Rapid response systems: a prospective study of response times.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the time taken for delivery of each component of care following patient deterioration and to assess the effect on response times of strategies implemented to improve the system.

Methods: A model identifying the sequence of organizational responses following a patient's unexpected clinical deterioration was developed. The time to key events and interventions from initial deterioration was measured for 3 months in 2005 and again in 2006 at a tertiary care hospital with a rapid response team (RRT) in place.

Cancellation of operations on the day of intended surgery at a major Australian referral hospital.

Objective: To establish the rate of and reasons for cancellations of surgery on the scheduled day in an Australian hospital.

Design: Prospective survey.

Setting: Major metropolitan tertiary hospital, 13 May to 15 November 2002.

Thoracic epidural anesthesia for cardiac surgery: the effects on tracheal intubation time and length of hospital stay.

Unlabelled: Improvements in analgesia after major surgery may allow a more rapid recovery and shorter hospital stay. We performed a prospective randomized trial to study the effects of epidural analgesia on the length of hospital stay after coronary artery surgery. The anesthetic technique and postoperative mobilization were altered to facilitate early intensive care discharge and hospital discharge.