Union Hospital expands use of capnography to strengthen patient safety

Union Hospital recently strengthened patient safety measures by expanding its use of capnography to monitor patients capnography during patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) to regulate their pain after surgery. PCA can provide an effective way to control pain by allowing patients to self-administer small doses of pain medication intravenously, but the technology poses certain risks because the opioid medications used can also suppress the patient's breathing.

Additionally, Union Hospital is also using capnography during moderate sedation. Sedation provides comfort to the patient while maintaining a level of responsiveness (e.g., groggy but will respond to talking or pain), as opposed to general anesthesia where the patient is completely unresponsive. Sedation is commonly used during procedures such as colonoscopies and in some instances can suppress breathing.

Capnography measures how effectively patients are breathing and can alert medical caregivers when life-threatening respiratory depression occurs. By measuring the amount of carbon dioxide the patient is exhaling, capnography provides the earliest indication of evolving respiratory compromise, which can lead to significant morbidity or even cardiopulmonary arrest if undetected. Used with oximetry, which monitors the patient's oxygen level, a complete picture of the patient's respiratory status is continuously monitored.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) now requires the use of capnography monitoring as a part of their Standards for Basic Anesthetic Monitoring.

Union Hospital is among the nation's leaders in the early implementation of capnography monitoring to protect patients under sedation. Long used in operating rooms to monitor patients under general anesthesia, hospitals committed to patient safety are now deploying capnography during procedural sedation, as well. Early indication of respiratory depression with capnography enables medical staff to intervene before serious adverse events happen.

"Union Hospital is committed to providing the highest quality of care. Our widespread use of capnography to monitor the breathing of patients who are being sedated and during PCA is in line with the latest requirements from the ASA and underscores our dedication to patient safety," said Robin McCallister, System Manager of Respiratory Therapy at Union Hospital.

Uniquely, Union Hospital is employing capnography in a centralized monitoring room for its patients, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with highly skilled personnel. In this way, patients and their families can more confidently focus on recovery after surgical procedures.

Union Hospital chose capnography equipment from Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products and recognized innovator in patient monitoring and respiratory care devices.

"Monitoring patients outside of the operating room is becoming the standard of care at the nation's leading hospitals," said Matt Anderson, Vice President and General Manager, Respiratory and Monitoring Solutions, Covidien. "We are pleased to help the Union clinical team deliver the best possible care for their patients."

SOURCE Union Hospital