An observational study of postoperative handoff standardization failures.

BACKGROUND: Patient handoffs from an operating room (OR) to an intensive care unit (ICU) require precise coordination among surgical, anesthesia, and critical care teams. Although several standardized handoff strategies have been developed, their sustainability remains is poor. Little is known regarding factors that impede handoff standardization. PURPOSE: Our objectives are three-fold: (1) highlight compliance failures with standardized handoffs; (2) identify factors contributing to compliance failures; and (3) develop guidelines for sustainable handoff interventions and processes. METHODS: We used ethnographic data collection methods-general observations, handoff shadowing, and semi-structured clinician interviews-with 84 participants from OR, ICU, and telemedicine teams at a large academic medical center. We conducted thematic analysis supported by inductive and deductive coding using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework. RESULTS: Post-operative handoffs can be characterized into four phases: pre-transfer preparation, transfer and setup, report preparation and delivery, and post-transfer care. We identified compliance failures with standardized handoff protocols and associated risk factors within the OR-ICU work system including limited teamwork, absence of handoff-specific tools, and poor clinician buy-in. To improve handoffs, clinicians provided suggestions for developing collaborative Electronic Health Record (EHR)-integrated handoff tools and re-engineering the handoff process. CONCLUSIONS: Compliance failures are prevalent in all handoff phases, leading to poor adherence with standardization. We propose theoretically grounded guidelines for designing "flexibly standardized" bundled handoff interventions for ensuring care continuity in OR to ICU transitions of care.

Accuracy of Measuring Bladder Volumes With Ultrasound and Bladder Scanning.

BACKGROUND: Removal of urinary catheters depends on accurate noninvasive measurements of bladder volume. Patients with acute kidney injury often have low bladder volumes/ascites, possibly causing measurement inaccuracy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of bladder volumes measured with bladder scanning and 2-dimensional ultrasound (US) compared with urinary catheterization among different types of clinicians. METHODS: Prospective correlational descriptive study of 73 adult critical care patients with low urine output receiving hemodialysis or unable to void. Bladder volumes were independently measured by (1) a physician and an advanced practice registered nurse using US, (2) an advanced practice registered nurse and a bedside nurse using bladder scanning, and (3) urinary catheterization (cath). Bland-Altman and χ2 analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Mean (SD) cath volume was 171.7 (269.7) mL (range, 0-1100 mL). Abdominal fluid was observed in 28% of patients. Bias was -1.3 mL for US vs cath and 3.3 mL for bladder scanning vs cath. For patients with abdominal fluid and cath volume less than 150 mL, decisions to not catheterize patients were accurate more often when based on US measurements (97%-100%) than when based on bladder scanning measurements (86%-89%; P = .02). In patients with cath volume of 300 mL or more, decisions to catheterize patients were accurate more often when based on bladder scanning measurements (94%-100%) than when based on horizontal US measurements (50%-56%; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Bladder volume can be measured accurately with bladder scanning or US, but abdominal fluid remains a confounding factor limiting accuracy of bladder scanning.

Implementation of an Interdisciplinary AACN Early Mobility Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Increasing mobility in the intensive care unit is an important part of the ABCDEF bundle. Objective To examine the impact of an interdisciplinary mobility protocol in 7 specialty intensive care units that previously implemented other bundle components. METHODS: A staggered quality improvement project using the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses mobility protocol was conducted. In phase 1, data were collected on patients with intensive care unit stays of 24 hours or more for 2 months before and 2 months after protocol implementation. In phase 2, data were collected on a random sample of 20% of patients with an intensive care unit stay of 3 days or more for 2 months before and 12 months after protocol implementation. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 1266 patients before and 1420 patients after implementation in phase 1 and 258 patients before and 1681 patients after implementation in phase 2. In phase 1, the mean (SD) mobility level increased in all intensive care units, from 1.45 (1.03) before to 1.64 (1.03) after implementation (P < .001). Mean (SD) ICU Mobility Scale scores increased on initial evaluation from 4.4 (2.8) to 5.0 (2.8) (P = .01) and at intensive care unit discharge from 6.4 (2.5) to 6.8 (2.3) (P = .04). Complications occurred in 0.2% of patients mobilized. In phase 2, 84% of patients had out-of-bed activity after implementation. The time to achieve mobility levels 2 to 4 decreased (P = .05). Intensive care unit length of stay decreased significantly in both phases. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing the American Association of Critical-Care early mobility protocol in intensive care units with ABCDEF components in place can increase mobility levels, decrease length of stay, and decrease delirium with minimal complications.

