Implementation of Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA): Patient characteristics and staff experiences

The objective of the study was to describe the implementation of Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) by characteristics of patients receiving NAVA and by staff-experienced opportunities and barriers.

Design. A retrospective review of hospital records of mechanically ventilated patients over two time periods after implementation, as well as a questionnaire survey and interviews with staff.

A secondary Danish ICU.

ICU patients, nurses, and intensivists.

Implementation of NAVA, which included theoretical education, bedside training, and frequent updates.

Evaluation of NAVA implementation measured by characteristics of patients receiving NAVA and staff experiences with NAVA.

A total of 311 patients were included. Hereof 43 (27%) and 68 (44%) patients, respectively, had recieved NAVA. The patients receiving NAVA had higher severity scores and more hours on ventilators. A total of 35 nurses (76%) and 16 physicians (64%) completed the questionnaire. Most clinicians found, to a high (43%) or very high (41%) degree, that NAVA was an effective therapy option. Furthermore, 77% did not experience any barriers regarding NAVA therapy. The main advantages experienced with NAVA were increased patient comfort, respiratory synchrony with the ventilator, and improved opportunities for monitoring patient respiratory performance. The main disadvantage was the need for additional theoretical and practical knowledge.

Despite staff experience of NAVA as a beneficial treatment option, more than half of the patients did not receive NAVA treatment two years after the start of its implementation. Implementation of a therapy which is substantially different to earlier practices is complicated.