Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Nov 2022
Justification Of Empiric Methodology to Determine Dexmedetomidine Dose for the TREX Study.
Dexmedetomidine is the sedative agent administered in combination with remifentanil and low dose of sevoflurane in the interventional arm of the ongoing TREX trial (Trial Remifentanil DExmedetomidine). The TREX pilot study (published in Paediatr Anaesth 2019;29:59-67) established infusion rates higher than those initially proposed. This could be attributed to an inappropriate target concentration for sedation or incorrect initial pharmacokinetic parameter estimates. ⋯ This current PK analysis from the Italian arm of the TREX study confirms that plasma concentration of dexmedetomidine is predictable using known covariates such as age and size. The initial target concentration (0.6 μg.L-1 ) used to sedate children cared for in the intensive care after cardiac surgery was inadequate for infants in the current TREX study. A target concentration 1 mcg.L-1 , corresponding to a loading dose of 1 mcg.kg-1 followed by an infusion of 1 mcg.kg-1 .hour-1 , provided adequate sedation.
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Measurement of quality and improvement in medicine has existed since Florence Nightingale's time. In modern times, medicine has sought to learn from other high-reliability industries such as aviation and nuclear power, where errors can result in catastrophic outcomes. Lean is a unique quality improvement strategy that seeks to improve both quality and safety by driving out waste and, where possible, standardizing work practices. ⋯ The improvement efforts are always viewed from the perspective of the customer, our patients, families, and coworkers. This paper describes the evolution of Lean in healthcare and highlights core principles of Lean. Examples are used to describe how various Lean tools can be applied by pediatric anesthesiologists to solve clinical problems.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Nov 2022
ReviewQuality Improvement and Patient Safety in India - Present and Future.
India is a vast, populous and diverse country, and this reflects in the state of health care as well. The spectrum of healthcare services ranges from world class at one end, to a dearth of resources at the other. ⋯ Training medical personnel and healthcare workers, accreditation of healthcare facilities, guidelines, and checklists, along with documentation and audit of practices will all help in improving services. This narrative review discusses the measures that have been taken, systems that have been established and the challenges involved in ensuring quality and patient safety in India.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Nov 2022
ReviewHow the Wake Up Safe Pediatric Anesthesia Collaborative Increased Quality Improvement Capability and Collaboration.
Wake Up Safe is a patient safety organization consisting of 40 institutions with a mission to improve the processes of care and outcomes for newborns, infants, and children having anesthesia for surgery and medical procedures. It was recognized that the level of quality improvement (QI), knowledge, and experience varied greatly between member institutions. In Fiscal Year 2015, the group's leadership created a subcommittee on QI and education in efforts to provide member institutions with the skills and resources to use QI methodology to improve care at their own institution. ⋯ This review describes the development and implementation of this initiative. As a result of this initiative, significant progress was made improving the QI capability of the collaborative over a two-year period. This educational and support program included workshops, an online discussion forum, site visits, and project presentations.