Prehospital care
Comparative audit of oxygen use in the prehospital setting in acute COPD exacerbation over 5 years Janine Pilcher,1,2,3 Laird Cameron,1,2 Irene Braithwaite,1,2,3 Darren Bowles,1,2 Andrew Swain,2,4,5 Mark Bailey,5 Mark Weatherall,2,4 Richard Beasley,1,2,3,4 Kyle Perrin1,2,4 1
Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand 2 Capital & Coast District Health Board, Wellington, New Zealand 3 Victoria University Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 4 University of Otago Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 5 Wellington Free Ambulance, Wellington, New Zealand Correspondence to Dr Janine Pilcher, Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Private Bag 7902, Wellington 6242, New Zealand; [email protected] Received 31 July 2013 Revised 30 September 2013 Accepted 14 October 2013 Published Online First 15 November 2013
ABSTRACT Background In 2009 the Wellington Free Ambulance implemented an education programme to reduce high concentration oxygen delivery to patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The aim of this audit was to compare pre-hospital oxygen delivery to patients with AECOPD before and after the programme. Methods An audit of patients who presented to Wellington Regional Hospital by ambulance with an AECOPD in 2005 and then in 2010, after implementation of the education programme. Oxygen therapy was categorised as: HIGH, supplemental high concentration oxygen therapy ≥3 L/min and/or delivery via high concentration mask; NEB, high concentration oxygen only during nebuliser use; or LOW, neither of these. Results In 2005 those in the HIGH, NEB and LOW categories were 81 (75.0%), 18 (16.7%) and 9 (8.3%) of 108 identified patients. In 2010 those in the HIGH, NEB and LOW categories were 80 (44.0%), 61 (33.5%) and 41 (22.5%) of 182 identified patients. The proportions of patients in the three oxygen groups were significantly different between 2005 and 2010 ( p
Comparative audit of oxygen use in the prehospital setting in acute COPD exacerbation over 5 years Janine Pilcher,1,2,3 Laird Cameron,1,2 Irene Braithwaite,1,2,3 Darren Bowles,1,2 Andrew Swain,2,4,5 Mark Bailey,5 Mark Weatherall,2,4 Richard Beasley,1,2,3,4 Kyle Perrin1,2,4 1
Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand 2 Capital & Coast District Health Board, Wellington, New Zealand 3 Victoria University Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 4 University of Otago Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 5 Wellington Free Ambulance, Wellington, New Zealand Correspondence to Dr Janine Pilcher, Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Private Bag 7902, Wellington 6242, New Zealand; [email protected] Received 31 July 2013 Revised 30 September 2013 Accepted 14 October 2013 Published Online First 15 November 2013
ABSTRACT Background In 2009 the Wellington Free Ambulance implemented an education programme to reduce high concentration oxygen delivery to patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The aim of this audit was to compare pre-hospital oxygen delivery to patients with AECOPD before and after the programme. Methods An audit of patients who presented to Wellington Regional Hospital by ambulance with an AECOPD in 2005 and then in 2010, after implementation of the education programme. Oxygen therapy was categorised as: HIGH, supplemental high concentration oxygen therapy ≥3 L/min and/or delivery via high concentration mask; NEB, high concentration oxygen only during nebuliser use; or LOW, neither of these. Results In 2005 those in the HIGH, NEB and LOW categories were 81 (75.0%), 18 (16.7%) and 9 (8.3%) of 108 identified patients. In 2010 those in the HIGH, NEB and LOW categories were 80 (44.0%), 61 (33.5%) and 41 (22.5%) of 182 identified patients. The proportions of patients in the three oxygen groups were significantly different between 2005 and 2010 ( p