Implementation of a Standardized Patient/Family Communication Bundle.

During critical illness, active discussions about a person's preferences are linked with better patient outcomes. Our intensive care unit implemented an evidence-based standardized communication bundle that included education to providers on effective family communication, focused patient/family discussions to identify Durable Power of Attorney/surrogate decision maker and obtaining advanced directive documents, and documenting conversations in the electronic medical record and appropriately updating the patient's code status. The aim of the bundle was to increase compliance with conducting and documenting family discussions, clearly identifying and documenting surrogate decisions makers, and to improve patient/family satisfaction and caregiver satisfaction.

Discrepancies in measuring bladder volumes with bedside ultrasound and bladder scanning in the intensive care unit: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Intensive care unit patients are at risk for catheter-associated urinary tract infection. Earlier removal of catheters may be possible with accurate measurement of bladder volume. The purpose was to compare measured bladder volumes with bedside ultrasound, bladder scanner, and urine volume. DESIGN: Prospective correlational descriptive study. SETTING: Surgical/trauma intensive care unit and medical intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Renal dialysis patients with less than 100 ml of urine in 24 h prior to urinary catheter removal and patients with suspected catheter obstruction. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A physician trained in ultrasound and an advanced practice registered nurse trained in bladder scanning measured bladder volume; each blinded to the other's measurement. Device used first (ultrasound or bladder scanner) alternated daily. The intensive care unit team determined need for intermittent catheterization or treatment for suspected obstruction. Fifty-one measurements from 13 patients were obtained with results reported in milliliters. Ultrasound measurements were a mean volume of 72.1 ± 127 (range: 1.7-666) and the bladder scanner measurements were 117 ± 131 (0-529). On six occasions in five dialysis patients, urine volume measurement was available. The mean difference in ultrasound-urine volume mean difference was 0.5 ± 37.8 (range: -68 to 38.2) and the bladder scanner-urine volume was 132 ± 167 (-72 to 397). Two patients with suspected catheter obstructions had ultrasound, bladder scanner, urine volume measurements, respectively: (1) 539, 51, >300 (began voiding before catheter replaced); (2) 666, 68, 1000 with catheter replacement. Conditions leading to greatest differences were obesity, indwelling catheter and ascites. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the inaccuracy of the bladder scanner. Ultrasound measurements appear more accurate. To remove urinary catheters in patients with minimal to low urine output, serial ultrasound measurements can be used to monitor bladder volumes and return of renal function.

Comparison of nasal and forehead oximetry accuracy and pressure injury in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: In critically ill patients, clinicians can have difficulty obtaining accurate oximetry measurements. OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of nasal alar and forehead sensor measurements and incidence of pressure injury. METHODS: 43 patients had forehead and nasal alar sensors applied. Arterial samples were obtained at 0, 24, and 120 hours. Oxygen saturations measured by co-oximetry were compared to sensor values. Skin was assessed every 8 hours. RESULTS: Oxygen saturations ranged from 69.8%-97.8%, with 18% of measures < 90%. Measurements were within 3% of co-oximetry values for 54% of nasal alar compared to 35% of forehead measurements. Measurement failures occurred in 6% for nasal alar and 22% for forehead. Three patients developed a pressure injury with the nasal alar sensor and 13 patients developed a pressure injury with the forehead sensor (χ2 = 7.68; p = .006). CONCLUSIONS: In this group of patients with decreased perfusion, nasal alar sensors provided a potential alternative for continuous monitoring of oxygen saturation.

