Objective
The debilitating and persistent effects of intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired delirium and weakness warrant testing of prevention strategies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of implementing the Awakening and Breathing Coordination, Delirium monitoring/management, and Early exercise/mobility (ABCDE) bundle into everyday practice.
Design
Eighteen-month, prospective, cohort, before-after study conducted between November 2010 and May 2012.
Setting
Five adult ICUs, one step-down unit, and one oncology/hematology special care unit located in a 624-bed tertiary medical center.
Patients
Two hundred ninety-six patients (146 pre- and 150 post-bundle implementation), age ≥ 19 years, managed by the institutions’ medical or surgical critical care service.
Interventions
ABCDE bundle.
Measurements
For mechanically ventilated patients (n = 187), we examined the association between bundle implementation and ventilator-free days. For all patients, we used regression models to quantify the relationship between ABCDE bundle implementation and the prevalence/duration of delirium and coma, early mobilization, mortality, time to discharge, and change in residence. Safety outcomes and bundle adherence were monitored.
Main Results
Patients in the post-implementation period spent three more days breathing without mechanical assistance than did those in the pre-implementation period (median [IQR], 24 [7 to 26] vs. 21 [0 to 25]; p = 0.04). After adjusting for age, sex, severity of illness, comorbidity, and mechanical ventilation status, patients managed with the ABCDE bundle experienced a near halving of the odds of delirium (odds ratio [OR], 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33–0.93; p = 0.03) and increased odds of mobilizing out of bed at least once during an ICU stay (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.29–3.45; p = 0.003). No significant differences were noted in self-extubation or reintubation rates.
Conclusions
Critically ill patients managed with the ABCDE bundle spent three more days breathing without assistance, experienced less delirium, and were more likely to be mobilized during their ICU stay than patients treated with usual care.