize resources, the post-anesthetic resuscitation units and operating rooms were initially used in order to care for these patients, due to their equipment and personnel. This meant a significant surgical suspension. To avoid this, during the second wave, our hospital transformed the major ambulatory surgery unit into a critical care unit. The main objective is to develop the processes carried out in our hospital for this adaptation. Method: Cross-sectional study developed according to STROBE that exposes the processes carried out for this transformation. We include logistical adaptations, number of patients attended/stays won and the staff with which the unit was equipped. The information was provided by management and the admission and clinical documentation service. Improvement surveys are included. Results: A total of 44 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation without cessation of surgical activity were achieved at the time of maximum occupancy. The total number of stays won from 01/03/2020 to 31/12/2020 was 755. Conclusions: The transformation of the major ambulatory surgery unit into an ICU quickly increased the capacity of critical care beds without relenting surgical activity. This transformation process is completely reversible.
Keywords: Unidad de cirugía mayor ambulatoria. Conversión. Unidad de cuidados intensivos. Pandemia. COVID-19.