A Multidisciplinary QI Initiative to Improve OR-ICU Handovers.

: Background: Handover from the operating room (OR) staff to the ICU staff is a critical transition time for patients, in which the potential for error and miscommunication is high. Therefore, minimization of extraneous interruptions during the exchange of crucial information between the anesthesia and surgical teams and the nursing, respiratory therapy, and medical teams is imperative. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this quality improvement (QI) initiative was, first, to examine the impact of a standardized handover process between the OR and the ICU on process and information-sharing errors, and second, to examine provider satisfaction with the handover process. METHODS: We conducted prospective observations of the handover process before and after implementation of the QI initiative. In the pre-process improvement period, 38 cardiothoracic patients were observed during handover. In the post-process improvement period, 38 patients were observed after implementation of the newly developed, standardized handover process and communication template. Provider satisfaction surveys were distributed at each observation during the pre- and post-process improvement periods. RESULTS: Compared with the pre-process improvement period, there was a significant decrease in interruptions during report in the post-process improvement period (1.7 ± 1.1 to 0.13 ± 0.34). There were also significantly fewer handover process errors (6.1 ± 2.8 to 1.7 ± 1.5), and fewer information-sharing errors (5.2 ± 2.7 to 2.3 ± 1.5). Average report time increased slightly, from 13.2 ± 6.8 minutes to 14.6 ± 3.8 minutes, but the increase was not significant. A total of 211 provider satisfaction surveys were completed in the pre-process improvement period and 95 in the post-process improvement period. Providers in all disciplines completed surveys in both time periods, and there was no significant difference in the percentage of respondents from any discipline. Responses to the following survey items showed significant improvement in the post-process improvement period: surgery report was satisfactory, anesthesia report was satisfactory, could hear all the report, pre-op anesthesia information was helpful, and start and end of handover were clear. Post-process improvement as well, more respondents disagreed that the person handing off the patient was under time pressure and that the person taking on responsibility for the patient was under time pressure. CONCLUSION: A standardized OR-ICU handover process developed by a multidisciplinary team decreased handover process and information-sharing errors and increased provider satisfaction, with no significant increase in handover time.

Improving Caregivers' Perceptions Regarding Patient Goals of Care/End-of-Life Issues for the Multidisciplinary Critical Care Team.

OBJECTIVE: With population aging and growth, use of critical care medicine at the end of life continues to rise, while many critical care providers are not adequately trained regarding goals of care/end-of-life (GOC/EOL) issues. A multidisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU) team intervention regarding GOC/EOL communication will enhance the clinical abilities of all critical care providers when discussing GOC/EOL issues and increase ICU staff comfort level while improving transitions for patients to a comfort care approach. DESIGN: This study was a preintervention/postintervention survey evaluation. SETTING: This study was conducted at an academic tertiary surgical burn trauma ICU. POPULATION: The intervention was provided to nursing, ancillary staff, house staff, and attending physicians. INTERVENTION: An initial survey was circulated among the critical care staff for baseline expectations, satisfaction, and understanding of GOC/EOL care. A robust intervention was begun including the creation of a multidisciplinary GOC/EOL team, communication tools for providers, patient-family pamphlets, standardized EOL order sets, and formalized didactic sessions. Subsequently, the same survey was circulated and compared to baseline data. MEASUREMENTS: Preintervention/postintervention survey data were reviewed and statistically analyzed. MAIN RESULTS: Our survey response rate for preintervention/postintervention was 50.4% and 36.1%, respectively. The intervention generated heightened interest in improving family communication and provided focal direction to foster this growth. Based on the serial surveys regarding our intervention, statistically significant staff improvements were seen in "work stress" (P = .04), "EOL information" (P = .006), and "space allotment" (P = .001). Improved congruence of families and health care providers regarding decision over intensity of care was also noted. CONCLUSION: We created a novel unit-based multidisciplinary program for improved EOL/GOC approaches in the critical care setting. A similarly formatted program could be adapted by other ICUs. Benefits of such a program include improving caregivers' perceptions regarding EOL/GOC issues and fostering critical care team growth.

