The impact of critical event checklists on medical management and teamwork during simulated crises in a surgical daycare facility.

Although the incidence of major adverse events in surgical daycare centres is low, these critical events may not be managed optimally due to the absence of resources that exist in larger hospitals. We aimed to study the impact of operating theatre critical event checklists on medical management and teamwork during whole-team operating theatre crisis simulations staged in a surgical daycare facility. We studied 56 simulation encounters (without and with a checklist available) divided between an initial session and then a retention session several months later. Medical management and teamwork were quantified via percentage adherence to key processes and the Team Emergency Assessment Measure, respectively. In the initial session, medical management was not improved by the presence of a checklist (56% without checklist vs. 62% with checklist; p = 0.50). In the retention session, teams performed significantly worse without the checklists (36% without checklist vs. 60% with checklist; p = 0.04). We did not observe a change in non-technical skills in the presence of a checklist in either the initial or retention sessions (68% without checklist vs. 69% with checklist (p = 0.94) and 69% without checklist vs. 65% with checklist (p = 0.36), respectively). Critical events checklists do not improve medical management or teamwork during simulated operating theatre crises in an ambulatory surgical daycare setting.

Efficacy of high-fidelity simulation debriefing on the performance of practicing anaesthetists in simulated scenarios.

BACKGROUND: Research into adverse events in hospitalized patients suggests that a significant number are preventable. The purpose of this randomized, controlled study was to determine if simulation-based debriefing improved performance of practicing anaesthetists managing high-fidelity simulation scenarios. METHODS: The anaesthetists were randomly allocated to Group A: simulation debriefing; Group B: home study; and Group C: no intervention and secondary randomization to one of two scenarios. Six to nine months later, subjects returned to manage the alternate scenario. Facilitators blinded to study group allocation completed the performance checklists (dichotomously scored checklist, DSC) and Global Rating Scale of Performance (GRS). Two non-expert raters were trained, and assessed all videotaped performances. RESULTS: Interim analysis indicated no difference between Groups B and C which were merged into one group. Seventy-four subjects were recruited, with 58 complete data sets available. There was no significant effect of group on pre-test scores. A significant improvement was seen between pre- and post-tests on the DSC in debriefed subjects (pre-test 66.8%, post-test 70.3%; F(1,57)=4.18, P=0.046). Both groups showed significant improvement in the GRS over time (F(1,57)=5.94, P=0.018), but no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: We found a modest improvement in performance on a DSC in the debriefed group and overall improvement in both control and debriefed groups using a GRS. Whether this improvement translates into clinical practice has yet to be determined.

High-fidelity patient simulation: validation of performance checklists.

BACKGROUND: Standardized scenarios can be used for performance assessments geared to the level of the learner. The purpose of this study was to validate checklists used for the assessments of medical students' performance using high-fidelity patient simulation. METHODS: Our undergraduate committee designed 10 scenarios based on curriculum objectives. Fifteen faculty members with undergraduate educational experience identified items considered appropriate for medical students' performance level and identified items that, if omitted, would negatively affect grades. Items endorsed by less than 20% of faculty were omitted. For remaining items, weighting was calculated according to faculty responses. Students managed at least one scenario during which their performance was videotaped. Two raters independently completed the checklists for three consecutive sessions to determine inter-rater reliability. Validity was determined using Cronbach's alpha with an alpha>or=0.6 and

The effects of an increase of central blood volume before spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery: a qualitative systematic review.

UNLABELLED: We evaluated in this qualitative systematic review the efficacy of increasing central blood volume on the incidence of hypotension after spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean delivery. Randomized controlled trials investigating any method of increasing central blood volume before the initiation of obstetric spinal anesthesia were sought by using MEDLINE (1966-2000), Embase (January 1988-April 2000), and the Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2000). Additional reports from retrieved and review articles, hand searching of non-MEDLINE journals, and abstracts of major anesthesia meetings (1994-1999) were located. The primary outcome was the incidence of hypotension. Secondary outcomes included: ephedrine use, Apgar scores, umbilical cord pH values, and maternal nausea and vomiting. Twenty-three articles met our inclusion criteria with the use of crystalloid preload, colloid preload, and mechanical methods of increasing central volume. Crystalloid preload was inconsistent in preventing hypotension, whereas colloid appeared to be effective in all but one study. Leg wrapping and thromboembolic stockings decreased the incidence of hypotension compared with leg elevation or control. Few differences in fetal outcomes or maternal nausea and vomiting were reported. Increasing central blood volume by using colloid and leg wrapping decreases but does not abolish the incidence of hypotension before spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean delivery. IMPLICATIONS: We performed a systematic review to determine whether fluid loading reduced the incidence of low blood pressure after spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery. Although no technique totally eliminates the occurrence of hypotension, colloid administration (starch or gelatin containing fluids) and leg wrapping were the most effective.

