Zavaleta-Monestel E, et al. Int J Heart Fail. 2024 Jan;6(1):1-10. https://doi.org/10.36628/ijhf.2023.0022

FASTHUG is a mnemonic used by intensive care physicians to ensure the proper management of patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). FASTHUG-MAIDENS is a modified version that incorporates key pharmacotherapeutic elements such as delirium management, drug dosing, and drug interactions for an appropriate medication assessment of critically ill patients. An analytical cross-sectional study of hospitalized patients was carried out to determine aspects related to the pharmacotherapeutic management of critically ill patients that required to be optimized, to design and implement a protocol based on the FASTHUG-MAIDENS mnemonic. A total of 435 evaluations were performed to assess the status of current critical patient management. The main parameters with opportunities to be improved were analgesia, feeding, and sedation. With the implementation of MAIDENS, the parameters of analgesia, sedation, and thromboprophylaxis showed an increase in the percentage of optimal management. Furthermore, 103 drug-related problems were detected, and most of them were associated with feeding (21.3%), glucose control (11.7%), and delirium (9.7%). The FASTHUG MAIDENS protocol implementation allows for the evaluation of more vital aspects in the management of critically ill patients. The daily review of patients admitted to the ICU by a clinical pharmacist (CP) using the FASTHUG-MAIDENS checklist instead of the FASTHUG mnemonic facilitates the identification of DRPs for the performance of possible interventions by the CP to improve the pharmacotherapeutic management.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly used to support critically ill adults with severe cardiac or respiratory failure, but ECMO circuits and the physiological disturbances of critical illness significantly alter drug pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD), complicating dosing and monitoring. This narrative review synthesizes current clinical evidence on ECMO-related PK/PD alterations and provides practical guidance for optimizing pharmacotherapy in adult intensive care. A structured literature search (January–May 2025) was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Sage Journals, ScienceDirect, Taylor & Francis Online, SpringerLink, and specialized databases, focusing on seven therapeutic classes commonly used in ECMO patients. Eligible studies included clinical trials, observational studies, systematic reviews, and practice guidelines in adults, while pediatric and preclinical data were excluded. Evidence quality varied substantially across drug classes. Hydrophilic, low-protein-bound agents such as β-lactams, aminoglycosides, fluconazole, and caspofungin generally showed minimal ECMO-specific PK alterations, with dose adjustment mainly driven by renal function. Conversely, lipophilic and highly protein-bound drugs including fentanyl, midazolam, propofol, voriconazole, and liposomal amphotericin B exhibited substantial circuit adsorption and variability, often requiring higher loading doses, prolonged infusions, and rigorous therapeutic drug monitoring. No ECMO-specific data were identified for certain neuromuscular blockers, antivirals, and electrolytes. Overall, individualized dosing guided by therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), organ function, and validated PK principles remains essential to optimize therapy in this complex population.

Introduction: The intricate nature of certain diseases necessitates complex medication regimens, utilization including high-cost medications, and continual vigilance to avoid potential complications. To address these exigencies, numerous healthcare institutions have instituted multidisciplinary management teams, exemplified in pharmaceutical care through Comprehensive Medication Management (CMM) programs. These programs oversee diverse facets such as patient education, medication adherence promotion, clinical monitoring, dose adjustments, and scrutiny of prescribed drug therapies. Given the emphasized significance, it is relevant to possess evidence to continue endorsing these initiatives from management positions within health centers, and it is for this reason that this study aims to evaluate the clinical and economic benefits provided by a CMM program within a private hospital in Latin America, by analyzing the effects of clinical interventions. Methods: A retrospective examination was conducted involving documented pharmaceutical interventions in an outpatient setting from January 2019 to September 2022. To assess the interventions' repercussions, a retrospective analysis was undertaken. The collated data included patients' basic characteristics, a comprehensive pharmacist-generated description of interventions, potential associated complications, and avoided medical services. Multiple clinical projections, which were endorsed by internal medicine physicians, were developed to explore potential scenarios in the absence of pharmaceutical care. These projections were associated with conceivable complications, aligned with the most plausible circumstances. Subsequently, utilizing the average cost of healthcare within a private hospital in Latin America, the cumulative savings were quantified. These savings were then attributed to the intrinsic advantages offered by pharmaceutical care. Results: The study discloses demographic trends among patients within distinct age groups in the CMM program. Rheumatology predominated as the main referral source, and interventions centering on monitoring emerged as the pivotal drug-related concern. This encompassed a collaborative approach, involving interdisciplinary efforts toward patient education and critical parameter monitoring. Of the total 347 pharmaceutical interventions, 66.3% (N = 230) specialty office visits, 14.1% (N = 49) general practitioner consultations, 12.4% (N = 43) hospitalizations, and 7.2% (N = 25) ER visits were avoided. The economic analysis underscores cost savings ensuing from pharmaceutical interventions, amounting to a cumulative 603,792.82 USD. Extrapolating these findings to a patient cohort of 400 enrolled in the pharmaceutical care program approximates per-patient savings of 361.47 USD. Conclusion: This study reveals the significant clinical and economic benefits of CMM programs, led by multidisciplinary pharmaceutical professionals. The findings provide compelling evidence for hospital management to consider promoting such programs, drawing from the patient-centered care model in the United States applicable to Latin America.