Category: Patient safety

According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) guidelines, consuming clear liquids is acceptable up to two hours before a procedure requiring anesthesia. This modern approach represents a significant shift away from the traditional, and often unnecessarily long, 'NPO after midnight' policy.

Multiple studies have identified Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) as an independent risk factor for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). These infections are the primary risk associated with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) administration due to the constant presence of an access port for delivering the nutrient-rich solution directly into the bloodstream. Patient safety protocols focus heavily on mitigating this significant risk.

According to the Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) program, Transfusion-Associated Circulatory Overload (TACO) remains a leading cause of transfusion-related morbidity and mortality. A critical, often overlooked element in assessing patient risk for TACO is body weight. This article clarifies what TACO is and examines the direct link between body weight and the risk of this serious medical condition.

According to the National Institutes of Health, parenteral nutrition is a life-sustaining treatment, yet studies have consistently identified it as a high-risk therapy. The serious and potentially life-threatening complications associated with this intravenous feeding method require careful consideration and meticulous management to ensure patient safety.

According to the National Institutes of Health, refeeding syndrome is a potentially fatal complication of nutritional rehabilitation in malnourished individuals. The answer to "can refeeding syndrome be prevented?" is yes, and prioritizing prevention is crucial to avoid severe electrolyte shifts, organ failure, and other life-threatening complications.

According to the National Institutes of Health, proper management of enteral feeding tubes is crucial to prevent serious complications like aspiration pneumonia. The question of whether a personal care assistant can give a tube feeding is complex, with the answer depending heavily on state regulations, proper delegation, and the assistant's specific training.

Refeeding syndrome was first identified following World War II, when severely starved prisoners of war developed fatal complications after being fed too quickly. It is a serious and potentially fatal metabolic complication caused by fluid and electrolyte shifts that occur when nutrition is reintroduced to a severely malnourished individual.

Over 90% of hospitalized patients receive an intravenous (IV) line during their stay, making IV fluid administration a cornerstone of modern medicine. The safety and efficacy of this common procedure largely depend on one critical factor: why is it important for IV to be isotonic?

Case reports have confirmed that long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use can lead to significantly decreased serum potassium levels. The primary driver behind how PPIs cause hypokalemia is often an underlying deficiency in magnesium, which disrupts the body's delicate electrolyte balance.

According to the American Transplant Foundation, consuming dairy products like milk is an important part of a transplant recipient's diet for calcium and protein intake. However, special precautions are necessary regarding dairy to prevent foodborne illness. Specifically, can transplant patients drink milk, and what type is safest to consume?