Inhalational Drug Devices: Revisiting The Linchpin Of Asthma Management, Damini Saxena, Neveda Murugesan, Uyioghosa D Evbayiro, Marina K Ngassa, Muhammad Adrish

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Asthma remains a prevalent condition among all age groups globally. First-line treatment requires the delivery of medications into the distal respiratory tract via inhalers. Using appropriate inhaler techniques is a significant challenge in achieving disease control. A variety of inhalers are available for treating asthma, and selecting the appropriate inhaler type for any given patient is crucial to achieving and maintaining symptomatic control. This review will discuss the anatomy and physiology behind drug delivery via inhalers, the types of inhalers currently available for use, nebulizers, and future directions in the delivery of inhaled medications for asthma.

Genetics And Genomics Of Pulmonary Fibrosis: Charting The Molecular Landscape And Shaping Precision Medicine, Ayodeji Adegunsoye, Jonathan A Kropski, Juergen Behr, Timothy S Blackwell, Tamera J Corte, Vincent Cottin, Allan R Glanville, Marilyn K Glassberg, Matthias Griese, Gary M Hunninghake, Kerri A Johannson, Michael P Keane, John S Kim, Martin Kolb, Toby M Maher, Justin M Oldham, Anna J Podolanczuk, Ivan O Rosas, Fernando J Martinez, Imre Noth, David A Schwartz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Recent genetic and genomic advancements have elucidated the complex etiology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other progressive fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), emphasizing the contribution of heritable factors. This state-of-the-art review synthesizes evidence on significant genetic contributors to pulmonary fibrosis (PF), including rare genetic variants and common SNPs. The MUC5B promoter variant is unusual, a common SNP that markedly elevates the risk of early and established PF. We address the utility of genetic variation in enhancing understanding of disease pathogenesis and clinical phenotypes, improving disease definitions, and informing prognosis and treatment response. Critical research gaps are highlighted, particularly the …

Gastrocnemius Electrical Stimulation Increases Ankle Dorsiflexion Strength In Patients With Post-Acute Sequelae Of Sars-Cov-2 (Pasc): A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial, Myeounggon Lee, Alejandro Zulbaran-Rojas, Miguel Bargas-Ochoa, Bernardo Martinez-Leal, Rasha Bara, Areli Flores-Camargo, M G Finco, Ram Kinker Mishra, Jaewon Beom, Dipaben Modi, Fidaa Shaib, Bijan Najafi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Post-Acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) is a multisystem disorder causing persistent musculoskeletal deconditioning and reduced lower extremity strength. Electrical stimulation (E-Stim) to the gastrocnemius muscle can enhance strength outcomes by increasing the frequency of muscle fiber activation. We investigated its effect on individuals with PASC. Participants were randomized into intervention (IG) or control (CG) groups. The IG self-administered daily one-hour E-Stim to both their gastrocnemius muscles using a functional device over 4-week, while the CG used a sham device. Primary outcomes were ankle dorsiflexion strength assessed via dynamometry during maximum voluntary contractions, and gastrocnemius voluntary activation (GVA) via surface electromyography. …

Issue 10: Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider, Bharat Bajantri Md, Sarah Ellsworth-Hoffman Mls

Critical Care & Pulmonary

Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider Issue 10

Compiled by Bharat Bajantri, MD, and librarian Sarah Ellsworth, MLS for the clinicians of the Pulmonary and Critical Care team of Parkview.

The Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider newsletter was created by Dr. Bharat Bajantri, MD and Sarah Ellsworth, MLS in 2023 as a form of current awareness for current practice at our hospital, Parkview Health.

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Topics:

VIEWPOINTS:

Biologics for treating uncontrolled severe asthma

Don't you quit on cannot quit smokers.

Paxlovid may not be your magic bullet for Covid-19 infection.

