Direct oral anticoagulant reversal: An update.

ABSTRACT: The rise in direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use means nurses must understand the reversal of these agents in case of bleeding. Depending on bleed severity, as well as other criteria, pharmacologic reversal can be considered in place of supportive care alone. Knowledge of literature surrounding DOAC reversal is crucial.

Condições clínicas de pacientes com hemofilia assistidos em um hemocentro regional: um estudo transversal / Clinical conditions of patients with hemophilia assisted in a regional hemocenter: a cross-section study / Condiciones clínicas de pacientes con hemofilia asistidos en hemocentro regional: estudio transversal

O objetivo do estudo foi caracterizar o perfil sociodemográfico e clínico de pacientes com hemofilia acompanhados em um Hemocentro Regional. Estudo epidemiológico de delineamento transversal com coleta de dados por análise documental com 30 prontuários de um Hemocentro Regional da região Centro-Sul do Ceará. Realizou-se análise estatística através do software Microsoft Office Excel® 2016. O trabalho foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética de Pesquisa. Predominou o sexo masculino (27), com idade de 20 a 59 anos, estado civil solteiro, ensino fundamental incompleto, residência em zona rural e renda inferior a 01 salário mínimo. Quanto ao perfil clínico, a hemofilia A na forma grave, apresentam sedentarismo, com histórico de procedimentos transfusionais. A maioria com duas ou mais manifestações clínicas associadas. Com a prevalência apontada entre os participantes, evidencia-se a necessidade de uma assistência integral e equânime, com ênfase nas ações de enfermagem.(AU)

The aim of the study was to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients with hemophilia followed at a Regional Blood Center. Epidemiological cross-sectional study with data collection by document analysis with 30 records from a Regional Blood Center in the Center-South region of Ceará. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Office Excel® 2016 software. The work was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. There was a predominance of males (27), aged 20 to 59 years, single marital status, incomplete elementary education, residing in rural areas and income below 01 minimum wage. As for the clinical profile, hemophilia A in severe form, has a sedentary lifestyle, with a history of transfusion procedures. Most have two or more associated clinical manifestations. With the prevalence pointed out among the participants, the need for comprehensive and equitable assistance is evident, with an emphasis on nursing actions.(AU)

El objetivo del estudio fue caracterizar el perfil sociodemográfico y clínico de los pacientes con hemofilia seguidos en un Centro Regional de Sangre. Estudio epidemiológico de diseño transversal con recolección de datos por análisis documental con 30 registros de un Centro Regional de Sangre de la región Centro-Sur de Ceará. El análisis estadístico se realizó con el software Microsoft Office Excel® 2016. El trabajo fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética en Investigación. Predominó el sexo masculino (27), de 20 a 59 años, estado civil soltero, educación primaria incompleta, residente en área rural e ingresos por debajo de 01 salario mínimo. En cuanto al perfil clínico, la hemofilia A en forma severa, tiene un estilo de vida sedentario, con antecedentes de procedimientos transfusionales. La mayoría tiene dos o más manifestaciones clínicas asociadas. Con la prevalencia señalada entre los participantes, se evidencia la necesidad de una atención integral y equitativa, con énfasis en las acciones de enfermería.(AU)

Managing noncompressible torso hemorrhage with REBOA.

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has reemerged as a treatment for noncompressible torso hemorrhage. This article discusses indications and contraindications for REBOA, describes the procedure, and reviews nursing considerations for patients undergoing REBOA.

Intraoperative Resuscitation by Specialized Trauma Nurse Clinicians Improves Adherence to Massive Transfusion Protocol.

A massive transfusion protocol (MTP) was implemented at a Level I trauma center in 2007 for patients with massive blood loss. A goal ratio of plasma to pheresed platelets to packed red blood cells (PRBCs) of 1:1:1 was established. From 2007 to 2014, trauma nurse clinicians (TNCs) administered the MTP during initial resuscitation and anesthesia personnel administered the MTP intraoperatively. In 2015, TNCs began administering the MTP intraoperatively. This study evaluates intraoperative blood product ratios and crystalloid volume administered by anesthesia personnel or TNCs. A retrospective review of trauma registry patients requiring MTP from 2007 to 2017 was performed. Patient data were stratified according to MTP administration by either anesthesia personnel (2007-2015) or TNCs (2015-2017). Ninety-seven patients were included with 54 anesthesia patients and 44 TNC patients. Patients undergoing resuscitation by MTP administered by TNCs received less median crystalloid (3000 mL vs 1500 mL, P < 0.001). The ratio of plasma:PRBC (0.75 vs 0.93, P = 0.027) and platelets:PRBC (0.75 vs 1.04, P = 0.003) was found to be significantly closer to 1:1 for TNC patients. MTP intraoperative blood product administration by TNCs reduced the amount of infused crystalloid and improved adherence to MTP in achieving a 1:1:1 ratio of blood products.

