Hospital Complications

Question: How should complication date be recorded for multiple complications? Do you need to "Save and New" for each complication?

Answer: Yes, if the complications occur on different dates, you create a new complication form for each date.

Question: How are facilities showing (in the registry) that the manager/burn coordinator is verifying that the complication met definition?

Answer: This is not required in the registry but should be done by the registrar entering the data with the appropriate personnel from their burn center.

Question: Every patient that goes on Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) should also have AKI (Acute Kidney Injury) stage three input as a hospital complication, correct?

Answer: These two data points are not tied to each other and there may be times when it is felt necessary to be on CRRT but the patient does not have AKI stage 3.

Question: Looking at the most recent version of the ABA Data Dictionary, listed under the section "Complications", graft or flap loss is defined as "…requiring a return to the OR for repair." No further details or supplemental information is provided that specifies a percentage nor specifics outlining body areas affected.

Answer: The Data Dictionary definition for graft loss specifically doesn't mention percent of graft take as this is very difficult to define or compare between centers. The Data Definitions Workgroup and QBR Committee determined that the important complication to define is wounds that were grafted that require a return to the O.R. for a regraft to definitively close the wound. Centers may decide they would like to also look at percent graft take for the grafts as a whole or individual grafts, whether or not they require regrafting, but this is not done in the registry.

Definition of Complications

Question: With use of the VAE (Ventilator Associated Events) chapter in the CDC/NHSN definitions, should VAC be reported as pneumonia as well or only IVAC and PVAP because it more aligns with PNEU chapter.

Answer: Please discuss this with your Infection Preventionist and use what they are using for pneumonia, vent related.