Keeping critically ill patients safe on the road in south east Queensland: The introduction of a critical care inter-hospital transfer service

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
K. Sosnowski ◽  
D. Dobbyn ◽  
A. Haddock
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
The Road ◽  
Hospital Transfer ◽  
On The Road

Transport of the critically ill patient

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Flutter ◽  
Christoph Melzer-Gartzke ◽  
Claudia Spies ◽  
Julian Bion
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Critically Ill Patient ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Specialist Services ◽  
Hospital Transfer ◽  
Safe Transport

The safe transport of critically ill patients is recognized internationally as a key competency for clinicians working in anaesthesia, critical care, and emergency medicine. This includes inter- and intra-hospital, land, and air transport. The centralization of specialist services and growing demand for critical care beds have increased pressure on hospitals to provide transfer support for critically ill patients. A variety of systems have emerged to facilitate the increasing need for both inter- and intra-hospital transfer of patients, ranging from a national coordinated retrieval service to the ad hoc utilization of on-call teams. The potential for complications during all types of transfer has been well documented. In order to improve safety, a number of national guidelines and courses have been developed to provide a standardized approach to transfer medicine. This chapter reviews the current literature on the subject and provides a summary of best practice for the transfer of the critically ill patient.

scholarly journals Report of the first AKI Round Table meeting: an initiative of the ESICM AKI Section

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ostermann ◽  
A. Schneider ◽  
T. Rimmele ◽  
I. Bobek ◽  
M. van Dam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Renal Replacement Therapy ◽  
Replacement Therapy ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Blood Pressure Targets

Abstract Purpose Critical Care Nephrology is an emerging sub-specialty of Critical Care. Despite increasing awareness about the serious impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) and renal replacement therapy (RRT), important knowledge gaps persist. This report represents a summary of a 1-day meeting of the AKI section of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) identifying priorities for future AKI research. Methods International Members of the AKI section of the ESICM were selected and allocated to one of three subgroups: “AKI diagnosis and evaluation”, “Medical management of AKI” and “Renal Replacement Therapy for AKI.” Using a modified Delphi methodology, each group identified knowledge gaps and developed potential proposals for future collaborative research. Results The following key research projects were developed: Systematic reviews: (a) epidemiology of AKI with stratification by patient cohorts and diagnostic criteria; (b) role of higher blood pressure targets in patients with hypertension admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, and (c) specific clearance characteristics of different modalities of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Observational studies: (a) epidemiology of critically ill patients according to AKI duration, and (b) current clinical practice of CRRT. Intervention studies:( a) Comparison of different blood pressure targets in critically ill patients with hypertension, and (b) comparison of clearance of solutes with various molecular weights between different CRRT modalities. Conclusion Consensus was reached on a future research agenda for the AKI section of the ESICM.

scholarly journals Feasibility of cardiac output measurements in critically ill patients by medical students

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geert Koster ◽  
Thomas Kaufmann ◽  
Bart Hiemstra ◽  
Renske Wiersema ◽  
Madelon E. Vos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Output ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Percentage Error ◽  
Poor Agreement ◽  
Cardiac Output Measurements

Abstract Background Critical care ultrasonography (CCUS) is increasingly applied also in the intensive care unit (ICU) and performed by non-experts, including even medical students. There is limited data on the training efforts necessary for novices to attain images of sufficient quality. There is no data on medical students performing CCUS for the measurement of cardiac output (CO), a hemodynamic variable of importance for daily critical care. Objective The aim of this study was to explore the agreement of cardiac output measurements as well as the quality of images obtained by medical students in critically ill patients compared to the measurements obtained by experts in these images. Methods In a prospective observational cohort study, all acutely admitted adults with an expected ICU stay over 24 h were included. CCUS was performed by students within 24 h of admission. CCUS included the images required to measure the CO, i.e., the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) diameter and the velocity time integral (VTI) in the LVOT. Echocardiography experts were involved in the evaluation of the quality of images obtained and the quality of the CO measurements. Results There was an opportunity for a CCUS attempt in 1155 of the 1212 eligible patients (95%) and in 1075 of the 1212 patients (89%) CCUS examination was performed by medical students. In 871 out of 1075 patients (81%) medical students measured CO. Experts measured CO in 783 patients (73%). In 760 patients (71%) CO was measured by both which allowed for comparison; bias of CO was 0.0 L min−1 with limits of agreement of − 2.6 L min−1 to 2.7 L min−1. The percentage error was 50%, reflecting poor agreement of the CO measurement by students compared with the experts CO measurement. Conclusions Medical students seem capable of obtaining sufficient quality CCUS images for CO measurement in the majority of critically ill patients. Measurements of CO by medical students, however, had poor agreement with expert measurements. Experts remain indispensable for reliable CO measurements. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov; http://www.clinicaltrials.gov; registration number NCT02912624

A Systematic Review of Anticoagulation Strategies for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation in Critical Care.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Jayne Nelson ◽  
Brian W Johnston ◽  
Alicia Achiaa Charlotte Waite ◽  
Gedeon Lemma ◽  
Ingeborg Dorothea Welters
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Major Bleeding ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Thromboembolic Events ◽  
Bleeding Events ◽  
Major Bleeding Events ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Anticoagulated Patients

Background. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in critically ill patients. There is a paucity of data assessing the impact of anticoagulation strategies on clinical outcomes for general critical care patients with AF. Our aim was to assess the existing literature to evaluate the effectiveness of anticoagulation strategies used in critical care for AF. Methodology. A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and PubMed databases. Studies reporting anticoagulation strategies for AF in adults admitted to a general critical care setting were assessed for inclusion. Results. Four studies were selected for data extraction. A total of 44087 patients were identified with AF, of which 17.8-49.4% received anticoagulation. The reported incidence of thromboembolic events was 0-1.4% for anticoagulated patients, and 0-1.3% in non-anticoagulated patients. Major bleeding events were reported in three studies and occurred in 7.2-8.6% of the anticoagulated patients and up to 7.1% of the non-anticoagulated patients. Conclusions. There was an increased incidence of major bleeding events in anticoagulated patients with AF in critical care compared to non-anticoagulated patients. There was no significant difference in the incidence of reported thromboembolic events within studies, between patients who did and did not receive anticoagulation. However, the outcomes reported within studies were not standardised, therefore, the generalisability of our results to the general critical care population remains unclear. Further data is required to facilitate an evidence-based assessment of the risks and benefits of anticoagulation for critically ill patients with AF.

