Semi-automated speckle-tracking for quantitative right ventricular assessment in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of right ventricular size and function is an important part of the clinical cardiac evaluation; however, these quantitative measures are challenging by echocardiography. Automated software could be useful in place of manual measurements and qualitative assessment. This study evaluates a semi-automated software by comparing automated to manual measures in normal children. METHODS: Neonates to adolescents with normal echocardiograms were prospectively enrolled. Measurements were performed using manual techniques and semi-automated software (EchoInsight®, Epsilon Imaging, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America). Right ventricular measurements included end-diastolic and end-systolic area, fractional area change, chamber dimensions, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion. Agreement between manual and semi-automated measures was compared. RESULTS: Echocardiograms for 233 patients were included in the analysis. Intra- and inter-observer reliabilities for semi-automated measures were good with intraclass correlation coefficients all over 0.9 and 0.85, respectively. There was very strong correlation between manual and semi-automated methods for areas and dimensions (r = 0.93-0.99) and low bias (1.4-10.8%). For functional measures, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion measures correlated well (r = 0.84), but fractional area change did not (r = 0.50). Both demonstrated significant bias (33.5-43.0%). The semi-automated method consistently underestimated fractional area change with a mean of 26.6% versus a manual mean of 36.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The semi-automated software is capable of generating quantitative right ventricular measures in children with good reliability. The software demonstrates very good correlation and low bias when compared to manual methods for right ventricular areas and dimensions. There is a significant difference between manual and semi-automated techniques for the functional measures.

Tissue Motion Annular Displacement Predicts Mortality/Transplant After the Bidirectional Glenn.

BACKGROUND: Quantifying right ventricular function in patients with a systemic right ventricle (RV) is difficult but important for prognosis. Tissue motion annular displacement tracks displacement of the tricuspid annulus toward the apex. We evaluated this measure alongside fractional area change (FAC) on patients with single, RV prior to the bidirectional Glenn procedure. We tested both measures for correlation with outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective measurement of tissue motion annular displacement and FAC was performed on echocardiographic clips obtained prior to the bidirectional Glenn. A chart review included postoperative outcomes and midterm mortality/transplant. Bivariate correlations and Cox proportional hazards models were used for analyses. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients with dominant RV underwent the bidirectional Glenn procedure and all had image quality that allowed analysis. The age ranged from 3 to 11 months (median 4 months). Neither tissue motion annular displacement nor FAC correlated with short-term postoperative outcomes. Tissue motion annular displacement was independently predictive of mortality/transplant ( P = .03) in the Cox hazard model. The mean for survivors was 12.4% and for nonsurvivors/transplants was 10.0%. Tissue motion annular displacement intra-observer variability was 2.8% (1.2%-3.5%). Interobserver mean variability was 6.1% (3.3%-8.1%). Fractional area change was not predictive of mortality/transplant. CONCLUSION: Tissue motion annular displacement is an independent predictor of midterm mortality/transplant after the bidirectional Glenn procedure in patients with single, RV, in this study. It may outperform FAC in this regard and has good reproducibility. Tissue motion annular displacement may be a useful measure in identifying high-risk children in this population.

Right Ventricular Longitudinal Shortening Before and After Stage I Surgical Palliation Correlates with Outcomes.

Quantification of right ventricular function is difficult, but important, in patients with single ventricles. Tissue motion annular displacement (TMAD) is an echocardiographic tool that measures displacement of the tricuspid valve relative to the apex. We evaluated TMAD, lateral annular displacement (LAD), and fractional area change (FAC) for correlation with outcomes. We measured TMAD, LAD, FAC, and other variables that may affect prognosis in patients with single right ventricle physiology pre- and post-Stage I palliation and correlated them with outcomes up to the Glenn procedure. Intra- and inter-observer variability for TMAD measurements were 2.7% (1.2-3.5%) and 6.1% (3.3-8.1%), respectively. Sixty-six subjects met the inclusion criteria. Pre-Stage I TMAD was 13.7% (SD 3.9%). TMAD had a linear relationship with FAC (r2 = 0.76). There was a correlation between TMAD and hospital stay (p = 0.044) and ECMO/arrest (p = 0.024). LAD correlated with ECMO/arrest (p = 0.045) and mortality/transplant (p = 0.049). FAC correlated with in-hospital mortality (p = 0.028). Post-Stage I TMAD was 11.8% (SD 3.7%). TMAD, LAD, and FAC all correlated with in-hospital mortality and mortality/transplant. In multivariate models, TMAD was independently predictive of weight for age Z score pre-Glenn. TMAD, FAC, and LAD correlate with clinically significant outcomes after the first-stage palliation. TMAD correlated with more outcomes than FAC and was the only measure that was independently predictive of any outcome. TMAD is a reproducible measure of RV function in this population. TMAD has prognostic value before and after first-stage palliation and may outperform more traditional measures.

