Application of Modified Ventilator Bundle and Its Effect on Weaning Among Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Application of Modified Ventilator Bundle and Its Effect on Weaning Among Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Amany Sayed Eweas¹, Sahar Yassien Mohammad ², Jehan Sayyed Ali Sayyed ³, Marwa Mohammad Abd Elbaky ⁴

and Magda Mohammad Bayoumi ⁵

(1)               Clinical Instructor in Faculty of Nursing, Bani Suief University, Egypt.

(2)               Prof. in Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University, Egypt.

(3)               Prof. in Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Minia University, Egypt.

(4)               Lecturer in Medical Surgical Nursing, (Critical Care Nursing), Faculty of Nursing, Minia University, Egypt.

(5)               Lecturer in Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Bani Suief University, Egypt.

ABSTRACT

Background: Modified ventilator bundle is a cluster of key interventions deriving from evidence-based clinical practice guidelines that when implemented together are expected to improve patient outcomes and reduced the risk of ventilator associated pneumonia and other related complications common in ventilated patients. Aim: The current study aimed to apply a modified ventilator bundle and evaluate its effect on weaning among mechanically ventilated patients. Design: A quasi- experimental research design was utilized. Setting: This study was conducted at the following critical care units (surgical, medical and cardiac care unites) affiliated to Bani Suief University Hospital in Bani Suief city, Egypt. Subjects: A Purposive sample of 100 mechanically ventilated patients divided into two groups, the study group included patients who received the modified ventilator bundle while the control group included patients who received the routine hospital nursing care. Data collection tools: Two tools were used; First tool patient assessment sheet include two parts, part one: patient demographic and medical characteristic part two:  physical assessment record. Second tool: Weaning process assessment checklists by used burns wean assessment program score. Results: The study group of patients obtained higher weaning scores than the control group. As well the study group demonstrated shorter duration of the connection to mechanical ventilation compared to control group. Conclusion: Implementation of modified bundle plays a pivotal role on higher weaning score and reduction of ventilation days. Recommendations: Designing in-service training educational program for critical care nurses to improve nurses' knowledge and practice regarding a modified ventilator bundle. Furthermore, replication of the study on a larger probability sample from different geographical locations in order to generalize the results.

Key words:  Mechanical Ventilation, Modified Ventilator Bundle, Weaning

Introduction

Mechanical ventilation (MV) has become the most commonly used modes of life support among critical ill patients in medicine today. Although MV is a life saving intervention, is capable of producing many of the complications, some of which may be a life threatening as ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP).VAP is a lower respiratory tract infection that develops in intubated patients for greater than 48 hours .VAP is the most common infection in ventilated patients and the second most common hospital associated infection that associated with higher mortality rates between 20% and 70% and increase hospital lengths of stay from  4-13 days (Ahmed, Sobeih and Abdelsalam, 2019).

 Modified ventilator bundle is a series of interventions developed by the institute for healthcare improvement related to ventilator care that, when implemented together, will achieve significantly better outcomes than when implemented individually. Performance of this bundle associated with reduced the incidence of VAP, decrease risk of reintubation or intensive care readmissions, improvement of weaning strategies and optimizes patient recovery, to achieve this goal ventilator bundle includes head of bed elevation 30-45%, peptic ulcer prophylaxis, DVT prophylaxis, endotracheal suctioning care, infection control measures, assess for readiness to stop sedation and to start spontaneous breathing trials, oral care with the chlorhexidine and early mobilization (Mart, Brummel and Ely 2019).

Weaning covers the entire process of liberating the patient from mechanically ventilation support and from endotracheal tube to independent breathing. This process consists of " 3" key steps: first step, when the patient’s clinical conditions permit it, ventilation supports are progressively decreased (Ready weaning); second step, a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) assesses the patient’s capability to breathe autonomously (Ready breathing); and third step, the patient is liberated from ventilation support (Ready extubation) The clinical goals of weaning are twofold: first, to promptly identify those patients who are ready to begin the process of weaning, and second, to optimize the weaning regime to reduce the transition time from dependence to independence from MV (Vetrugno, et al., 2020).

In order to ensure optimal care for mechanically ventilated patients, the critical care nurses have a major role in prevention of hospital acquired infections overall and VAP in particular. they can contribute a lot in the prevention of VAP through reducing risk factors, implementing relevant preventive measures, identifying early signs for early and prompt management, Beyond these, ICUs nurses shoude be monitoring of respiratory function, regular monitoring of vital signs for patients to immediate detections of any complications, adequate nutritional support, maintenance of application the “modified ventilator care bundle” and adherence to" weaning protocols (Alsharari. et al., 2020).

