Prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation in cardiac surgery: a quality improvement project.

PURPOSE: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) has an incidence of 20-60% in cardiac surgery. The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists and the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology Practice Advisory have recommended postoperative beta blockers and amiodarone for the prevention of POAF. By employing quality improvement (QI) strategies, we sought to increase the use of these agents and to reduce the incidence of POAF among our patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: This single-centre QI initiative followed the traditional Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle scientific methodology. A POAF risk score was developed to categorize all patients undergoing cardiac surgery as either normal or elevated risk. Risk stratification was incorporated into a preprinted prescribing guide, which recommended postoperative beta blockade for all patients and a postoperative amiodarone protocol for patients with elevated risk starting on postoperative day one (POD1). A longitudinal audit of all patients undergoing cardiac surgery was conducted over 11 months to track the use of prophylactic medications and the incidence of POAF. RESULTS: Five hundred and sixty patients undergoing surgery were included in the QI initiative from 1 December 2020 to 1 November 2021. The baseline rate of POAF across all surgical subtypes was 39% (198/560). The use of prophylactic amiodarone in high-risk patients increased from 13% (1/8) at the start of the project to 41% (48/116) at the end of the audit period. The percentage of patients receiving a beta blocker on POD1 did fluctuate, but remained essentially unchanged throughout the audit (34.8% in December 2020 vs 46.7% in October 2021). After 11 months, the overall incidence of POAF was 29% (24.9% relative reduction). Notable reductions in the incidence of POAF were observed in more complex surgical subtypes by the end of the audit, including multiple valve replacement (89% vs 56%), aortic repair (50% vs 33%), and mitral valve surgery (45% vs 33%). CONCLUSIONS: This single-centre QI intervention increased the use of prophylactic amiodarone by 28% for patients at elevated risk of POAF, with no change in the early postoperative initiation of beta blockers (46.7% of patients by POD1). There was a notable reduction in the incidence of POAF in patients at elevated risk undergoing surgery.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Il y a une incidence de 20 à 60 % de fibrillation auriculaire postopératoire (FAPO) en chirurgie cardiaque. Dans un avis de pratique, la Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists et l'European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology ont recommandé l'utilisation de bêtabloquants et d'amiodarone en postopératoire pour la prévention du FAPO. En employant des stratégies d'amélioration de la qualité (AQ), nous avons cherché à augmenter l'utilisation de ces agents et à réduire l'incidence de FAPO chez nos patient·es bénéficiant d'une chirurgie cardiaque. MéTHODE: Cette initiative d'AQ monocentrique a suivi la méthodologie scientifique traditionnelle du cycle Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA), soit Planifier, Réaliser, Étudier, Agir. Un score de risque de FAPO a été mis au point pour catégoriser toute la patientèle bénéficiant d'une chirurgie cardiaque comme présentant un risque normal ou élevé. La stratification du risque a été intégrée dans un guide de prescription préimprimé, qui recommandait des bêtabloquants en période postopératoire pour tou·tes les patient·es et un protocole postopératoire d'amiodarone pour celles et ceux présentant un risque élevé et débutant à partir du premier jour postopératoire (JPO1). Une vérification longitudinale de toute la patientèle bénéficiant d'une chirurgie cardiaque a été menée sur une période de 11 mois afin de suivre l'utilisation de médicaments prophylactiques et l'incidence de FAPO. RéSULTATS: Cinq cent soixante personnes opérées ont été incluses dans l'initiative d'AQ entre le 1er décembre 2020 et le 1er novembre 2021. Le taux initial de FAPO pour tous les sous-types chirurgicaux était de 39 % (198/560). L'utilisation d'amiodarone prophylactique chez les patient·es à risque élevé est passée de 13 % (1/8) au début du projet à 41 % (48/116) à la fin de la période de vérification. Le pourcentage de patient·es recevant un bêtabloquant au JPO1 a fluctué, mais est resté fondamentalement inchangé tout au long de la période de vérification (34,8 % en décembre 2020 vs 46,7 % en octobre 2021). Après 11 mois, l'incidence globale de FAPO était de 29 % (réduction relative de 24,9 %). Des réductions notables de l'incidence de FAPO ont été observées dans des sous-types chirurgicaux plus complexes à la fin de la vérification, y compris le remplacement de plusieurs valves (89 % vs 56 %), la réparation aortique (50 % vs 33 %) et la chirurgie valvulaire mitrale (45 % vs 33 %). CONCLUSION: Cette intervention monocentrique d'amélioration de la qualité a augmenté l'utilisation de l'amiodarone prophylactique de 28 % chez les patient·es présentant un risque élevé de FAPO, sans changement dans l'amorce postopératoire précoce des bêtabloquants (46,7 % des patient·es au JPO1). Il y a eu une réduction notable de l'incidence de FAPO chez les patient·es à risque élevé bénéficiant d'une intervention chirurgicale.

Reducing time to X-ray in emergency department ambulatory patients: a quality improvement project.

