Vital signs and other observations used to detect deterioration in pregnant women: an analysis of vital sign charts in consultant-led UK maternity units.
Int J Obstet Anesth
; 30: 44-51, 2017 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28385419
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Obstetric early warning systems are recommended for monitoring hospitalised pregnant and postnatal women. We decided to compare (i) vital sign values used to define physiological normality; (ii) symptoms and signs used to escalate care; (iii) type of chart used; and (iv) presence of explicit instructions for escalating care.METHODS:
One-hundred-and-twenty obstetric early warning charts and escalation protocols were obtained from consultant-led maternity units in the UK and Channel Islands. These data were extracted values used to determine normality for each maternal vital sign; chart colour-coding; instructions following early warning system triggering; other criteria used as triggers.RESULTS:
There was considerable variation in the charts, warning systems and escalation protocols. Of 120 charts, 89.2% used colour; 69.2% used colour-coded escalation systems. Forty-one (34.2%) systems required the calculation of weighted scores. Seventy-five discrete combinations of 'normal' vital sign ranges were found, the most common being heart rate=50-99beats/min; respiratory rate=11-20breaths/min; blood pressure, systolic=100-149mmHg, diastolic ≤89mmHg; SpO2=95-100%; temperature=36.0-37.9°C; and Alert-Voice-Pain-Unresponsive assessment=Alert. Most charts (90.8%) provided instructions about who to contact following triggering, but only 41.7% gave instructions about subsequent observation frequency.CONCLUSION:
The wide range of 'normal' vital sign values in different systems suggests a lack of equity in the processes for detecting deterioration and escalating care in hospitalised pregnant and postnatal women. Agreement regarding 'normal' vital sign ranges is urgently required and would assist the development of a standardised obstetric early warning system and chart.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Registros
/
Sinais Vitais
/
Departamentos Hospitalares
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Obstet Anesth
Assunto da revista:
ANESTESIOLOGIA
/
OBSTETRICIA
Ano de publicação:
2017
Tipo de documento:
Article