Intermittent Versus Continuous and Intermittent Medications for Pain and Sedation After Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery; A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Compare continuous infusions of morphine and midazolam in addition to intermittent doses with an intermittent only strategy for pain and sedation after pediatric cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Advocate Children's Hospital, Oak Lawn, IL. PATIENTS: Sixty patients 3 months to 4 years old with early extubation after pediatric cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received a continuous infusion of morphine and midazolam or placebo for 24 hours. Both groups received intermittent morphine and midazolam doses as needed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Gender, age, bypass time, and surgical complexity were not different between groups. Scheduled ketorolac and acetaminophen were used in both groups and were not associated with adverse events. The mean, median, and maximum Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, And Consolability score were not different between groups. There was no significant difference in number of intermittent doses received between groups. The total morphine dose was higher in the continuous/intermittent group (0.90 vs 0.23 mg/kg; p < 0.01). The total midazolam dose was also higher in the continuous/intermittent group (0.90 vs 0.18 mg/kg; p < 0.01). The hospital length of stay was longer in the continuous/intermittent group (8.4 vs 4.9 d; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Pain was not better controlled with the addition of continuous infusions of morphine and midazolam when compared with intermittent dosing only. Use of continuous infusions resulted in a significantly higher total dosage of these medications and a longer length of stay.

Nurses' perception of milk temperature at delivery compared to actual practice in the neonatal intensive care unit.

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to examine nurses' perception of feeding temperature practices and to compare the nurses' temperature estimation with the measured temperature of milk at the time of delivery to the infant. DESIGN: A descriptive exploratory study was conducted in 3 level III neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). SUBJECTS: A convenience sample of nurses from 3 level III NICUs in the Midwest. In addition, temperatures from bottle/syringe samples of formula/breast milk were measured and recorded. METHODS: The Feeding Practices and Temperature Survey, a 10-item survey measuring nurses' perception of the effect of feeding temperature on infant condition, was distributed to subjects. Afterward for select feedings, researchers recorded the type of milk, delivery method, nurses' estimated temperature of the milk, and the measured infrared temperature of milk just before feeding delivery. To compare perception with actual practice patterns, the measured milk temperature was compared with the nurses' estimated temperature, standard room temperature, and body temperature using descriptive statistics of the survey responses and t test comparisons. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES/PRINCIPAL RESULTS: A total of 141 surveys were analyzed. More than 50% of respondents reported feeding temperature as clinically very significant. A range of 35.5°C to 37.2°C was reported as the ideal temperature of breast milk at delivery. Recordings of 419 temperatures were used for analysis. Measured milk temperature just before feeding ranged from 22°C to 46.4°C. The mean measured temperatures were 31.0°C (SD = 2.8°C) for warmed milk in a bottle and 30.5°C (SD = 2.5°C) for milk warmed in a syringe. The measured milk temperature and the nurse-estimated temperature were significantly lower than body temperature (P = 0.000) and significantly higher than room temperature (P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Current warming methods yield wide variation in milk temperature. Nurses' estimation of milk temperature was not consistent with measured temperature at the time of delivery. Future research is needed to establish guidelines for feeding temperature standardization assisting nurses to enhance evidence-based feeding practices.

A longitudinal study of patients' symptoms before and during the first year after lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Lung transplantation provides a viable option for survival of end-stage respiratory disease. In addition to prolonging survival, there is considerable interest in improving patient-related outcomes such as transplant recipients' symptom experiences. METHODS: A prospective, repeated measures design was used to describe the symptom experience of 85 lung transplant recipients between 2000 and 2005. The transplant symptom inventory was administered before and at one, three, six, nine, and 12 months post-transplant. Ridit analysis provided a unique method for describing symptom experiences and changes. RESULTS: After lung transplantation, significant (p<0.05) improvements were reported for the most frequently occurring and most distressing pre-transplant symptoms (e.g., shortness of breath with activity). Marked increases in the frequency and distress of new symptoms such as tremors were also reported. Patterns of symptom frequency and distress varied with time since transplant. CONCLUSION: The findings provide data-based information that can be used to inform pre- and post-transplant patient education and also help caregivers anticipate a general time frame for symptom changes to prevent or minimize symptoms and their associated distress. In addition, symptoms are described, using an innovative method of illustration which shows "at-a-glance" change or lack of change in patients' symptoms from pre- to post-lung transplant.

Pilot study evaluates nutrition for patients receiving mechanical circulatory support in the intensive care unit.

