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. 2021 Jul 14;45(8):82.
doi: 10.1007/s10916-021-01754-3.

Etiology and Timing of Postoperative Rapid Response Team Activations

Jeremy P Walco  1 , Dorothee A Mueller  2 , Sameer Lakha  2 , Liza M Weavind  2   3 , Jacob C Clifton  2 , Robert E Freundlich  2   4
Affiliations

Etiology and Timing of Postoperative Rapid Response Team Activations

Jeremy P Walco et al. J Med Syst. .

Abstract

In this retrospective cohort study we sought to evaluate the association between the etiology and timing of rapid response team (RRT) activations in postoperative patients at a tertiary care hospital in the southeastern United States. From 2010 to 2016, there were 2,390 adult surgical inpatients with RRT activations within seven days of surgery. Using multivariable linear regression, we modeled the correlation between etiology of RRT and timing of the RRT call, as measured from the conclusion of the surgical procedure. We found that respiratory triggers were associated with an increase in time after surgical procedure to RRT of 10.6 h compared to activations due to general concern (95% CI 3.9 - 17.3) (p = 0.002). These findings may have an impact on monitoring of postoperative patients, as well as focusing interventions to better respond to clinically deteriorating patients.

Keywords: Clinical deterioration; Hospital rapid response team; Observational study; Postoperative care; Postoperative period.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest / Competing interests Robert E. Freundlich has received grant funding and consulting fees from Medtronic and owns stock in 3 M.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Temporal distribution of postoperative rapid response team (RRT) activation and in-hospital mortality, by etiology of clinical deterioration
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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