Respiratory care
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Transport of critically ill patients within and between hospitals is a common undertaking in an effort to improve patient outcomes. Intrahospital transports are frequently conducted to aid in diagnosis through advanced imaging techniques or to allow image-guided procedures. Interhospital transport is most frequently conducted to bring patients to specialized care, including centers of excellence for cardiac, trauma, transplant, and respiratory failure. ⋯ The type of monitoring during transport varies widely with the environment, the skill of the attendants, and the severity of patient illness. Standards for patient monitoring during transport are available, but they are predominantly based on expert opinion. This paper reviews guidelines and the risks of transport as a template for required monitoring, and it discusses common mishaps associated with transport and how these can be avoided with appropriate monitoring.
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Respiratory compromise is a common and potentially dangerous complication of patients admitted to general care units of hospitals. There are several distinct and disparate pathophysiologic trajectories of respiratory deterioration that hospitalized patients may suffer. Obstructive sleep apnea and preexisting cardiopulmonary disease increase the risk of respiratory failure after major surgery. ⋯ Early warning systems that utilize analysis of intermittently collected vital signs may result in earlier recognition of clinical deterioration. Continuous monitoring of oximetry and capnography may allow the detection of pathophysiologic abnormalities earlier in patients in general care units, but the evidence for improved clinical outcomes remains weak. Increased monitoring may lead to increased monitor alarms that can have negative effects on patient care.
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Lung volume measurement performed during invasive mechanical ventilation can be used to determine functional residual capacity, changes in end-expiratory lung volume with the application of PEEP, and lung strain. However, many bedside measurements provide useful information without the use of specialized equipment. ⋯ This review will describe techniques to measure lung volumes in the ICU and the relationship between lung strain, stress, and other measurements. This review will also discuss monitoring ventilation distribution at the bedside and the clinical assessment of regional compliance that this technology provides.
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Ventilator graphic monitoring is common in ICUs. The graphic information provides clinicians with immediate clues regarding patient-ventilator interaction and ventilator function. These display tools are aimed at reducing complications associated with mechanical ventilation, such as patient-ventilator asynchrony. ⋯ Ventilator graphics impact mechanical ventilation management through optimizing effectiveness of patient care and enhancing promptness of clinician response. Despite being a valuable asset in providing high-quality patient care, many bedside clinicians do not have a thorough understanding of ventilator graphics. Mastery of ventilator graphics interpretation is key in managing patients who are receiving ventilatory support.
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Clinical alarms, including those for mechanical ventilation, have been one of the leading causes of health technology hazards. It has been reported that < 15% of alarms studied rose to the level of being clinically relevant or actionable. Most alarms in health care, whether by default or intention, are set to a hypothetical average patient, which is essentially a one size fits most approach. ⋯ Observations of human response to stimuli suggest that response to alarms is closely matched to the perceived reliability and value of the alarm system. This paper provides a review examining vulnerabilities in the current management of mechanical ventilation alarms and summarizes best practices identified to help prevent patient injury. This review examines the factors that affect alarm utility and provides recommendations for applying research findings to improve safety for patients, clinician efficiency, and clinician well-being.