ORIGINAL STUDY SUMMARY

The DanGer Trial

The ACCESS Trial

The PREOXI …

Derivation And Validation Of An Optimal Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Cutoff To Predict Stage 2/3 Acute Kidney Injury (Aki) In Critically Ill Children, Stuart L Goldstein, Ayse Akcan-Arikan, Natasha Afonso, David J Askenazi, Abby M Basalely, Rajit K Basu, Hostensia Beng, Julie C Fitzgerald, Katja Gist, Sarah Kizilbash, David Kwiatkowski, Christopher W Mastropietro, Shina Menon, Megan Soohoo, Avram Z Traum, Christopher A Bird

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) defined by changes in serum creatinine (SCr), or oliguria is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in children who are critically ill. We derived and validated a clinical cutoff value for urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), in a prospective multicenter study of children who were critically ill. We report the clinical performance of urine NGAL (uNGAL) to aid in pediatric AKI risk assessment.

METHODS: Eligible subjects were aged ≥ 90 days to < 22 years, admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), and had 1 or more of the following: mechanical ventilation, vasoactive medication administration, solid organ or bone marrow transplantation, or hypotension within 24-hours of admission. uNGAL was assessed within 24-hours of admission. The primary outcome was SCr-based stage 2/3 AKI presence at 48- to 72-hours.

RESULTS: Twenty-five (12.3%) derivation study patients had stage 2/3 AKI at 48- to 72-hours. uNGAL concentration of 125 ng/ml was the optimal cutoff. …

Eculizumab For Management Of Hyperhemolysis Syndrome In Pediatric Patients With Sickle Cell Disease: A Single-Center Case Series, Ajibike Lapite, Saleh Bhar, Titilope Fasipe

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Chronic hemolytic anemia and vascular occlusion are hallmarks of sickle cell disease (SCD). Blood transfusions are critical for supportive and preventive management of SCD complications. Patients with SCD are at risk for hyperhemolysis syndrome (HHS), a subtype of delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions. HHS management includes intravenous immunoglobulin, corticosteroids, and avoidance of further transfusions. Not all patients respond to first-line agents. Eculizumab, which blocks terminal complement activation, has been proposed as second-line management of HHS. We describe two patients who received eculizumab for refractory HHS. In our experience, eculizumab is a safe and effective option for refractory pediatric HHS.

Annular Rupture During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Without A Surgical Option–The Double-Edged Sword Of Mechanical Circulatory Support, Aishah Matar, Corey Adams, Anna Bizios, Rosaleen Chun, Jillian Colbert, Daniel Holloway, Ayaaz K. Sachedina

Journal of Shock and Hemodynamics

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become a well-established treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis. With advances in the field and positive outcomes in clinical trials, TAVR use has expanded from being limited to older patients with prohibitive surgical risk to younger patients with intermediate and low surgical risk. As operators’ experiences have grown and technology has evolved, there are fewer TAVR complications. However, when complications do occur, they remain associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Aortic annulus rupture is a catastrophic complication of TAVR. Risk factors for annulus rupture include valve oversizing, female gender, a large calcification …

Qualitative Interviews Exploring Adverse Event Mitigation Strategies In Adults Receiving Amikacin Liposome Inhalation Suspension, Juzar Ali, Jasmanda Wu, Mariam Hassan, Jui-Hua Tsai, Nancy Touba, Kelly Mccarrier, Mark Ballard, Anjan Chatterjee

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: This study aimed to gain insight from patients with refractory Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease (MAC-LD) into strategies used to manage adverse events (AEs) associated with amikacin liposome inhalation suspension (ALIS). Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with US patients with refractory MAC-LD prescribed ALIS in a real-world setting. Interview transcripts were analyzed and coded to identify patterns in participants’ descriptions of their ALIS treatment experiences, including AEs and their disruptiveness, and AE mitigation strategies, including participants’ ratings of strategies’ effectiveness. Concept saturation was also assessed. Results: Twenty participants (mean age 48.7 years; 80% women; mean ALIS duration 5.45 months) …

A Guideline-Based Approach To Increase Early Mobilization In The Pediatric Patient Following Cardiothoracic Surgery, Kayla Keeven

Dissertations

A Guideline-Based Approach to Increase Early Mobilization in the Pediatric Patient Following Cardiothoracic Surgery

Problem: Prolonged bedrest during the post-operative period contributes to complications that lengthen hospital stay and increase mortality and medical costs. Early mobilization is recognized as safe and feasible in critically ill children. However, there is no standardized procedure nor method of identifying patients who are safe to mobilize in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (ICU).

