Contemporary Epidemiology of and Risk Factors Associated with Removal of a Pathologically Normal Appendix in Children with Suspected Appendicitis

BackgroundThe goal of this study was to characterize contemporary performance benchmarks and risk factors associated with negative appendectomy (NA) in children with suspected appendicitis.MethodsA multicenter retrospective cohort analysis of children undergoing appendectomy for suspected appendicitis was performed using data from the 2016–2021 NSQIP-Pediatric Appendectomy Targeted Public Use Files. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate the influence of year, age, sex, and WBC count on NA rate, and to generate rate estimates for NA based on different combinations of demographic characteristics and WBC profiles.Results100,322 patients were included from 140 hospitals. The overall NA rate was 2.4%, and rates decreased significantly during the study period (2016: 3.1% vs. 2021: 2.3%, p < 0.001). In adjusted analyses, the highest risk for NA was associated with a normal WBC (<9000/mm³; OR 5.31 [95% CI: 4.87–5.80]), followed by female sex (OR 1.55 [95% CI: 1.42–1.68]) and age <5 years (OR 1.64 [95% CI 1.39, 1.94]). Model-estimated risk for NA varied significantly across demographic and WBC strata, with a 14.4-fold range in rates between subgroups with the lowest and highest predicted risk (males 13–17 years with elevated WBC [1.1%] vs. females 3–4 years with normal WBC [15.8%]).ConclusionsContemporary NA rates have decreased over time, however NA risk remains high in children without a leukocytosis, particularly for girls and children <5 years of age. These data provide contemporary performance benchmarks for NA in children with suspected appendicitis and identify high-risk populations where further efforts to mitigate NA risk should be targeted.Level of EvidenceIII.     

Outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with heart failure with a midrange ejection fraction

BackgroundCoronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) improves survival in patients with heart failure and severely reduced left ventricular systolic function (LVEF). Limited data exist regarding adverse cardiovascular event rates after CABG in patients with heart failure with midrange ejection fraction (HFmrEF; LVEF > 40% and < 55%).MethodsWe analyzed data on isolated CABG patients from the Veterans Affairs national database (2010-2019). We stratified patients into control (normal LVEF and no heart failure), HFmrEF, and heart failure with reduced LVEF (HFrEF) groups. We compared all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization rates between groups with a Cox model and recurrent events analysis, respectively.ResultsIn 6533 veterans, HFmrEF and HFrEF was present in 1715 (26.3%) and 566 (8.6%) respectively; the control group had 4252 (65.1%) patients. HFrEF patients were more likely to have diabetes mellitus (59%), insulin therapy (36%), and previous myocardial infarction (31%). Anemia was more prevalent in patients with HFrEF (49%) as was a lower serum albumin (mean, 3.6 mg/dL). Compared with the control group, a higher risk of death was observed in the HFmrEF (hazard ratio [HR], 1.3 [1.2-1.5)] and HFrEF (HR, 1.5 [1.2-1.7]) groups. HFmrEF patients had the higher risk of myocardial infarction (subdistribution HR, 1.2 [1-1.6]; P = .04). Risk of heart failure hospitalization was higher in patients with HFmrEF (HR, 4.1 [3.5-4.7]) and patients with HFrEF (HR, 7.2 [6.2-8.5]).ConclusionsHeart failure with midrange ejection fraction negatively affects survival after CABG. These patients also experience higher rates myocardial infarction and heart failure hospitalization.     

中国医疗不良事件报告与质量改进的分析研究

文章分析了来自国家卫生健康委员会医政医管局收集的82万例不良事件报告中最常见的三项错误，该三项错误占82万例不良事件的53％；还介绍了抽样医院主动报告的五类不良事件，以及国家药品不良事件反应网络监测中心的药品与器械不良事件报告。介绍了北京中卫云医疗数据分析与应用研究院100万例误诊报告的简要内容，简要列举了6个典型误诊病例。介绍了中国政府主要的质量政策以及通过医院评审工作落实政策，改善医院管理的做法，引用《柳叶刀》杂志对中国医疗状况的评价，说明质量政策与医院评审对提升医疗服务安全质量是有效的。同时指出要警惕新发疾病，减少误诊，关注新技术、新材料、新药品应用时可能出现新的不安全事件，以实现高质量发展的目标。     

