Development and Implementation of a Protocol for In-Room Surgical Procedures in Paediatric Intensive Care

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
• Surgical Logistics
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) in Swiss university hospitals conduct in-room surgical interventions for non-transferable patients.
• Current practices exhibit variability, leading to organizational delays and increased healthcare professional stress due to informal knowledge transfer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement an institutional protocol for in-room surgical interventions within a PICU.
• To enhance patient care safety, interdisciplinary coordination, and systematic anticipation of resources (material, human, environmental).

Main Methods:

• A structured methodology was employed, including semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders.
• The protocol specifically targets complex procedures like Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) management, thoracic surgeries, and postoperative cardiac revisions.

Main Results:

• The protocol development addressed critical aspects of in-room surgical care.
• Implementation is anticipated to yield significant improvements in care delivery.

Conclusions:

• Standardizing in-room surgical procedures in the PICU through a dedicated protocol is expected to reduce perioperative complications.
• The protocol aims to optimize ergonomics, logistics, and overall quality of care in intensive care settings.