Method: The quality improvement (QI) project employed a descriptive observational design utilizing a retrospective-prospective method to assess the effects of implementing an early mobilization guideline in a pediatric cardiac ICU. …

Addressing Disparities In Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease: A Call For Equitable Health Care, Devyani Chowdhury, Pietro A Elliott, S Yukiko Asaki, Shahnawaz Amdani, Quang-Tuyen Nguyen, Christina Ronai, Seda Tierney, Victor Y Levy, Kriti Puri, Carolyn A Altman, Jonathan N Johnson, Julie S Glickstein

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

While significant progress has been made in reducing disparities within the US health care system, notable gaps remain. This article explores existing disparities within pediatric congenital heart disease care. Congenital heart disease, the most common birth defect and a leading cause of infant death, has garnered substantial attention, revealing certain disparities within the US health care system. Factors such as race, ethnicity, insurance coverage, socioeconomic status, and geographic location are all commonalities that significantly affect health disparities in pediatric congenital heart disease. This comprehensive review sheds light on disparities from diverse perspectives in pediatric care, demonstrates the inequities and inequalities …

Issue 9: Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider, Bharat Bajantri Md, Sarah Ellsworth-Hoffman Mls, Ya Gao Md, Sivaprakash Sivaji Do, Caleb Hoppe Pharmd

Critical Care & Pulmonary

Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider Issue 9

Compiled by Bharat Bajantri, MD, and librarian Sarah Ellsworth, MLS for the clinicians of the Pulmonary and Critical Care team of Parkview.

The Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider newsletter was created by Dr. Bharat Bajantri, MD and Sarah Ellsworth, MLS in 2023 as a form of current awareness for current practice at our hospital, Parkview Health.

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Topics:

VIEWPOINTS:

Non-Shockable Cardiac Arrest Management

Try and try again till CPAP succeeds!

ORIGINAL STUDY SUMMARY & PERSPECTIVE:

Fungal Pneumonias in the ICU: Clinical Insights and Diagnostic Strategies.

ARDS Update and Guidance

SNAPSHOTS:

Making sure massive …

Q2 Roller Implementation In Medical Icu: A Quality Improvement Project, Kelsey Sawyer

Covenant Nurses Week 2024

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Compassion Fatigue And Burnout On Overall Patient Outcomes: An Integrated Research Review, Stephanie Pigg

Covenant Nurses Week 2024

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Rehab Among Stroke Patients Affecting Anxiety And Depression; Faith 4 Neurosurgical Icu, Stephanie Pigg, Stephan R Smith

Covenant Nurses Week 2024

No abstract provided.

Do Hourly Neuro Exams Lead To Sleep Deprivation And Icu Delirium: A Research Review, Toni Gafford

Covenant Nurses Week 2024

No abstract provided.

Acute Kidney Injury In Patients With Cirrhosis: Acute Disease Quality Initiative (Adqi) And International Club Of Ascites (Ica) Joint Multidisciplinary Consensus Meeting, Mitra K Nadim, John A Kellum, Lui Forni, Claire Francoz, Sumeet K Asrani, Marlies Ostermann, Andrew S Allegretti, Javier A Neyra, Jody C Olson, Salvatore Piano, Lisa B Vanwagner, Elizabeth C Verna, Ayse Akcan-Arikan, Paolo Angeli, Justin M Belcher, Scott W Biggins, Akash Deep, Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao, Yuri S Genyk, Pere Gines, Patrick S Kamath, Sandra L Kane-Gill, Manish Kaushik, Nuttha Lumlertgul, Etienne Macedo, Rakhi Maiwall, Sebastian Marciano, Raimund H Pichler, Claudio Ronco, Puneeta Tandon, Juan-Carlos Q Velez, Ravindra L Mehta, François Durand

