Maintaining an endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure between 20 and 30 cm H2O helps prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia. Cuff pressures decrease over time due to many factors. Would an intervention of continuous ETT cuff monitoring with alarms help maintain the recommended pressure? Sole and colleagues studied 32 patients for 2 days (each serving as both control and intervention) and found the following:
—Maureen Seckel,rn, apn, msn, aprn-bc, ccrn, ccns
See Article, pp 109–117
Atherosclerosis associated with heart disease may also affect cerebral vasculature and cause cognitive dysfunction. Harrington and colleagues sought to determine the association between preoperative cognitive function and hospital discharge outcomes following cardiac surgery. They noted the following:
—Karen McQuillan,rn, ms, cns-bc, ccrn, cnrn
See Article, pp 129–137
Nurses measure oxygenation to make care delivery decisions. A new technology, StO2, provides continuous assessment of oxygen consumption. Sanders and colleagues investigated its use to...