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Right Decision Service newsletter: April 2024

Welcome to the Right Decision Service (RDS) newsletter for April 2024. 

Issues with RDS and Umbraco access

Tactuum has been working hard to address the issues experienced during the last week. They have identified a series of three mitigation measures and put the first of these in place on Friday 3rd May.  If this does not resolve the problems, the second mitigation will be actioned, and then the third if necessary.

Please keep a lookout for any slowing down of the system or getting locked out. Please email myself, mbuchner@tactuum.com and onivarova@tactuum.com if you experience any problems, and also please raise an urgent support ticket via the Support Portal.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we achieve a full resolution.

Promotion and communication resources

A rotating carousel presenting some of the key RDS tools and capabilities, and an editable slideset, are now available in the Resources for RDS providers section of the Learning and Support toolkit.

Redesign and improvements to RDS

The redesign of RDS Search and Browse is still on-track for delivery by mid-June 2024. We then plan to have a 3-week user acceptance testing phase before release to live. All editors and toolkit owners on this mailing list will be invited to participate in the UAT.

The archiving and version control functionality is also progressing well and we will advise on timescales for user acceptance testing shortly.

Tactuum is also progressing with the deep linking to individual toolkits within the mobile RDS app. There are several unknowns around the time and effort required for this work, which will only become clear as the work progresses. So we need to be careful to protect budget for this purpose.

New feature requests

These have all been compiled and effort estimated. Once the redesign work is complete, these will be prioritised in line with the remaining budget. We expect this to take place around late June.

Evaluation

Many thanks to those of you completed the value and impact survey we distributed in February. Here are some key findings from the 65 responses we received.

Figure 1: Impact of RDS on direct delivery of care

Key figures

  • 93% say that RDS has improved evidence-informed practice (high impact 62%; some impact 31%)
  • 91% report that RDS has improved consistency in practice (high impact 65%, some impact 26%)
  • 85% say that RDS has improved patient safety (high impact 59%, some impact 26%)
  • Although shared decision-making tools are only a recent addition to RDS, and only represent a small proportion of the current toolset, 85% of respondents still said that RDS had delivered impact in this area (53% high impact, 32% some impact.) 92% anticipate that RDS will deliver impact on shared decision-making in future and 85% believe it will improve delivery of personalised care in future.

Figure 2 shows RDS impact to date on delivery of health and care services

 

Key figures

These data show how RDS is already contributing to NHS reform priorities and supporting delivery of more sustainable care.

Saving time and money

  • RDS clearly has a strong impact on saving practitioner time, with 90% of respondents reporting that this is the case. 65% say it has a high impact; 25% say it has some impact on time-saving.
  • It supports devolved decision-making across the multi-professional team (85% of respondents)
  • 76% of respondents confirm that it saves money compared, for example, to investing in commercial apps (54% high impact; 22% some impact.)
  • 72% believe it has impacted already on saving money and reducing waste in the way services are delivered – e.g. reducing costs of referral management, prescribing, admissions.

Quality assurance and governance

  • RDS leads are clear that RDS has improved local governance of guidelines, with 87% confirming that this is the case. (62% high impact; 25% some impact.)

Service innovation and workforce development

  • RDS is a major driver for service innovation and improvement (83% of respondents) and has impacted significantly on workforce knowledge and skills (92% of respondents – 66% high impact; 26% some impact).

New toolkits

A few examples of toolkits published to live in the last month:

Toolkits in development

Some of the toolkits the RDS team is currently working on:

  • SARCS (Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service)
  • Staffing method framework – Care Inspectorate.
  • SIGN 171 - Diabetes in pregnancy
  • SIGN 158 – British Guideline on Management of Asthma. Selected sections will be incorporated into the RDS, and complemented by a new chronic asthma pathway being developed by SIGN, British Thoracic Society and NICE.
  • Clinical pathways from NHS Fife and NHS Lanarkshire

Please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot if you would like to learn more about a toolkit. The RDS team will put you in touch with the relevant toolkit lead.