以脾胃为中心的葛根相关配伍对糖尿病心肌病大鼠受损心肌线粒体的改善作用

目的:观察葛根及其配伍对糖尿病心肌病(DCM)大鼠心肌线粒体质量变化的影响,探寻治疗糖尿病心肌病的最优配伍及机制。方法:采用链脲佐菌素腹腔注射进行模型大鼠制备,并将60只成模大鼠随机分为模型组6.5 g/(kg·d)、达美康组16.7 mg/(kg·d)、葛根组1.04 g/(kg·d)、葛芪组2.6 g/(kg·d)、葛参组2.6 g/(kg·d)、葛蒌组4.48g/(kg·d)及葛芪参蒌组7.6 g/(kg·d)各8只,同时选取空白大鼠8只,为对照组6.5 g/(kg·d)。各组依据上述剂量,以相应药物持续灌胃9周后,对比各组心肌线粒体超微结构变化、心肌线粒体膜电位变化及心肌ATP变化情况。结果:电镜显示各药物干预组心肌线粒体超微结构较模型组均有不同程度的改善,其中葛芪参蒌组改善效果最为明显,与空白组无明显差异; 流式细胞仪检测显示:各干预组波峰均在模型组、空白组之间; 其中葛芪参蒌组、葛参组、葛根组波峰位于达美康组右侧; 葛芪组、葛蒌组则位于达美康组左侧; 以葛芪参蒌组波峰与空白组最为接近。心肌ATP浓度检测显示:各中药干预组心肌ATP浓度均较模型组有所提升(P<0.05),其中葛芪参蒌组ATP值较其余各干预组提升最为明显(P<0.05),但仍低于空白组(P>0.05)。结论:葛根相关配伍均能够对心肌线粒体结构、心肌线粒体膜电位进行正向调控,进而使因糖尿病心肌病导致的心肌线粒体受损得以恢复,其中以益气、化瘀、祛痰三法合用的组方原则进行配伍的葛芪参蒌方改善效果最优。可见其治疗机制可能是通过益气、化瘀、祛痰的协同作用,正向调控心肌线粒体质量而达到治疗目的。     

Trends in revisional bariatric surgery using the MBSAQIP database 2015-2017

BackgroundThe third most common bariatric surgery is revisional bariatric surgery. The American College of Surgeons tracks outcomes using the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation Quality Initiative Program database. We used this database to examine trends in revisional bariatric surgery.ObjectiveTo evaluate how trends in bariatric revisional surgery have changed in recent years.SettingUniversity Hospital, United States.MethodsThe Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation Quality Initiative Program database for 2015 to 2017 was examined for revisions of bariatric surgery. Patients who underwent revisional bariatric surgery were identified by the primary Current Procedural Terminology code, the REVCONV and PREVIOUS_SURGERY field as well as secondary Current Procedural Terminology codes. There is no exact code for sleeve gastrectomy (SG) to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB), so we used 43644 (GB)+REVCONV+PREVIOUS_SURGERY for this.ResultsFor the years 2015 to 2017 there were 57,683 revisions/conversions of 528,081 patients. The number of revisions increased over the study period by 5213 cases. The most common revision was laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) to SG with 15,433 cases and the second was LAGB to LRYGB with 10,485 cases. There were 14,715 LAGB removals. It is more difficult to track SG to LRYGB but there were 8491 unlisted cases, which may have been sleeve to bypass.ConclusionLAGBs are being taken out or converted, and this group makes up the largest portion of revisions and conversions. It is difficult to track SG to LRYGB, but the number of unlisted cases continues to climb. This will likely surpass LAGB conversions with time. The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation Quality Initiative Program should be modified to capture revisions/conversions of SG.     

黄芪桂枝汤对于风湿痹证患者的改善作用研究

目的:分析和研究黄芪桂枝汤对于风湿痹证患者的改善作用。方法:选择了56例患者进行研究主要对象,将所有参与研究的56例患者分成了对照组(28例)和观察组(28例),使用的分组方式为随机数字表法。对照组使用的治疗方式为西药,观察组则在西药治疗的基础之上增加了黄芪桂枝汤进行联合治疗。之后对比两个组别患者的治疗疗效以及疼痛积分值。结果:对照组之中有11例患者为治愈,11例患者为好转,剩余6例患者为未愈;观察组之中有15例患者为治愈,12例患者为好转,剩余1例患者为未愈,对照组之中患者的治疗疗效明显低于观察组之中的患者。在进行治疗之前,对照组与观察组患者之间的对比不具有统计学意义,对照组当中患者的疼痛积分值明显低于观察组患者,P <0.05说明数据的差异存在统计学意义。结论:在对风湿痹证患者进行治疗时,加用黄芪桂枝汤能够起到标本兼治以及扶正祛邪的作用,值得推广。     

血液标本采集中护理缺陷原因分析及改进措施研究

目的：探讨血液标本采集中存在的护理缺陷的原因并提出有效的改进措施。方法回顾性分析该站2016年1一5月的33215例血液标本，分析血液标本采集中57例存在护理缺陷的原因，结合原因提出有效的改进方法。结果对该次33215例血液标本进行分析，在57例有护理缺陷的血液标本中信息不准确或不完整30例(52.6％）是该次采血护理缺陷的主要原因，标本质量缺陷15例(26.3％）是该次采血护理缺陷的次要原因。结论强化采血护士对标准操作规程及实践培训是改进血液标本采集护理的重要措施，优化调整排班，建立缺陷标本沟通和反馈途径，并持续改进，是保证标本质量，降低缺陷发生率的重要途径。