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Cureus May 2024Introduction Among young male adults, sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease (SPSD) is a prevalent condition. There are several possibilities for treatment, including...
Introduction Among young male adults, sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease (SPSD) is a prevalent condition. There are several possibilities for treatment, including both conservative and surgical methods. Medical supervision or conservative management is not the cutting-edge and preferred management nowadays. Although not fatal, it negatively impacts young people's quality of life in terms of schooling and means of subsistence and is socially awkward. Method About 10 individuals in this case series have serous drainage from the sinus in the sacral region, which is a common symptom. The patients were entitled to a full recovery from their illness. In all these patients, the Limberg flap procedure was recommended, and just one patient out of 10 had a minimal infection. Every patient was satisfied with how the surgery turned out. Overall, the Limberg flap (rhomboid flap) approach is becoming the norm for care since it has a lower rate of recurrence, fewer postoperative problems, and a shorter learning curve. Result Flap necrosis instances were absent in all the cases. And out of 10 cases, one patient came with a surgical site infection during the follow-up, suggesting a complication rate of 10%. Conclusion For the treatment of primary pilonidal illness, rhomboid excision utilising the Limberg transpositional fasciocutaneous flap technique is seen as a safer option that encompasses numerous sinuses. It requires less time in the hospital and has fewer postoperative problems.
PubMed: 38919223
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61086 -
BMC Pulmonary Medicine Jun 2024End-expiratory lung volume (EELV) has been observed to decrease in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Yet, research investigating EELV in patients with COVID-19...
BACKGROUND
End-expiratory lung volume (EELV) has been observed to decrease in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Yet, research investigating EELV in patients with COVID-19 associated ARDS (CARDS) remains limited. It is unclear whether EELV could serve as a potential metric for monitoring disease progression and identifying patients with ARDS at increased risk of adverse outcomes.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
This retrospective study included mechanically ventilated patients diagnosed with CARDS during the initial phase of epidemic control in Shanghai. EELV was measured using the nitrogen washout-washin technique within 48 h post-intubation, followed by regular assessments every 3-4 days. Chest CT scans, performed within a 24-hour window around each EELV measurement, were analyzed using AI software. Differences in patient demographics, clinical data, respiratory mechanics, EELV, and chest CT findings were assessed using linear mixed models (LMM).
RESULTS
Out of the 38 patients enrolled, 26.3% survived until discharge from the ICU. In the survivor group, EELV, EELV/predicted body weight (EELV/PBW) and EELV/predicted functional residual capacity (EELV/preFRC) were significantly higher than those in the non-survivor group (survivor group vs. non-survivor group: EELV: 1455 vs. 1162 ml, P = 0.049; EELV/PBW: 24.1 vs. 18.5 ml/kg, P = 0.011; EELV/preFRC: 0.45 vs. 0.34, P = 0.005). Follow-up assessments showed a sustained elevation of EELV/PBW and EELV/preFRC among the survivors. Additionally, EELV exhibited a positive correlation with total lung volume and residual lung volume, while demonstrating a negative correlation with lesion volume determined through chest CT scans analyzed using AI software.
CONCLUSION
EELV is a useful indicator for assessing disease severity and monitoring the prognosis of patients with CARDS.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Retrospective Studies; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; China; Aged; Lung Volume Measurements; SARS-CoV-2; Lung; Respiration, Artificial; Adult
PubMed: 38918752
DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-03118-2 -
BMC Pediatrics Jun 2024Adherence with follow-up appointments after a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission is likely a key component in managing post-PICU sequalae. However, prior...
BACKGROUND
Adherence with follow-up appointments after a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission is likely a key component in managing post-PICU sequalae. However, prior work on PICU follow-up adherence is limited. The objective of this study is to identify hospitalization characteristics, discharge child health metrics, and follow-up characteristics associated with full adherence with recommended follow-up at a quaternary care center after a PICU admission due to respiratory failure.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients ≤ 18 years with respiratory failure admitted between 1/2013-12/2014 to a quaternary care PICU. Post-hospitalization full adherence with recommended follow-up in the two years post discharge (1/2013-3/2017) at the quaternary care center was quantified and compared by demographics, baseline child health metrics, hospitalization characteristics, discharge child health metrics, and follow-up characteristics in bivariate and multivariate analyses. Patients were dichotomized into being non-adherent with follow-up (patients who attended less than 100% of recommended appointments at the quaternary care center) and fully adherent (patients who attended 100% of recommended appointments at the quaternary care center).