Quality audit of RDS toolkits

Thanks to all of you who have responded to the retrospective quality audit survey and to the follow up questions.  We still have some following up to do, and to work with owners of a further 23 toolkits to complete responses. An interim report is being presented to the HIS Quality and Performance Committee.

Implementation projects

Eight clinical services and two public library services are undertaking tests of change to implement the Being a partner in my care app. This app aims to support patients and the public to become active participants in Realistic Medicine. It has a strong focus on personalised, person-centred care and a library of shared decision aids, as well as simple explanations and videoclips to help the public to understand the aims of Realistic Medicine.  The tests of change will inform guidance and an implementation model around wider adoption and spread of the app.

With kind regards

Right Decision Service team

Healthcare Improvement Scotland

Red – For medicines normally initiated and used under specialist guidance

Introduction

Description

Anaesthetic agent used with specialist supervision as a third-line analgesic to manage complex pain. It is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor inhibitor. This use is outside the UK marketing authorisation.

 

note: syringe pump and syringe driver are both relevant terms

Preparations

(Note: Will need indication for use on prescription, for example ‘for nerve pain’)

Ketamine injection

  • Used by subcutaneous injection/ infusion.
  • Specialists occasionally give ketamine IV – see below.
  • Preparations: 10mg/ml (20ml ampoule), 50mg/ml (10ml vial)

Ketamine oral solution

  • 50mg/5ml (unlicensed specials medicine)
  • (This is the preferred strength but other options are available)
  • Injection may be given orally

Ketamine is a Schedule 2 CD (Controlled Drug), therefore all prescriptions must satisfy CD prescription requirements to be valid and include details of the dose, form, strength, directions for use and total quantity (in both words and figures). It must also follow CD storage and recording regulations.

Sample prescription

 

Indications

†Unlicensed

  • Neuropathic pain poorly responsive to titrated opioids and oral adjuvant analgesics (for example antidepressant and/or anticonvulsant) particularly when there is abnormal pain sensitivity - allodynia, hyperalgesia or hyperpathia.
  • Complex ischaemic limb pain or phantom limb pain.
  • Poorly controlled incident bone pain (often has a neuropathic element).
  • Complex visceral/abdominal neuropathic pain.

 

Cautions

  • Use low doses, carefully monitored, in cardiac failure, cerebrovascular disease, ischaemic heart disease.
  • If used for over 3 weeks and there is a need to stop treatment, discontinue ketamine gradually.
  • Consider dose reduction in severe hepatic impairment.

 

Contra-indications

  • Do not use ketamine if patient has raised intracranial pressure; uncontrolled hypertension, delirium or recent seizures; history of psychosis.

 

Drug interactions

  • Ketamine interacts with theophylline (tachycardia, seizures) and levothyroxine (monitor for hypertension, tachycardia).
  • Diazepam increases the plasma concentration of ketamine.
  • Refer to relevant British National Formulary (BNF) section for further information.

 

Side effects

  • Hallucinations, dysphoria and vivid dreams.
  • Hypertension, tachycardia, raised intracranial pressure.
  • Sedation at higher doses.
  • Erythema and pain at infusion site.
  • Urinary tract symptoms, for example frequency, urgency, urge incontinence, dysuria and haematuria. (Where there is no evidence of bacterial infection, consider discontinuing ketamine and seeking urology advice.)

 

Dose and administration

Starting ketamine

  • Ketamine is started on the recommendation of a palliative medicine consultant. This is usually done in an inpatient setting.
  • Very occasionally, a patient may need to start ketamine in the community. The route of choice is generally oral ketamine. The palliative medicine consultant will liaise closely with the GP, community nurse, and unscheduled care service.
  • 24-hour palliative medicine advice will be available.
  • Patients starting ketamine will be taking a regular opioid. Ketamine may restore the patient’s opioid sensitivity and lead to opioid toxicity.
  • The specialist may recommend changing to a short acting, regular opioid before starting ketamine, particularly if the patient has side effects from the current opioid dose.
  • Monitor closely for signs of opioid toxicity (for example sedation, confusion); reduce opioid dose by one third if the patient is drowsy and seek advice.
  • Hallucinations/dysphoria. If the patient is not drowsy this is more likely to be a ketamine side effect than due to opioids.
  • Give QThaloperidol oral 500micrograms to 1mg twice daily or SC 1mg to 2mg once daily. Midazolam SC 2mg as needed can also be used.
  • Preventing ketamine dysphoria – consider oral QThaloperidol 500micrograms to 1mg daily when starting ketamine. It can be stopped when the patient’s ketamine dose is stable.

