Improving preoperative identification of infants at risk for severe retinopathy of prematurity

Objectiveto increase preoperative identification of at-risk infants for severe retinopathy of prematurity (rop) to >95% by august 2016, with a secondary aim of reducing the number of infants with 100% intraoperative peripheral oxygen saturation (spo2) during the same time.study designprospective quality improvement project centered on preterm surgical infants admitted to primary children’s hospital (n = 41). preoperative rop risk identification rates were analyzed using an annotated run chart, intraoperative spo2 and laser intervention were compared using un-paired t test.resultspreoperative identification of rop risk increased from 60 to 100% and no infant was exposed to 100% spo2 intraoperatively during the study period. the incidence of laser intervention in this population decreased by 45% from 22 to 12% (p = 0.21).conclusionsimplifying our preoperative handoff increased our rates of correct identification and communication rop risk in preterm infants while decreasing exposure to 100% spo2.