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BMJ Paediatrics Open Jun 2024Researchers and healthcare providers have paid little attention to morbidity and unplanned healthcare encounters for children following hospital discharge in low- and... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Researchers and healthcare providers have paid little attention to morbidity and unplanned healthcare encounters for children following hospital discharge in low- and middle-income countries. Our objective was to compare symptoms and unplanned healthcare encounters among children aged <5 years who survived with those who died within 60 days of hospital discharge through follow-up phone calls.
METHODS
We conducted a secondary analysis of a prospective observational cohort of children aged <5 years discharged from neonatal and paediatric wards of two national referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Monrovia, Liberia. Caregivers of enrolled participants received phone calls 7, 14, 30, 45, and 60 days after hospital discharge to record symptoms, unplanned healthcare encounters, and vital status. We used logistic regression to determine the association between reported symptoms and unplanned healthcare encounters with 60-day post-discharge mortality.
RESULTS
A total of 4243 participants were enrolled and had 60-day vital status available; 138 (3.3%) died. For every additional symptom ever reported following discharge, there was a 35% greater likelihood of post-discharge mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10 to 1.66; p=0.004). The greatest survival difference was noted for children who had difficulty breathing (2.1% among those who survived vs 36.0% among those who died, p<0.001). Caregivers who took their child home from the hospital against medical advice during the initial hospitalisation had over eight times greater odds of post-discharge mortality (aOR 8.06, 95% CI 3.87 to 16.3; p<0.001) and those who were readmitted to a hospital had 3.42 greater odds (95% CI 1.55 to 8.47; p=0.004) of post-discharge mortality than those who did not seek care when adjusting for site, sociodemographic factors, and clinical variables.
CONCLUSION
Surveillance for symptoms and repeated admissions following hospital discharge by healthcare providers is crucial to identify children at risk for post-discharge mortality.
Topics: Humans; Tanzania; Liberia; Male; Female; Child, Preschool; Patient Discharge; Infant; Prospective Studies; Morbidity; Infant, Newborn; Patient Acceptance of Health Care
PubMed: 38906561
DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2024-002613 -
International Journal of Surgery Case... Jun 2024Breast pathology in adolescents is rare and predominantly benign, with abnormalities including congenital anomalies, infections, mastodynia, nipple discharge, and mostly...
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Breast pathology in adolescents is rare and predominantly benign, with abnormalities including congenital anomalies, infections, mastodynia, nipple discharge, and mostly benign breast masses. Fibroepithelial tumors, the most common type, form a heterogeneous group that includes benign, borderline, and malignant entities such as phyllodes tumors. Differentiation of these tumors, especially various types of fibroadenomas, requires histopathological examination due to their similar radiological appearances and lesion heterogeneity. Recognizing the nature of these lesions is crucial to avoid missing malignant forms with metastatic potential. Giant juvenile fibroadenoma is a quite rare benign fibroepithelial tumour, that cannot be differentiate from phyllodes tumors before anatomopathological examination.
CASE REPORT
We report the case of a 14-year-old patient who presented with a rapidly enlarging mass in the left breast, and the diagnosis of giant juvenile adenofibroma was confirmed after surgical treatment.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
Giant juvenile fibroadenomas occurs in adolescent girl and constitutes 0.5 % - 4 % of all fibroadenomas cases. When it exceeds 5 cm, weighs more than 500 g, or occupies more than 4/5 of the breast, it is considered as giant. It is characterized by a rapid increase in size, causing distortion and compression of the breast. Breast ultrasound is the first imaging modality, showing a large, well-limited hypo or iso echoic mass. The main differential diagnosis should be made with phyllodes tumors. The diagnosis is considered based on clinical and radiological features but is confirmed only after surgical excision of the mass and histological study.
CONCLUSION
The discovery of a breast mass in an adolescent should prompt further investigations to avoid overlooking a fibroepithelial tumour. The most probable diagnoses are giant juvenile fibroadenoma and phyllodes tumors.
PubMed: 38906040
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.109897 -
Thrombosis Research Jun 2024The prevalence of anticoagulation treatment is increasing as an aging global population faces a high burden of cardiovascular comorbidities. Direct oral anticoagulants,...
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of anticoagulation treatment is increasing as an aging global population faces a high burden of cardiovascular comorbidities. Direct oral anticoagulants, including factor Xa inhibitors (FXai), are replacing vitamin K antagonists as the most commonly prescribed treatment for reducing risk of thrombotic events. While the risk of FXai-associated spontaneous bleeds is established, less is understood about their management and the effect of treatment on clinical and patient-reported outcomes. The primary objectives of the REVERXaL study are to describe patient characteristics, health care interventions during the acute-care phase, in-hospital outcomes, and associations between timing of reversal/replacement agent administration and in-hospital outcomes. Secondary/exploratory objectives focus on clinical assessments and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) at 30 and 90 days.