RESULTS
Of 155 patients alive at hospital discharge, 140 (90.3%) were recommended to follow-up at the quaternary care center. Of the 140 patients with recommended follow-up at the quaternary care center, 32.1% were non-adherent with follow-up and 67.9% were fully adherent. In a multivariable logistic regression model, each additional recommended unique follow-up appointment was associated with lower odds of being fully adherent with follow-up (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.60-0.91, p = 0.005), and each 10% increase in the proportion of appointments scheduled before discharge was associated with higher odds of being fully adherent with follow-up (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03, p = 0.004).
CONCLUSIONS
After admission for acute respiratory failure, only two-thirds of children were fully adherent with recommended follow-up at a quaternary care center. Our findings suggest that limiting the recommended follow-up to only key essential healthcare providers and working to schedule as many appointments as possible before discharge could improve follow-up adherence. However, a better understanding of the factors that lead to non-adherence with follow-up appointments is needed to inform broader system-level approaches could help improve PICU follow-up adherence.
Topics: Humans; Retrospective Studies; Male; Female; Respiratory Insufficiency; Patient Compliance; Child; Child, Preschool; Infant; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; Critical Illness; Patient Discharge; Aftercare; Adolescent; Follow-Up Studies; Hospitalization
PubMed: 38918739
DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-04888-8 -
PloS One 2024Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major economic and healthcare burden in the United States. While there is evidence-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for AUD, few...
BACKGROUND
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major economic and healthcare burden in the United States. While there is evidence-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for AUD, few physicians implement these therapies on a regular basis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of a pharmacy-guided AUD discharge planning workflow on the rate of MAT prescriptions and inpatient readmissions.
METHODS
This was a single-centered pre-and-post intervention study over a 6-month period, with a 90-day pre-intervention period and a 90-day post-intervention period. The study included all patients over the age of 18 years admitted to a medicine or surgery floor bed who presented with alcohol withdrawal at any point during their hospital course. The intervention involved a pharmacy workflow, in which a list of patients admitted with alcohol withdrawal was automatically generated and referred to pharmacists, who then provided recommendations to the primary physician regarding prescriptions for naltrexone, acamprosate, and/or gabapentin. The patients were then contacted within 30 days after discharge for post-hospitalization follow-up. Our outcome measures were change in prescription rate of MATs, change in total and alcohol-related 90-day readmission rates, and change in total and alcohol-related 90-day emergency department (ED) visit rates.
RESULTS
The pre-intervention period consisted of 49 patients and the post-intervention period consisted of 41 patients. Our workflow demonstrated a 195% increase in the prescription rate of MATs at discharge (p < 0.001), 61% reduction in 90-day total readmission rate (p < 0.05), 40% reduction in 90-day total ED visit rate (p = 0.09), 92% reduction in 90-day alcohol-related readmission rate (p < 0.05), and 88% reduction in 90-day alcohol-related ED visit rate (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Our intervention demonstrated that a pharmacy-based AUD discharge planning workflow has the potential to reduce inpatient readmissions and ED visits for patients with AUD, thus demonstrating improved patient outcomes with the potential to reduce healthcare costs.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Patient Discharge; Workflow; Middle Aged; Alcoholism; Adult; Patient Readmission; Patient Care Team; Inpatients; Aged
PubMed: 38917202
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306066 -
PloS One 2024Optimizing a child's emergency department (ED) experience positively impacts their memories and future healthcare interactions. Our objectives were to describe...
BACKGROUND
Optimizing a child's emergency department (ED) experience positively impacts their memories and future healthcare interactions. Our objectives were to describe children's perspectives of their needs and experiences during their ED visit and relate this to their understanding of their condition.
METHODS
514 children, aged 7-17 years, and their caregivers presenting to 10 Canadian pediatric EDs completed a descriptive cross-sectional survey from 2018-2020.
