Nursing at BSH 2018: Details of a nursing session at this years annaul scientific meeting on the 17th April in Liverpool

The BSH website states We recognise the vital role nurses play in delivering haematology services, and with this in mind we have collaborated with leaders in the field to develop the specialist nursing session at our ASM.  Come to this session to hear about the latest innovations in nursing roles, find out how nurses can impact on practice, policy and research, and to improve nursing leadership in haematology.

Other key sessions on the same day which may be of interest are the Presidential Symposium, and the Dacie Wilkinson Bequest Lecture presented by Professor Bob Löwenberg on “Improving Outcomes in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia”. The registration fee also includes the evening social event “The President’s Reception”.

Details available at https://www.b-s-h.org.uk/conference-and-events/nursing-at-bsh-2018/ 

Bursaries are available from the BSH open to non-members at https://www.b-s-h.org.uk/membership/grants/annual-scientific-meeting/ as well as from CLOT through our website

 

A recently published study looked at the effect of the mandatory VTE risk assessment that has been in place in England since 2010. This shows a significant reduction both in total HAT events but also when expressed as a percentage of total annual admissions. In addition the number of events associated with inadequate prevention has also significantly reduced over the same period. The most recent data however suggests there has been a plateauing of number of VTE events associated with hospital stay acknowledging not all VTE events can be prevented.

The link is available at http://openheart.bmj.com/content/4/2/e000653 

CLOT are again involved in presenting a session at the BSH Annual Scientific Meeting in Liverpool between the 16th to the 18th April 2018. Our Sponsorship secretary Sue rhodes is co-charing a session on Monday 16th April 11.00 AM to 12.30 AM with Rachael Hunter talking about the psychological impact of VTE. In addition at the conference there is a nursing session on Nursing leadership in Patient Observation and Improving Outcome on Tuesday the 17th April details below

1330-1340	Valuing and empowering Nurses in Haematology	Prof CH Toh (BSH Vice-President) & Prof Dame E Anionwu (Patron, Sickle Cell Society)
1340-1400	Advancing Nursing through Observation and Innovation	Prof Dame Donna Kinnair (Director of Nursing Policy & Practice, Royal College of Nursing)
1400-1420	Advancing Nursing through Integrating Research to Improve care	Prof Dame Caroline L Watkins (NIHR Senior Investigator /University of Central Lancashire)
1420-1440	Nursing Leadership in Transitioning Care	Neil Westerdale (Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Guy’s & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust)
1440-1500	Discussion	All speakers

Would be great to see as many CLOT members as possible attend and support this venture

Current UK practice for DVT prophylaxis in acute stroke patients is based upon data from the CLOTS 3 study and usually comprises of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC) or a prophylactic-dose of Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) when the bleed risk is reduced¹. However, regardless of these interventions, a small group of patients remain contraindicated to these therapies leaving them exposed to developing a DVT or PE.

 

Firstkind Ltd, a UK based medical devices company, is working with an NHS Trust to introduce the innovative geko™ device into the acute stroke pathway, when patients are unsuitable for drug prophylaxis and/or contraindicated to IPC.

 

The geko™ is a battery powered, disposable, neuromuscular electrostimulation device designed to increase blood flow in the deep veins of the leg². The geko™ gently stimulates the common peroneal nerve activating the calf and foot muscle pumps increasing venous, arterial and microcirculatory blood flow. The blood flow increase is equal to 60%³ of walking without a patient having to move or exert energy.  

 

Patient compliance and the geko™ anti-stasis capability is being assessed through a prospective audit of clinical practice, covering patients who have been admitted for either ischemic or haemorrhagic stroke⁴. Patients unsuitable for VTE drug prophylaxis or contraindicated to IPC are being given the geko™ device.  

Interim analysis highlights that the majority of high risk immobile acute stroke patients who could not tolerate IPC are able to tolerate the geko™. These patients would have not been treated as effectively otherwise, with the potential that geko™ will reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality in stroke patients. For more information on the geko™ device, click here: http://www.gekodevices.com/en-uk/

1. NICE guidelines (CG92). Published date January 2010, update June 2015.
2. Nicolaides, M Griffin, Measurement of blood flow in the deep veins of the lower limb using the geko™ neuromuscular electro-stimulation device. Journal of International Angiology August 2016-04.
3. Tucker A, Maass A, Bain D, Chen LH, Azzam M, Dawson H, et al. Augmentation of venous, arterial and microvascular blood supply in the leg by isometric neuromuscular stimulation via the peroneal nerve. The International journal of angiology: official publication of the International College of Angiology, Inc. 2010 Spring; 19(1): e31-7.
4. Stoke, prospective data on file, prospective April 2017, Firstkind.