Surrey Memorial Hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) is set to enhance patient care with the introduction of a new respiratory screening method, thanks to a grant from Michael Smith Health Research BC and the Surrey Hospitals Foundation.
In the ICU, one of the most challenging decisions is determining the right time to remove a patient from a ventilator. While the current Spontaneous Breathing Trial (SBT) is the standard test, data shows that about one in five patients who pass the test still require reintubation, often leading to complications and longer hospital stays.
To address this, a team of four respiratory therapists at Surrey Memorial will now integrate P0.1 monitoring into their daily practice. The measurement, available on most modern ventilators, tracks how strongly a patient is breathing and whether they are receiving too much or too little support.
“By adding P0.1 to routine patient monitoring, we believe we can better assess a patient’s drive to breathe and choose the optimal time for safe extubation,” explained Jaimie Trodden, clinical resource respiratory therapist at SMH.
The initiative will be rolled out in the hospital’s adult ICU and is expected to benefit hundreds of patients annually, improving both safety and recovery outcomes.
“To support this change, we’re providing targeted education, quick-reference tools, and peer coaching to ensure P0.1 becomes part of everyday practice,” said Jessica Lu, regional respiratory therapist educator.
The ICU team — Trodden, Lu, Scott Mattu, and Sung Bin Choi — credited Fraser Health’s Department of Evaluation and Research Services for providing the framework to translate this knowledge into clinical practice.
Hospital officials say the new approach will not only give respiratory therapists more confidence in decision-making but also reduce risks and improve recovery pathways for patients who depend on critical breathing support.