RESULTS
Median child age was 12.0 years (IQR 9.0-14.0); 56.5% (290/513) were female. 78.8% (398/505) reported adequate privacy during healthcare conversations and 78.3% (395/504) during examination. 69.5% (348/501) understood their diagnosis, 89.4% (355/397) the rationale for performed tests, and 67.2% (338/503) their treatment plan. Children felt well taken care of by nurses (90.9%, 457/503) and doctors (90.8%, 444/489). Overall, 94.8% (475/501) of children were happy with their ED visit. Predictors of a child better understanding their diagnosis included doctors talking directly to them (OR 2.21 [1.15, 4.28]), having someone answer questions and worries (OR 2.51 [1.26, 5.01]), and older age (OR 1.08 [1.01, 1.16]). Direct communication with a doctor (OR 2.08 [1.09, 3.99]) was associated with children better understanding their treatment, while greater fear/ 'being scared' at baseline (OR 0.59 [0.39, 0.89]) or at discharge (OR 0.46 [0.22, 0.96]) had the opposite effect.
INTERPRETATION
While almost all children felt well taken care of and were happy with their visit, close to 1/3 did not understand their diagnosis or its management. Children's reported satisfaction in the ED should not be equated with understanding of their medical condition. Further, caution should be employed in using caregiver satisfaction as a proxy for children's satisfaction with their ED visit, as caregiver satisfaction is highly linked to having their own needs being met.
Topics: Humans; Child; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Male; Adolescent; Canada; Cross-Sectional Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Patient Satisfaction
PubMed: 38917134
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305562 -
Cureus Jun 2024Bupropion is an antidepressant used in the treatment of major depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, nicotine addiction, and weight loss. It primarily...
Bupropion is an antidepressant used in the treatment of major depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, nicotine addiction, and weight loss. It primarily functions via norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibition. At toxic doses, bupropion can elicit seizures, as well as precipitate corrected QT interval (QTc) and QRS prolongation. We describe a case of an 18-year-old female who reportedly ingested 28 grams of extended-release bupropion, a dose much higher than in previously reported cases. Toxic ingestion precipitated status epilepticus, prolonged QTc, widened QRS, pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT), and subsequent cardiovascular collapse necessitating veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and Impella support. Historically, the cardiotoxic effects of bupropion toxicity have largely been treated with supportive care, sometimes requiring ECMO. This patient's course was complicated by a widening QRS despite aggressive bicarbonate therapy and recurrent pVT, which was ultimately aborted with lidocaine. Neurological prognostication was further complicated by a lack of brainstem reflexes on the exam. With maximal supportive care, the patient was liberated from Impella, ECMO, and the ventilator by hospital day seven. At discharge, she was neurologically intact with full recovery of cardiac function. This case emphasizes the need for early consideration of transfer to an ECMO center in the setting of a bupropion overdose and offers a potentially effective treatment option for bupropion-induced ventricular arrhythmia.
PubMed: 38915842
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.62873 -
Journal of Pain Research 2024Rectus sheath block is an emerging technique that provide effective perioperative analgesia and is related to lower perioperative opioid consumption and decrease...
INTRODUCTION
Rectus sheath block is an emerging technique that provide effective perioperative analgesia and is related to lower perioperative opioid consumption and decrease opioid-related adverse effects. The present research is designed to explore the effect of rectus sheath block on recovery quality in patients following transabdominal midline gynecological surgery.
METHODS
Ninety female patients following elective transabdominal midline gynecological surgery were enrolled. Patients were randomized to group R (n = 45) which receive preoperative ultrasound-guided RSB with 0.4% ropivacaine or group C which is control group (n = 45). The primary outcome was the quality of recovery on the first postoperative day. The quality of recovery was assessed by the 40-item Quality of Recovery questionnaire (QoR-40). Secondary outcomes included the intraoperative opioid consumption, time to first flatus and time to first discharging from bed, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and patient satisfaction.
RESULTS
The patients in two groups had comparable baseline characteristics. Postoperative global QoR-40 scores were significantly better in group R than in group C (165.0[159.5-170.0] vs 155.0[150.0-157.0], respectively; median difference 12[95% confidence interval: 8-15, P<0.001]). Preoperative RSB reduced intraoperative opioid consumption, reduced the time to first flatus, time to first discharging from bed and the post anaesthesia care unit discharge time. Furthermore, group R showed greater patient satisfaction.
CONCLUSION
A single preoperative administration of RSB with ropivacaine improved the quality of recovery in patients following transabdominal midline gynecological surgery.
PubMed: 38915478
DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S460367 -
The British Journal of Surgery Jun 2024
Corrigendum to: Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries.