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Patients with cirrhosis are prone to developing acute kidney injury (AKI), a complication associated with a markedly increased in-hospital morbidity and mortality, along with a risk of progression to chronic kidney disease. Whereas patients with cirrhosis are at increased risk of developing any phenotype of AKI, hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), a specific form of AKI (HRS-AKI) in patients with advanced cirrhosis and ascites, carries an especially high mortality risk. Early recognition of HRS-AKI is crucial since administration of splanchnic vasoconstrictors may reverse the AKI and serve as a bridge to liver transplantation, the only curative option. In 2023, a joint meeting …

Deciphering Dyspnea: Exercise-Related Flail Mitral Valve Masquerading As Pneumonia, Mehtab Galeh, Amjad Nader, Rania Esteitie

Journal of Shock and Hemodynamics

A 62-year-old male presented with a sudden onset of dyspnea following a racquetball session. Vital signs revealed a blood pressure of 136/63 mm Hg, heart rate of 116 beats/min, respiratory rate of 26 breaths/min, temperature of 98.7º F, and oxygen saturation of 85% on room air. The physical examination was notable for tachycardia, no audible murmur, and bilateral coarse breath sounds on lung auscultation. Pertinent laboratory data showed leukocytosis, elevated lactic acidosis, and elevated brain natriuretic peptide. Arterial blood gas analysis on room air revealed a pH of 7.39, partial pressure of carbon dioxide of 32 mm Hg, and arterial …

The Emerging Biomarkers In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Narrative Review, Kaitlin M Phillips, Philip F Lavere, Nicola A Hanania, Muhammad Adrish

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing, especially for women in low-to-middle income countries. Biomarkers provide ever-increasing diagnostic precision for COPD and show promise for primary, secondary, and tertiary disease prevention. This review describes emerging applications for biomarkers in COPD, especially as they align with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) emphasis on prevention, early diagnosis, and response to therapy. These biomarkers include blood eosinophils; IgE; C-reactive protein; fibrinogen; procalcitonin; interleukins 6, 8, and 33; tumor necrosis factor alpha; and soluble receptor for advanced glycated products (sRAGE). They have been used in various ways …

Feasibility Of Achieving Nutritional Adequacy In Critically Ill Children With Critical Neurological Illnesses (Cnis)?-A Quaternary Hospital Experience, Marwa Mansour, Nicole Knebusch, Jennifer Daughtry, Thomas P Fogarty, Fong Wilson Lam, Renan A Orellana, Yi-Chen Lai, Jennifer Erklauer, Jorge A Coss-Bu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The literature on the nutritional needs and outcomes of critically ill children is scarce, especially on those with critical neurological illnesses (CNIs). Current evidence shows a lower mortality in patients who achieve two-thirds of their nutritional needs during the first week of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission. We hypothesized that achieving 60% of the recommended dietary intake during the first week of a PICU stay is not feasible in patients with CNI. We designed an observational retrospective cohort study where we included all index admissions to the PICU in our institution of children (1 month to 18 years) with …

Community-Acquired Pneumonia: The Importance Of The Early Detection Of Drug-Resistant Organisms, Sai Doppalapudi, Muhammad Adrish

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Pneumonia is a disease associated with significant healthcare burden with over 1.5 million hospitalizations annually and is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. While community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is generally considered an acute time-limited illness, it is associated with high long-term mortality, with nearly one-third of patients requiring hospitalization dying within one year. An increasing trend of detecting multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms causing CAP has been observed, especially in the Western world. In this editorial, we discuss about a publication by Jatteppanavar

Driving Pressure Decoded: Precision Strategies In Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome Management, Muhammad Adrish, Sai Doppalapudi, Dmitry Lvovsky

