published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

Immobility is one of the factors associated with the accumulation of respiratory secretion in mechanically ventilated patients. Placing patients in a semi-recumbent position between 30° and 45° and frequent manual turning in every two hours are the standard ventilator nursing care practice adopted worldwide. However, the prevalence of pulmonary complications remains high. The use of continuous lateral rotation therapy (CLRT) to improve drainage of secretion within the lung and the lower airways was proposed and has been investigated in numerous studies. The purposes of this dissertation are (1) to perform a comprehensive systematic review for a critical appraisal of the current evidence on the use of CLRT to prevent pulmonary complications in mechanically ventilated patients, (2) to develop an evidence-based guideline and to assess the implementation potential, and (3) to develop an implementation and evaluation plan for translating the guideline to an adult intensive care unit (ICU) of a teaching hospital in Hong Kong. In order to identify studies that compared CLRT with the standard care, four electronic databases, including CINAHL Plus, Medline, British Nursing Index and PubMed, were searched. 94 studies were identified and eight of them met the inclusion criteria. These studies included one randomized controlled trial (RCT), two non-randomized controlled clinical trials, one pretest-posttest clinical trial and four retrospective cohort studies. The quality of these reviewed studies was assessed by using the appraisal instruments of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. Four of the reviewed studies were graded as high quality. No major adverse patient outcome was reported. Instead, beneficial patient outcomes that reached statistical significance were consistently reported in the CLRT group. There were reductions in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), atelectasis, duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay. However, its effect on health care cost and mortality was inconclusive. The implementation potential, in terms of the transferability, feasibility, and the cost-benefit ratio, was considered as high in the target setting. Based on the synthesized finding, a CLRT guideline is developed and is proposed to translate into practice. The implementation plan includes a communication plan with stakeholders and a pilot test. The guideline will be revised after the trial run of the proposed innovation for one and a half months. A full-scale controlled trial using a quasi-experimental design will be conducted. The primary outcome is to evaluate whether there is a reduction in the prevalence of VAP after the use of CLRT. According to previous studies, the use of CLRT can lead to a 49% reduction in VAP. The proposed innovation will be considered as clinical effective when similar observation is obtained. / published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

Endotracheal suctioning is a procedure performed on a daily basis in hospitals, and is mostly take place in intensive care units (ICUs). (Annapoorna, 2005; Day et al, 2009). It helps removing sputum or secretion out from patients’ trachea. For patients who are under mechanical ventilation, this procedure is vital to maintain their airway patency when they are intubated with endotracheal tube or tracheostomized (Finucane & Santora, 2003). However, the procedure has its own risk and complications such as hypoxaemia, atelectasis, cardiovascular instability and more (Thomson, 2000). There are in general two types of endotracheal suctioning: open and closed system. As disconnection of mechanical ventilation from patients is needed for open endotracheal suctioning (OES), it has a higher risk of complications. However, the cost for OES is much cheaper compared to the closed system. Although OES is widely used in Hong Kong, there is no evidence-based guideline for nurses to follow. The guideline developed by American Association of Respiratory Care (2010) is lack of specificity on the target population and its recommendations were based on mixed literatures targeting on adult and infant patients. Therefore, the aim of this dissertation is to develop an evidence-based guideline for OES in adult patients under mechanical ventilation in ICU. To develop a guideline for OES, search was performed in multiple electronic databases (British Nursing Index, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Ovid MEDLINE, and PubMed) with keywords related to OES and its complications. A total of 457 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and 11 of them were selected. The selected studies were evaluated by quality appraisal checklists, which are developed by Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). Data were extracted for developing the guideline. Evidence have shown that the incidence of post-OES hypoxemia can be reduced by performing hyperoxygenation with 100% oxygen for 4-6 breaths prior and after each open endotracheal suction, accompanying with hyperinflation with 150% of patient’s tidal volume at most 8 breaths/40 seconds delivered by ventilator and prohibiting normal saline instillation into trachea for diluting the sputum. The grades of the recommendations in the guideline were rated with using of the SIGN grading system. The implementation potential was analyzed by the patients’ characteristics, transferability of the findings, feasibility of implementation and cost-benefit ratio. A 12-month implementation program was developed including communication with stakeholders, 4-week pilot testing, and training of ICU staffs, and implementation of OES guideline. The effectiveness of the guideline will be evaluated based on the primary outcome (i.e. oxygen level in blood) for detecting the incidence of hypoxemia. Also, the acceptability of the guideline, compliance of the guideline, financial cost reduction and better quality of service will be used as other evaluation indicators. / published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

Thesis (M.M.) Florida State University, 2007. / Advisor: Jayne Standley, Florida State University, College of Music. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed 10-9-2007). Document formatted into pages; contains 49 pages. Includes biographical sketch. Includes bibliographical references.

