Publications by authors named "Louisa Anne Walker"

Background: A code status documents the decision to receive or forgo cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest. For patients who undergo a rapid response team activation (RRT) for possible escalation to an intensive care unit (ICU), the presence or absence of a code status represents a critical inflection point for guiding care decisions and resource utilization. This study characterizes the prevalence of code status at the time of RRT and how code status at RRT affects rates of intensive treatments in the ICU.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study enhanced the existing ECMO laboratory protocol by adding antifactor Xa assays, thromboelastography, and antithrombin measurements.
  • A retrospective review of 663 ECMO cases showed that the revised protocol led to a 31% cost saving in blood components and a notable increase in patient survival rates from 45% to 56%.
  • The findings suggest that a standardized anticoagulation strategy in ECMO can reduce blood product usage and costs while improving patient outcomes, warranting further prospective studies to confirm its clinical and economic benefits.
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