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is an important strategy for improving the survival of patients with respiratory failure. However, MV is associated with aggravation of lung injury, with ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) becoming a major concern. Thus, ventilation protection strategies have been developed to minimize complications from MV, with the goal of relieving excessive breathing workload, improving gas exchange, and minimizing VILI. By opting for lower tidal volumes, clinicians seek to strike a balance between providing adequate ventilation to support gas exchange and preventing overdistension of the alveoli, which can contribute to lung injury. Additionally, other factors play a role in optimizing …

Delays To Antibiotics In The Emergency Department And Risk Of Mortality In Children With Sepsis, Roni D Lane, Troy Richardson, Halden F Scott, Raina M Paul, Fran Balamuth, Matthew A Eisenberg, Ruth Riggs, W Charles Huskins, Christopher M Horvat, Grant E Keeney, Leslie A Hueschen, Justin M Lockwood, Vishal Gunnala, Bryan P Mckee, Nikhil Patankar, Venessa Lynn Pinto, Amanda M Sebring, Matthew P Sharron, Jennifer Treseler, Jennifer J Wilkes, Jennifer K Workman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

IMPORTANCE: Pediatric consensus guidelines recommend antibiotic administration within 1 hour for septic shock and within 3 hours for sepsis without shock. Limited studies exist identifying a specific time past which delays in antibiotic administration are associated with worse outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine a time point for antibiotic administration that is associated with increased risk of mortality among pediatric patients with sepsis.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study used data from 51 US children's hospitals in the Improving Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes collaborative. Participants included patients aged 29 days to less than 18 years with sepsis recognized within 1 hour …

Safety And Efficacy Of Empiric De-Escalation Of Antibiotics For Pneumonia In The Intensive Care Unit, Brandon Carron

2024 Swedish Learning and Celebration Day

No abstract provided.

Identification Of Sleep Phenotypes In Copd Using Machine Learning-Based Cluster Analysis, Javad Razjouyan, Nicola A Hanania, Sara Nowakowski, Ritwick Agrawal, Amir Sharafkhaneh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Disturbed sleep in patients with COPD impact quality of life and predict adverse outcomes.

RESEARCH QUESTION: To identify distinct phenotypic clusters of patients with COPD using objective sleep parameters and evaluate the associations between clusters and all-cause mortality to inform risk stratification.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A longitudinal observational cohort study using nationwide Veterans Health Administration data of patients with COPD investigated for sleep disorders. Sleep parameters were extracted from polysomnography physician interpretation using a validated natural language processing algorithm. We performed cluster analysis using an unsupervised machine learning algorithm (K-means) and examined the association between clusters and mortality …

Pharmacokinetic Research In Pediatric Extracorporeal Therapies: Current State And Future Directions, Gideon Stitt, Céline Thibault, Bruce A Mueller, Jeffrey J Cies, Jennifer Morris Daniel, Ayse Akcan Arikan, Kevin M Watt

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS), including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), are life-saving therapies for critically ill children. Despite this, these modalities carry frustratingly high mortality rates. One driver of mortality may be altered drug disposition due to a combination of underlying illness, patient-circuit interactions, and drug-circuit interactions. Children receiving ECMO and/or CRRT routinely receive 20 or more drugs, and data supporting optimal dosing is lacking for most of these medications. The Pediatric Paracorporeal and Extracorporeal Therapies Summit (PPETS) gathered an international group of experts in the fields of ECMO, CRRT, and other ECLS modalities to …

A Multicenter, Randomized, Doubleblind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Of Amantadine To Stimulate Awakening In Comatose Patients Resuscitated From Cardiac Arrest, Patrick J Coppler, David J Gagnon, Katharyn L Flickinger, Jonathan Elmer, Clifton W Callaway, Francis X Guyette, Ankur Doshi, Alexis Steinberg, Cameron Dezfulian, Ari L Moskowitz, Michael Donnino, Teresa L May, David B Seder, Jon C Rittenberger

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that the administration of amantadine would increase awakening of comatose patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest.

