Question

Evidence based practice in evaluating the current rapid

response protocol with patients in acute

distress.

Answer 1

Ans) Rapid response team (RRT) has been implemented in developed countries with the aim of early recognition and response to critical care triggers for the better patient outcome.

- However, the data concerning their efficacy is hardly available until date from Indian subcontinent. To evaluate the impact of RRT implementation on patient outcome during medical emergencies. Retrospective observational study of RRT records of in-bed patients of super specialty academic teaching hospital. RRT record forms during the first half of the year from January 2012 to June 2012 were included for all inpatients and out-patients irrespective of their age, gender and diseases profile after their inclusion in the system.

- Outcomes such as patient stayed in the room, patient transfer to intensive care unit (ICU), patient discharge and generation of code blue event, mortality and length of stay in hospital/ICU were measured. Descriptive analysis was performed with the help of statistical software.

- Average length of stay in ICU and hospital post RRT assistance for patients was 2.55 and 6.95 days respectively. Conversely percentage of patients requiring a higher level of care was more (75.61%) than those who stayed in their rooms/wards (24.39%). Implementation of RRT in this hospital was associated with reduced code blue events and its attendant mortality outside the ICU settings. However, more number of patient requiring higher levels of care delineates the need for a larger evidence based medicine study.