A Novel ICU Hand-Over Tool: The Glass Door of the Patient Room.

BACKGROUND: Poor communication among health-care providers is cited as the most common cause of sentinel events involving patients. Patient care in the critical care setting is incredibly complex. A consistent care plan is necessary between day/night shift teams and among bedside intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, consultants, and physicians. Our goal was to create a novel, easily accessible communication device to improve ICU patient care. METHODS: This communication improvement project was done at an academic tertiary surgical/trauma/mixed 36-bed ICU with an average of 214 admissions per month. We created a glass door template embossed on the glass that included 3 columns for daily goals to be written: "day team," "night team," and "surgery/consultant team." Assigned areas for tracking "lines," "antibiotics," "ventilator weaning," and "Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) screening" were included. These doors are filled out/updated throughout the day by all of the ICU providers. All services can review current plans/active issues while evaluating the patient at the bedside. Patient-identifying data are not included. We retrospectively reviewed all ICU safety reported events over a 4-year period (2 years prior/2 years after glass door implementation) for specific handover communication-related errors and compared the 2 cohorts. RESULTS: Information on the glass doors is entered daily on rounds by all services. Prior to implementation, 7.96% of reported errors were related to patient handover communication errors. The post glass-door era had 4.26% of reported errors related to patient handover communication errors with a relative risk reduction of 46.5%. Due to its usefulness, this method of communication was quickly adopted by the other critical care services (cardiothoracic, medical, neurology/neurosurgery, cardiology) at our institution and is now used for over 150 ICU beds. CONCLUSIONS: Our glass door patient handover tool is an easily adaptable intervention that has improved communication leading to an overall decrease in the number of handover communication errors.

A Model of Pressure, Oxygenation, and Perfusion Risk Factors for Pressure Ulcers in the Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Although most intensive care patients are at risk for pressure ulcers, not all experience such ulcers. OBJECTIVE: To examine a model of variables related to extrinsic and intrinsic pressure on skin and underlying tissues, oxygenation, perfusion, and baseline comorbid conditions to identify risk factors associated with pressure ulcers in critically ill adults. METHOD: A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients identified by weekly rounds from January 2010 through October 2010 to determine the prevalence of pressure ulcers. Variables were analyzed via bivariate analysis and logistic regression for unit-acquired pressure ulcers. RESULTS: Data on 345 patients with 436 intensive care admissions were reviewed. Variables were significant in each model category at P < .05. In the regression analysis of first admission only (n = 306), the model was significant (P < .001) and yielded correct classification of 86.3% of patients. For all intensive care admissions (n = 391), the model was significant (P < .001) and yielded correct classification of 83.9% of patients. In both models, 4 of the same variables were significant: any transport off the unit, number of days to bed change, systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg, and use of more than 1 vasopressor. History of pulmonary disease and presence of a feeding tube were also significant in regression analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Several variables within the model of pressure, oxygenation, and perfusion were significantly associated with development of pressure ulcers.

Chlorhexidine gluconate bathing to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus acquisition.

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a virulent organism causing substantial morbidity and mortality in intensive care units. Chlorhexidine gluconate, a topical antiseptic solution, is effective against a wide spectrum of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including MRSA. Objectives To examine the impact of a bathing protocol using chlorhexidine gluconate and bath basin management on MRSA acquisition in 5 adult intensive care units and to examine the cost differences between chlorhexidine bathing by using the bath-basin method versus using prepackaged chlorhexidine-impregnated washcloths. METHODS: The protocol used a 4-oz bottle of 4% chlorhexidine gluconate soap in a bath basin of warm water. Patients in 3 intensive care units underwent active surveillance for MRSA acquisition; patients in 2 other units were monitored for a new positive culture for MRSA at any site 48 hours after admission. RESULTS: Before the protocol, 132 patients acquired MRSA in 34333 patient days (rate ratio, 3.84). Afterwards, 109 patients acquired MRSA in 41376 patient days (rate ratio, 2.63). The rate ratio difference is 1.46 (95% CI, 1.12-1.90; P = .003). The chlorhexidine soap and bath basin method cost $3.18 as compared with $5.52 for chlorhexidine-impregnated wipes (74% higher). CONCLUSIONS: The chlorhexidine bathing protocol is easy to implement, cost-effective, and led to decreased unit-acquired MRSA rates in a variety of adult intensive care units.