METHODS
REVERXaL is a multinational, observational study of hospitalized patients with FXai-associated major bleeds in Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The study includes 2 cohorts of approximately 2000 patients each. Cohort A is a historic cohort for whom medical chart data will be collected from hospitalization to discharge for patients admitted for major bleeds during FXai use within 2 years prior to enrollment of Cohort B. Cohort B will prospectively enroll patients administered any reversal/replacement agent during hospitalization to manage FXai-associated major bleeds and will include the collection of clinical outcomes and PROMs data over 3 months.
CONCLUSIONS
REVERXaL will generate insights on patient characteristics, treatment approaches, and associated outcomes in patients hospitalized with FXai-associated major bleeds. These data may inform clinical practice and streamline treatment pathways in this population.
REGISTRATION
URL: https://www.
CLINICALTRIALS
gov; unique identifier: NCT06147830.
PubMed: 38905928
DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2024.109046 -
Medicine Jun 2024The incidence of peripheral facial palsy is on the rise, with psychological issues influencing quality of life due to visible symptoms. Consequently, patient-reported... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Analysis of factors associated with patients' global impression of change scores in inpatients with peripheral facial palsy: A retrospective study at a Korean Medicine Hospital.
The incidence of peripheral facial palsy is on the rise, with psychological issues influencing quality of life due to visible symptoms. Consequently, patient-reported outcome measures are critical in assessing the disease burden and the treatment efficacy of peripheral facial palsy from patients' perspective. This study examines factors influencing patients' global impression of change (PGIC) scores, a type of patient-reported outcome measure, in hospitalized patients with peripheral facial palsy. This retrospective study analyzed the electronic medical records of 200 patients with peripheral facial palsy who were admitted to the Korean Medicine Hospital, Kyung Hee University Medical Center from May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. Impact of demographic, electrophysiological, intervention, and clinical factors on PGIC scores were evaluated. Descriptive statistics showed that the length of hospitalization (P = .020), time from disease onset to hospitalization (P = .022), lacrimal disorders (P = .002), House-Brackmann (HB) grade evaluated at admission (P = .016) and at discharge (P < .001), improvement in HB-grade from admission to discharge (P = .002), and total facial disability index (FDI) score at discharge (P < .001) were significantly associated with PGIC scores. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, HB-grade at admission (OR: 13.89, 95% CI: 2.18-113.60), length of stay (OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.07-0.92), time from disease onset to hospitalization (OR: 5.55, 95% CI: 1.36-24. 77), tear-related symptoms (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.17-0.96), total FDI score (OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.20-0.98), and greater improvement in HB-grade at discharge compared to admission (OR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.02-0.31) were significantly associated with PGIC scores. Patients with milder initial disease severity, hospitalization period exceeding 7 days, shorter time from disease onset to hospitalization, improvement of lacrimal symptoms, total FDI score, and HB-grade between admission and discharge experienced more significant subjective improvement in peripheral facial palsy.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Retrospective Studies; Facial Paralysis; Middle Aged; Republic of Korea; Aged; Adult; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Severity of Illness Index; Hospitalization; Length of Stay; Quality of Life; Inpatients
PubMed: 38905416
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038573 -
BMJ Open Jun 2024Mental health problems after discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU) interfere with physical recovery and seriously affect daily life. Social support has been...
OBJECTIVES
Mental health problems after discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU) interfere with physical recovery and seriously affect daily life. Social support has been suggested to be associated with mental health but has not been sufficiently characterised. This study aimed to evaluate the association of social support before ICU admission with mental health after ICU discharge.
DESIGN
Prospective cohort study.
SETTING
Medical-surgical ICU of a hospital in Japan.
PARTICIPANTS
Patients admitted to the ICU for more than 48 hours were surveyed on social support prior to ICU admission, and 3 months after discharge from the ICU, mental health questionnaires were mailed to the patient.
PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related symptoms were measured using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
RESULTS
A total of 153 patients were enrolled; the prevalence of PTSD-related symptoms, anxiety and depressive symptoms 3 months after discharge from the ICU was 11.3%, 14.0% and 24.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis using linear regression models adjusted for age, sex and years of education for PTSD-related symptoms, anxiety and depressive symptoms revealed that social support (β=-0.018, 95% CI: -0.029 to 0.006, p=0.002) and female sex (β=0.268, 95% CI: 0.005 to 0.531, p=0.046) were independent factors associated with the severity of depressive symptoms. In addition, sex differences were observed in the association between depressive symptoms and social support (p for interaction=0.056).
CONCLUSIONS
Higher social support before ICU admission was not associated with PTSD symptoms after ICU discharge, although it may be associated with a lower prevalence depressive symptoms after ICU discharge. Therefore, it is important to provide necessary social support when needed.