Evaluation of the safety of inter-hospital transfers of critically ill patients led by advanced critical care practitioners

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 470-476
Author(s):  
Gavin Denton ◽  
Lindsay Green ◽  
Marion Palmer ◽  
Anita Jones ◽  
Sarah Quinton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Process Of Care ◽  
Related Complication ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Hospital Transfer ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Critically Ill Adults ◽  
Ill Adults

Introduction: Ten thousand inter-hospital transfers of critically ill adults take place annually in the UK. Studies highlight deficiencies in experience and training of staff, equipment, stabilisation before departure, and logistical difficulties. This article is a quality improvement review of an advanced critical care practitioner (ACCP)-led inter-hospital transfer service. Methods: The tool Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence was used as the format for the review, combined with clinical audit of advanced critical care practitioner-led transfers over a period of more than 3 years. Results: The transfer service has operated for 8 years; ACCPs conducted 934 critical care transfers of mechanically ventilated patients, including 286 inter-hospital transfers, between January 2017 and September 2020. The acuity of transfer patients was high, 82.2% required support of more than one organ, 49% required more than 50% oxygen. Uneventful transfer occurred in 81.4% of cases; the most common patient-related complication being hypotension, logistical issues were responsible for half of the complications. Conclusion: This quality improvement project provides an example of safe and effective advanced practice in an area that is traditionally a medically led domain. ACCPs can provide an alternative process of care for critically ill adults who require external transfer, and a benchmark for audit and quality improvement.

Efficacy of Epidural Analgesia for Pain Management of Critically Ill Patients and the Implications for Nursing Care

1991 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 729-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanne F. Slack ◽  
Margaret Faut-Callahan
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Pain Relief ◽  
Epidural Analgesia ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Nursing Care ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Continuous Epidural Analgesia ◽  
Analgesic Agents ◽  
Care Problems ◽  
Critical Care Patients

Management of pain for critically ill patients has been shown to be inadequately controlled and can have serious deleterious effects on a patient’s recovery. Continuous epidural analgesia can be used to control pain in critical care patients. This mode of analgesia administration provides pain relief without the delays inherent in the as-needed administration of analgesics. Fifteen critical care unit patients were part of a multidisciplinary, prospective, randomized, double-blind study of various epidural analgesic agents in 43 thoracic and 66 abdominal surgery patients. The purpose of the study was to identify the benefits and problems associated with continuous epidural analgesia administration and the implications for the nursing care of critically ill patients. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the analgesia was based on the following measures: 1) pain measured at regular intervals in the 72-hour period with a visual analog; 2) pain as measured after 72 hours with the word descriptor section of the McGill pain questionnaire; 3) amount of supplemental systemic narcotic analgesic needed; 4) recovery of ambulatory and respiratory function, including ability to perform coughing and deep-breathing exercises; 5) occurrence of adverse effects, and 6) the type and distribution of nursing care problems associated with continuous epidural infusions. The results of this study showed that the level of pain relief and recovery of postoperative function was superior to that provided by the more widely used as-needed systemic administration of narcotics. Although some nursing care problems were identified, continuous epidural analgesia can be used for pain relief in critical care patients, if the analgesia is administered by accurate reliable infusion systems and carefully monitored by nursing staff who are knowledgeable about the pharmacologic considerations of epidural analgesic agents and the management of patient care

scholarly journals Iatrogenic forearm compartment syndrome

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-65
Author(s):  
Ahmed Elmorsy ◽  
James Nutt ◽  
Nick Taylor ◽  
Justin Kirk-Bayley ◽  
Sean Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Compartment Syndrome ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Blood Sampling ◽  
Forearm Compartment Syndrome ◽  
Arterial Damage

Limb compartment syndrome may be sequelae of trauma, but in the context of critical care blood sampling, arterial damage may have profound consequences. We describe a series of three cases and their progress and discuss guidelines for prevention of this potentially devastating occurrence in critically ill patients.

Postoperative Delirium: A Literature Review of Management in Intensive Care Unit

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 44-48
Author(s):  
Cendy Legowo
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Postoperative Delirium ◽  
Mechanistic Explanation ◽  
Clinical Results ◽  
Care Plan ◽  
Prevention And Treatment

Perioperative delirium is a wide-ranging problem that directly affects primary clinical results. The anesthesiologist must understand how to define and diagnose delirium, identify patients at high risk of delirium, identify predisposing factors to adjust the care plan appropriately, and manage delirium in the acute postoperative period. Delirium is an organ dysfunction in critically ill patients, independently associated with improved morbidity. Research on delirium in hospitalized patients (including critically ill patients) has increased exponentially in the last decade. This study emphasizes the need for a mechanistic explanation of delirium to help advance the research that ultimately leads to its prevention and treatment. In this study, multinational and multidisciplinary clinicians, and researchers from the fields of critical care medicine, psychiatry, anesthesiology, neurology, and pharmacy sought to collaborate in the management of delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU).

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