https://www.selleckchem.com/products/pf-06826647.html institutional health service improvement projects as a key enabler to their success. CONCLUSIONS The study provides support that an intervention underpinned by challenge driven learning and team coaching can improve a range of health service delivery outcome variables.BACKGROUND The benefit of intravenous sodium bicarbonate administration in patients with severe metabolic acidosis remains controversial, partly due to lack of double-blind trials. From a practical viewpoint, such blinding requires testing of the stability of sodium bicarbonate in polyolefin bags. METHODS We examined seven samples of 100 mL 8.4% sodium bicarbonate diluted in 150 mL normal saline within a 250 mL polyolefin bag at time 0, 24 and 48 hours after preparation. We measured pH, Pco2, and bicarbonate concentration. RESULTS Over a period of 48 hours, both pH and Pco2 decreased significantly (hourly rate of change, -0.001 [P = 0.043) and -0.098 [P less then 0.001] respectively). However, the concentration of bicarbonate did not decrease, with an hourly rate of change of only -0.009 (P = 0.42). CONCLUSION When 100 mL of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate are diluted in 150 mL of normal saline within a 250 mL polyolefin bag, changes in pH and Pco2 over a 48-hour period are small and bicarbonate concentration remains stable.BACKGROUND Due to the lack of double-blind randomised controlled trials, the true effect of intravenous sodium bicarbonate therapy in ICU patients with metabolic acidosis remains unclear. METHODS We diluted 100 mL 8.4% sodium bicarbonate in 150 mL 5% dextrose (D5W) within a 250 mL polyolefin bag after removing 100 mL. We asked ICU clinicians to inspect a 250 mL bag containing sodium bicarbonate or a 250 mL bag where 100 mL of D5W had been removed and then returned. The bags were attached to intravenous giving sets. We asked participants to identify the contents of the bags. RESULTS Among 60 participants (39 nursing staff [65%], 20 medica