Effectiveness of a Modified Nurse-Led COUGH Bundle for Obese Patients After Bariatric Surgery.

Background: Obesity commonly affects postsurgical pulmonary outcomes and is associated with increased oxygen usage, length of recovery and hospital stay, discharge to high levels of care, cost, morbidity, and mortality. Local Problem: No standardized pulmonary care bundle for obese patients after bariatric surgery was available in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) at a hospital in Singapore. Methods: This quality improvement project was a prospective, single-cohort, pre- and posttest intervention design with 151 patients recruited. Interventions: Teaching and implementation of a modified nurse-led COUGH bundle was carried out on obese patients after their bariatric surgery. Results: Postbariatric surgery patients with the nurse-led COUGH bundle had significantly less consumption of oxygen in the PACU and step-down units. The PACU and hospital length of stay were also reduced. Conclusions: The modified nurse-led COUGH bundle can reduce patients’ oxygen usage and hospital stay after their bariatric surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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