Significance of the Study

Mechanical ventilation is a life saving intervention; but it poses significant clinical and economic challenges due to the risk of complications. Approximately 30% of patients treated with MV experience difficult or prolonged weaning process (Kasem, .et al., 2019). Patients who experience difficulty in weaning need a longer hospital stay and have higher morbidity and mortality rate. Consequently, trials to decrease the duration of weaning are desirable to reduce length of MV connection and its related complications. Standardized weaning practices are safe and effective in reducing the time spent on MV. However, the evidence supporting their use in practice is inconsistent. The discordant results of studies may reflect the fact that weaning protocols differ in composition and are implemented in different environments by various health care providers.

 Few research studies were conducted nationally on the ventilator bundle practices and its effect on weaning from MV and their findings illustrated that, implementation of modified ventilator bundle practices may enhanced the weaning process, reduce the incidence of such complications, improve the quality of patient care, improve the prognosis of patients condition and this in turn would decrease the average length of ICU stay, decrease long term physical, cognitive, and psychological harm to patients and their family; improve hospital reimbursement and decrease health care costs. Eventually, this research might generate an attention and motivation for further studies in this area.

Aim of the Study:

The aim of this study is to apply a modified ventilator bundle and evaluate its effect on weaning among mechanically ventilated patients.

Research Hypothesis:

To fulfill the aim of this study, the following research hypothesis was formulated:-

The study group of patients for whom all elements of the modified ventilator bundle were applied completely would get higher weaning scores and shorter duration of the connection to mechanical ventilation compared to the control group of patients who received the routine hospital nursing care.

Operational Definition

Modified ventilator bundle are a grouping of best practices supported by research to decrease the rates of VAP and other complications common in ventilated patients. The core elements of bundle are included: head of bed elevation 30º-45º, early mobilization, oral care with chlorhexidine, endotracheal suctioning care, daily sedation interruption and daily assessment of readiness to extubate,deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis  peptic ulcer prophylaxis, ventilator circuit care  and infection control measures.

Research Design:

A quasi-experimental research design was utilized in the current study. Quasi-experiment is an empirical study used to estimate the causal impact of an intervention on its target population without random assignment. This design according to Usadọlọ (2016) can be used to examine the relationship between an independent (cause) and dependent (effect) variables. Therefore, the design is most appropriate to investigate the effect of the modified ventilator bundle on weaning.

Setting:

 The current study was conducted at the following critical care units (surgical, medical and cardiac care unites) affiliated to Bani Suief University hospital in Bani Suief city, Egypt.

Subjects

A Purposive sample of 100 mechanically ventilated patients were assigned in the current study started from initiation of MV connection till extubate, the patients were matched for their age and medical characteristics and were divided randomly into two equal groups .The first study group (n=50)the patients received the modified ventilator bundle practices completely. The second control group (n= 50)the patients received the routine hospital nursing care during MV period. Both groups of the current study were selected according to the following inclusion and exclusion criteria:-

Inclusion Criteria:-

• The study included patients from both gender and their age (between 20-65).
• Patients with glasgow coma scale  more than or equal  (9 score)
• Patients on invasive mechanical ventilation.
• No scheduled surgery in the following 72 hours.

Exclusion Criteria Patients were excluded if:

• Patients who have a brain stem infarction
• Patients with neuromuscular diseases
• Patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome
• Patients with major cardiac- thoracic or abdominal surgery
• Patient admitted with a chest infection or any other systemic infection
• Patients with acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) score over 35.

Sample size: The sample was calculated by using the following equation according to Epi info, version 3.5. Based on confidence level of 95%, power 85%, and 20% recurrence rate (Krishnappa, et al. 2018)

Description:

• N = required sample size
• t = confidence level at 95 % (standard value of 1.960)
• p = total no of mechanically ventilated patient's admitted in the previous mentioned ICUs
• m= margin of error at 5 % (standard value of 0.050).

Tools for Data Collection   

To collect data pertinent in the current study, two tools were utilized:-                                                                                           

Tool 1: Patient Assessment sheet:

This tool was developed by the researcher after revising extensive literature review. It covers two main parts:-

1^st part: - Patient's Demographic and Medical Characteristic    

It consists of (10) items used once for both groups which include the patient’s age, gender, marital status, place of residence, occupation, educational level, smoking habits' , date of ICU admission, medical diagnosis and reason of ICU admission .

2^nd part: - Physical Assessment Record:-

It consists of (20) items used once for both study and control groups, which includes patient physical assessment of body systems that include respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological system by used Glasgow coma scale.

