Preparation of chldren undergoing nuclear medicine procedures

To re-evaluate implementation of standards developed for children undergoing nuclear medicine procedures and the effect of introducing cannulation by the day case coordinating nurse.

A prospective audit was undertaken of 177 children undergoing day case nuclear medicine procedures in a teaching hospital department used for paediatric and adult patients. Audit proformas were completed by both ward and nuclear medicine staff at the time of procedure over a 15 month period and the results compared to a previously published audit.

Standards were met for providing families with relevant information and giving them sufficient notice about scan dates. Most children were offered surface analgesia for venepuncture and play preparation before the procedure. The day case coordinating nurse successfully performed 89 per cent of cannulations with the percentage performed by the SHOs falling from 71 per cent to six per cent between 2003 and 2006. Sixty-four per cent and 95 per cent of children were successfully cannulated after one and a total of three attempts respectively. Only two per cent of children were sedated. The percentage of children scanned within 0-20 minutes of the scheduled time improved over three years from 71 per cent to 97 per cent.

The development of the day case coordinating nurse's role to include cannulation has had a positive effect on the efficiency of radionuclide procedures due to an increased success rate of cannulation and quicker transfer of the children from the ward to the nuclear medicine department. Improved standards have ensured that the patient pathway involving preparation, information and support for children and families has been enhanced. The audit standards could be used for comparison between units.