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STAR are participating in a national project assessing use of waveform capnography, which we hope you will be able to support at your site (see blurb below).

 

This is a very simple project, it is estimated to take a few hours work in total. This is something you can do yourselves, or you can recruit another/others to help you with it. All participants will receive a certificate and letter of thanks. 

 

The project essentially involves recording what type of capnography equipment is used and some basic parameters (e.g. what colour the lines are) in different locations at your site (e.g. ICU, theatres, ED, Cath lab). 

 

Data is to be collected between 9th September and 29th September.

 

To register your site please visit  https://cavastudy.co.uk = and please let us know when done and who (if anyone) will be working with you on this. Study documents are on this website.

 

Please let us know if you have any questions and whether this is something you will be able to support, either yourselves or via recruiting others. This is a very simple project, ideal for a junior trainee(s).

 

Thanks and all the best

 

 

 

 

CAVA Study

 

This is a national survey aimed at assessing the variation in capnography waveforms used in airway management across the UK. Our study aims to better understand the interpretation of waveform data, particularly in light of the recent Safe Anaesthesia Liaison Group (SALG) recommendations. We are seeking to identify current capnography practices, assess compliance with the new SALG standards, and explore the potential for standardisation across the UK.

 

What we need from you

We aim to capture data from all 277 anaesthetic departments, ensuring a broad and representative dataset so we need your help!

 

To register your department, please visit https://cavastudy.co.uk

 

The project is a simple census of the waveform displays in your hospital and requires very few staff and very little time. We need your team to decide on the boundaries of the different clinical areas, observe the capnograph screens and types of equipment in those areas, and then enter the data into a Microsoft form. Data collection will commence on September 9th and close on September 29th.

 

Our pilot study in found that this work could be done in less than a day for most hospital sites. So, although collection is only a month away, the low complexity should make this more than manageable and could be a perfect project for new CT1 trainees.

 

Why we are doing this study

Waveform capnography is a critical tool in airway management, yet there is significant variation in its display across different machines, theatres, and departments. Such inconsistencies can lead to misinterpretation, contributing to errors in situational awareness and decision-making, which are factors in a considerable percentage of anaesthetic adverse events.

 

The data collected will be returned to each participating group for any future improvement work they may wish to conduct thereafter.