Tool II: Weaning Process Assessment Checklist:

Using Burns Wean Assessment Program score (BWAP) for both studied groups once every day after 72 hours of MV initiation till extubation .This tool adopted from Burns, et al. (1990) and it is used to systematically assess and track weaning progresses of the MV patients. BWAP score, which including (26 items) covering two major areas of the assessment of weaning, the first part is a general assessment, including (12 items) and the second part is respiratory assessment which contains (14 items).

Scoring System BWAP score requires assignment one of 2 responses (yes or no) "Yes" response indicates that the items is present scored "1" while "No" response indicates that the items is not present scored "ZERO". BWAP score is calculated by dividing the total number of yes responses by 26 (the total number of BWAP factors). A cutoff point for the instrument is 50%. If the score was more than or equal 50%, this means that the patients were more likely to be weaned successfully. And if the score was less than 50%, this indicates that the patients were more likely to have unsuccessful weaning.

Tools Validity and Reliability

The tools content validity was done to identify the degree to which the used tools measure what was supposed to be measured. Developed tool was examined by a panel of five experts' opinion in the field of critical care medicine and critical care nursing specialty. Tools reliability wares done to identify the extent of tools items were measured with the study concept and its correlation with each other. Cronbach’s alpha reliability it was (0.81) for the first tool, (0.79) for the second tool.

Pilot Study

A pilot study was carried out on 10% (10 patients) of the total sample of mechanically ventilated patients in the previously mentioned ICUs to test the feasibility of the research process, objectivity, and applicability of the study tools. Based on the results of the pilot study, no modifications were done for data collection tools so; the patients who shared in the pilot study were included in the actual study sample.

Ethical Considerations

An official permission to conduct the study was obtained from the ethical committee of research, dean of the faculty of nursing at Minia University, directors of the Bani Suief University Hospital, academic for research center and technology. Patients in this study were entirely voluntary who was explained about the aim, purpose, procedure and nature of the study and had the right to refuse of participate or withdraw from the study at any time without any rationale. Informed oral consent was obtained from the patients relative, informed them that obtained data will not be included at any further researches without a second consent. Confidentiality and anonymity of each subject were ensured through coding of all data and protecting the obtained data.

Study Procedure

Preparatory phase

The current study was conducted by preparing of different data collection tools, in addition, obtaining formal paper agreement which was taken induration about two month duration before conducting the study and ended by carrying out the pilot study.

Implementation phase

Once the official permission is granted to proceed with the proposed study, the researcher initiated data collection by visiting the assigned settings on a daily basis during the day shifts. The enrolled patients and their relatives were informed individually about the purpose and nature of the study. Then, the researcher was obtained oral consent from those who accepted to participate in the study. Next, those patients were divided randomly into two equal groups; the researcher has started a collection of data from control group firstly by obtained patient's demographic and medical characteristic from patient file and their patient relatives and performed baseline physical assessment of the body systems (Tool 1) for enrolled patients on first day. The implementation time for this tool was (1-2 hours).

The control group patients were received routine hospital nursing care during the MV connection by critical care nurses that includes elevating the backrest of bed between 30º-45º, daily sedation interruption and daily assessment of readiness to extubate ,deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis and peptic ulcer prophylaxis. In addition used closed suctioning system, patient hygiene, enteral nutrition, drug administration and patient monitoring.

While data collection from study group was started after finishing from the control group, the researcher obtained patient's demographic and medical characteristic from patient file and their patient relatives and performed baseline physical assessment of the body systems (Tool 1) for enrolled patients on the first day. The implementation time for this tool was (1 -2 hours).The study group patients were received modified ventilator bundle by the researcher with the cooperation of the medical and nursing staff.

Modified ventilator bundle are includes: head of bed elevation 30º-45º unless there is contraindicated, routine oral care applied three times per day (once every 8 hrs), early mobilization typically within 24–48 hours of ICU admission, endotracheal suctioning care using open suctioning system technique, daily sedation interruption and daily assessment of readiness to extubate to assessed patients for neurological recovery and readiness for extubation or resedated if required , deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis and used anti-embolic stockings, peptic ulcer prophylaxis, ventilator circuit care and maintaining of   infection control measures to prevent nosocomial infections, in addition patient hygiene, enteral nutrition, drug administration and patient monitoring.

Evaluation phase

After 72 hours at the fourth day of MV initiation, and the control group were received routine hospital nursing care by critical care nurses, and the study group were received the modified ventilator bundle by the researcher, the patients were started to be assessed for readiness to wean from the mechanical ventilator on a daily basis using weaning process assessment checklist (BWAP score) (Tool II) once every day till the patient extubated.  The implementation time for this tool was (30-45 minutes).

