Implementation of NAP4 emergency airway management recommendations in a quaternary-level pediatric hospital.

Emergency airway management, particularly outside of the operating room, is associated with a high incidence of life-threatening adverse events. Based on the recommendations of the 4th National Audit Project, we aimed to develop hospital-wide systems changes to improve the safety of emergency airway management. We describe a framework for governance in the form of a hospital airway special interest group. We describe the development and implementation of the following systems changes: 1. A local intubation algorithm modified from the Difficult Airway Society's plan A-B-C-D approach, including clear pathways for airway escalation, and emphasizing the concepts of resuscitation prior to intubation, planning for failure, and avoidance of fixation error. 2. Simplified and standardized airway equipment located in identical airway carts in all critical care areas. 3. A preintubation checklist and equipment template to standardize preparation for airway management. 4. Availability of continuous waveform endtidal capnography in all critical care areas for confirmation of correct endotracheal tube placement. 5. Multidisciplinary team training to address the technical and nontechnical aspects of nonoperating room intubation. In addition, we describe methodology for ongoing monitoring of performance through a quality assurance framework. In conclusion, changes in the process of emergency airway management at a hospital level are feasible through collaboration. Their impact on patient-based outcomes requires further study.

A quality improvement initiative to increase the safety of pediatric emergency airway management.

BACKGROUND: Emergency airway management is commonly associated with life-threatening hypoxia and hypotension which may be preventable. AIMS: The aim of this quality improvement study was to reduce the frequency of intubation-related hypoxia and hypotension. METHODS: This prospective quality improvement study was conducted over 4 years in the Emergency Department of The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. A preintervention cohort highlighted safety gaps and was used to design study interventions, including an emergency airway algorithm, standardized airway equipment, a preintubation checklist and equipment template, endtidal carbon dioxide monitoring, postintubation team debriefing, and multidisciplinary team training. Following implementation, a postintervention cohort was used to monitor the impact of study interventions on clinical process and patient outcome. Process measures were as follows: use of a preintubation checklist, verbalization of an airway plan, adequate resuscitation prior to intubation, induction agent dose titration, use of apneic oxygenation, and use of endtidal carbon dioxide to confirm endotracheal tube position. The primary outcome measure was first pass success rate without hypoxia or hypotension. Potential harms from study interventions were monitored. RESULTS: Forty-six intubations were included over one calendar year in the postintervention cohort (compared to 71 in the preintervention cohort). Overall clinical uptake of the 6 processes measures was 85%. First pass success rate without hypoxia or hypotension was 78% in the postintervention cohort compared with 49% in the preintervention cohort (absolute risk reduction: 29.0%; 95% confidence interval 12.3%-45.6%, number needed to treat: 3.5). No significant harms from study interventions were identified. CONCLUSION: Quality improvement initiatives targeting emergency airway management may be successfully implemented in the emergency department and are associated with a reduction in adverse intubation-related events.

Utilising in situ simulation within translational simulation programmes to evaluate and improve multidisciplinary response to anaphylaxis in the paediatric emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of paediatric anaphylaxis is rising in Australia. Treatment requires timely administration of intramuscular (IM) adrenaline. Study goals included utilising in situ simulation (ISS) within a translational simulation (TS) programme as a diagnostic tool to identify the frequency and cause of IM adrenaline errors in a paediatric ED, and utilising ISS to evaluate multidisciplinary emergency team response to anaphylaxis. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne ED utilising an ISS anaphylaxis scenario with a debrief pro forma within an established ISS/TS programme. RESULTS: Twenty-three anaphylaxis ISS were delivered over 16 months. One hundred and sixty-four multidisciplinary staff participated (mean of 8 per session). Median times (in minutes) for the total ISS were 12:33 (interquartile range [IQR] 9:06-15:19), consisting of the scenario 4:07 (IQR 3:33-4:44) and debriefing 9:00 (IQR 5-11). IM adrenaline was administered in all ISS within 5 min, median 2:57 (IQR 2:30-3:40). Adrenaline medication errors occurred in 30% ISS (7/23). Errors included three (13%) administrations and four (17%) potential or 'near misses' associated with a verbal order or medication preparation error. A weight-based medication cognitive aid was utilised in 56% (13/23) ISS but was not utilised in all three administration errors. CONCLUSIONS: ISS within TS programmes was successfully utilised as a diagnostic tool in identifying that medication errors were common during anaphylaxis management in the ED. Improving access to adrenaline in dosing boxes and promoting the utilisation of weight-based cognitive aids alongside ISS education will likely reduce errors and improve patient safety.

