AORN journal
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Does preoperative oral carbohydrate reduce hospital stay? A randomized trial.
Oral carbohydrate-rich fluids are used preoperatively to improve postoperative recovery, but their effectiveness for reducing length of hospital stay is uncertain. We assessed the effectiveness of preoperative loading with carbohydrates on the postoperative outcomes of 44 patients scheduled for elective colorectal surgery who were randomly allocated to a carbohydrate-rich fluid group or a usual care group during their preadmission clinic visit. ⋯ Patients in the control group spent an average of 4.3 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.2-5.7) in the hospital and patients in the carbohydrate-rich fluid group spent 4.1 days (95% CI, 3.2-5.4) in the hospital until they met discharge criteria (P = .824). We found that the safety of administering preoperative oral carbohydrate-rich fluids is supported, but we were unable to confirm or refute the benefit of this treatment regimen for contributing to shorter hospital stays after elective colorectal surgery.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of preoperative forced-air warming on postoperative temperature and postanesthesia care unit length of stay.
Unintended hypothermia in the surgical patient has been linked to numerous postoperative complications, including increased risk for surgical site infection, increased oxygen demands, and altered medication metabolism. The lack of literature on the subject was part of the impetus for perioperative nurses in one hospital to conduct a quality improvement project to evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative warming on patients' postoperative temperatures. We randomly assigned 128 patients to either a group that received a forced-air warming blanket preoperatively or a group that did not. Our results showed that prewarming patients before surgery did not have an effect on patients' postoperative temperatures.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
The effectiveness and cost of passive warming in adult ambulatory surgery patients.
Hypothermia is a common problem for surgical patients and can result in many complications. Because few studies compare methods of passive warming, we used an unblinded, prospective, experimental, randomized design to compare the effectiveness of two passive methods of normothermia management in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). ⋯ The treatment group had temperatures that were significantly higher than those of the control group 30 minutes after arrival in the PACU, and the treatment group experienced a greater change in temperature from baseline measurements to those taken at 30 minutes. The treatment group also used fewer warmed blankets, resulting in cost savings for the PACU.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of music therapy on pain and anxiety in patients undergoing bone marrow biopsy and aspiration.
Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration are commonly used for diagnosing, treating, and following up after treatment for blood disorders and solid tumors. For adults, the infiltration of local anesthesia at the biopsy site has been used as the principal form of analgesia for bone marrow biopsy and aspiration. Pain relief during these procedures is often incomplete, especially during aspiration of the bone marrow, and pain is likely to contribute to patient anxiety. ⋯ Participants in the study were randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group listened to music during the procedure, and the other did not. Patients completed the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory both before and after the procedure and reported pain severity by using a visual analog scale. Results showed that participants who listened to music had lower state anxiety and pain levels than those who did not listen to music.
-
A project was undertaken to establish the safety of hospital blankets warmed at different temperatures in a warming cabinet. Three volunteers were covered with unheated blankets, blankets warmed to 110 degrees F (43 degrees C), and blankets warmed to 150 degrees F (66 degrees C). ⋯ No participants perceived overheating or burning at any temperature. Perceived warmth and comfort increased with the initial temperature of the blanket.