Operationalization of the Transition to Comfort Measures Only in the Neurocritical Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Project

Palliative Care of Stroke Patients

Critical care clinicians frequently care for patients with acute brain injury, such as stroke. Regardless of the severity of the neurologic insult, these patients have life-altering deficits that threaten their personal identity and quality of life. The sudden nature of the injury often means that there has been little discussion between patients and their families about life-sustaining treatments, and most patients are unable to speak for themselves because of impaired cognition and communication. Thus, individuals experiencing stroke and their families present clinicians with unique and complex care needs in the acute care setting. Key professional organizations have endorsed the early integration of palliative care into the treatment of patients with stroke and devastating neurologic injury. Implementing interdisciplinary primary or specialty palliative care helps clinicians adopt a patient-centered approach to care and aids in decision-making.

Evidence Guiding Withdrawal of Mechanical Ventilation at the End of Life: A Review

OBJECTIVE

Distress at the end of life in the intensive care unit (ICU) is common. We reviewed the evidence guiding symptom assessment, withdrawal of mechanical ventilation (WMV) process, support for the ICU team, and symptom management among adults, and specifically older adults, at end of life in the ICU.

SETTING AND DESIGN

Systematic search of published literature (January 1990-December 2021) pertaining to WMV at end of life among adults in the ICU setting using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults (age 18 and over) undergoing WMV in the ICU.

MEASUREMENTS

Study quality was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

RESULTS

Out of 574 articles screened, 130 underwent full text review, and 74 were reviewed and assessed for quality. The highest quality studies pertained to use of validated symptom scales during WMV. Studies of the WMV process itself were generally lower quality. Support for the ICU team best occurs via structured communication and social supports. Dyspnea is the most distressing symptom, and while high quality evidence supports the use of opiates, there is limited evidence to guide implementation of their use for specific patients.

CONCLUSION

High quality studies support some practices in palliative WMV, while gaps in evidence remain for the WMV process, supporting the ICU team, and medical management of distress. Future studies should rigorously compare WMV processes and symptom management to reduce distress at end of life.

The Association Between Illness Severity Scores and In-hospital Mortality After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to examine the association with in-hospital mortality of 8 illness severity scores in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort study, we investigated the association with in-hospital mortality of admission Hunt and Hess (HH) score, Fisher grade, severity of illness and risk of mortality scores, and serial Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score in patients with aSAH. We also explored the changes in GCS between admission and discharge using a multivariate model adjusting for age, clinical vasospasm, and external ventricular drain status.

RESULTS

Data from 480 patients with aSAH, of which 383 (79.8%) aneurysms were in the anterior circulation, were included in analysis. Patients were female (n=340, 70.8%) with a median age of 56 (interquartile range: 48 to 66) years. The majority (n=332, 69.2%) had admission HH score 3 to 5, Fisher grade 3 to 4 (n=437, 91%), median severity of illness 3 (range: 1 to 4), median risk of mortality 3 (range: 1 to 4), and median admission GCS of 13 (interquartile range: 7 to 15). Overall, 406 (84.6%) patients received an external ventricular drain, 469 (97.7%) underwent aneurysm repair, and 60 died (12.5%). Compared with admission HH score, GCS 24 hours after admission (area under the curve: 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79-0.88) and 24 hours after aneurysm repair (area under the curve: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.82-0.90) were more likely to be associated with in-hospital mortality. Among those who died, the greatest decline in GCS was noted between 24 hours after aneurysm repair and discharge (-3.38 points, 95% CI: -4.17, -2.58).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with admission HH score, GCS 24 hours after admission (or 24 h after aneurysm repair) is more likely to be associated with in-hospital mortality after aSAH.

Quality Improvement in the Management of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Current State and Future Directions

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage carries high mortality and morbidity. Quality improvement (QI) efforts in the management of this disease process are growing as the field of neurocritical care matures. This review provides updates in QI in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and discusses gaps and future directions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Literature published on the topic over the past 3 years were evaluated. An assessment of current QI practices pertaining to the acute care of SAH was conducted. These include processes surrounding acute pain management, inter-hospital coordination of care, complications during the initial hospital stay, role of palliative care, and quality metrics collection, reporting, and monitoring. SAH QI initiatives have shown promise by decreasing ICU and hospital lengths of stay, health care costs, and hospital complications. The review reveals substantial heterogeneity, variability, and limitations in SAH QI protocols, measures, and reporting. Uniformity in QI research, implementation, and monitoring will be crucial as disease-specific QI develops in neurological care.

Effectiveness of Comfort Nursing Combined with Continuous Nursing on Patients with Colorectal Cancer Chemotherapy

Purpose

To analyze the application effect of continuous nursing combined with comfort nursing on patients with colorectal cancer chemotherapy and its influence on sleep quality and immune function.

Methods

The data of 96 patients with colorectal cancer in the Oncology Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from July 2018 to July 2020 were collected and randomized into the control group and study group according to the odd and even numbers, with 48 cases in each group. The control group received routine care during chemotherapy, and the study group implemented continuous care combined with comfort care.

Results

After intervention, the results were in favor of the study group than the control group with higher compliance, higher level of various immune indicators, higher quality of life scores, and higher nursing satisfaction rate. In addition, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scores and the average Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score of the study group after intervention was drastically lower than the control group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The implementation of continuous care combined with comfort care for patients with colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy can effectively improve sleep quality and quality of life, relieve anxiety, and yield high patient compliance, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

A Comfort Measures Only Checklist for Critical Care Providers: Impact on Satisfaction and Symptom Management

PURPOSE

This quality improvement project created a guide for critical care providers transitioning patients to comfort measures only encouraging communication, collaboration, and shared decision making; ensuring management of patients' end-of-life symptoms and needs; and enhancing provider satisfaction by improving structure and consistency when transitioning patients.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

Interviews conducted with staff in intensive care units revealed opportunities to improve structure and processes of transitioning patients at the end of life. A subcommittee of experts designed a checklist to facilitate interdisciplinary conversations. Impact on provider satisfaction and symptom management was assessed. Presurveys circulated used a Research Electronic Data Capture tool. A checklist was implemented for 3 months, and then postsurveys were sent. Charts were audited to identify improvement in symptom management and compared with retrospective samples.

OUTCOMES

Clinical improvements were seen in communication (12%), collaboration (25%), shared decision making (22%), and order entry time (17%). In addition, 72% agreed the checklist improved structure and consistency; 69% reported improved communication, collaboration, and shared decision making; 61% felt it improved knowledge/understanding of patient needs; and 69% agreed it improved management of patient symptoms.

CONCLUSION

After checklist implementation, staff felt more involved and more comfortable, and reported more clarity in transitioning patients; no improvement in patient outcomes was realized.