Implementation of Tele-ICU during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVE: To describe the implementation of a Tele-ICU program during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to describe and analyze the results of the first four months of operation of the program METHODS: This was a descriptive observational study of the implementation of a Tele-ICU program, followed by a retrospective analysis of clinical data of patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICUs between April and July of 2020 RESULTS: The Tele-ICU program was implemented over a four-week period and proved to be feasible during the pandemic Participants were trained remotely, and the program had an evidence-based design, the objective being to standardize care for patients with COVID-19 More than 100,000 views were recorded on the free online platforms and the mobile application During the study period, the cases of 326 patients with COVID-19 were evaluated through the program The median age was 60 years (IQR, 49-68 years) There was a predominance of males (56%) There was also a high prevalence of hypertension (49 1%) and diabetes mellitus (38 4%) At ICU admission, 83 7% of patients were on invasive mechanical ventilation, with a median PaO2/FiO2 ratio < 150 It was possible to use lung-protective ventilation in 75% of the patients Overall, in-hospital mortality was 68%, and ICU mortality was 65% CONCLUSIONS: Our Tele-ICU program provided multidisciplinary training to health care professionals and clinical follow-up for hundreds of critically ill patients This public health care network initiative was unprecedented and proved to be feasible during the COVID-19 pandemic, encouraging the creation of similar projects that combine evidence-based practices, training, and Tele-ICU