Triage Protocol for Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Das Aneesa M, Sood Namita, Hodgin Katherine, Chang Lydia, Carson Shannon S
Primary Institution: University of North Carolina Hospitals
Hypothesis
Can a triage protocol based on validated risk factors reduce ICU admissions for patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage?
Conclusion
A triage model based on the presence of ongoing bleeding or unstable comorbidities can help reduce unnecessary ICU admissions without increasing complications.
Supporting Evidence
- Only 12% to 28% of patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage experience complications requiring ICU resources.
- The presence of red blood and elevated prothrombin time were significantly associated with complications.
- A triage model could reduce ICU admissions without increasing complications on hospital wards.
Takeaway
Doctors can use a simple checklist to decide if patients with stomach bleeding need to stay in the ICU or if they can be treated in a regular hospital room.
Methodology
The study involved reviewing records of 188 patients and prospectively enrolling 132 patients to validate a triage model based on BLEED criteria.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in patient selection and outcomes due to the study's single-center design.
Limitations
The study was conducted at a single institution, which may limit generalizability.
Participant Demographics
The study included adults with a mean age of 64 years, with a gender distribution of 57% male and 43% female.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 2.04, 10.07
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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