Donna Prentice

Effect of a nursing-implemented sedation protocol on the duration of mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVE To compare a practice of protocol-directed sedation during mechanical ventilation implemented by nurses with traditional non-protocol-directed sedation administration. DESIGN Randomized, controlled clinical trial. SETTING Medical intensive care unit (19 beds) in an urban teaching hospital. PATIENTS Patients requiring mechanical ventilation (n = 321). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomly assigned to receive either protocol-directed sedation (n = 162) or non-protocol-directed sedation (n = 159). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The median duration of mechanical ventilation was 55.9 hrs (95% confidence interval, 41.0-90.0 hrs) for patients managed with protocol-directed sedation and 117.0 hrs (95% confidence interval, 96.0-155.6 hrs) for patients receiving non-protocol-directed sedation. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that patients in the protocol-directed sedation group had statistically shorter durations of mechanical ventilation than patients in the non-protocol-directed sedation group (chi-square = 7.00, p = .008, log rank test; chi-square = 8.54, p = .004, Wilcoxons test; chi-square = 9.18, p = .003, -2 log test). Lengths of stay in the intensive care unit (5.7+/-5.9 days vs. 7.5+/-6.5 days; p = .013) and hospital (14.0+/-17.3 days vs. 19.9+/-24.2 days; p < .001) were also significantly shorter among patients in the protocol-directed sedation group. Among the 132 patients (41.1%) receiving continuous intravenous sedation, those in the protocol-directed sedation group (n = 66) had a significantly shorter duration of continuous intravenous sedation than those in the non-protocol-directed sedation group (n = 66) (3.5+/-4.0 days vs. 5.6+/-6.4 days; p = .003). Patients in the protocol-directed sedation group also had a significantly lower tracheostomy rate compared with patients in the non-protocol-directed sedation group (10 of 162 patients [6.2%] vs. 21 of 159 patients [13.2%], p = .038). CONCLUSIONS The use of protocol-directed sedation can reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation, the intensive care unit and hospital lengths of stay, and the need for tracheostomy among critically ill patients with acute respiratory failure.

A randomized, controlled trial of protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVE To compare a practice of protocol-directed weaning from mechanical ventilation implemented by nurses and respiratory therapists with traditional physician-directed weaning. DESIGN Randomized, controlled trial. SETTING Medical and surgical intensive care units in two university-affiliated teaching hospitals. PATIENTS Patients requiring mechanical ventilation (n = 357). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomly assigned to receive either protocol-directed (n = 179) or physician-directed (n = 178) weaning from mechanical ventilation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The primary outcome measure was the duration of mechanical ventilation from tracheal intubation until discontinuation of mechanical ventilation. Other outcome measures included need for reintubation, length of hospital stay, hospital mortality rate, and hospital costs. The median duration of mechanical ventilation was 35 hrs for the protocol-directed group (first quartile 15 hrs; third quartile 114 hrs) compared with 44 hrs for the physician-directed group (first quartile 21 hrs; third quartile 209 hrs). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that patients randomized to protocol-directed weaning had significantly shorter durations of mechanical ventilation compared with patients randomized to physician-directed weaning (chi 2 = 3.62, p = .057, log-rank test; chi 2 = 5.12, p = .024, Wilcoxon test). Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis, adjusting for other covariates, showed that the rate of successful weaning was significantly greater for patients receiving protocol-directed weaning compared with patients receiving physician-directed weaning (risk ratio 1.31; 95% confidence interval 1.15 to 1.50; p = .039). The hospital mortality rates for the two treatment groups were similar (protocol-directed 22.3% vs. physician-directed 23.6%; p = .779). Hospital cost savings for patients in the protocol-directed group were

Before-after study of a standardized hospital order set for the management of septic shock

42,960 compared with hospital costs for patients in the physician-directed group. CONCLUSION Protocol-guided weaning of mechanical ventilation, as performed by nurses and respiratory therapists, is safe and led to extubation more rapidly than physician-directed weaning.