Topics: Humans; Social Support; Female; Male; Prospective Studies; Intensive Care Units; Japan; Patient Discharge; Middle Aged; Depression; Aged; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Anxiety; Mental Health; Surveys and Questionnaires; Prevalence; Adult
PubMed: 38904131
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082810 -
Cureus Jun 2024The Leicester Royal Infirmary Emergency Department is one of the largest single-site Emergency Departments in the UK. We evaluated the department's management of...
INTRODUCTION
The Leicester Royal Infirmary Emergency Department is one of the largest single-site Emergency Departments in the UK. We evaluated the department's management of bacterial meningitis. The current national guideline recommends that all patients presenting with suspected bacterial meningitis receive antibiotics within one hour.
METHODS
A survey of 100 clinicians (Consultants, Registrars, House Officers, and Advanced Clinical Practitioners) working in the Emergency Department was performed to determine the awareness of the guidelines and a retrospective examination of case notes for patients who presented at the Leicester Royal Infirmary Emergency Department with suspected meningitis was carried out between May 1, 2022, and May 1, 2023. A random sample of 30 patients was drawn from the department's database of 190 patients, identified through discharge coding summaries.
RESULTS
Nine (25%) of the prescribers knew of the guidelines for managing meningitis, and six (16.7%) had utilised the hospital guidelines. Thirty-three (91.7%) prescribers acknowledged the importance of administering steroids to patients suspected of having bacterial meningitis (excluding those displaying signs of meningococcal sepsis, such as a rash). However, only seven (23%) of patients received this treatment. Additionally, only one (3.3%) patient was documented as having received a dose within the first hour of presentation.
CONCLUSION
The timely diagnosis and administration of appropriate antibiotic therapy are pivotal elements in managing bacterial meningitis. As a result, we designed a checklist to facilitate the effective management of meningitis within the department by increasing awareness of the guidelines and making the critical principles of suspected meningitis management more accessible.
PubMed: 38903975
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.62767 -
Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online Mar 2024An extended length of stay following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) is associated with increased patient morbidity and...
PURPOSE
An extended length of stay following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) is associated with increased patient morbidity and health care costs. The primary purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for an extended length of stay following ORIF for PHF.
METHODS
All patients who underwent ORIF for PHF between 2015 and 2021 were queried from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database. Patient demographics, comorbid conditions, and postoperative complications within 30 days of procedure were collected. Extended length of stay (eLOS) was defined by ≥ 3 days from operation to discharge. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify predictors of eLOS following ORIF.
RESULTS
Characteristics of patients significantly associated with eLOS included age ≥ 75 years (p < .001), male gender (p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 ( = .001), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification ≥ 3 ( < .001), dependent functional status ( < .001), noninsulin-dependent diabetes ( = .037), insulin-dependent diabetes ( < .001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( < .001), congestive heart failure (CHF) ( < .001), hypertension ( < 0.001), dialysis ( < .013), disseminated cancer ( < 0.001), chronic steroid use ( = .004), and bleeding disorder ( < .001). Independent predictors of eLOS were age ≥ 75 years (OR = 2.69; < .001), BMI < 18.5 (OR = 1.70; = .016), ASA ≥ 3 (OR = 2.70; < .001), dependent functional status (OR = 2.30; < .001), CHF (OR = 3.57; < .001), disseminated cancer (OR = 7.62; < .001), and bleeding disorder (OR = 2.68; < .001).
CONCLUSION
Age ≥ 75, BMI < 18.5, ASA ≥ 3, functional dependence, CHF, disseminated cancer, and bleeding disorder were independently associated with eLOS.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Assessing specific patient factors prior to ORIF for PHF can assist in managing perioperative risks and decreasing expenses related to eLOS.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Prognosis III.
PubMed: 38903841
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsg.2023.11.013 -
Cureus May 2024Cancer is often accompanied by bone metastasis, which may lead to skeletal-related events (SREs), such as pain, hypercalcemia, pathological fractures, spinal cord...
Cancer is often accompanied by bone metastasis, which may lead to skeletal-related events (SREs), such as pain, hypercalcemia, pathological fractures, spinal cord compression, orthopedic surgical intervention, and palliative radiation directed at the bone. Herein, we report the case of a 75-year-old female patient diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with bone metastasis and a pathological fracture of the right iliac bone. The management strategy and follow-up were determined by a multidisciplinary cancer board comprising physicians, physiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, radiologists, and rehabilitation therapists. A conservative approach was chosen, incorporating a bone-modifying agent and weight-bearing restrictions for the right leg, along with rehabilitation therapy and post-discharge support. A multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach for two months enabled the patient to walk independently upon discharge. She maintains her activities of daily living (ADL) for over six months after discharge without any skeletal issues. This case highlights the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary approach in managing bone metastasis or involvement in patients with lymphoma.
