NICU bedside caregivers sustain process improvement and decrease incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in infants < 30 weeks gestation

Sara J. Mola, David J. Annibale, Carol L. Wagner, Thomas C. Hulsey, Sarah N. Taylor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate whether a respiratory care bundle, implemented through participation in the Vermont Oxford Network-sponsored Neonatal Intensive Care Quality Improvement Collaborative (NIC/Q 2005) and primarily dependent on bedside caregivers, resulted in sustained decrease in the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in infants < 30 wk gestation. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Infants inborn between 23 wk and 29 wk + 6 d of gestation were included. Patients with congenital heart disease, significant congenital or lung anomalies, or death before intubation were excluded. Four time periods (T1–T4) were identified: T1: September 1, 2002 to August 31, 2004; T2: September 1, 2004 to August 31, 2006; T3: September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2008; T4: September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2010. RESULTS: A total of 1,050 infants were included in the study. BPD decreased significantly in T3 post-implementation of the respiratory bundle compared with T1 (29.9% vs 51.2%, respectively; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.06 [95% CI 0.03– 0.13], P = <.001). The decrease was not sustained into T4. There was a significant increase in the rate of BPD-free survival to discharge in T3 compared with T1 (53.1% vs 47%; aOR = 1.68 [95% CI 1.11–2.56], P =.01) that was also not sustained. The rate of infants requiring O2 at 28 d of life decreased significantly in T3 versus T1 (40.3% vs 69.9%, respectively; aOR = 0.12 [95% CI 0.07– 0.20], P = <.001). Increases in the rate of surfactant administration by 1 h of life and rate of caffeine use were observed in T4 versus T1, respectively. There was a significant decrease in median ventilator days and a significant increase in the median number of noninvasive CPAP days throughout the study period. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, implementation of a respiratory bundle managed primarily by nurses and respiratory therapists was successful in increasing the use of less invasive respiratory support in a consistent manner among very low birthweight infants at a single institution. However, this study and others have failed to show sustained improvement in the incidence of BPD despite sustained process change.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)309-320
Number of pages12
JournalRespiratory care
Volume60
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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