Early versus late enteral feeding of mechanically ventilated patients: results of a clinical trial

Objective:To evaluate a standardized hospital order set for the management of septic shock in the emergency department. Design:Before–after study design with prospective consecutive data collection. Setting:Emergency department of a 1,200-bed academic medical center. Patients:A total of 120 patients with septic shock. Interventions:Implementation of a standardized hospital order set for the management of septic shock. Measurements and Main Results:A total of 120 consecutive patients with septic shock were identified. Sixty patients (50.0%) were managed before the implementation of the standardized order set, constituting the before group, and 60 (50.0%) were evaluated after the implementation of the standardized order set, making up the after group. Demographic variables and severity of illness measured by the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II were similar for both groups. Patients in the after group received statistically more intravenous fluids while in the emergency department (2825 ± 1624 mL vs. 3789 ± 1730 mL, p = .002), were more likely to receive intravenous fluids of >20 mL/kg body weight before vasopressor administration (58.3% vs. 88.3%, p < .001), and were more likely to be treated with an appropriate initial antimicrobial regimen (71.7% vs. 86.7%, p = .043) compared with patients in the before group. Patients in the after group were less likely to require vasopressor administration at the time of transfer to the intensive care unit (100.0% vs. 71.7%, p < .001), had a shorter hospital length of stay (12.1 ± 9.2 days vs. 8.9 ± 7.2 days, p = .038), and a lower risk for 28-day mortality (48.3% vs. 30.0%, p = .040). Conclusions:Our study found that the implementation of a standardized order set for the management of septic shock in the emergency department was associated with statistically more rigorous fluid resuscitation of patients, greater administration of appropriate initial antibiotic treatment, and a lower 28-day mortality. These data suggest that the use of standardized order sets for the management of septic shock should be routinely employed.

Inadequate treatment of nosocomial infections is associated with certain empiric antibiotic choices.

BACKGROUND This study sought to compare 2 strategies for the administration of enteral feeding to mechanically ventilated medical patients. METHODS The prospective, controlled, clinical trial was carried out in a medical intensive care unit (19 beds) in a university-affiliated, urban teaching hospital. Between May 1999 and December 2000, 150 patients were enrolled. Patients were scheduled to receive their estimated total daily enteral nutritional requirements on either day 1 (early-feeding group) or day 5 (late-feeding group) of mechanical ventilation. Patients in the late-feeding group were also scheduled to receive 20% of their estimated daily enteral nutritional requirements during the first 4 days of mechanical ventilation. RESULTS Seventy-five (50%) consecutive eligible patients were entered into the early-feeding group and 75 (50%) patients were enrolled in the late-feeding group. During the 5 five days of mechanical ventilation, the total intake of calories (2370 +/- 2000 kcal versus 629 +/- 575 kcal; p < .001) and protein (93.6 +/- 77.2 g versus 26.7 +/- 26.6 g; p < .001) were statistically greater for patients in the early-feeding group. Patients in the early-feeding group had statistically greater incidences of ventilator-associated pneumonia (49.3% versus 30.7%; p = .020) and diarrhea associated with Clostridium difficile infection (13.3% versus 4.0%; p = .042). The early-feeding group also had statistically longer intensive care unit (13.6 +/- 14.2 days versus 9.8 +/- 7.4 days; p = .043) and hospital lengths of stay (22.9 +/- 19.7 days versus 16.7 +/- 12.5 days; p = .023) compared with patients in the late-feeding group. No statistical difference in hospital mortality was observed between patients in the early-feeding and late-feeding groups (20.0% versus 26.7%; p = .334). CONCLUSIONS The administration of more aggressive early enteral nutrition to mechanically ventilated medical patients is associated with greater infectious complications and prolonged lengths of stay in the hospital. Clinicians must balance the potential for complications resulting from early enteral feeding with the expected benefits of such therapy.

