Published in:
01-02-2015 | What's New in Intensive Care
What’s new with rapid response systems?
Published in: Intensive Care Medicine | Issue 2/2015
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The term rapid response system (RRS) describes a hospital-wide approach to (a) improve the detection of deteriorating patients and (b) provide a responding team who commence treatment aimed at preventing serious adverse events including cardiac arrest and unexpected death [1]. Ward staff are alerted to clinical deterioration when patients fulfil predefined criteria based on vital sign derangement and other important changes in the patient’s clinical status (Table 1).
Table 1
Example of rapid response team activation criteria
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Airway
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∙ Obstructed airway
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∙ Noisy breathing or stridor
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∙ Problem with a tracheostomy tube
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Breathing
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∙ Any difficulty breathing
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∙ RR < 8 breaths/min
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∙ RR > 25 breaths/min
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∙ SpO2 < 90 % despite 10 L oxygen
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Circulation
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∙ HR < 40 bpm
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∙ HR > 120 bpm
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∙ SBP < 90 mmHg
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∙ UO < 50 mL over 4 h
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Conscious state
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∙ Sudden change in conscious state
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∙ Patient cannot be roused
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∙ Protracted or uncontrolled seizures
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Other
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∙ Severe or uncontrolled pain
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∙ Severe bleeding (>100 mL/h)
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∙ You are worried about the patient for any other reason
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