PubMed: 38915254
DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znae152 -
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention,... Jun 2024The COTAT (Collaborative Opioid Taper After Trauma) Study was a randomized trial of an opioid taper support program using a physician assistant (PA) to provide pain and... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
The COTAT (Collaborative Opioid Taper After Trauma) Study was a randomized trial of an opioid taper support program using a physician assistant (PA) to provide pain and opioid treatment guidance to primary care providers assuming care for adult patients with moderate to severe trauma discharged from a Level I trauma center on opioid therapy. Patients were recruited, assessed, and randomized individually by a surgery research recruitment team one to two days prior to discharge to home. Participants randomized to the opioid taper support program were contacted by phone within a few days of discharge by the PA interventionist to confirm enrollment and their primary care provider (PCP). The intervention consisted of PA support as needed to the PCP concerning pain and opioid care at weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 after discharge or until the PCP office indicated they no longer needed support or the patient had tapered off opioids. The PA was supervised by a pain physician-psychiatrist, a family physician, and a trauma surgeon. Patients randomized to usual care received standard hospital discharge instructions and written information on managing opioid medications after discharge. Trial results were analyzed using repeated measures analysis. 37 participants were randomized to the intervention and 36 were randomized to usual care. The primary outcomes of the trial were pain, enjoyment, general activity (PEG score) and mean daily opioid dose at 3 and 6 months after hospital discharge. Treatment was unblinded but assessment was blinded. No significant differences in PEG or opioid outcomes were noted at either time point. Physical function at 3 and 6 months and pain interference at 6 months were significantly better in the usual care group. No significant harms of the intervention were noted. COVID-19 (corona virus 2019) limited recruitment of high-risk opioid tolerant subjects, and limited contact between the PA interventionist and the participants and the PCPs. Our opioid taper support program failed to improve opioid and pain outcomes, since both control and intervention groups tapered opioids and improved PEG scores after discharge. Future trials of post-trauma opioid taper support with populations at higher risk of persistent opioid use are needed. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov under NCT04275258 19/02/2020. This trial was funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the University of Washington Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center (R49 CE003087, PI: Monica S. Vavilala, MD). The funder had no role in the analysis or interpretation of the data.
Topics: Humans; Male; Analgesics, Opioid; Female; Adult; Wounds and Injuries; Middle Aged; Hospitalization; Pain Management; Trauma Centers; Primary Health Care; Opioid-Related Disorders
PubMed: 38915106
DOI: 10.1186/s13011-024-00613-x -
BMC Primary Care Jun 2024Early post-discharge assessments for newborns are recommended. Virtual care has become more prevalent during the pandemic, providing an opportunity to better understand...
BACKGROUND
Early post-discharge assessments for newborns are recommended. Virtual care has become more prevalent during the pandemic, providing an opportunity to better understand its impact on the quality of post-discharge newborn care. The objective of this study was to understand whether primary care visit modality (in-person vs. virtual) is associated with early newborn hospital readmissions and emergency department (ED) visits.
METHODS
We conducted a population-based, case-control study using linked health administrative databases between September 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022 in Ontario, Canada. We compared the modality of primary care visits among cases (hospital readmission within 14 days of life) and controls (newborns without a readmission), matched on infant sex, gestational age, and maternal parity. We included an alternative definition of cases as a composite of either a newborn hospital readmission or emergency department (ED) visit or in-hospital death within the first 14 days of life. Conditional logistic regression models were used to model odds ratios (ORs), comparing those exposed to a virtual visit versus in-person visit, adjusting for infant birth weight, birth hospitalization length of stay, neighbourhood level material deprivation, rurality and presence of active maternal comorbidities.
RESULTS
Among 73,324 eligible newborns, 2,220 experienced a hospital readmission within 14 days of life and were matched to 8,880 controls. Jaundice was the primary reason for readmission (75% of readmissions). Compared to newborns who were seen in-person post-discharge, newborns who were seen virtually had higher odds of hospital readmission (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.41 (95% CI 1.09, 1.83); the magnitude of effect was not different using the composite outcome (aOR 1.35, 95% CI 1.05, 1.75).
CONCLUSIONS
Newborns who receive a virtual post-discharge visit are more likely than those who receive an in-person visit to require hospital readmission.
Topics: Humans; Patient Readmission; Infant, Newborn; Case-Control Studies; Female; Male; Ontario; Primary Health Care; Emergency Service, Hospital; Telemedicine; Patient Discharge
PubMed: 38914962
DOI: 10.1186/s12875-024-02478-2