Public health champions in the making: An innovative undergraduate nursing pedagogy.

BACKGROUND: This manuscript describes an innovative approach to public health nursing education. Health care delivery is radically shifting to non-acute, community-based settings, warranting a new-thinking graduate who is comfortable responding to societal trends in health and wellness. Graduates must confidently work to address social determinants of health to improve health outcomes and advance health equity. AIMS: We propose a unique pedagogy designed to prepare baccalaureate nursing students to work effectively in the community setting by developing seminars that address pressing, relevant public health initiatives. MATERIALS & METHODS: We describe our experience integrating community-based Naloxone, Stop the Bleed, and Mental Health First Aid training to the curriculum. We outline a session designed to inform future health care providers about provision of care to suspected victims of human trafficking. RESULTS: As a novice program, we have not formally evaluated the described pedagogy for specific outcome measures. DISCUSSION: We include guidance for implementing a similar program and plans for future evaluation of this unique public health nursing pedagogy. CONCLUSIONS: We are confident that future iterations of this pedagogy will continue to foster robust public health nursing skills among BSN students.

Using Scorecard Feedback to Improve Quantitative Blood Loss Measurement at Birth.

OBJECTIVE: To increase the percentage of cases in which quantitative blood loss (QBL) was documented by labor and delivery nurses for women giving birth. DESIGN: Quality improvement project. SETTING/LOCAL PROBLEM: Labor and delivery unit of a community hospital in which a previous implementation of QBL measurement was not sustained. PARTICIPANTS: Labor and delivery nurses were the focus of the intervention, but the entire multidisciplinary team became involved. INTERVENTION/MEASUREMENTS: Based on literature supporting the use of scorecard feedback to stimulate performance improvement, weekly blinded individual scorecards showing the percentage of births attended by each labor and delivery nurse with QBL documented and a run chart showing the percentage of all births with QBL documented were posted on the unit and discussed during huddles for 12 weeks. Data on blood product administration were collected, and charts comparing QBL and estimated blood loss (EBL) volumes documented were shared with nurses and physicians. RESULTS: Over 12 weeks, the percentage of births with QBL documented increased from 22.7% to 80.0%. Consistent with previous reports comparing QBL and EBL volumes at birth, there was a significant difference between the mean QBL volume (mean = 482.20 ml, standard deviation = 358.03) and the mean EBL volume (mean = 313.15 ml, standard deviation = 211.91; p < .001) for total births. The mean QBL volume was also greater than the mean EBL volume for vaginal and cesarean births, but those differences were not statistically significant. There was no increase in blood product administration associated with the increase in QBL documentation. CONCLUSION: Discussing weekly scorecards and a run chart of QBL measurement was associated with an increase in documentation of QBL by labor and delivery nurses. Planning this project and discussing the results engaged the entire multidisciplinary team in more consistent measurement of QBL. The increased level of QBL documentation has been sustained for longer than 1 year.

Stop the Bleed Training Improves Knowledge, Skills, and Confidence Among School Nurses.

BACKGROUND: School nurses play an integral part in prehospital care for life-threatening bleeding in educational environments. This study evaluated the efficacy of Stop the Bleed training for improving school nurses' knowledge, hands-on skill, self-confidence, and belief in school preparedness for responding to a life-threatening bleeding emergency. METHOD: Sixteen northeastern U.S. public school nurses completed a 1-hour seminar on appropriate life-threatening bleeding intervention with written and hands-on pre- and postassessments. Written assessments measured bleeding control knowledge, self-confidence, and perceptions of school preparedness. Hands-on assessments measured tourniquet application and wound-packing skills. RESULTS: After training, participants scored significantly higher on the written assessment measuring basic bleeding control knowledge. The written postassessment showed significantly higher levels of self-confidence and belief in school preparedness (p ≤ .05, n = 16). Hands-on skill for tourniquet application and wound packing also significantly increased following training (p ≤ .05, n = 16). CONCLUSION: The Stop the Bleed training was effective in improving school nurses' basic knowledge about life-threatening bleeding control and improved tourniquet application and wound-packing skills. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2019;50(11):501-507.].

Minimizing Time to Plasma Administration and Fresh Frozen Plasma Waste: A Multimodal Approach to Improve Massive Transfusion at a Level 1 Trauma Center.

Massive transfusion protocols are part of damage control resuscitation for hemorrhaging trauma patients with the goal of returning the patient to hemodynamic stability. It is essential that patients receive blood products immediately and in the proper ratios. At our metropolitan Level 1 trauma center, we identified several challenges to deploying massive transfusion rapidly and within the recommended ratio guidelines. In 2016, we implemented a quality improvement project addressing 4 opportunities: fresh frozen plasma (FFP) bag breakage, plasma options, blood bank equipment, and multidisciplinary policy revision. Implementing packaging and shipping improvements, utilization of new products, and updating protocols have resulted in a 50% decrease in FFP bag breakage rates, a dramatic decrease in time for patients receiving massive transfusion to receive plasma products (mean time 3.5 min), and patients being administered the recommended ratio of blood products.

