Rapid Onsite Evaluation: A Prospective Observational Study of Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspirates to Expedite Diagnosis

Biomedical scientists (BMS) can report sample adequacy during EBUS TBNA using rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE). Despite being able to report exfoliative samples such as pleural fluid cytology and bronchial washings, they are usually not permitted to offer a preliminary diagnostic impression of EBUS TBNA samples. Experienced biomedical scientists can provide a reliable diagnostic impression during ROSE for EBUS samples, with sensitivity and specificity comparable to cytopathologist reporting. This work represents an advance in biomedical science because it provides evidence a BMS can safely and accurately provide a real time cytopathological impression from EBUS TBNA sampling, which could positively impact patient pathways

The case for quality improvement in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

AbstractQuality improvement (QI) is now a central part of the work of clinicians throughout healthcare. It is based on clear scientific principles, a valid way of measuring change and has theories of reliability and human factors that underpin the interventions.The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a highly complex adaptive system that lends itself to the application of QI principles. This will require the development of a safety culture that continually seeks to improve. Clinicians and all those who work in NICU will require training in the methodologies of QI and patient safety to effect change. Working together in collaborative networks can accelerate change.In this paper we discuss some of the key concepts and provide some examples of improvement in the NICU

Time to NIV and mortality in AECOPD hospital admissions: an observational study into real world insights from National COPD Audits

Background Randomised control trial (RCT)-derived survival figures for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admissions managed with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) have not been replicated in UK clinical audits. Subsequent guidelines have emphasised the need for timely NIV application.Methods Data from the 2008 and 2014 national chronic obstructive pulmonary disease audits was used to analyse the association between time to NIV and mortalityResults 1032 patients received NIV in 2008, and 1612 in 2014. Overall mortality rates reduced between the audits from 24.9% in 2008 to 16.8% in 2014 but time to NIV lengthened. In 2014, 20.9% of patients received NIV within 60 min versus 24.9% in 2008 (p=0.001). The proportion of patients receiving NIV between 3 and 24 hours increased from 31.3% in 2008 to 39% in 2014 (p=0.001). Patients admitted with hypercapnic acidotic respiratory failure who received NIV within 3 hours had lower in-patient mortality than those who received NIV between 3 and 24 hours, 15.9% versus 18.4%, but this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.425), but acidotic patients receiving NIV >24 hours after admission had significantly higher mortality (28.9%, p=0.002). A second cohort admitted with hypercapnia but normal range pH, who developed later acidosis, had higher mortality (24.6%), compared with those acidotic on admission (18% p≤0.001) and an extremely high mortality when NIV was given >24 hours after admission (42.6%).Conclusion Survival rates for those treated with NIV has improved between the two audits but remains lower than reported in RCTs. Patients who developed acidosis after admission and received NIV later in the hospital stay have even higher mortality and deserve further study and clinical attention

Time to NIV and mortality in AECOPD hospital admissions: an observational study into real world insights from National COPD Audits

BackgroundRandomised control trial (RCT)-derived survival figures for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admissions managed with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) have not been replicated in UK clinical audits. Subsequent guidelines have emphasised the need for timely NIV application.MethodsData from the 2008 and 2014 national chronic obstructive pulmonary disease audits was used to analyse the association between time to NIV and mortalityResults1032 patients received NIV in 2008, and 1612 in 2014. Overall mortality rates reduced between the audits from 24.9% in 2008 to 16.8% in 2014 but time to NIV lengthened. In 2014, 20.9% of patients received NIV within 60 min versus 24.9% in 2008 (p=0.001). The proportion of patients receiving NIV between 3 and 24 hours increased from 31.3% in 2008 to 39% in 2014 (p=0.001). Patients admitted with hypercapnic acidotic respiratory failure who received NIV within 3 hours had lower in-patient mortality than those who received NIV between 3 and 24 hours, 15.9% versus 18.4%, but this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.425), but acidotic patients receiving NIV &gt;24 hours after admission had significantly higher mortality (28.9%, p=0.002). A second cohort admitted with hypercapnia but normal range pH, who developed later acidosis, had higher mortality (24.6%), compared with those acidotic on admission (18% p≤0.001) and an extremely high mortality when NIV was given &gt;24 hours after admission (42.6%).ConclusionSurvival rates for those treated with NIV has improved between the two audits but remains lower than reported in RCTs. Patients who developed acidosis after admission and received NIV later in the hospital stay have even higher mortality and deserve further study and clinical attention.</jats:sec