Debriefing immediately after intubation in a children's emergency department is feasible and contributes to measurable improvements in patient safety.

OBJECTIVE: In 2013, our intubations highlighted a safety gap - only 49% achieved first-pass success without hypoxia or hypotension. NAP4 recommended debriefing after intubation, but limited published methods existed. Primary aim is to implement a feasible process for immediate debriefing and feedback for emergency airway management. Secondary aims are to contribute to reduced frequency of adverse intubation-related events and implement qualitative improvements in patient safety through team reflection and feedback. METHODS: A component of a prospective quality improvement (QI) study over 4 years in the ED of the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. Debrief and feedback after intubation was one of seven study interventions. Targeted staff training and involvement of departmental leaders occurred. A post-intervention cohort was audited in 2016. Analysis included the Team Emergency Assessment Measure. RESULTS: Immediate post-event debriefing occurred in 39 (85%) of 46 intubations. Debriefing was short (median duration 5 min, interquartile range [IQR] 5-10) and soon after (median time 20 min, IQR 5-60). Commonest location was the resuscitation room (92%), led by the team leader (97%). Commonest barrier preventing immediate debriefing was excessive workload. Two QI process measures were assessed during debriefing (adequate resuscitation, airway plan) and case summaries distributed for 100% of intubations. Performance outcomes included contribution to 78% first-pass success without hypoxia or hypotension. Team reflection prompted changes to environment (signage, stickers), training (skill drills), teamwork and process (communication, clinical event debriefing). CONCLUSION: Structured and targeted debriefing after intubating children in the ED is feasible and contributes to measurable and qualitative improvements in patient safety.

Fatal acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia in an infant: The histopathologic variability of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The histopathologic pattern of acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) has been described recently in cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in adults and differs from the well-recognized pattern of classic diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). The objective of this study was to determine whether similar appearances can be seen in infant ARDS. DESIGN: Case report and retrospective review of infant lung biopsies 1995-2005. SETTING: Paediatric and neonatal intensive care units in a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: None. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A formerly premature infant with ARDS secondary to respiratory syncytial virus pneumonitis had histopathologic features of AFOP on open lung biopsy. Nine infants from 1995 to 2005 had definite histology of DAD or AFOP and fulfilled American-European Consensus Conference criteria for the diagnosis of ARDS. Of these, classic DAD findings were present in seven, whereas two had features of AFOP and DAD. Features suggesting viral infection were identified in five infants. CONCLUSIONS: The histopathologic features of AFOP may be seen in some cases of infant ARDS. The variability in the histopathology of ARDS raises questions as to the pathogenesis and clinical correlates of these different patterns.

Airway emergencies presenting to the paediatric emergency department requiring advanced management techniques.

BACKGROUND: Airway emergencies presenting to the emergency department (ED) are usually managed with conventional equipment and techniques. The patient group managed urgently in the operating room (OR) has not been described. AIMS: This study aims to describe a case series of children presenting to the ED with airway emergencies managed urgently in the OR, particularly the anaesthetic equipment and techniques used and airway findings. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study undertaken at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. All patients presenting to the ED between 1 January 2012 and 30 July 2015 (42 months) with an airway emergency who were subsequently managed in the OR were included. Patient characteristics, anaesthetic equipment and technique and airway findings were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-two airway emergencies in 21 patients were included over the study period, on average one every 2 months. Median age was 18 months and 43% were male. Inhalational induction was used in 77.3%, combined inhalational and intravenous induction in 9.1%, and intravenous induction alone in 13.6%. The most commonly used inhalational induction agent was sevoflurane, and the most commonly used intravenous induction agents were ketamine and propofol. Ten airway emergencies did not require intubation, seven for removal of inhaled foreign body, two with progressive tracheal stenosis requiring emergent dilatation and one examination under anaesthesia to rule out inhaled foreign body. Of the 12 airway emergencies that required immediate intubation, direct laryngoscopy was used in 9 and fibre-optic intubating bronchoscopy in 3. For intubations performed by direct laryngoscopy, one was difficult (Cormack and Lehane grade 3). First pass success was 83.3%. Adverse events occurred in 3/22 (13.6%) cases. CONCLUSION: Advanced airway techniques, including inhalational induction and intubation via fibre-optic intubating bronchoscope, are rarely but predictably required in the management of patients presenting to the ED. Institutions caring for children should prepare in advance where such patients should be managed, by whom, and provide equipment and training for their care.