A Retrospective Study of Transfusion Requirements in Trauma Patients Receiving Tranexamic Acid.

The Military Application of Tranexamic Acid in Trauma Emergency Resuscitation Study (MATTERs) and Clinical Randomisation of an Antifibrinolytic in Significant Haemorrhage-2 (CRASH-2) studies demonstrate that tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces mortality in patients with traumatic hemorrhage. However, their results, conducted in foreign countries and U.S. military soldiers, provoke concerns over generalizability to civilian trauma patients in the United States. We report the evaluation of patient outcomes and transfusion requirements following treatment with TXA by a civilian air medical program. We conducted a retrospective chart review of trauma patients transported by air service to a Level 1 trauma center. For the purposes of intervention evaluation, patients meeting this criterion for the 2 years (2012-2014) prior to therapy implementation were compared with patients treated during the 2-year study period (2014-2016). Goals were to evaluate morbidity, mortality, transfusion requirements, and length of stay. During the review, 52 control (non-TXA) and 43 study (TXA) patients were identified as meeting inclusion criteria. Patients in the control group were found to be less acute, which correlated with shorter hospitals stays. There was reduced mortality for patients receiving TXA in spite of their increased acuity and decreased likelihood of survival. Trauma patients from this cohort study receiving TXA demonstrate decreased mortality in spite of increased acuity. This increased acuity is associated with increased transfusion requirements. Future research should evaluate patient selection with concern for fibrinolysis and provider bias. Randomized controlled trial is needed to evaluate the role of TXA administration in the United States.

Holistic management of malignant wounds in palliative patients.

Malignant wounds are a complication of cancer, and usually occur in those individuals with advanced disease. When healing ceases to be the goal, treatment is centred around symptom control and improving quality of life. Caring for individuals with malignant wounds presents challenges for patients, their families and nurses alike. This article discusses the holistic management of malignant wounds, with an emphasis on the control of both physical and psychosocial symptoms of wound management, as well as the impact that this may have on all those involved. Common physical symptoms of malignant wounds include malodour, bleeding, pain, exudate and pruritis. Psychosocial symptoms may result in social isolation and depression. All these symptoms have a huge impact, not only on patients and their families, but also on healthcare professionals both during and after care. Managing these symptoms requires a multidisciplinary approach to facilitate the best possible outcomes for patients and their caregivers.

Complicaciones y cuidados de las urostomías / No disponible

Un estoma en general representa la pérdida de continuidad de la piel y por tanto de la barrera de protección que esta ofrece. Es por ello que existe un riesgo elevado de que se produzcan alteraciones tanto en el propio estoma como en la piel periestomal, un riesgo que se ve aumentado cuando se trata de ostomía que excretan secreciones líquidas (orina). Por tanto es de suma importancia hacer una correcta valoración y seguimiento tanto del estoma como de la piel que lo circunda para detectar cualquier anomalía y (minimizar el problema) poner solución

A stoma represents a loss of continuity of the skin, and so the skin barrier it offers. Therefore there is a high risk of alterations in the stoma and peristomal skin, this risk can increase when stomata excrete liquid secretions (urine). thus, it is of utmost importance to make an accurate assessment and follow-up care in order to detect and kind of abnormality and solve it

School Nurses on the Front Lines of Medicine: The Approach to a Student With Severe Traumatic Bleeding.

With the continued threat of mass casualty incidents in schools and surrounding communities, it is essential for school nurses to be knowledgeable regarding the recognition of hemorrhagic shock due to massive bleeding and the acute management of these victims. In the past decade, increased interest and research in acute bleeding control have led to published evidence-based guidelines to reduce morbidity and mortality for victims of violent acts. It is essential that healthcare providers, including nurses who are the first responders in schools, are aware of methods to assess and control massive bleeding. This article summarizes the most up-to-date recommendations for the management of children with traumatic bleeding.

Terminal Bleeding in Angiosarcoma.

Introduction: Terminal bleeding, a distressing symptom experience for patients, caregivers, and health professionals, occurs in a subset of patients in the palliative care setting. Terminal bleeding is often thought of as a large-volume catastrophically fatal event, but it can also occur for a longer period of time and still be the precipitating event for a patient's death. Case Report: We present the case of terminal bleeding in an 87-year-old patient with angiosarcoma, a rare aggressive vascular neoplasm that can occur anywhere in the body but tend to occur more frequently in the head and neck. Discussion: The patient's advanced age and aggressive disease presented challenges in managing the symptoms and precluded many of the conventional recommended interventions to manage bleeding. Conclusion: This case report speaks to the need for multidisciplinary planning that takes prognosis, performance status, previous therapies, and patient preferences into account when caring for patients with advanced cancer.