Reporting of medical errors: an intensive care unit experience.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the impact of scheduled changes of antibiotic classes, used for the empirical treatment of suspected or documented Gram-negative bacterial infections, on the occurrence of inadequate antimicrobial treatment of nosocomial infections. DesignProspective observational study. SettingMedical (19-bed) and surgical (18-bed) intensive care units in an urban teaching hospital. PatientsA total of 3,668 patients requiring intensive care unit admission were prospectively evaluated during three consecutive time periods. InterventionsDuring each time period, one antibiotic class was selected for the empirical treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections as follows: time period 1 (baseline period) (1,323 patients), ceftazidime; time period 2 (1,243 patients), ciprofloxacin; and time period 3 (1,102 patients), cefepime. Measurements and Main ResultsThe overall administration of inadequate antimicrobial treatment for nosocomial infections decreased during the course of the study (6.1%, 4.7%, and 4.5%;p = .15). This was primarily because of a statistically significant decrease in the administration of inadequate antibiotic treatment for Gram-negative bacterial infections (4.4%, 2.1%, and 1.6%;p < .001). There were no statistically significant differences in the overall hospital mortality rate among the three time periods (15.6%, 16.4%, and 16.2%;p = .828) despite a significant increase in severity of illness as measured with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores (15.3 ± 7.6, 15.7 ± 8.0, and 20.7 ± 8.6;p < .001). The hospital mortality rate decreased significantly during time period 3 (20.6%) compared with time period 1 (28.4%;p < .001) and time period 2 (29.5%;p < .001) for patients with an APACHE II score ≥15. ConclusionsThese data suggest that scheduled changes of antibiotic classes for the empirical treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections can reduce the occurrence of inadequate antibiotic treatment for nosocomial infections. Reducing inadequate antibiotic administration may improve the outcomes of critically ill patients with APACHE II scores ≥15.

Deep vein thrombosis during prolonged mechanical ventilation despite prophylaxis

ObjectiveTo determine the occurrence and type of medical errors in an intensive care setting using a voluntary reporting method. DesignProspective, single-center, observational study. SettingThe medical intensive care unit (19 beds) at an urban teaching hospital. PatientsAdult patients requiring at least 48 hrs of intensive care. InterventionsProspective reporting of medical errors. Measurements and Main ResultsDuring a 6-month period, 232 medical events were reported involving 147 patients. A total of 2598 patient days were surveyed yielding 89.3 medical events reported per 1000 intensive care unit days. The source of the reports included nurses, who reported most of the medical events (59.1%), followed by physicians-in-training (27.2%) and intensive care unit attending physicians (2.6%). One hundred thirty (56.2%) medical events occurred within the intensive care unit and were judged to involve patient careproviders who were working directly in the intensive care unit area. One hundred and two (43.8%) medical events were commissions or omissions that occurred outside of the intensive care unit during patient transports or in the emergency department and hospital floors. Twenty-three (9.9%) medical events leading to a medical error resulted in the need for additional life-sustaining treatment, and seven (3.0%) medical errors may have contributed to patient deaths. ConclusionMedical errors appear to be common among patients requiring intensive care. Medical events resulting in an error can result in the need for additional life-sustaining treatments and, in some circumstances, can contribute to patient death. Patient healthcare providers appear to be in a unique position to identify medical errors. Institutions should develop formalized methods for the reporting and analysis of medical errors to improve patient care.

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

Objective To determine the prevalence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) among patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Medical intensive care unit of a university-affiliated urban teaching hospital. Patients Patients requiring mechanical ventilation for >7 days. Interventions All patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation underwent duplex ultrasonography of their lower extremities and upper extremities every 7 days. The main outcome identified was the presence of DVT. Secondary outcomes included hospital mortality, hospital and intensive care unit lengths of stay, and the occurrence of pulmonary embolism. Measurements and Main Results A total of 110 patients requiring mechanical ventilation for >7 days were enrolled. Prophylaxis against DVT was employed in 110 of the patients (100%). A total of 26 patients (23.6%) developed DVT. Patients with DVT were statistically more likely to have underlying malignancy (30.8% vs. 8.3%;p = .004) and longer durations of central venous catheterization (26.9 ± 22.2 days vs. 14.5 ± 12.1 days;p = .024) compared with patients without DVT. There were no statistically significant differences in hospital mortality or lengths of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit for patients with and without DVT. Patients documented to have DVT by using duplex ultrasonography had a statistically greater frequency of subsequent pulmonary embolism during their hospitalization (11.5% vs. 0.0%;p = .012). Conclusion The occurrence of DVT is common among patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit setting despite the use of prophylaxis measures. These data suggest that alternative strategies for the prevention of DVT should be evaluated. Additionally, early detection methods should be considered to reduce the potential morbidity associated with untreated DVT in this high-risk population.

National Survey of Central Venous Catheter Flushing in the Intensive Care Unit

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.

Ambulatory care-sensitive conditions: clinical outcomes and impact on intensive care unit resource use.

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.