Establishing a nutrition protocol with an accompanying algorithm allows a multidisciplinary team to make decisions to maintain or improve nutrition-related outcomes during the intensive care unit (ICU) stay. This descriptive pilot study included subjects (N = 11) recruited from a convenient sample of patients admitted for surgical implantation of a mechanical circulatory support device. Nutritional and strength measures were compared across 3 time intervals: preoperatively, postoperative day 3, and within 48 hours of transfer from ICU. The mean age of the sample was 60 ± 8 years. Overall, subjects maintained preoperative nutritional status demonstrated by a nonsignificant change in the nutritional and strength measures from the preoperative period compared to transfer from ICU. The nutrition protocol with algorithm provided a step-by-step approach to ensure a consistent nutritional plan of care. It also standardized nutritional care while ensuring safe practice.

Preceptors and new graduate nurse orientees: implications of psychological type compatibility.

The relationship between preceptor and new graduate nurse (NGN) orientee can be a critical factor in NGNs' satisfaction with choice of profession and place of employment. A research study was conducted with NGN orientees (n = 218) and preceptors (n = 159) to investigate characteristics of psychological type as determined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Preliminary descriptive data regarding participants' Myers-Briggs Type Indicator characteristics is presented, and suggestions are offered for working with orientees during orientation in both classroom sessions and clinical units.

A randomized controlled trial to compare the complications of 2 peripheral intravenous catheter-stabilization systems.

An open-label, prospective, randomized, noninferiority study was conducted at a large academic, Magnet-designated, Level I trauma center to compare the peripheral intravenous catheter securement-related complication rates of 2 different stabilization systems. The control stabilization system included the StatLock device with a nonwinged catheter, and the investigational stabilization system included a closed catheter system with a specially designed Tegaderm dressing. Data from 302 subjects indicated that the investigational stabilization system was noninferior or similar to the control stabilization system with respect to the overall securement-related complications. The cost of the investigational stabilization system was approximately 75% of the cost for the control stabilization system.

Comparison of two pain scales for the assessment of pain in the ventilated adult patient.

The assessment of pain experienced by the patient requiring mechanical ventilation can be a challenge for critical care nurses. This study was conducted to assess the reliability and validity of two pain behavior assessment tools. Patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled from 13 critical care units and one long-term acute care unit within eight hospitals. A total of 200 patients were assessed over an 8-week period. The findings suggest that both tools have adequate reliability and validity. Use of a pain behavior tool is one strategy to improve assessment of pain experienced by the mechanically ventilated adult patient who is unable to provide a self-report.

Quality of life in caregivers providing care for lung transplant candidates.

CONTEXT: Caregivers are essential members of the health care team who provide care, valued at more than $250 billion each year, to millions of persons who require assistance with health and daily care. Patients with respiratory diseases who are waiting for a lung transplant are required to have an identified caregiver. The caregivers are rarely studied. OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationships among the health status of caregivers of lung transplant candidates, caregivers' reaction to caregiving, and caregivers' perceived quality of life. DESIGN: This descriptive study examined the quality of life of lung transplant caregivers from a multidimensional perspective. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-nine dyads of lung transplant candidates and their caregivers were recruited from a Midwestern medical center. MEASURES: Data were collected by self-report: caregivers completed the Quality of Life Index, SF-12 health survey, Profile of Mood States-Short Form, and the Caregiver Reaction Assessment. RESULTS: Caregivers reported favorable levels of quality of life, physical health, and mood during the pretransplant waiting phase. However, problem areas for caregivers during this time included fatigue, depression, and the financial impact of the transplant. Data analyses indicated that depression, caregiver general health, impact on finances, and lack of family support had the greatest effect on caregivers' quality of life. Nurses are urged to recognize the role of caregivers in the transplant process, ask about and listen to caregivers' needs, and include caregivers in the plan of care.

Using evidence to improve care for the vulnerable neonatal population.

The facilitation of evidence-based practice (EBP) in the clinical setting is important to ensure patients receive the best care possible. This article highlights changes in open visitation and feeding readiness practices that occurred in a Magnet-designated facility neonatal ICU. The examples demonstrate ways to bring evidence to the bedside within an environment that supports EBP at all levels of nursing leadership.

Using the Roy Adaptation Model to explore the dynamics of quality of life and the relationship between lung transplant candidates and their caregivers.

Using theory to support nursing research may be considered superfluous by some authors, yet a theoretical framework provides structure and consistency to a research study. This article presents the use of the Roy Adaptation Model within the theoretical framework underpinning an investigation of quality of life as perceived by lung transplant candidates and their caregivers. Each step of the research process is identified in this article and the link to the theoretical framework is demonstrated. The use of nursing frameworks to guide research strengthens the theoretical framework itself and also adds another dimension to the body of nursing knowledge.