Background Severe impairment of physiologic functioning brings the focus of intensive care unit (ICU) on the reversal of acute organ failure which will threaten one’s survival if it is left untreated (Morris, 2007). Providing respiratory support to majority of ICU patients, mechanical ventilation (MV) is a life saving intervention. MV patients constitute one-third of ICU patients worldwide and 46% of them are put on ventilator support more than 24 hours having the mean duration ranged from 15.4 to 33.2 days (Adler & Malone, 2012). The aim of ICU care places most of the attention on resuscitation and survival while the neuromuscular functioning is often overlooked as raised by a number of recent studies. Poor physical functioning was reported by all the patients due to loss of muscle mass, muscle weakness and fatigue (Herridge et al., 2011). Only 50% of them got employed 1 year after recovery while the rest of them were still unemployed because of persistent fatigue, poor functional status like foot drop and large joint immobility (Herridge at al., 2011). ICU-acquired weakness accounts for neuropathies and myopathies after recovery from critically illness and respiratory failure as manifested by loss of body mass, severe weakness and physical dysfunction (Cheung et al., 2006). De Jonghe and colleagues (2002) found that 25% of MV patients developed the ICU-acquired weakness and they determined MV as one of the key etiologies. Kasper and colleagues (2002) stressed that muscle atrophy happens within a few hours of bed rest having 4% to 5% depreciation of muscle strength for one week bed rest. Moreover, insulin resistance appears after merely 5 days of bed rest. On the other hand, immobility interferes baroreceptors bringing hypotension and tachycardia, giving rise to reduced cardiac output and gaseous exchange therefore deterioration of cardiac function (Convertino, Bloomfield & Greenleaf, 1997). It is obvious that a viscous cycle is present while leaving survivors from recovery of critical illness immobilized. Mobilizing MV patients can train up their limb power and their ADL ability (Burtin et al., 2009; Chiang, Wang, Wu, Wu, & Wu, 2005; Martin, Hincapie, Nimchuk, Gaughan, & Criner, 2005). Burtin and colleagues (2009) illustrated that patients receiving mobilization program had a better score in SF-36PF showing the attainment of better quality of life (QOL). Early mobilization can increase the number of day of ventilator free (Schweickert et al., 2009) and shortening ICU and hospital length of stay (Morris et al., 2008). Purpose The dissertation is aiming at seeking for the best evidence to establish an evidence – based mobilization guideline for those mechanically ventilated patients. The goal is to optimizing the physical outcomes of mechanically ventilated critically ill patients. Method The three electronic databases including Medline (Ovid SP), CINAHL (Ovid SP), PudMed and Cochrane Library were searched through while doing the systematic search of scientific literature. Subsequently, five articles confining to the inclusion criteria were sieved in the literature review and evidence extraction was performed. Quality assessment of the 5 studies was done using a critical appraisal tool derived by Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) (2008) and thereafter an evidence-based guideline for early mobilization of the mechanically ventilated patients was established. An implementation plan was then set up which comprised of the communication plan between different level of stakeholders of ICU and the pilot testing. Apart from communicating with the stakeholders, the plan also delineated the way of initiating, guiding and sustaining the change. A pilot study was planned to execute in order to test the sufficiency of training workshop, determine the feasibility of the mobilization protocol and the evaluation plan. Lastly, an evaluation plan was considered to assess the success of mobilization guideline in terms of patient outcomes, healthcare provider outcomes and organizational outcomes. / published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

