Pamela Rosenkranz’s research while affiliated with Boston Medical Center and other places

Background The “I COUGH” protocol is associated with improved postoperative pulmonary outcomes, and ambulation is an essential component. I COUGH is an acronym for Incentive spirometry, Coughing, Oral care, Understanding (patient and staff education), Getting-out-of-bed, and Head-of-bed elevation. This trial sought to enhance one component, specifically ambulation after operations. Methods Randomized trial of inpatients in a safety-net, academic medical center. The intervention group received standard I COUGH education along with text message reminders to ambulate postoperatively, whereas the control group received standard education alone. Postoperative walking frequency was compared to each participant’s ambulation on the day prior to enrollment. Results The intervention group had an average improvement of 1.8 ± 1.8 walks per day per patient, while the average change for the control group was 0.2 ± 1.0 walks per day per patient. This represents a 9-fold increase in ambulation for the intervention group (p = 0.03). Conclusions Implementation of text message reminders increased ambulation and improved adherence to the I COUGH protocol following operations. This system should be further investigated as an adjunct to postoperative care.

Background Postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is usually preventable with adequate prophylaxis. In an institutional study, patients with emergency operations (EO), multiple operations (MO), and perioperative sepsis (PS) were more likely to develop VTE despite standard prophylaxis. Methods General surgery patients in the NSQIP database from 2011 to 2014 were stratified into VTE and non-VTE groups, and statistical analyses were performed. Results Among 1,610,086 patients, 13,673 (0.8%) were diagnosed with VTE. The VTE odds ratios for patients with EO, MO and PS were 1.4 (95%CI:1.3–1.5), 1.9 (95%CI:1.7–2.0), and 2.4 (95%CI:2.2–2.5), respectively. VTE odds ratios increased with concurrence of two factors (EO + PS: 2.0(95%CI:1.9–2.2)) (EO + MO: 2.3(95%CI:1.9–2.7)) (MO + PS: 2.5(95%CI:2.2–2.7)) and further still for patients with all three factors (2.7, 95%CI:2.4–3.0). Conclusion General surgery patients with EO, MO, or PS have a greater likelihood of developing postoperative VTE. These factors are not necessarily captured in contemporary risk assessment models that guide chemoprophylaxis, and so these high-risk patients may receive insufficient prophylaxis.

Background We aimed to determine the effects of preoperative carbohydrate-loading (CHO) as part of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway on patients with/without type II diabetes (DMII). Methods Retrospective review of ERAS patients with CHO, including 80 with DMII, 275 without DMII in addition to 89 patients with DMII from the previous (non-ERAS) year. Outcomes included glucose-levels, insulin requirements, and complications. Logistic regression was used to determine the association of any complication with perioperative glucose control variables. Results Among ERAS versus non-ERAS patients with DMII, there were significant differences in median preoperative (142 mg/dL versus 129.5 mg/dL, p = 0.017) and postoperative day-1 glucose levels (152 mg/dL, versus 137.5 mg/dL, p = 0.004). There were no differences in insulin requirements, hypoglycemic episodes, or complications. Complications were not associated with Hgb-A1C%, home DMII-medications, or preoperative glucose measurement on logistic regression. Conclusions Patients with DMII tolerated CHO without increasing insulin requirements or substantially affecting glucose levels or complications.

Background: Surgical quality improvement programs can provide meaningful benefits for patient outcomes, but sustainability of initial success is rarely described. In response to data that revealed a greater than predicted likelihood of postoperative pulmonary complications in one hospital, the study team designed a standardized program to improve care. This study offers a long-term perspective of the effort, including special challenges and lessons learned about sustaining success. Methods: A before-after study was conducted at an academic safety-net hospital. A multidisciplinary team developed tactics to reduce pulmonary complications, designated by the acronym I COUGH: Incentive spirometry, Coughing/deep breathing, Oral care, Understanding (education), Getting out of bed, and Head of bed elevation. Clinical practices were audited and compared to actual and risk-adjusted pulmonary outcomes. Results: Improvements in compliance with the I COUGH elements were initially promising, but baseline behaviors eventually returned. Adverse outcomes have inversely correlated with process adherence in "sawtooth" patterns. Rejuvenation efforts have successively extended beyond the literal principles of the acronym to foster broader institutional commitment to perioperative pulmonary care, restoring favorable trends in both process and outcomes. A more comprehensive I COUGH program now extends beyond the acronym, applying numerous concepts to support the original program. Conclusion: I COUGH, a standardized perioperative pulmonary care program, initially improved performance and reduced pulmonary complications. However, loss of early program momentum corresponded with a return to baseline outcomes. Fortunately, an overall favorable trend has resulted from a coordinated rededication to I COUGH that requires steadfast commitment and creative responses to numerous cultural barriers.