Improving Clinical Practice Can Benefit Staff and Patients - Case Study

Background 

A 16 y/o male with a history of irritable bowel disease presents to the Emergency Department vomiting blood. He has an ostomy in place. His initial vital signs were BP 82/59, HR 160, SI 1.95. He was ill-appearing, with skin gray and ashen. The staff placed a 20-gauge peripheral IV and infused a 1-liter NS bolus using the LifeFlow PLUS and the QinFlow Warrior blood and fluid warmer. 

After a slight improvement, he received 1 unit of PRBCs. Post-infusion, his vital signs improved to BP 99/61, HR 114, SI 1.15, and his skin went from gray to pale. The patient was admitted to the ICU for ongoing resuscitation and monitoring.