 

Dose and administration – oral ketamine

  • Ketamine can be started using the oral route or patients may be changed from an SC infusion when pain is controlled.
  • Starting dose: 5mg to 10mg four times daily.
  • Increase dose in 5mg to 10mg increments.
  • Usual dose range: 10mg to 60mg four times daily.

 

Dose and administration – subcutaneous ketamine infusion

  • Starting dose: 50mg to 150mg/24 hours.
  • Review daily; increase dose in 50mg to 100mg increments.
  • Usual dose range: 50mg to 600mg/24 hours (higher doses are occasionally used in specialist units).

 

Administration

  • Prepare a new syringe every 24 hours.
  • Dilute ketamine with sodium chloride 0.9%.
  • Check the syringe is not cloudy and protect it from light.
  • Ketamine stability and compatibility – refer to syringe pump ketamine compatibility table.
  • Dispose of the ketamine vial in accordance with the local policy.
  • Rotate the SC infusion site daily to prevent site reactions. If these occur, increase the volume of sodium chloride 0.9% used to dilute the ketamine if possible and/or add a maximum of 1mg of dexamethasone injection to the ketamine infusion.

 

Converting from a 24-hour SC ketamine infusion to oral ketamine

  • Oral ketamine is more potent than SC ketamine (due to liver metabolism). Many patients require a dose reduction of 25 to 50% when changing to oral ketamine.
  • Prescribe the oral ketamine in divided doses - four times daily.
  • Titrate dose in 5mg to 10mg increments.
  • Some specialists stop the SC infusion when the first dose of oral ketamine is given. Others gradually reduce the infusion dose as the oral dose is increased.

 

 Dose and administration – parenteral ketamine

  • Palliative medicine consultants or anaesthetists occasionally administer SC or IV ketamine as single or ‘pulsed’ doses for severe pain or to cover painful procedures.
  • Specialists have used IV ketamine infusions to manage ischaemic limb pain.

 

Practice points

Patient monitoring

  • Patients who are at risk of hypertension, tachycardia, respiratory depression or opioid toxicity should only start ketamine in a clinical area able to monitor them 2 to 4 hourly for the first 24 hours.
  • All patients should be medically reviewed at least once daily until stable, and then weekly.
  • Once the pain is controlled, the palliative medicine specialist may recommend a gradual reduction in the dose of opioid and/or ketamine.

 

Blood pressure

  • Check blood pressure is normal or well controlled before starting ketamine. Record a baseline blood pressure.
  • Check blood pressure one hour after the first dose of oral ketamine or starting a SC infusion.
  • Check blood pressure 24 hours after the first dose of ketamine, then daily.
  • If blood pressure increases 20mmHg above baseline inform the patient’s doctor.
  • If blood pressure remains elevated 20mmHg above baseline on repeated measurement, stop the ketamine and seek advice from a palliative medicine specialist.

 

 Pulse

  • Record a baseline pulse rate.
  • Check pulse one hour after the first dose of ketamine or starting SC infusion.
  • Check pulse 24 hours after the first dose of ketamine, then daily.
  • If pulse rate increases 20bpm above baseline or rises above 100bpm, inform the patient’s doctor.
  • If there is no other cause of tachycardia, seek advice from a palliative medicine specialist.