Heparin or 0.9% sodium chloride to maintain central venous catheter patency: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare heparin (3 mL, 10 units/mL) and 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl, 10 mL) flush solutions with respect to central venous catheter lumen patency. DESIGN: Single-center, randomized, open label trial. SETTING: Medical intensive care unit and Surgical/Burn/Trauma intensive care unit at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO. PATIENTS: Three hundred forty-one patients with multilumen central venous catheters. Patients with at least one lumen with a minimum of two flushes were included in the analysis. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned within 12 hrs of central venous catheter insertion to receive either heparin or 0.9% sodium chloride flush. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome was lumen nonpatency. Secondary outcomes included the rates of loss of blood return, inability to infuse or flush through the lumen (flush failure), heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, and catheter-related blood stream infection. Assessment for patency was performed every 8 hrs in lumens without continuous infusions for the duration of catheter placement or discharge from intensive care unit. Three hundred twenty-six central venous catheters were studied yielding 709 lumens for analysis. The nonpatency rate was 3.8% in the heparin group (n = 314) and 6.3% in the 0.9% sodium chloride group (n = 395) (relative risk 1.66, 95% confidence interval 0.86-3.22, p = .136). The Kaplan-Meier analysis for time to first patency loss was not significantly different (log rank = 0.093) between groups. The rates of loss of blood return and flush failure were similar between the heparin and 0.9% sodium chloride groups. Pressure-injectable central venous catheters had significantly greater rates of nonpatency (10.6% vs. 4.3%, p = .001) and loss of blood return (37.0% vs. 18.8%, p <.001) compared to nonpressure-injectable catheters. The frequencies of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and catheter-related blood stream infection were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: 0.9% sodium chloride and heparin flushing solutions have similar rates of lumen nonpatency. Given potential safety concerns with the use of heparin, 0.9% sodium chloride may be the preferred flushing solution for short-term use central venous catheter maintenance.

National survey of central venous catheter flushing in the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Evidence is needed on the best solution for flushing central venous catheters. OBJECTIVE: To understand current flushing practices for short-term central venous catheters among critical care nurses before implementation of a randomized, controlled trial comparing physiological saline with heparin solution for flushing to maintain catheter patency. METHODS: A 6-item survey including demographic data was mailed to 2000 practicing critical care nurses in the United States. An additional 316 surveys were completed at the annual conference of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. RESULTS: Most (71.5%) of the 632 respondents who completed the survey were staff nurses. Most respondents (64.6%; 95% CI, 60.86%-68.34%) reported using physiological saline exclusively to flush central venous catheters and maintain patency. For heparin-containing solutions, the concentration and volume used varied. The most commonly reported volumes for flushing were 10 mL for saline (63%; 95% CI, 59.18%-66.82%) and 3 mL for heparin (50.2%; 95% CI, 43.5%-56.9%). CONCLUSION: Flushing practices for central venous catheters vary widely. A randomized controlled trial is needed to determine the optimal flushing solution to maintain short-term patency.

Implementation of a mandatory checklist of protocols and objectives improves compliance with a wide range of evidence-based intensive care unit practices.

