Journal of vascular nursing : official publication of the Society for Peripheral Vascular Nursing
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We studied prolonged length of stay (LOS) in the acute care setting on a medical-surgical vascular unit, related to loss of functional mobility status after lower extremity amputation, and implementation of the Amputee Mobility Protocol (AMP) as a standard of care for all patients pre- and post-lower extremity amputation who were admitted to the medical-surgical vascular unit. A comparative pre-post observational study evaluated the effect of AMP on level of functional mobility and LOS after lower extremity amputation in the patient population on the medical-surgical vascular unit. Data was collected retrospectively from patient chart reviews from November of 2004 to March of 2005 for the pre-AMP group and through concurrent patient chart reviews from November of 2005 to March of 2006 for the post-AMP group. ⋯ This pilot study relates to 3 of the top 20 vascular research priorities: 1) an interdisciplinary strategy to improve the patient's level of functional independence and thereby decrease LOS and cost; 2) the nursing intervention of early, predetermined ambulation schedules will increase the nursing knowledge of strategies that facilitate recovery after vascular surgery in this population; and 3) factors that affect patient outcomes after these three major vascular procedures will be addressed in pilot outcomes. Limitations of the AMP pilot study included the small sample size, staff turnover, and lack of a concurrent control group. The next phase of this project will create and implement a similar activity protocol for patients after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and various types of lower extremity bypass procedures.