Time and motion study: point of tear ABG sampling

• Research type

  Research Study

• IRAS ID

  171084

• Research summary

  Arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling is carried out routinely in intensive care units (ICU) on a daily basis. This is usually
  performed by the nurse at the bedside, removing a small sample of blood and taking the sample to an arterial blood
  gas machine located in the vicinity of the ICU for processing. This requires the nurse to leave the patient’s bedside for
  a period of time. Sampling frequency is increased during periods of patient instability, requiring more frequent
  absences from the bedside.
  Each arterial blood sample taken amounts to at least 1ml of blood being discarded. Where flush systems do not allow
  for the return of ‘waste’ blood, there is additional loss of blood since the line needs to be primed with blood before the
  sample is withdrawn. This is of particular consequence in patients for whom receiving blood donations is not a viable
  option, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, those with multiple compatibility issues, and those undergoing treatment for
  some haematological cancers.
  The Proxima device enables ABG samples to be analysed without the requirement to remove a sample from the
  arterial line system connected to the patient. Thus, there is no loss of blood, and a reduced risk of infection as the
  integrity of the line is not broken, and the blood is not carried around the ICU without being fully sealed. Finally, the
  nurse is not required to be absent from the patient’s bed space in order to facilitate the analysis of the sample.
  The aim is to conduct a time and motion study to compare the workload, and time away from the patient's bedside,
  associated with using the Proxima POC device versus a standard ABG sampling system.
  A62.

• REC name

  London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/LO/1726

• Date of REC Opinion

  4 Dec 2015

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion