Interprofessional Care and Teamwork in the ICU

The Impact of Intrahospital Transports on Brain Tissue Metabolism in Patients with Acute Brain Injury

BACKGROUND

Patients with severe acute brain injury (ABI) often require intrahospital transports (IHTs) for repeated computed tomography (CT) scans. IHTs are associated with serious adverse events (AE) that might pose a risk for secondary brain injury. The goal of this study was to assess IHT-related alterations of cerebral metabolism in ABI patients.

METHODS

We included mechanically ventilated patients with ABI who had continuous multimodality neuromonitoring during an 8-h period before and after routine IHT. Intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), brain tissue oxygenation (PtiO₂) as well as cerebral and subcutaneous microdialysis parameters (lactate, pyruvate, glycerol, and glutamate) were recorded. Values were compared between an 8-h period before (pre-IHT) and after (post-IHT) the IHT.

RESULTS

A total of 23 IHT for head CT scans in 18 patients were analyzed. Traumatic brain injury (n = 7) was the leading cause of ABI, followed by subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 6) and intracerebral hemorrhage (n = 5). The analyzed microdialysis parameters in the brain tissue as in the subcutaneous tissue did not show significant changes between the pre-IHT and post-IHT period. In addition, we observed no significant increase in ICP or decrease in CPP and PtiO₂ in the 8-h period after IHT.

CONCLUSIONS

While the occurrence of AE during IHT is a known risk factor for ABI patients, our results demonstrate that IHTs do not alter the brain tissue chemistry in a significant manner. This fact may help assess the risk for routine IHT more accurately.

Introduction of Physician-Nurse Bedside Rounding and Ward Task List to Improve Quality of Care in Gynaecology: Prospective, Single-Blinded, Pre- and Post-Intervention Study

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to determine whether physician-nurse bedside rounds and ward task list improve quality of care as measured by patient satisfaction, earlier discharge, and reduced trainee interruptions.

METHODS

This prospective, single-blind, pre- and post-intervention study included patients admitted to the gynaecology ward at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, involving a 6-week baseline, 6-week intervention, and 2-week second baseline phase. During the intervention phase, a chief resident and charge nurse rounded at the bedside simultaneously daily. Nurses recorded non-urgent issues on a ward task list. Patients completed a subset of the National Research Corporation Picker satisfaction questionnaire, discharge times were noted, and residents recorded pages (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2).

RESULTS

There were 89, 104, and 30 admissions during baseline care, intervention, and second baseline phases, respectively. Mean discharge time in the intervention phase was significantly earlier than baseline (11:18 am ± 1 hour 59 minutes vs. 12:37 pm ± 2 hours 37 minutes, P < 0.001), with early discharges doubling (69% vs. 36%, P < 0.001). Discharge times returned to baseline after the intervention (12:36 pm ± 2 hours 39 minutes). Intervention phase patients appreciated bedside care plans (86 of 94 patients, 92%), with improved National Research Corporation Picker responses, which diminished post-intervention. Paging interruptions were lower during the intervention phase compared with the baseline phase (1.0 ± 1.1 vs. 3.4 ± 2.1, P < 0.001), with non-urgent pages decreasing most (0.5 ± 0.8 vs. 3.0 ± 2.0, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Combining physician-nurse bedside rounds and ward task list reduces trainee interruptions, positively affects patient satisfaction, and promotes early discharge. Following these initiatives, discharge time, patient satisfaction, and resident paging interruptions returned to baseline.