AimsWe aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Numeta G13%E preterm neonatal parenteral nutrition (PN) in our neonatal population.In September 2017 a National Patient Safety Alert (NPSA) highlighted the risk of harm to babies when lipid was mistakenly run at the rate intended for the aqueous component resulting in significant lipid overdose.Although we have worked to implement many of the alert’s recommendations, we feel we can avoid this risk further by using an all-in-one PN solution.1Numeta meets current nutritional guidelines as per British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) but this project allows comparison of outcomes important to both patient and service between those achieved with our current regimen and those with the all-in-one regimen.2MethodsWe carried out a quality improvement project from April 2018 to April 2019. We collected data from 330 babies in our neonatal unit during six months before (154 babies) and after (176 babies) the adoption of the all-in-one solution.Our previous PN regimen consisted of a ‘menu’ of aqueous bags (starter, maintenance, ‘light’ and bespoke) and a separate lipid solution. All of them were suitable for peripheral or central administration. Numeta came with similar choices: starter, maintenance -for central administration only- and ‘lite’ and Numeta peripheral, suitable for peripheral administration. Bespoke bags were also available if clinically indicated. We set out our desired outcomes and measured parameters accordingly:Patient outcomesMetabolic stability: electrolyte, glucose, bilirubin and lipid measurements summarised by the need to change from standard PN regimen and/or requirement for insulin.Fluid balance summarised by the lowest weight during the first two weeks of life and time taken to regain birth weight.Growth summarised by change of standard deviation score of weight and head circumference between birth and discharge or transfer back to local hospital.Liver tolerance of lipid solutions summarised by incidence of cholestasis (>25 μmol/l conjugated fraction of serum bilirubin)Days and type of PNSepsisService outcomesNursing time taken to prepare PNCostWastageAccess to productResultsAlthough we finished collecting the data in April 2019, we are still in the process of analysing it and evaluating the final results. There have been no cases of lipid overdose and our neonates (including the preterm ones) have so far tolerated well the new parenteral nutrition solution. Average nursing time preparing Numeta went down from 18.5 minutes to 8 minutes and comparison of cost came in favour of Numeta. PN wastage was higher with Numeta (4.7% Maintenance, 10% ‘light’, peripheral 50%) especially in the first month during the transition phase. There was no significant increase of bespoke bags when Numeta was introduced.ConclusionsIn summary, so far we have not identified significant clinical differences between the first six months of the project -using our old standardised nutrition regimen- and the last months -on the new all-in-one solution. We have continued with Numeta preterm solution on the basis of assumed safety.ReferencesRisk of severe harm and death from infusing total parenteral nutrition too rapidly in babies. NHS improvement patient safety alert September 2017.The Provision of Parenteral Nutrition within Neonatal Services – A Framework for Practice. British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) April 2016 www.bapm.org
Steroid Emergency Cards – a new Patient Safety Alert