A cross-sectional survey of complementary and alternative medicine use by children and adolescents attending the University Hospital of Wales.

BACKGROUND: A high prevalence of CAM use has been documented worldwide in children and adolescents with chronic illnesses. Only a small number of studies, however, have been conducted in the United Kingdom. The primary aim of this study was to examine the use of CAM by children and adolescents with a wide spectrum of acute and chronic medical problems in a tertiary children's hospital in Wales. METHODS: Structured personal interviews of 100 inpatients and 400 outpatients were conducted over a 2-month period in 2004. The yearly and monthly prevalence of CAM use were assessed and divided into medicinal and non-medicinal therapies. This use was correlated with socio-demographic factors. RESULTS: There were 580 patients approached to attain 500 completed questionnaires. The use of at least one type of CAM in the past year was 41% (95% CI 37-46%) and past month 26% (95% CI 23-30%). The yearly prevalence of medicinal CAM was 38% and non-medicinal 12%. The users were more likely to have parents that were tertiary educated (mother: OR = 2.3, 95%CI 1.6-3.3) and a higher family income (Pearson chi-square for trend = 14.3, p < 0.001). The most common medicinal types of CAM were non-prescribed vitamins and minerals (23%) and herbal therapies (10%). Aromatherapy (5%) and reflexology (3%) were the most prevalent non-medicinal CAMs. None of the inpatient medical records documented CAM use in the past month. Fifty-two percent of medicinal and 38% of non-medicinal CAM users felt their doctor did not need to know about CAM use. Sixty-six percent of CAM users did not disclose the fact to their doctor. Three percent of all participants were using herbs and prescription medicines concurrently. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of CAM use in our study population. Paediatricians need to ensure that they ask parents and older children about their CAM usage and advise caution with regard to potential interactions.CAM is a rapidly expanding industry that requires further evidence-based research to provide more information on the effectiveness and safety of many CAM therapies. Statutory or self-regulation of the different segments of the industry is important. Integration of CAM with allopathic western medicine through education and better communication is slowly progressing.

A randomised controlled trial of cognitive aids for emergency airway equipment preparation in a Paediatric Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Safety of emergency intubation may be improved by standardising equipment preparation; the efficacy of cognitive aids is unknown. METHODS: This randomised controlled trial compared no cognitive aid (control) with the use of a checklist or picture template for emergency airway equipment preparation in the Emergency Department of The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. RESULTS: Sixty-three participants were recruited, 21 randomised to each group. Equal numbers of nursing, junior medical, and senior medical staff were included in each group. Compared to controls, the checklist or template group had significantly lower equipment omission rates (median 30% IQR 20-40% control, median 10% IQR 5-10 % checklist, median 10% IQR 5-20% template; p < 0.05). The combined omission rate and sizing error rate was lower using a checklist or template (median 35 % IQR 30-45 % control, median 15% IQR 10-20% checklist, median 15% IQR 10-30% template; p < 0.05). The template group had less variation in equipment location compared to checklist or controls. There was no significant difference in preparation time in controls (mean 3 min 14 s sd 56 s) compared to checklist (mean 3 min 46 s sd 1 min 15 s) or template (mean 3 min 6 s sd 49 s; p = 0.06). DISCUSSION: Template use reduces variation in airway equipment location during preparation foremergency intubation, with an equivalent reduction in equipment omission rate to the use of a checklist. The use of a template for equipment preparation and a checklist for team, patient, and monitoring preparation may provide the best combination of both cognitive aids. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a cognitive aid for emergency airway equipment preparation reduces errors of omission. Template utilisation reduces variation in equipment location. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian and New Zealand Trials Registry (ACTRN12615000541505).