Obese Patients Create Challenge in Cath Lab
A large number of obese patients are unable to undergo procedures in the cardiac catheterization lab secondary to the lack of suitable tools for patients of such size. Most labs were created with guidelines that do not account for morbidly obese patients.
Researchers from William Beaumont Hospital in Michigan noted such in an article that was recently posted in the American Journal of Cardiology. The team surveyed 100 different facilities to determine current weight limits. The 100 sites surveyed are the busiest cath labs across the country.
Of the 94 facilities that submitted sufficient data to complete assessment, the mean weight limit was 437.5 pounds. The minimum weight limit was 350 pounds and the maximum was 500.
When patients were too heavy, almost one-fifth of labs referred patients to outside institutions. Importantly, approximately 70 percent of the facilities had no response to what they did for patients that they could not treat or examine.
Based on a smaller response pool of 62.5 percent of the facilities, an average of five patients at each hospital were rejected annually because of the weight limits in the cardiac catheterization lab. Reasons cited for not completing the procedures included poor results from catheterization, potential damage to expensive equipment, and the safety of staff and patients alike.
This study is critical in light of the obesity epidemic in this country. This is further compounded by the increased risk of cardiac disease for these patients. Based on the results from this study, some of these patients may not be able to undergo treatment because of their size.
August 11, 2008 Related topics: Bariatrics & Obesity, Quality, Safety, Errors, Cardiology