Diagnosing surgical site infections using telemedicine: A Systematic Review

BackgroundSurgical site infections (SSI) are preventable post-operative complications. With the increase in use of telehealth modalities, there is a need to assess if telehealth modalities are safe for assessment of SSI.AimThis review aims to assess the accuracy of using telemedicine in the diagnosis of SSI in post-surgical adult patients as compared to in-person assessments.MethodsA comprehensive search on 6 databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus and CENTRAL) was performed from inception to 1 December 2020. Data was extracted to determine accuracy, feasibility, acceptability, and usability of using telemedicine to detect SSIs. The primary outcome of this review was to review the diagnostic accuracy of telemedicine to diagnose SSIs as compared to direct, in-person assessment. Methodological quality was evaluated using the MINORS criteria.ResultsSix studies met inclusion criteria. Results were summarized qualitatively. The overall methodological quality of the studies was moderate based on the MINORS score. Four studies utilized telephone surveillance, whilst two utilized mobile applications. Telemedicine modalities were able to accurately diagnose 66 SSIs, where an additional 15 were found on direct clinical review. The diagnostic accuracy across the studies ranged from 69.5 to 100%. Between 82.5 and 100% of patients were able to be contacted through these telemedicine modalities.ConclusionsTelemedicine modalities are a feasible option for post-operative follow-up, especially in the identification of SSIs. As technology becomes more affordable and widely available, future applications of telemedicine are limitless. However, further research is still required to ensure that telemedicine is a safe and effective tool.     

国产机器人妙手S系统远程手术实验研究

目的验证国产手术机器人妙手S系统远程手术的安全性和稳定性。方法将国产手术机器人妙手S系统的主从手分开,主手放置在天津大学机械工程学院机器人实验室,从手放置在北京第二炮兵总医院(现火箭军总医院)机器人外科实验室。在天津操作手术机器人主手,通过因特网远程控制北京的机器人臂(从手)进行远程猪胆囊切除、胃穿孔修补、肝脏楔形切除术。检测机器人远程进行切除、缝合、打结、止血等操作的安全性和稳定性。天津至北京距离118 km。结果本次动物(猪)实验完成远程胆囊切除、胃穿孔修补、肝脏楔形切除术,为国内首次动物腹部外科远程手术成功案例。胆囊切除手术时间为50 min,出血5 nl;胃穿孔修补手术时间为20 min,出血0 ml;肝脏楔形切除手术为30 min,出血15 ml。顺行法切除胆囊,先解剖胆囊三角,显露出胆囊管、胆囊动脉和胆总管,离断胆囊管后,顺行剥离胆囊浆膜,注意避免损伤肝脏及右肝管、右肝动脉。胃穿孔修补采用2-0慕丝线行全层间断缝合术,共缝合3针。肝脏楔形切除肝叶边缘大小约2 cm×1cm肝组织。术中无周围脏器损伤等并发症。手术过程有延时效应,延时平均小于250 ms,机器人手术系统无明显抖动等不良状况,实验顺利完成。结论国产手术机器人妙手S系统具有良好的安全性和稳定性,可顺利完成腹部外科远程手术。     

Telemedicine for Facio-Scapulo-Humeral Muscular Dystrophy: A multidisciplinary approach to improve quality of life and reduce hospitalization rate?

Background

Facio-Scapulo-Humeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder characterized by a variable and asymmetric involvement of facial, trunk, upper and lower extremity muscles. Although respiratory weakness is a relatively unknown feature of FSHD, it is not rare. Telemedicine has been used in a variety of health care fields, but only recently, with the advent of sophisticated technology, its interest among health professionals became evident, even in such diseases.

远程医疗服务质量存在的问题及改进策略

通过文献查阅分析、实践调研及专家访谈,构建适合我国当前远程医疗服务模式的服务质量评价指标体系,选取具有代表性的150家医院的远程医疗服务站点进行服务质量评价,对目前远程医疗服务存在的问题进行总结、分析、归纳,进而提出远程医疗服务质量改进策略。     

Telemedicine and mobile health with integrative medicine in developing countries

African Home-based Care (AHC) and African Traditional Medicine (ATM) provide a number of self-sustainable primary health care workers in a rural region with the appreciation of ancestral knowledge and its contextual management. Even though most urban residents are able to afford and use conventional medicine to large extent, the implementations of modern medicine in rural areas and in poor peri-urban areas are limited. Our proposal is on how telemedicine solutions could enhance AHC and ATM practices and facilitate simultaneous delivery of both modern and traditional healthcare with evident added value to the recipients. This is indeed a fresh angle, as information and communication technologies (ICTs) could play an important role in developing countries in the management of patients and enhance quality care for patients in particular and healthcare (both traditional and modern heath systems) in general. This delivers comprehensive insights concerning the implementation on telemedicine where integrative medicine and African traditional medicine is in the back seat.     