METHODS: We performed a prospective, randomized, controlled pilot trial, randomizing subjects to amantadine 100 mg twice daily or placebo for up to 7 days. The study drug was administered between 72 and 120 hours after resuscitation and patients with absent N20 cortical responses, early cerebral edema, or ongoing malignant electroencephalography patterns were excluded. Our primary outcome was awakening, defined as following two-step commands, within 28 days of cardiac arrest. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, awakening, time to awakening, and neurologic outcome …

Pulmonary Hypertension And Hyperglycemia-Not A Sweet Combination, Or Bruck, L M Pandit

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hyperglycemia and pulmonary hypertension (PH) share common pathological pathways that lead to vascular dysfunction and resultant cardiovascular complications. These shared pathologic pathways involve endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormonal imbalances. Individuals with hyperglycemia or pulmonary hypertension also possess shared clinical factors that contribute to increased morbidity from both diseases. This review aims to explore the relationship between PH and hyperglycemia, highlighting the mechanisms underlying their association and discussing the clinical implications. Understanding these common pathologic and clinical factors will enable early detection for those at-risk for complications from both diseases, paving the way for improved research and targeted therapeutics.

Human Neutralizing Antibodies Target A Conserved Lateral Patch On H7n9 Hemagglutinin Head, Manxue Jia, Hanjun Zhao, Nicholas C Morano, Hong Lu, Yin-Ming Lui, Haijuan Du, Jordan E Becker, Kwok-Yung Yuen, David D Ho, Peter D Kwong, Lawrence Shapiro, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Xueling Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Avian influenza A virus H7N9 causes severe human infections with >30% fatality. Currently, there is no H7N9-specific prevention or treatment for humans. Here, from a 2013 H7N9 convalescent case in Hong Kong, we isolate four hemagglutinin (HA)-reactive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), with three directed to the globular head domain (HA1) and one to the stalk domain (HA2). Two clonally related HA1-directed mAbs, H7.HK1 and H7.HK2, potently neutralize H7N9 and protect female mice from lethal H7N9/AH1 challenge. Cryo-EM structures reveal that H7.HK1 and H7.HK2 bind to a β14-centered surface and disrupt the 220-loop that makes hydrophobic contacts with sialic acid on an …

Care Of The Critically Ill Nontrauma Patient: Improving Emergency Department Readiness And Patient Care Through The Implementation Of A Dedicated Resuscitation Bay, Martha H. Buck Rn, Bsn, Tcrn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Current best practice among emergency departments worldwide includes the maintenance of a dedicated resuscitation space. This practice allows for team members and equipment to be ready at a moment’s notice to provide care to a patient in need of lifesaving interventions. This evidence-based performance improvement project seeks to implement this standard of care in a busy, urban emergency department in Southern California.

Prior to this study, patients at this facility were placed in the next available care space, without the maintenance of a dedicated resuscitation area for critically ill patients. Survey data evaluating staff levels of perceived readiness to care …

Honoring Veterans’ Wishes: Efficacy Of An Evidence-Based Shared Decision-Making Tool In Va Icu Goals-Of-Care Discussions, Stephanie Alexander, Anna Astashchanka Md, Venktesh Ramnath Md

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

Introduction: This Doctor of Nursing Practice project aimed to enhance the knowledge and confidence of the San Diego Veterans Health Administration’s (VASD) Intensive Care Unit (ICU) medical providers in goals-of-care discussions (GOCD). Additionally, this project aimed to improve the documentation of these discussions.

Background: Delays in GOCD can lead to futile medical and surgical interventions, inappropriate antibiotic use, and higher rates of mental health conditions in patients and their loved ones. Earlier GOCD are associated with lower ventilation and resuscitation rates, earlier hospice enrollment, reduced ICU admissions, lower financial costs, and better patient and caregiver quality of life. However, …