OBJECTIVE: To determine a) if a checklist covering a diverse group of intensive care unit protocols and objectives would improve clinician consideration of these domains and b) if improved consideration would change practice patterns. DESIGN: Pre- and post observational study. SETTING: A 24-bed surgical/burn/trauma intensive care unit in a teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 1399 patients admitted between June 2006 and May 2007. INTERVENTIONS: The first component of the study evaluated whether mandating verbal review of a checklist covering 14 intensive care unit best practices altered verbal consideration of these domains. Evaluation was performed using real-time bedside audits on morning rounds. The second component evaluated whether the checklist altered implementation of these domains by changing practice patterns. Evaluation was performed by analyzing data from the Project IMPACT database after patients left the intensive care unit. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Verbal consideration of evaluable domains improved from 90.9% (530/583) to 99.7% (669/671, p < .0001) after verbal review of the checklist was mandated. Bedside consideration improved on the use of deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis (p < .05), stress ulcer prophylaxis (p < .01), oral care for ventilated patients (p < 0.01), electrolyte repletion (p < .01), initiation of physical therapy (p < .05), and documentation of restraint orders (p < .0001). Mandatory verbal review of the checklist resulted in a greater than two-fold increase in transferring patients out of the intensive care unit on telemetry (16% vs. 35%, p < .0001) and initiation of physical therapy (28% vs. 42%, p < .0001) compared with baseline practice. CONCLUSIONS: A mandatory verbal review of a checklist covering a wide range of objectives and goals at each patient's bedside is an effective method to improve both consideration and implementation of intensive care unit best practices. A bedside checklist is a simple, cost-effective method to prevent errors of omission in basic domains of intensive care unit management that might otherwise be forgotten in the setting of more urgent care requirements.

The impact of a simple, low-cost oral care protocol on ventilator-associated pneumonia rates in a surgical intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a simple low-cost oral care protocol on ventilator-associated pneumonia rates in a surgical intensive care unit. DESIGN: Preintervention and postintervention observational study. SETTING: Twenty-four bed surgical/trauma/burn intensive care units in an urban university hospital. PATIENTS: All mechanically ventilated patients that were admitted to the intensive care unit between June 1, 2004 and May 31, 2005. INTERVENTIONS: An oral care protocol to assist in prevention of bacterial growth of plaque by cleaning the patients' teeth with sodium monoflurophosphate 0.7% paste and brush, rinsing with tap water, and subsequent application of a 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate chemical solution done twice daily at 12-hour intervals. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During the preintervention period from June 1, 2003 to May 31, 2004, there were 24 infections in 4606 ventilator days (rate = 5.2 infections per 1000 ventilator days). After the institution of the oral care protocol, there were 10 infections in 4158 ventilator days, resulting in a lower rate of 2.4 infections per 1000 ventilator days. This 46% reduction in ventilator-associated pneumonia was statistically significant (P = .04). Staff compliance with the oral care protocol during the 12-month period was also monitored biweekly and averaged 81%. The total cost of the oral care protocol was US$2187.49. There were 14 fewer cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia, which led to a decrease in cost of US$140 000 to US$560 000 based on the estimated cost per ventilator-associated pneumonia infection of US$10 000 to US$40 000. There was an overall reduction in ventilator-associated pneumonia without a change to the gram-negative or gram-positive microorganism profile. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a simple, low-cost oral care protocol in the surgical intensive care unit led to a significantly decreased risk of acquiring ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Tracheostomy protocol: experience with development and potential utility.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the feasibility and potential utility of a tracheostomy protocol based on a standardized approach to ventilator weaning. DESIGN: Prospective, observational data collection. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENTS: Surgical intensive care unit patients requiring mechanical ventilatory support. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Tracheostomy practice in 200 patients was analyzed in relation to spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) weaning. Decision for, and performance of, tracheostomy occurred (median [interquartile range]) 5.0 (3.75-8.0) and 7.0 (5.0-10.0) days following initiation of mechanical ventilation, respectively. Duration of mechanical ventilation was greater in tracheostomy compared with nontracheostomy patients (15.0 [11.0-19.0] vs. 6.0 [4.0-8.0], p < .001). For patients requiring ventilatory support for > or = 20 days, 100% of patients were maintained via tracheostomy. A protocol based on weaning performance, which included technical considerations, was developed. Individuals who failed preliminary weaning assessment or SBT for 3 successive days following 5 days (nonreintubated patients) or 3 days (reintubated patients) of ventilatory support met tracheostomy criteria. The protocol was implemented on a pilot basis in 125 individuals. Of the 55 (44.0%) patients undergoing tracheostomy, 25 (45.5%) did so consistent with criteria. Eighteen patients (32.7%) underwent tracheostomy before the time interval of data collection targeting weaning protocol performance, and 12 patients (21.8%) passed SBT on one or more occasions, were not extubated, and proceeded to tracheostomy. CONCLUSIONS: A standardized approach in which the decision for tracheostomy is based on objective measures of weaning performance may be a means of using this procedure more consistently and effectively.