 

Respiratory rate

  • Record a baseline respiratory rate.
  • The palliative medicine specialist will advise on frequency of monitoring.
  • If respiratory rate decreases to 10 breaths/minute inform medical staff. Seek advice from a palliative medicine specialist.
  • Naloxone (in small titrated doses) is only required for reversal of life-threatening respiratory depression due to opioid analgesics, indicated by:
    • a low respiratory rate, fewer than 8 respirations/minute
    • oxygen saturation below 85%, patient cyanosed.
  • Naloxone should not be given in large bolus doses as it can precipitate an acute opioid withdrawal reaction. Refer to Naloxone guideline.

 

Dysphoria, hallucinations, vivid dreams

Assess patient daily until ketamine dose is stable; then stop any regular QThaloperidol or midazolam.

 

Patient and carer advice points

  • There can be a delay of several days in obtaining further supplies of ketamine. Advise patients to ensure new supplies are requested in adequate time.
  • The taste of ketamine can be unpleasantly bitter. Patients can suck or chew on something sweeter after taking. Other flavours can also be requested.

 

References

Prommer EE. Ketamine for pain: An update of uses in Palliative Care. Journal of Palliative Medicine 2012;15(4):474-483.

Quibell R, Prommer EE, Mihalyo M. Ketamine. Journal of Pain & Symptom Management 2011;41(3):640-649.

Twycross R and Wilcock A. Palliative Care Formulary (Fourth Edition). Palliativedrugs.com Ltd, Nottingham, 2011.

Hanks G et al. The Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine (Fourth edition). Oxford Univeristy Press, 2010.

Fallon M, Welsh J. The role of ketamine in pain control. European Journal of Palliative Care 1996; 3:143-146.

Mercadante S. Ketamine in cancer pain: an update. Palliative Medicine 1996; 10: 225-230.

Edmonds P. The role of ketamine in the management of chronic pain. CME Bulletin Palliative Medicine 1998; 1:3-5.

Grant I, Nimmo W, Clements J. Pharmacokinetics and analgesic effects of IM and oral ketamine. British Journal of Anaesthesia 1981; 53:805-809.

Enarson M, Hays H, Woodroffe M. Clinical experience with oral ketamine. Journal Pain & Symptom Management 1999; 5: 384-386.

Bell RF. Low-dose subcutaneous ketamine infusion and morphine tolerance. Pain 1999; 83: 101-103.

Fitzgibbon E, Hall P, Schroder C et al. Low Dose Ketamine as an Analgesic Adjuvant in Difficult Pain Syndromes: A Strategy for Conversion from Parenteral to Oral Ketamine. Journal Pain & Symptom Management 2002; 23(2): 165-170.

Beitez-Rosario M, Feria M, Salinas-Martin A. A retrospective comparison of the dose ratio between subcutaneous and oral ketamine. Journal Pain & Symptom Management 2003; 25: 400-402.

Kannan T, Saxena A, Bhatnagar, Barry A. Oral ketamine as an adjuvant to oral morphine for neuropathic pain in cancer patients. Journal Pain & Symptom Management 2002; 23: 6065.

Bell R, Eccleston C, Kalso E. Ketamine as an adjuvant to opioids for cancer pain (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library. Issue 3, 2004. Oxford: Update Software.

Hocking G, Cousins M. Ketamine in chronic pain management: an evidence-based review. AnaesthAnalg. 2003; 97: 1730-9.

Visser E, Schug S. The role of ketamine in pain management. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy 2006; 60: 341-348.

Webster L, Walker M. Safety and efficacy of prolonged outpatient ketamine infusions for neuropathic pain. American Journal of Therapeutics 2006; 13: 300-5.

 

Stability references

Watson D, Lin M, Morton A et al. Compatibility and stability of dexamethasone sodium phosphate and ketamine hydrochloride subcutaneous infusions in polypropylene syringes. Journal Pain & Symptom Management 2005; 30: 80-86.

Twycross R and Wilcock A. Palliative Care Formulary (Fourth Edition). Palliativedrugs.com Ltd, Nottingham, 2011.

Dickman A, Schneider J and Varga J. The Syringe Driver (Third Edition). Oxford University Press 2011.