• Elisa Estenssoro, Gustavo Plotnikow, Cecilia I Loudet, Fernando G Ríos, Vanina S Kanoore Edul, Macarena Andrian, Ignacio Romero, Judith Sagardía, Marco Bezzi, Verónica Mandich, Carla Groer, Sebastián Torres, Cristina Orlandi, Paolo Nahuel Rubatto Birri, María Florencia Valenti, Eleonora Cunto, María Gabriela Sáenz, Norberto Tiribelli, Vanina Aphalo, Lisandro Betttini, Rosa Reina, Arnaldo Dubin, and Grupo de investigadores del estudio SATICOVID-19.
• Hospital Interzonal de Agudos General San Martín, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. E-mail: estenssoro.elisa@gmail.com.
• Medicina (B Aires). 2022 Jan 1; 82 (1): 35-46.

AbstractDuring the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there was a marked requirement for critical care beds, supplies and trained professionals to assist patients with severe respiratory failure. The Argentine Society of Intensive Care (SATI) designed a study to characterize these aspects in intensive care units (ICUs). Multicenter, prospective cohort study; the participating ICUs completed a form at the end of the study (31/10/2020) on hospital characteristics, number of beds in pre- and intra-pandemic critical areas, incorporation of professionals, technological resources, and workload. Fifty-eight ICUs participated; 28(48%) were located in Buenos Aires Province, 22(38%) in Buenos Aires Autonomous City and 10 (17%) in other provinces; 31 (53%) of UCIs belonged to the public sector; 23 (47%) to the private-social security. In 35/58 (60%) of the hospitals critical care beds increased from 902 to 1575 (75%), 37% in ICU and 63% mainly in Coronary Care Unit and Emergency-shock room. In 41/55 (75%) UCIs, staff were incorporated: 27(49%) physicians (70% intensivists), 36 (65%) nurses, 28 (51%) respiratory therapists, 20(36%) cleaning staff, and 1(2%) others. A 96% of the ICUS reported having sufficient ventilators and 95% enough supplies and PPE. Of all patients on invasive mechanical ventilation, 55% [43-64] had COVID-19. Oxygen therapy was required as noninvasive support in 14% [8-24] of COVID-19 admissions. There was a significant expansion of critical operational areas, secondary to the increase in beds, staff, and adequate availability of ventilators and essential supplies. The burden of critical illness from COVID-19 was intense, with more than half of patients on mechanical ventilation.

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