Date of this Version
12-5-2022
Document Type
DNP Project
Abstract
Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a rare but most likely fatal perioperative complication associated with increased patient morbidity and mortality. COVID-19-positive patients with VTE who present for surgery are predominantly asymptomatic and do not meet the conventional definition and traditional diagnostic criteria. This presents a challenge in identifying VTE in this patient population without proper surveillance and monitoring.
Objectives: The purpose of this study is to improve anesthesia providers’ knowledge of the value of POCUS modality in preventing perioperative VTE in patients with COVID-19 undergoing noncardiac surgical procedures and improve recognition of associated risk factors that predispose patients to the development of VTE. Investigators used CINAHL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases to answer the PICO (i.e., population, intervention, comparison, outcome) question: “In the adult patients with COVID-19 (P), does the use of the POCUS modality as an adjunct to preoperative screening for DVT (I), compared to its non-use (C), improve the early identification of perioperative VTE ( O)? The literature review provides the educational framework to improve provider knowledge. The overall objective of the project is to increase the quality of healthcare delivery to improve healthcare outcomes for patients with COVID-19 undergoing noncardiac surgery.
Methodology: The primary methodology of the proposed project is to administer an online educational intervention to providers which focuses on the benefits of perioperative POCUS utilization in the early identification of VTEs. Pre- and post-assessment surveys will be used to measure the improvement of provider knowledge before and after the intervention.
Results: Overall, there was an improvement in provider knowledge following the education intervention. Additionally, the likelihood of utilizing the perioperative POCUS modality increased among anesthesia providers.
Conclusion: The perioperative incorporation of the POCUS modality has been shown to accurately assess the presence of DVT. The educational intervention provided effectively improved anesthesia provider knowledge on the value of POCUS modality in preventing perioperative VTE in patients with COVID-19 undergoing noncardiac surgical procedures and improving recognition of associated risk factors that predispose patients to the development of these events. Increasing awareness of the high incidence of thromboembolic events in patients with COVID-19 and the role of POCUS in their early detection can reduce mortality and improve postoperative outcomes.
Recommended Citation
Gay, Olga; Valdes, Jorge; and Norden, Sean, "An Educational Intervention on the Clinical Utility of Point-Of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in the Timely Detection of Perioperative Thromboembolic Complications in COVID-19 Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery" (2022). Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing Student Projects. 141.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cnhs-studentprojects/141