Critically ill patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) often require mechanical ventilation (MV). Humidification systems are essential devices for MV which replace the natural heat and moisture exchange process of inspired gases. A heat and moisture exchanger (HME) is commonly used for the humidification of MV patients in ICU. In contrast, a heated humidifier (HH) that is a more complicated device is used only for prolonged MV patients because of its higher cost and nurse workload. However, HME may increase the breathing workload of patients, thereby inflicting damage to their respiratory function, especially among respiratory failure patients. However, there was no evidence-based guideline that instructs nurses on choosing humidification devices in ICU. This dissertation aimed to 1) evaluate the current evidence and formulate evidence-based guideline in selecting a humidification device for mechanically ventilated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients in reducing the risks of breathing workload; 2) assess its implementation potential, as well as its feasibility and transferability; and 3) develop implementation strategies and evaluation plans for the use of this device in an adult ICU. Three electronic databases, namely, Proquest, Ovid, and Google Scholar, were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of humidification systems for MV. Eight articles were retrieved. Their reference lists were read and found two additional RCT. Four high-quality RCT showed that HH increased the breathing workload more than HME. Several studies showed that HME has potential drawbacks of significantly increase airway resistance, minute ventilation, CO2 retention, and respiratory discomfort. However, studies showed that no significant difference of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rate between HME and HH. The initial application of HME is safer and less costlyl. However, prolonged use of HME in ARDS patients may induce further workload on the respiratory system and worsen treatment progress. An evidence-based clinical guideline in choosing the humidification system was formulated and assessed using the appraisal instruments of Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network. It is deemed to be transferable with patient characteristics, clinical situation, and organizational infrastructure similar to studies evaluated the suggested innovation. Feasibility was also assessed and is considered to be high. The setup and running cost per year were HKD17450 and HKD6600. Although the humidification system had no actual cost reduction, non-material benefits such as prevention of tube blockage, reduction in breathing workload, and respiratory discomfort were more important than the cost. An implementation plan including a one-month communication plan with stakeholders and one-month pilot testing were developed. The evaluation of the guideline will last for 10 months. The effectiveness of the innovation will be determined by the reduction in breathing workload, cost and benefit ratio, and staff satisfaction level. / published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a kind of frequently hospital-acquired infection that increases morbidity and mortality in patients in intensive care units (ICU), which would in turn increase length of ICU stay, cost of hospital stay, and duration of mechanical intubation. Pneumonia appeared within 48 hours before onset of infection in people whose respiration is mechanically supported through endotracheal tube or tracheostomy is ventilator-associated pneumonia. Combating VAP is a major challenge in ICU as almost all ICU patients require mechanical intubation. Development of evidence-based methods to reduce the incidence and prevalence of VAP becomes an important issue in ICU. The objectives of this dissertation are to conduct a thorough search of current evidence on the effectiveness of using different concentration, frequency of application, method of application and amount of chlorhexidine gluconate solution for oral care of adult intubated patients in reducing VAP incidence rate. MEDLINE (OvidSP), CINAHL PLUS (EBSCOhost), PubMed and British Nursing Index were used to conduct electronic search using keywords related to VAP. A total of 99 studies were identified and seven were selected according to inclusion criteria. The quality of the seven selected studies was tested using The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (2008) tools for randomized controlled trials, and the evidence level coding from Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network was used in grading of recommendations. Six studies were rated as high quality, which oral care using chlorhexidine gluconate solution had shown statistically significant VAP incidence rate reduction or VAP-related parameters improvement. Analysis on the implementation potential, transferability of findings, feasibility of implementation and cost-benefit ratio was conducted and the oral care guideline was beneficial to intubated patients. Implementation plan, communication plan and evaluation plan about oral care guideline application was formulated. The program designed to apply the new oral care guideline would last for one year, which includes communication with stakeholders, publication of the guideline, training of staff and a one month pilot test. The primary outcome was the decrease in VAP incidence rate and the process evaluation outcome were compliance and acceptability of the guideline, satisfaction and knowledge level of staff, and hospital cost reduction. The attainment of primary outcome and process evaluation outcome would be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. / published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2009. / Prepared for: Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Title from title-page of electronic thesis. Bibliography: leaves 141-150

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is one of the most frequently used treatment modalities in the intensive care unit (ICU) (Burns, 2005:14). Up to 90% of critically ill patients in ICUs globally are connected to a mechanical ventilator. Although mechanical ventilation is a lifesaving intervention, it is expensive and is associated with diverse complications (Mclean, Jensen, Schroeder, Gibney & Skjodt, 2006: 299). Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) accounts for 25% of all infections in ICU, with global crude mortality figures estimated at 20-70% (Craven, 2006:251). Minimising the time that a patient is connected to a mechanical ventilator to the absolute minimum can have considerable benefits in terms of decreased mortality and morbidity, as well as a decreased length of ICU stay and lower hospital costs. Critically ill patients therefore need to be weaned from the mechanical ventilator as soon as their condition that warranted the need for mechanical ventilation is stabilized. The process of weaning the critically ill patient from mechanical ventilation constitutes a significant proportion of total ventilator time. As professional nurses attend to the mechanically ventilated patient 24 hours a day, they have a vital role to play in the collaborative management of the patient requiring weaning from mechanical ventilation. The objectives of this study were to explore and describe the professional nurses’ knowledge regarding weaning the critically ill patient from mechanical ventilation. Based on the results, recommendations in the form of a protocol were made in order to improve the professional nurses’ knowledge and enhance the care of the mechanically ventilated patient. A quantitative design, which was exploratory, descriptive and contextual in nature, was utilised for the study. The data collection instrument of choice was a self-administered questionnaire. Convenience, non-probability sampling was the sampling method chosen for the purpose of this study. Collected data were analysed with the assistance of a statistician using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results were displayed in the form of graphs and tables. The results obtained in the study, combined with data from the literature review, were used to develop recommendations to enhance vi professional nurses’ knowledge regarding weaning the critically ill patient from mechanical ventilation. The recommendations were presented in the form of a protocol based on the available evidence. Ethical principles as they relate to conducting research were adhered to throughout the study.