This quality improvement project began when physicians and nurses at our hospital observed patients waiting for excessive periods of time for a porter to escort patients from the emergency department (ED) to medical imaging (MI). However, certain patients may not need staff escort and are able to ambulate from ED to MI by themselves. This would reduce waiting time from when the X-ray is ordered to X-ray being done, which may reduce overall ED length of stay and improve patients' experience.Our project aim is to decrease the time to X-ray by 50% within 6 months by having appropriate ambulatory patients walk from the ED to the X-ray department without a porter. To achieve our goal, several strategies were employed. First, brainstorm sessions were held to better understand the barriers and ways to implement the new process. Second, a patient survey was conducted to understand their thoughts on the change idea. Third, data were collected to assess the inefficiency problem on the number of times non-porter staff escorted patients due to porters being unavailable. A total of 14 PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycles were completed between December 2018 and May 2019. A human factor specialist was consulted to examine the process for safety and optimisation of the patient journey.In our PDSA cycles, self-ambulatory patients were compared with ambulatory patients who required an escort. An improvement was found from time to X-ray of 28 min (11 min vs 39 min). The new self-ambulatory process was implemented in June 2019 on a daily basis.

Family-provider consensus outcomes for children with medical complexity.

AIM: To describe the process of obtaining consensus of outcome priorities between families of children with medical complexity (CMC) and their healthcare providers (HCPs) for the purpose of evaluating changes to service delivery. METHOD: The consensus of outcomes involved surveying families of CMC and HCPs and an in-person consensus meeting. Priorities were obtained from the survey using a stratified ranking approach ensuring equal representation among unequally sized subgroups. An in-person meeting was held using the survey results to inform Delphi voting. RESULTS: Families of CMC (n=40) and HCPs (n=74) responded to the survey. Consensus generated three main target areas (child health, family health, experience of care) covered by 15 specific outcomes needed to evaluate care. Differences between family and HCP perceptions of importance were found for child self-care, play, social skills, and recreation as well as emotional health (for both parent and child) outcomes. INTERPRETATION: Families of CMC and HCPs identified common priorities for outcome evaluation of CMC initiatives. Outcomes that differ in importance between families of CMC and HCPs should be studied further. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Families of children with medical complexity and their providers can reach consensus on important outcomes. Stratifying subgroups ensures diverse representation, which is important to outcome prioritization.

CONSENSO EN LOS OBJETIVOS ENTRE LA FAMILIA Y LOS PROFESIONALES DE LA SALUD PARA NIÑOS CON COMPLEJIDAD MÉDICA: OBJETIVO: Describir el proceso para lograr un consenso sobre los objetivos prioritarios entre las familias de niños con complejidad médica (NCCM) y los profesionales de la salud (PS) con el fin de evaluar cambios en la prestación de servicios. METODO: La búsqueda del consenso en los objetivos involucró una encuesta a las familias de NCCM y PS y luego una reunión en persona para lograr un consenso. Se identificaron las prioridades en la encuesta utilizando una clasificación estratificada para garantizar una representación equitativa entre los subgrupos de tamaño desigual. Luego se llevó a cabo una reunión en persona, utilizando los resultados de la encuesta para crear una votación tipo Delphi. RESULTADOS: Las familias de NCCM (n = 40) y los PS (n = 74) respondieron a la encuesta. El consenso generó tres áreas principales (salud del niño/a, salud familiar, experiencia de atención) cubiertas por 15 resultados específicos necesarios para evaluar la atención. Se encontraron diferencias en la percepción de importancia de los objetivos entre la familia y los profesionales de la salud en las áreas del autocuidado del niño, el juego, las habilidades sociales y la recreación, así como los objetivos para la salud emocional (tanto para padres como para niños). INTERPRETACIÓN: Las familias de NCCM y los PS identificaron prioridades comunes para la evaluación de resultados de iniciativas para hacer cambios en la atención médica. Las diferencias entre los objetivos de las familias de NCCM y PS deben estudiarse con más detalle.

RESULTADOS CONSENSUAIS ENTRE FAMÍLIA-PROFISSIONAL PARA CRIANÇAS COM COMPLEXIDADE MÉDICA: OBJETIVO: Descrever o processo de obter consenso dos resultados prioritários entre famílias de crianças com alta complexidade médica (ACM) e profissionais de saúde (PSs) para avaliar mudanças na prestação de serviços. MÉTODO: A obtenção de consenso dos resultados envolvidos foi obtida entrevistando ACMs e PSAs e por meio de um encontro pessoalmente. Prioridades foram obtidas a partir da entrevista usando uma pontuação estratificada assegurando representação igual entre grupos com tamanhos diferentes. Um encontro pessoalmente aconteceu usando os resultados da pesquisa para informar a votação Delphi. RESULTADOS: Famílias de AMCs (n=40) and PSs (n=74) responderam às questões. O consenso gerou três áreas principais (Criança, família, experiência de cuidado) cobertas por 15 resultados específicos necessários para avaliar o cuidado. Diferenças entre percepções da família e de PSs e as percepções de importância foram obtidas para auto-cuidado da criança, brincar, habilidades sociais, e recreação, assim como saúde emocional (para pais e filhos). INTERPRETAÇÃO: Famílias de AMCs e PSs identificaram prioridades comuns para avaliacão de resultados em iniciativas de ACM. Resulados que diferem em importância entre famílias de AMCs e PSs devem ser considerados em futuros estudos.