Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Special Outpatient Surgery Edition - Anesthesia - July 2017

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

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J U LY 2 0 1 7 O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T 3 3 Real-time feedback Continuous capnography is a breath-to-breath measurement of exhaled carbon dioxide at each phase of the respiratory cycle, gathered either through an advanced airway device (intubated) or a nasal cannula-type device (non-intubat- ed). The word continuous is important, because a respiratory depression can occur when you're away from the patient's bedside. Continuous capnography should be seen as a trending tool that provides a complete picture of a patient's ventilation, perfusion and metabolism. Opioids can cause respiratory depres- sion that puts patients in jeopardy. ECRI Institute, a healthcare research firm in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., says the condition is of particular concern in patients who receive opioids such as morphine, hydromorphone and fen- tanyl, and especially if: • they receive another drug that has a sedating effect; • they have sleep apnea or another condition that predisposes them to respiratory compromise; or • they receive more medication than intended, such as in the case of a dosing error. ECRI listed undetected opioid- induced respiratory depression as a top threat to patient safety in its Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2017 report. In the report, ECRI recom- mends implementing measures to "continuously monitor the adequacy of ventilation of these patients." — Bill Donahue Spot the First Signs of Respiratory Compromise • NO COMPROMISE Continuous capnography alerts staff to opioid-induced respiratory depression, identified as a top threat to patient safety. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM Pamela Bevelhymer, RN, BSN, CNOR

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