Objective. To describe the clinical characteristics, treatment, evolution, and nursing care of adult patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome who were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs) during the first peak of the pandemic in Colombia, 2020.  Methods. Multicenter descriptive study of four high-complexity hospitals in Colombia, which included 473 consecutive adult patients admitted to intensive care units with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS CoV-2. Sociodemographic and clinical information - comorbidities, treatment and evolution - and nursing care provided were included.  Results. Of the patients included, 43.7% died, 88.8% had pneumonia, and 60.2% developed respiratory distress syndrome. Most of those who died were men. Those who died had a median age of 68.4 years and a higher frequency of comorbidities (hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and higher body mass index). They were admitted to the ICU with higher rate of dyspnea, lower oxygen saturation, and higher score of multiorgan failure. They also more often required mechanical ventilation and pronation therapy and were given more vasopressors and renal replacement therapy.  Conclusion. People with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19 who were hospitalized in the ICU had a high risk of death, especially older patients; males; those with cardiovascular, respiratory, and hypertension comorbidities; those who needed mechanical ventilation; and those with an elevated SOFA score. The nursing care of these critically ill patients focused on respiratory care and the prevention of associated complications.

<div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span>Gender gelijkheid in stedelijke ontwikkeling gaat over het promoten van steden die zowel mannen als vrouwen in gelijke mate aanspreken. Wat zijn de recente kenmerken en bijdragen op dit gebied in Latijns-Amerikaanse steden? </span></p></div></div></div>

Objective. This work sought to evaluate result indicators of the specialized vascular access program led by nursing during the period between 01 January 2018 and 31 December 2019 at Fundación Cardioinfantil -Instituto de Cardiología (Colombia).  Methods. This was a retrospective descriptive study based on medical records of 1,210 patients who received insertion of vascular access devices by the specialized group of nurses. Result indicators are described. Results. Of all the patients who received insertion of a vascular access catheter, 53.1% were women, with mean age of 34.2 years, admitted to critical care services with cardiovascular problems and sepsis (90.2%). Placement of the peripherally inserted central catheter, midline and arterial was echo-guided between 91% and 100%, with a success rate on the first puncture of 66%. The average duration time of the peripherally inserted central catheter was 25.3 days, that of the midline catheter was 8 days, with a reach of 57% until the end of the treatment. The rate observed per catheter-days of overall phlebitis was 2.03, for positive blood culture of the central peripheral insertion device was 1.9 and thrombosis of 0.50; and arterial line thrombosis was 11.7. Conclusion. The Vascular Access Device Program led by nursing reported rational use of these elements with structured therapeutic purposes according with the complexity of the patients admitted to hospitalization. Improvement plans must be implemented to increase efficacy in post-admission insertion times, reduce infection rate and thrombosis through effective follow-up and control mechanisms.