International Consensus Recommendation Guidelines for Subcutaneous Infusions of Hydration and Medication in Adults: An e-Delphi Consensus Study.

Infusion of fluids and medications is traditionally performed intravenously. However, venous depletion in patients has led to the quest for vessel health preservation. A safe, effective, acceptable, and efficient alternative is the subcutaneous route. A lack of organizational policies may contribute to the slow uptake of this practice. This modified e-Delphi (electronic) study aimed to derive international consensus on practice recommendations for subcutaneous infusions of fluids and medications. A panel of 11 international clinicians, with expertise in subcutaneous infusion research and/or clinical practice, rated and edited subcutaneous infusion practice recommendations from evidence, clinical practice guidelines, and clinical expertise within an Assessment, Best Practice, and Competency (ABC) domain guideline model. The ABC Model for Subcutaneous Infusion Therapy provides a systematic guideline of 42 practice recommendations for the safe delivery of subcutaneous infusions of fluids and medications in the adult population in all care settings. These consensus recommendations provide a guideline for health care providers, organizations, and policy makers to optimize use of the subcutaneous access route.

Association Between Lactation and Postpartum Blood Pressure in Women with Preeclampsia.

PURPOSE: Preeclampsia affects 3% to 8% of all pregnancies. There are two distinct subtypes; early- (<34 weeks) and late-onset (≥34 weeks). Each subtype is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Lactation has been shown to improve cardiovascular outcomes. The purpose of this study was to describe lactation practices among women with each subtype of preeclampsia and determine the association between lactation and blood pressure at the initial postpartum visit. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 246 subjects; 120 early- and 126 with late-onset preeclampsia who gave birth to live singleton newborns at a large suburban tertiary referral center in south central Pennsylvania between January 2012 and June 2016. Electronic health records were reviewed and data abstracted. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in breastfeeding intent (p = .004) as well as rate of breastfeeding at maternal hospital discharge (p< .001) by preeclampsia subtype. However, there was no difference in rate of breastfeeding at the initial postpartum visit (p = .21) between subtypes. There was a significant difference in systolic (p = .03) and diastolic (p = .04) blood pressure between those breastfeeding and those who were not breastfeeding at the initial postpartum visit. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Healthcare providers should provide women with preeclampsia clear and consistent messaging about importance of breastfeeding during pregnancy and the postpartum period on its association with improved neonatal outcomes, and specifically education on the cardioprotective benefit of sustained lactogenesis.