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  • Quality Improvement Article
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Improving preoperative identification of infants at risk for severe retinopathy of prematurity

Journal of Perinatology volume 39, pages 1309–1314 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To increase preoperative identification of at-risk infants for severe Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) to >95% by August 2016, with a secondary aim of reducing the number of infants with 100% intraoperative peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) during the same time.

Study design

Prospective quality improvement project centered on preterm surgical infants admitted to Primary Children’s Hospital (n = 41). Preoperative ROP risk identification rates were analyzed using an annotated run chart, intraoperative SpO2 and laser intervention were compared using un-paired t test.

Results

Preoperative identification of ROP risk increased from 60 to 100% and no infant was exposed to 100% SpO2 intraoperatively during the study period. The incidence of laser intervention in this population decreased by 45% from 22 to 12% (p = 0.21).

Conclusion

Simplifying our preoperative handoff increased our rates of correct identification and communication ROP risk in preterm infants while decreasing exposure to 100% SpO2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States

    Carrie Torr, Bradley Yoder & Joanna Beachy

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  1. Carrie Torr
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  2. Bradley Yoder
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  3. Joanna Beachy
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Correspondence to Carrie Torr.

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Torr, C., Yoder, B. & Beachy, J. Improving preoperative identification of infants at risk for severe retinopathy of prematurity. J Perinatol 39, 1309–1314 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-019-0383-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-019-0383-0

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