Death in two Canadian intensive care units: institutional difference and changes over time.

OBJECTIVE: To study and compare the mode of death in two different institutions' intensive care units (ICUs) for the two time periods, 1988 and 1993. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Medical/surgical/trauma ICUs in two tertiary care teaching hospitals. PATIENTS: Patients dying in the medical/surgical/trauma ICUs between January 1, 1988 and December 31, 1988; and January 1, 1993 and December 31, 1993. Data collection included demographics, origin of admission, date of ICU admission, date of death, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III diagnostic categories, APACHE II physiologic variables, organ system failures present at the time of admission and 24 hrs before death, and mode of dying. APACHE II scores and mortality risk were calculated. Data analysis included a multiple analysis of variance to assess overall effect, with subsequent analyses of variance to assess the effect of institution and year on each individual dependent variable. All results are reported as mean +/- SEM values. RESULTS: A total of 439 charts were reviewed. Gender, age, and origin of admission were not different between the 2 yrs or the two institutions. Mean APACHE II scores and organ system failures were lower at Hospital A in 1998 vs. Hospital B, as was predicted mortality. These factors increased at Hospital A in 1993 and were similar to those at Hospital B. Withdrawal of support was much more common in 1993 than 1988 at both institutions (43% at Hospital A and 46% at Hospital B in 1988 vs. 66% at A and 80% at B in 1993), increasing to a greater extent in 1993 at Hospital B (p<.05). Length of stay in the ICU was significantly longer at Hospital A than at Hospital B in 1988 (9.4+/-1.4 vs. 4.3+/-0.6 days; p<.05) and in 1993 (8.2+/-2.9 vs. 3.8+/-0.5 days; p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: There has been an increase in withdrawal of life support, in recent years, at both the institutions studied. Differences exist between institutions with respect to end-of-life decisions in the ICU. These differences are likely representative of widely prevalent regional differences and are the result of many factors.

Measurements of maternal protein binding of bupivacaine throughout pregnancy.

UNLABELLED: Pregnancy-related decreases in protein binding may contribute to altered effects of local anesthetics in the parturient. Previous studies have measured protein binding of bupivacaine in term parturients; the current study defines the ratio of bound-to-free bupivacaine throughout gestation at both therapeutic and toxic systemic concentrations of bupivacaine. Venous samples were obtained from 81 women, including 70 parturients, ranging from 7 to 42 wk of gestation and 11 nonpregnant controls. The percent bound bupivacaine at a fixed concentration was determined for each sample at both therapeutic (1 microg/mL) and toxic (5 microg/mL) concentrations using an ultrafiltration technique. Albumin and alpha-1-glycoprotein levels were also measured. Linear regression analysis showed a significant increase in concentration of free bupivacaine throughout gestation at the 5-microg/mL concentration, corresponding to a decrease demonstrated in both albumin and alpha-1-glycoprotein levels. A similar correlation was not found at the 1-microg/mL concentration. Although the relative magnitude of these changes is small, the relative change in free drug throughout gestation is large. Protein binding is only one of several mechanisms that may influence the susceptibility to local anesthetic toxicity in the parturient; however, its relative importance remains unclear. IMPLICATIONS: When venous samples taken from pregnant women were mixed with 5 microg/ml bupivacaine and analyzed, an increase in the free fraction of drug was seen with increasing gestational age, corresponding to decreases in alpha-1-glycoprotein and albumin.

Labour pain management in a parturient with an implanted intrathecal pump.

PURPOSE: We report the peripartum anaesthetic management for vaginal delivery of a chronic pain patient with an implanted intrathecal pump. This is the first report describing labour analgesia in a patient with such a device. As intrathecal systems become more popular for the management of nonmalignant pain, this situation is likely to be encountered with increasing frequency in the future. CLINICAL FEATURES: The patient was a nulliparous 23-yr-old with a history of chronic hereditary pancreatitis whose intractable pain had been managed with intrathecal morphine 3 mg.day-1 via an implantable pump for four years. Inadequate time between presentation and onset of labour prevented us from using this system. Intravenous patient controlled analgesia with fentanyl using a bolus of 25 micrograms and a lockout of five minutes was ineffective and epidural analgesia using bupivacaine was initiated and resulted in satisfactory analgesia. CONCLUSION: The presence of an existing intrathecal delivery system does not preclude the use of supplemental epidural analgesia during labour.