Use of resuscitation plans at a tertiary Australian hospital: room for improvement.

BACKGROUND: The 'Acute Resuscitation Plan' (ARP) is a document for recording the resuscitation plans of patients at a tertiary hospital for adult patients. The ARP was introduced at the hospital in September 2014, superseding the 'Not for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)' form. Unlike the Not for CPR form, the ARP was relevant to patients with and without resuscitation limits. AIM: To evaluate the introduction of the ARP. METHODS: This study is a retrospective audit of the records of all admissions to the hospital from January to June 2014 (Not for CPR period) and January to June 2015 (ARP period). The main outcomes are the incidence of resuscitation plans, the proportion of ARP specifying consultation with the patient (or representative) and with senior medical staff, and the proportion of ARP among older patients and those with significant comorbidity. RESULTS: Resuscitation plans were present for 453 of 23 325 (1.9%) admissions in the Not for CPR period versus 1801 of 24 037 (7.5%) in the ARP period (odds ratio (OR) 4.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.7-4.5, P < 0.001). A total of 42% of ARP specified 'care of the dying' in the event of arrest. Acknowledgement of the views of the patient (or representative) was indicated on 37% of ARP and of a senior physician on 28%. An ARP was not present for 67% of patients aged ≥90 years, 59% from aged care, 90% with metastatic cancer and 64% aged ≥80 years and with a Charlson comorbidity index ≥3. CONCLUSIONS: More patients had resuscitation plans after introducing the ARP. However, patients and senior physicians were often remote from the consultation process, and an ARP was not present for many patients likely to have a poor outcome from cardiopulmonary arrest.

Rapid response team diagnoses: frequencies and related hospital mortality.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the frequency and hospital mortality of problems (diagnoses) encountered by a rapid response team (RRT), and to identify the most common diagnoses for RRT triggers and for treating units. DESIGN: For each RRT event in 2015 at a tertiary hospital for adults, we chose the diagnosis that best explained the RRT event from a pre-defined list after reviewing relevant test results and clinical notes. RESULTS: There were 937 RRT events during 700 admissions and there were 58 different RRT diagnoses in 11 diagnosis groups. The largest groups were neurological and consciousness problems (22.9%), circulatory problems (19.0%) and breathing problems (16.0%). The most common diagnoses were rapid atrial fibrillation (7.6%) and oversedation or narcosis (4.8%). When SpO2 < 90% triggered RRT review, the leading diagnoses were complex respiratory failure (25.9%) and pneumonia (11.4%). When decreased conscious state triggered review, the main problems were neurological, but there were 39 different diagnoses among these cases. The main problems among orthopaedic cases were post-operative hypovolaemia (19.0%) and spinal anaesthetic-related or epidural analgesicrelated hypotension (15.2%). Hospital mortality was 101/700 (14.4%). Diagnoses with high mortality included gastrointestinal bleeding (4/17, 23.5%), complex respiratory failure (8/33, 24.2%), intracranial event (8/28, 28.6%), cardiogenic shock or acute heart failure (5/17, 29.4%), pneumonia (7/21, 33.3%), chest sepsis (5/11, 45.5%) and cardiac arrest (18/26, 69.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The RRT activation trigger provides only a general indication of the diagnosis. Some problems appear preventable and could provide a focus for unit-based quality initiatives. The mortality of some diagnoses is substantial, and this may help in setting treatment goals, but more work is needed to understand the association of RRT diagnosis and outcome.

The duration of hospitalization before review by the rapid response team: A retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare cases of rapid response team (RRT) review for early deterioration (<48 hours after admission), intermediate deterioration (48 to <168 hours after admission), late deterioration (≥168 hours after admission), and cardiac arrest and to determine the association between duration of hospitalization before RRT review and mortality. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of RRT cases from a single hospital over 5 years (2009-2013) using administrative data and data for the first RRT attendance of each hospital episode. RESULTS: Of 2843 RRT cases, 971 (34.2%) were early deterioration, 917 (32.3%) intermediate, 775 (27.3%) late, and 180 (6.3%) cardiac arrest. Compared with early deterioration patients, late deterioration patients were older (median, 71 vs 69 years; P = .005), had a higher Charlson comorbidity index (median, 2 vs 1; P < .001), more often had RRT review for respiratory distress (32.5% vs 23.5%; P < .001), more often received RRT-initiated not for resuscitation orders (8.4% vs 3.9%; P < .001), less often were discharged directly home (27.9% vs 58.4%; P < .001), and more often died in hospital (30.6% vs 12.8%; P < .001). Compared with early deterioration and adjusted for confounders, the odds ratio of death in hospital for late deterioration was 2.36 (1.81-3.08; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Late deterioration is frequently encountered by the RRT and, compared with early deterioration, is associated with greater clinical complexity and a worse hospital outcome.

The mortality associated with review by the rapid response team for non-arrest deterioration: a cohort study of acute hospital adult patients.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the admission characteristics, discharge destination and mortality of patients reviewed by the rapid response team (RRT) for deterioration with those of other hospital patients; and to determine the association between RRT review for deterioration and mortality. DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS: Acute admissions of adult patients to a tertiary hospital between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2011 were identified from administrative data. Data for each patient's first admission were merged with RRT data on the first RRT event of each admission, if any. RRT events involving cardiac arrest were classified as arrest events and all others as deterioration events. RESULTS: Of 43 385 patients in the cohort, 1117 (2.57%) had RRT review for deterioration and 91 (0.21%) for cardiac arrest. Deterioration events occurred a median of 3.23 days after admission. Advanced treatments were instituted in 38.59% of deterioration events, and a new not-for resuscitation order for 5.55%. Compared with those not reviewed by the RRT, patients in the deterioration group were older (median, 70 v 60 years, P < 0.001) and had a higher Charlson comorbidity index (median, 1 v 0, P < 0.001). They also more often died in hospital (18.80% v 1.42%, P < 0.001) or were discharged to another hospital (37.51% v 13.39%, P < 0.001) and more often died in the 90 days after admission (24.44% v 3.48%, P < 0.001). Their adjusted odds ratio of death in the 90 days after admission was 5.85 (95% CI, 4.97-6.89, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients reviewed for deterioration were older and had greater comorbidity than patients the RRT was not called to review. RRT review for deterioration was an independent risk factor for mortality.