Oral Care Protocols With Specialty Training Lead to Safe Oral Care Practices and Reduce Iatrogenic Bleeding in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Oral care, using either a mouth rinse, gel, toothbrush, or combination of them, together with aspiration of secretions, may reduce the risk of ventilator-acquired pneumonia in intubated patents. Oral care procedure in patients on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) may cause bleeding due to the systemic anticoagulation required. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of bleeding episodes during oral care in patients supported by VV-ECMO. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed. All patients admitted to an Italian ECMO center during 2014 were included in the study. RESULTS: Data from 14 patients were analyzed. The median intensive care unit length of stay was 39.0 days (interquartile range, 27.3-83.3 days), and median days on VV-ECMO was 19.5 (10.3-46.0). There were 440 ECMO days, with 1320 oral care maneuvers. In 7 patients, bleeding episodes occurred: 2 with orotracheal intubation and 5 initially managed with orotracheal intubation, thereafter via Translaryngeal tracheostomy tube (according to Fantoni's technique). In 61 oral care procedures (4.6%), bleeding was detected during or after the maneuver, whereas the total numbers of days with at least 1 bleeding episode were 35 (8%).The presence or absence of bleeding during ECMO days was statistically significant for international normalized ratio (1.01 [0.95-1.11] vs 1.13 [1.03-1.25], P < .0001), platelets (163 000 [93 500-229 000] vs 61 000 [91 00-100 000], P < .0001), and mouth care score (6 [5-7] vs 8 [7-9], P < .001). CONCLUSION: Oral care can cause bleeding in patients on VV-ECMO. Implementation of protocols for daily oral care in patients on ECMO may reduce risks. As recommended by the literature, this category of patients should be treated in selected centers distinguished by a regular volume of ECMO activity and the presence of dedicated ECMO specialist nurses.

Association between Manchester Triage System discriminators and nursing diagnoses. / Associações entre discriminadores do Sistema de Triagem de Manchester e diagnósticos de enfermagem.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between Manchester Triage System flowchart discriminators and nursing diagnoses in adult patients classified as clinical priority I (emergency) and II (very urgent). METHOD: Cross-sectional study conducted in an emergency department in southern Brazil between April and August 2014. The sample included 219 patients. Data were collected from online patient medical records and data analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test or the chi-square test. RESULTS: 16 discriminators and 14 nursing diagnoses were identified. Associations were found between seven discriminators and five problem-focused nursing diagnoses, including the discriminator Cardiac pain and the diagnosis Acute pain. Three discriminators were associated with four risk nursing diagnoses, among these Acute neurological deficit with the diagnosis Risk of ineffective cerebral tissue perfusion. CONCLUSION: Significant associations were found between Manchester Triage System discriminators and the nursing diagnoses most frequently established in the emergency department.

Anticoagulation Therapy for Venous Thromboembolism in the Real World　- From the COMMAND VTE Registry.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) has a long-term risk of recurrence, which can be prevented by anticoagulation therapy.Methods and Results:The COMMAND VTE Registry is a multicenter registry enrolling 3,027 consecutive patients with acute symptomatic VTE between January 2010 and August 2014. The entire cohort was divided into the transient risk (n=855, 28%), unprovoked (n=1,477, 49%), and cancer groups (n=695, 23%). The rate of anticoagulation discontinuation was highest in the cancer group (transient risk: 37.3% vs. unprovoked: 21.4% vs. cancer: 43.5% at 1 year, P<0.001). The cumulative 5-year incidences of recurrent VTE, major bleeding and all-cause death were highest in the cancer group (recurrent VTE: 7.9% vs. 9.3% vs. 17.7%, P<0.001; major bleeding: 9.0% vs. 9.4% vs. 26.6%, P<0.001; and all-cause death: 17.4% vs. 15.3% vs. 73.1%, P<0.001). After discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy, the cumulative 3-year incidence of recurrent VTE was lowest in the transient risk group (transient risk: 6.1% vs. unprovoked: 15.3% vs. cancer: 13.2%, P=0.001). The cumulative 3-year incidence of recurrent VTE beyond 1 year was lower in patients on anticoagulation than in patients off anticoagulation at 1 year in the unprovoked group (on: 3.7% vs. off: 12.2%, P<0.001), but not in the transient risk and cancer groups (respectively, 1.6% vs. 2.5%, P=0.30; 5.6% vs. 8.6%, P=0.44). CONCLUSIONS: The duration of anticoagulation therapy varied widely in discordance with current guideline recommendations. Optimal duration of anticoagulation therapy should be defined according to the risk of recurrent VTE and bleeding as well as death.