PubMed: 38903364
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60713 -
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery Jun 2024The aim of this study is to report the preliminary real-word clinical and hemodynamic performance from the MANTRA study in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement...
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study is to report the preliminary real-word clinical and hemodynamic performance from the MANTRA study in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with Perceval PLUS sutureless valve.
METHODS
MANTRA is an ongoing "umbrella" prospective, multi-center, international post-market study to collect real-life safety and performance data on Corcym devices (Corcym S.r.l, Saluggia, Italy). Clinical and echocardiographic outcomes were collected preoperatively, at discharge and at each follow up. KCCQ-12 and EQ-5D-5L quality of life questionnaires were collected preoperatively and at 30-days.
RESULTS
A total of 328 patients underwent aortic valve replacement with Perceval PLUS in 29 International institutions. Patients were enrolled from July 2021 to October 2023 and enrollment is still ongoing. Mean age was 71.9 ± 6.4 years, mean EuroSCORE II was 2.9 ± 3.9. Minimally invasive approach was performed in 44.2% (145/328) of patients; concomitant procedures were done in 40.8% (134/328) of cases. Thirty-day mortality was 1.8% (6/328) and no re-interventions were reported. Pacemaker implant was required in 4.0% (13/328) of the patients. The assessment of the functional status demonstrated marked and stable improvement in NYHA class in most patients at 30-day follow-up, with significant increase of KCCQ-12 summary score (from 58.8 ± 23.0 to 71.8 ± 22.1, p < 0.0001) and EQ-5D-5L VAS score (from 64.5 ± 20.4 to 72.6 ± 17.5, p < 0.0001). Mean pressure gradient decreased from 46.2 ± 17.3 mmHg to 10.1 ± 4.7 mmHg at 30-day follow-up. Low or no incidence of moderate-to-severe paravalvular or central leak was reported.
CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary results demonstrate good clinical outcomes and significant improvement of Quality of Life at 30-days, excellent early hemodynamic performance within patient implanted with Perceval PLUS.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
The MANTRA study has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05002543, Initial release 26 July 2021).
Topics: Humans; Aged; Male; Female; Prospective Studies; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Aortic Valve; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Treatment Outcome; Aortic Valve Stenosis; Prosthesis Design; Sutureless Surgical Procedures; Quality of Life; Hemodynamics; Aged, 80 and over; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38902742
DOI: 10.1186/s13019-024-02861-1 -
BMC Palliative Care Jun 2024Patients who have benefited from specialist intervention during periods of acute/complex palliative care needs often transition from specialist-to-primary care once such...
Improving patients', carers' and primary care healthcare professionals' experiences of discharge communication from specialist palliative care to community settings: a protocol for a qualitative interview study.
BACKGROUND
Patients who have benefited from specialist intervention during periods of acute/complex palliative care needs often transition from specialist-to-primary care once such needs have been controlled. Effective communication between services is central to co-ordination of care to avoid the potential consequences of unmet needs, fragmented care, and poor patient and family experience. Discharge communications are a key component of care transitions. However, little is known about the experiences of those primarily receiving these communications, to include patients', carers' and primary care healthcare professionals. This study aims to have a better understanding of how the discharge communications from specialist palliative care services to primary care are experienced by patients, carers, and healthcare professionals, and how these communications might be improved to support effective patient-centred care.
METHODS
This is a 15-month qualitative study. We will interview 30 adult patients and carers and 15 healthcare professionals (n = 45). We will seek a range of experiences of discharge communication by using a maximum variation approach to sampling, including purposively recruiting people from a range of demographic backgrounds from 4-6 specialist palliative care services (hospitals and hospices) as well as 5-7 general practices. Interview data will be analysed using a reflexive thematic approach and will involve input from the research and advisory team. Working with clinicians, commissioners, and PPI representatives we will co-produce a list of recommendations for discharge communication from specialist palliative care.
DISCUSSION
Data collection may be limited by the need to be sensitive to participants' wellbeing needs. Study findings will be shared through academic publications and presentations. We will draft principles for how specialist palliative care clinicians can best communicate discharge with patients, carers, and primary care clinicians. These will be shared with clinicians, policy makers, commissioners, and PPI representatives and key stakeholders and organisations (e.g. Hospice UK) and on social media. Key outputs will be recommendations for a specialist palliative care discharge proforma.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Registered in ISRCTN Registry on 29.12.2023 ref: ISRCTN18098027.
Topics: Humans; Qualitative Research; Palliative Care; Patient Discharge; Caregivers; Communication; Health Personnel; Primary Health Care; Male; Female; Adult; Interviews as Topic; Patients; Continuity of Patient Care
PubMed: 38902635
DOI: 10.1186/s12904-024-01451-1