ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Achieve over 90% adherence to consensus guidelines on use of postnatal steroids (PNS) in preterm infants for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) within 6 months. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team formulated and implemented consensus guidelines using the Plan-Do-Study-Act method of quality improvement. Outcome measure was rate of compliance to guidelines, process measure was age of starting PNS treatment, and balancing measure was rate of repeat steroid courses. RESULTS: Retrospective application of guidelines to preceding 10 months showed mean baseline compliance rate of 71% (n = 42). After implementation, compliance escalated to a mean rate of 96% within 6 months. Rate of PNS treatment ≤ 30 days of life increased from 50 to 80%, while rate of repeat PNS was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with new guidelines for PNS treatment of BPD was quickly attained using simple quality improvement interventions. Further study is needed to evaluate effects of these guidelines on clinical outcomes.
Subject(s)
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia , Administration, Inhalation , Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/drug therapy , Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Premature , Quality Improvement , Retrospective Studies , Steroids/therapeutic useABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this article was to develop standardized nutritional guidelines that would promote increased growth velocity (GV) in premature infants. DESIGN: Evidence-based standardized nutritional guidelines were developed. Guidelines included total parenteral nutrition advancement; enteral feeding advancement; and a bedside nurse gastric residual management algorithm. Staff education was given. Guideline compliance was measured. Nutritional intake and daily weights were recorded. SAMPLE: Infants of birth weight <1,500 grams who were admitted to the NICU before day of life four. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE: Increase in GV from 12 to 15 g/kg/d. RESULTS: Growth velocity was unchanged. Compliance to the nutritional guidelines was 70 percent. No difference was seen in length of stay. Rate of necrotizing enterocolitis was decreased.
