Elissa Kim
Delay in Surfactant Delivery Has No Relation
to the Duration of NICU Stay
SchoolCornerstone Christian Academy • Willoughby, Ohio
ProgramRespiratory Therapy Internship
MentorDaniel W. Sutton, RRT, RCP, MPA/MHA
DepartmentRespiratory Care, Hillcrest Hospital
- Research
- Delay in Surfactant Delivery Has No Relation to the Duration of NICU Stay
- Hypothesis
- Hillcrest Hospital Data from 2004-2007 presented large variability in the time surfactant was administered to very low birth weight neonates. We hypothesized that there would be a correlation between delay in surfactant delivery and the duration of NICU stay.
- Methodology
- Records of 128 neonates were reviewed, with 70 meeting entry criteria (surfactant administration). Delay in surfactant delivery (DISD) was defined as the time (minutes) from birth to the first surfactant dose. NICU stay duration was measured in days. Linear regression was used to evaluate association between DISD and duration of NICU stay.
- Outcomes
- DISD ranged from 7 to 552 minutes; length of stay ranged from 2 to 159 days. There was no significant correlation between the delay and the duration of NICU stay (R2 = 0.003, P = 0.657)—indicating that efforts to improve protocol compliance related to treatment delay might be unnecessary. This study illustrates the importance of focusing process improvement efforts on meaningful outcomes. Consideration of other factors contributing to extended NICU stays is warranted for detailed assessment.
Interpretations