Statistical Analysis of Data

Data were summarized, tabulated, and presented using descriptive statistics in the form of frequency distribution, percentages, means and standard deviations (SD) as a measure of dispersion. A statistical package for the social science (SPSS), version (22) was used for statistical analysis of the data, as it contains the test of significance given in standard statistical books. Numerical data were expressed as mean and SD. Qualitative data were expressed as frequency and percentage (%). Chi-square, Fisher's and Pearson tests were used to compare frequencies and correlation between the study variables. Probability (P-value) is the degree of significance of the results was considered: (p- value > 0.05) was considered not significant (NS), (P-value ≤ 0.05) was considered significant (S) and the (p-value ≤ 0.01) was considered highly significant (HS).

Results

Table (1): Comparison between study and control groups according to their demographic characteristic (n= 100).

             NS = not significance    

Table (1): shows that, (60.0%) of the study group compared with (68.0%) of the control group their mean age ranged between (48.1 ± 11.3) and (51.1 ± 9.8) years respectively. As regards gender, (64.0%) of the study group compared with (70.0%) of the control group were males. According to marital status, (78.0%) of the study group compared with (90.0%) of the control group were married. Regarding residence, (62.0%) of the study group compared with (72.0%) of the control group lived in rural area, Related to their educational level, (48.0%) of the study group compared with (42.0%) of control group cannot read and write therefore the most of them were occupied as worker /farmer (38%, 46%). Lastly, there were no statistically significance differences between study and control groups according to their demographic characteristic.

Table (2): Comparison between study and control groups according to their smoking habits and reason of ICU admission (n= 100).

NS = not significance 

Table (2): illustrates that, (60.0%) of the study group compared with (44.0%) of the control group don't smoke. Regarding to reason of ICU admission, (24.0%) of study group compared with (10.0%) of the control group were admitted with severe cardiac complain. Lastly, there were no statistically significance differences between both studied groups according to their smoking habits and reason of ICU admission.

Figure (1): Percentage distribution of study and control groups according to their baseline physical assessment of neurological system according grades of GCS (n= 100).

Figure (1): illustrates that, (62.0 %) of the study group compared with (76.0%) of the control group had a semi coma between (9- 12), while (38.0%) of the study group compared with (24.0%) of the control group had oriented between (13-15).

Figure (2): Percentage distribution of the study and control groups according to their initial mode of the mechanical ventilator (n= 100).

Figure (2): illustrates that (70%) of the study group compared to (76%) of the control group on synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation mode.

Table (3): Comparison between study and control groups according to their duration of mechanical ventilation / days after modified bundle implementation (n= 100).

**P – value ≤ 0.01

Table (3) illustrates that, (68.0%) of the study group, compared with only (40.0%) of the control group had a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation support between (4- 6) days with mean ± SD (6.1 ± 1.6) and (7.3 ± 1.9) respectively after modified bundle implementation with statistical significance differences (P – value .005).

Table (4): Comparison between study and control groups according to their burns wean after modified bundle implementation at 1^st to 6^th observation (n= 100).

NS = not significance         *P – value ≤ 0.05                   **P – value ≤ 0.01

Table (4): shows that, (58.0%) of the study group while (26.0%) of the control group had successful weaning score at 4t^h day , (65.9%) of the study group while only (34.0%) of the control group had successful weaning score at 5t^h day , (69.2%) of the study group but (55.3%) of the control group had successful weaning score at 6^th day ,  (93.8%) of the study group compared with  only (63.3%) of the control group had successful weaning score at  7^th day, (100%) of the study group while (82.6%) of the control group had successful weaning score at 8^th day and (100%) of the study group while (95%) of the control group had successful weaning score at 9^th day. there were statistically significance differences between the study and control groups in the 1^st, 2^nd , 3^rd  and 4^th observation (P – value ≤ .001, 002, 05 and .025) respectively.

Figure (3): Means score of burns' wean assessment of the study and control group through six observations (n = 100)

Figure (3): presents that, there were increase mean scores of burns' wean assessment in the study group than the control group; finding may have relevance to the effect after modified bundle implementation for the study group compared to routine hospital care .

Table (5): Relation between study and control groups according to their weaned successfully and their smoking habits, and duration of MV at 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd observation

*P – value ≤ 0.05                                                 **P – value ≤ 0.01     

Table (5): shows that, there were statistically significance difference between both study and control groups in the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd observation of successfully weaning regarding to their smoking habits and duration of mechanical ventilator connection and successful weaning (P – value ≤ .001, .05 .001, .0001, 05 and .0001) respectively