COVID-19 and diabetes; Possible role of polymorphism and rise of telemedicine

BackgroundDiabetes has been found to be one of the leading comorbidities associated with fatality in COVID-19 patients. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) entry is facilitated by interaction with Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE2) and possible polymorphisms in ACE2 can be a determining factor in host-viral protein interaction. A significant shift of healthcare towards ‘Telemedicine’ is also on the rise. In this review, the possible effects of ACE2 polymorphisms on SARS-CoV-2 entry along with the escalation of ‘telemedicine’ is discussed.MethodAn expansive literature search using keywords: “COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “diabetes”, “type 2 diabetes’’, “type 1 diabetes”, “ACE2”, “polymorphism”, “DPP4” and “telemedicine” was conducted on Pubmed and EMBASE till 7th August 2020.ResultPossible polymorphisms in ACE2 gene can play a role in influencing the virus entry in host body. Telemedicine can bring a new revolution for medical sector.ConclusionCOVID-19 severity is more heinous among diabetic population. So far, the in-silico studies involving human ACE2-viral Spike (S) interaction showed inconsistent predictions regarding some SNPs. But without actual in-vivo studies, a holistic understanding can’t be established.     

Provision of medical abortion using telemedicine in Brazil

Objective

To evaluate the need for and outcome of self-administered medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol in Brazil, provided through Women on Web, a global telemedicine abortion service.

Study Design

A retrospective case review of women from Brazil who contacted Women on Web in 2011. Information from the online consultation, follow-up questionnaire and emails were used to analyze data including demographics, gestational age, outcome of the medical abortion and symptoms that lead to surgical interventions.

Results

The Women on Web website had 109779 unique visitors from Brazil, 2104 women contacted the helpdesk by email. Of the 1401 women who completed the online consultation, 602 women continued their request for a medical abortion. Of the 370 women who used the medicines, 307 women gave follow-up information about the outcome of the medical abortion. Of these, 207 (67.4%) women were 9 weeks or less pregnant, 71 (23.1%) were 10, 11 or 12 weeks pregnant, and 29 (9.5%) women were 13 weeks or more pregnant. There was a significant difference in surgical intervention rates after the medical abortion (19.3% at < 9 weeks, 15.5% at 11–12 weeks and 44.8% at > 13 weeks, p=.06). However, 42.2% of the women who had a surgical intervention had no symptoms of a complication.

Conclusion

There is large need for medical abortion in Brazil. Home use of mifepristone and misoprostol provided through telemedicine is safe and effective. However, after 13 weeks gestation, there is an increased risk of surgical intervention that may be due to the regimen used and local clinical practices in Brazil.

Implications

The current study shows that there is an unmet need for medical abortion in Brazil, a country with legal restrictions on access to safe abortion services. Telemedicine can help fulfill the need and self administration of medical abortion is safe and effective even at late first trimester abortion. Prospective trials are needed to establish safety, effectiveness and acceptability of home use of medical abortion beyond 12 weeks of pregnancy.     

El médico frente a la COVID-19: lecciones de una pandemia

Apart from its enormous health and economic impact, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way of practicing medicine and medical education. It is likely that this effect may accelerate the transformation that both activities are experiencing. The present article, written at the peak of the crisis, sets out some thoughts on four topics: 1) the publication of false and sensationalist news; 2) the risks of taking medical decisions not based on the evidence; 3) the bioethical implications when there are sufficient resources available for everybody and; 4) the possible effects of the crisis on the teaching of medicine.This crisis should enable doctors, teachers and, students of medicine to draw conclusions and be better prepared for the future. Firstly, it is essential to maintain critical thinking that may protect against the ‘infodemic’. Furthermore, the scientific and ethical standards learned in the faculty, should not be forgotten. Lastly, it should be remembered that, in a devastating pandemic like the current one, apart from scientific medicine, which is practised with the brain, the other medicine that is practiced with the heart must also be practised.