Patients in cardiac intensive care units are at increased risk for serious complications that may be preventable with the implementation of best practices and a daily bedside checklist, according to an American Heart Association statement published in Circulation.
Three things to know:
1. AHA recommends several best practices for healthcare teams to prevent CICU patient complications and infections, including thorough hand hygiene, prompt removal of invasive medical devices and the implementation of a multidisciplinary team of various healthcare specialists.
2. Using a daily bedside checklist that includes infection and pain management, ventilator settings, and medication and nutrition develops a standardized approach for healthcare teams to optimize preventive care for CICU patients.
3. Encouraging progressive mobilization can improve muscle weakness, reduce time on a ventilator and hospital stay.
"These strategies can help CICU professionals anticipate and prevent complications in this unique patient population, and we encourage critical care teams to reflect upon their current practices and consider implementing these strategies where any gaps exist," Christopher Fordyce, MD, director of the CICU at Vancouver General Hospital, said in an AHA statement.
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