Improved extubation rates and earlier liberation from mechanical ventilation with implementation of a daily spontaneous-breathing trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Daily spontaneous-breathing trials (SBTs) are promulgated as the best method for assessing readiness for discontinuation of mechanical ventilation. SBT protocols have also been shown to improve outcomes as opposed to wild-type implementation of daily SBT recommendations. Here we determine whether implementation of a mandatory, protocol-driven daily SBT on all ventilated patients in the ICU improves extubation rates and accelerates liberation from mechanical ventilation. STUDY DESIGN: A daily 30-minute SBT protocol was introduced into an academic surgical ICU in July 2005 and followed through September 2006. Decisions about next steps (continued mechanical support versus liberation) after each trial were recorded. Owing to the low liberation rate, physicians began (in January 2006) recording the reasons for continuing mechanical ventilation after a passing SBT. Differences in patient outcomes were compared for the first and last 8 weeks of the study period, corresponding to similar times in the academic and calendar years. RESULTS: Four hundred eighty-eight patients experienced 547 mechanical ventilation episodes from July 2005 to September 2006. A total of 2,835 safety evaluations for SBTs were completed. Rate of extubations of passing patients after the first 8 weeks of implementation (n = 73 patients) was 27% (35 extubations of 131 passed trials). This rate improved in the last 8 weeks to 42% (42 of 101) (p < 0.02) (n = 57 patients). Reintubation rate was similar at 6% for the first 8 weeks and 8% for the final 8 weeks (p = 0.65), including self-extubations. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a daily SBT protocol resulted in improvement of extubation rates during the year of implementation without a change in the reintubation rate. Requesting that physicians enumerate reasons for continuing mechanical ventilation in the face of a passing breathing trial was associated with a sustained improvement in extubation rate.

Effect of chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine-impregnated central venous catheters in an intensive care unit with a low blood stream infection rate after implementation of an educational program: a before-after trial.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend using antiseptic- or antibiotic-impregnated central venous catheters (CVCs) if, following a comprehensive strategy to prevent catheter-related blood stream infection (CR-BSI), infection rates remain above institutional goals based on benchmark values. The purpose of this study was to determine if chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine-impregnated CVCs could decrease the CR-BSI rate in an intensive care unit (ICU) with a low baseline infection rate. METHODS: Pre-intervention and post-intervention observational study in a 24-bed surgical/trauma/burn ICU from October, 2002 to August, 2005. All patients requiring CVC placement after March, 2004 had a chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine-impregnated catheter inserted (post-intervention period). RESULTS: Twenty-three CR-BSIs occurred in 6,960 catheter days (3.3 per 1,000 catheter days)during the 17-month control period. After introduction of chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine-impregnated catheters, 16 CR-BSIs occurred in 7,732 catheter days (2.1 per 1,000 catheter days; p = 0.16). The average length of time required for an infection to become established after catheterization was similar in the two groups (8.4 vs. 8.6 days; p = 0.85). Chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine-impregnated catheters did not result in a statistically significant change in the microbiological profile of CR-BSIs, nor did they increase the incidence of resistant organisms. CONCLUSIONS: Although chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine-impregnated catheters are useful in specific patient populations, they did not result in a statistically significant decrease in the CR-BSI rate in this study, beyond what was achieved with education alone.