A handoff protocol from the cardiovascular operating room to cardiac ICU is associated with improvements in care beyond the immediate postoperative period

Background: Handoff protocols from the cardiovascular operating room (CVOR) to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) can improve patient outcomes and delivery of care beyond the immediate postoperative period. In a prospective quality improvement study, a structured CVOR-to-CICU handoff protocol was implemented at a university-affiliated children's hospital. As a parallel project, an initiative to reduce unplanned extubations in the CICU was implemented. Methods: In a 41-month period, 1,507 neonates, infants, children, and adults were admitted to the CICU from the CVOR after undergoing a surgical procedure. The study was divided into a 17-month prehandoff-protocol period (January 2009-May 2010) and a 24-month posthandoff-protocol period (June 2010-May 2012). The handoff protocol was intended to streamline the handoff process from the CVOR and throughout the transition to the CICU. The specifics of the handoff, as outlined in a bedside laminated flowchart, included patient transport from the CVOR, the cardiovascular surgeon's report, the anesthesiologist's report, and the patient status summary and care plan. Results: After introduction of the handoff protocol, there was a statistically significant and sustained reduction in the mean rate of unplanned extubations from 0.62 to 0.24 per 100 ventilator-days (p = .03). There was a statistically significant reduction in median ventilator time per patient-from 17 hours (interquartile range [IQR]: 5.3 to 57.7) to 12.8 hours (IQR: 4.8 to 31.8); p = .02). The mean rate of unplanned extubations was 0.26 in 2011 and 0.30 in 2012. Conclusions: Implementation of a handoff protocol from the CVOR to the CICU was associated with sustained decrease in unplanned extubations and in mean ventilator times.