Analysis of trauma intubations

The timing of trauma patient intubation is dependent on clinical presentation and clinician judgment. We sought to correlate the timing of intubation with the presenting of physiologic parameters and clinical outcome to identify potential quality assurance audit filters. Patients (n = 82) were grouped by timing of intubation: PREHOSPITAL, paramedic intubation; IMMEDIATE, within 10 minutes of arrival; DELAYED, beyond 10 minutes but within 2 hours of arrival; and NONURGENT, beyond 2 hours or at the time of surgery. While mean revised trauma scores and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores differed for the groups, the mean length of hospital stay and the incidence of aspiration pneumonia were not significantly different. In the DELAYED group, 80% of those who developed aspiration pneumonia had a GCS < or = 13. Patients in the NONURGENT group were older and commonly presented with tachypnea. The survival rate for the NONURGENT group was lower than predicted by the TRISS method (P = .004). A GCS < or = 13 and age greater than 50 years with presenting respiratory rates of more than 25 breaths/min represent potential trauma intubation audit filters.     

An audit of pain and vomiting in paediatric day case surgery

Three hundred and thirteen paediatric day case patients were prospectively audited to assess postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting using data sheets completed by nursing staff, anaesthetists and parents. The incidence of nausea and vomiting was 7.3% and was commoner in older children and those who had received opioids. Forty per cent of patients had some degree of postoperative pain; 17% of these patients were scored as having severe pain. Of children who had pain on returning home (31.4%), 85% of these required paracetamol. Fifteen per cent of children had a disturbed night due to pain and/or vomiting after their operation and 28.5% of children had pain on the following day. Boys undergoing circumcision were responsible for a disproportionately high percentage of the severe pain scores. Audit has helped to highlight deficiencies in the service provided and has led staff to try and improve their methods of analgesia.     

Multicentre prospective audit of surgical outcomes and acute complications following short course pre-operative radiotherapy for resectable rectal cancer

BACKGROUND: The addition of short course pre-operative radiotherapy to total mesorectal excision reduces local recurrence in resectable adenocarcinoma of the rectum. In a previous retrospective study potential factors associated with early complications following this combination were identified. The aim of this study was to examine these relationships in a prospective multicentre audit. METHODS: One hundred and seven patients who received short course pre-operative radiotherapy in four cancer centres between 1 October 2001 and 30 September 2002 were included. Data including patient age, radiotherapy field length, overall treatment time, operation type, surgical outcomes and complications occurring within 3 months of the 1st day of radiotherapy were collected. These were compared and combined with the previously studied cohort of 176 patients treated at one centre between 1st January 1998 and 31st December 1999. RESULTS: In the prospective cohort only patient age (P=0.001) was significantly associated with acute complications. However, both the overall treatment time (median 9.0 vs 11.0 days P <0.0001) and field length (median 16.6 vs 17.0 cm P=0.03) were significantly shorter in this cohort when compared to the previous retrospective study. In patients from both studies (n=283), increasing age (P=0.002) and field length (independent of operation type) (P=0.02) were independently associated with an increased risk of acute complications. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that meticulous selection of patients for short course pre-operative radiotherapy and smaller planning target volumes may be associated with a lower risk of acute complications. The use of MRI scanning to stage pelvic disease may reduce the number of patients with R1 resections receiving short course pre-operative radiotherapy.     

COMPUTER-BASED SURGICAL AUDIT PROGRAMS: A REVIEW OF THREE CURRENT OPTIONS

Background : In order to find the most useful computerized auditing system for the needs of the QE II Hospital surgical department three surgical auditing software programs were assessed. Methods : The Otago University Surgical Auditing Program, the Australian Surgical Auditing Program, and RACS-Audit were trialled for a period of 1 month each. The software programs were evaluated to find the time requirements for data entry, the level of surgical knowledge needed for effective audit information entry, and the perceived usefulness of the generated reports. Results : It was found that the Otago University program best suited the needs of the department. This system was designed for use in a hospital environment with multiple users. The method of data collection was simple and rapid. Entry of data into the program was logical, well structured and able to be performed by both junior medical staff and clerical staff. Reports generated by this system included information in an appropriate format for the departments' morbidity and mortality meetings. Conclusion : Personal computers are an ideal tool for the undertaking of surgical audit. Software programs are designed for different uses and should be critically assessed to ensure that the method of data entry, the time involved, and the reports generated enable an efficient and effective audit to be carried out.     

Biomedical waste in laboratory medicine: audit and management

Pathology, microbiology, blood bank and other diagnostic laboratories generate sizable amount of biomedical waste (BMW). The audit of the BMW is required for planning proper strategies. The audit in our laboratory revealed 8 kgs anatomical waste, 600 kgs microbiology waste, 220 kgs waste sharps, 15 kgs soiled waste, 111 kgs solid waste, 480 litres liquid waste along with 33,000 litres per month liquid waste generated from labware washing and laboratory cleaning and 162 litres of chemical waste per month. Section wise details are described in the text. Needle sharps are collected in puncture proof containers and the needles autoclaved before sending to needle pit. The glass forms the major sharp category and is disinfected with hypochlorite before washing/recycling. All microbiology waste along with containers/plates/tubes are autoclaved before recycling/disposal. The problem of formalin fixed anatomical waste as histology specimens is pointed out. The formalin containing tissues cannot be sent for incineration for the fear of toxic gas release and the guidelines by the Biomedical waste rule makers need to be amended for the issue. The discarded/infected blood units in blood bank need to be autoclaved before disposal since chemical treatments are difficult or inefficient. The liquid waste management needs more attention and effluent treatment facility needs to be viewed seriously for hospital in general. The segregation of waste at source is the key step and reduction, reuse and recycling should be considered in proper perspectives.     

总责任护士主导的医护一体化护理模式在创伤骨科的应用

目的探讨总责任护士主导的医护一体化临床护理模式在创伤骨科的应用效果。 方法选择2016年7月至2017年6月在南京大学医学院附属鼓楼医院创伤骨科行手术治疗的骨折患者200例，按照入院先后顺序分为对照组90例(实施创伤骨科常规护理)和观察组110例(实施医护一体化工作模式，包括成立医护合作小组、实施总责任护士主导的医护一体化查房、个体化诊疗方案的共同决策、疼痛管理、早期出院计划与延续护理)。比较2组患者的术后护理效果和医护合作满意度。对数据行t检验和χ²检验。 结果总责任护士主导的医护一体化模式下，观察组患者术后72 h内数字评分法(NRS)评分为(4.09±1.64)分，疼痛干预有效率为77.57%，对照组术后72 h内NRS评分为(5.15±1.69)分，疼痛干预有效率为57.95%，2组比较差异均有统计学意义(P值均小于0.05)；观察组下肢深静脉血栓、泌尿系统感染、便秘的发生例数分别为2、1、3，对照组下肢深静脉血栓、泌尿系统感染、便秘的发生例数分别为9、7、11，两组比较差异均有统计学意义(χ²＝4.486、4.296、6.812，P＝0.027、0.036、0.009)。观察组术后康复开始时间为(21.48±6.41)h，术后住院时间为(11.08±2.19)d；对照组术后康复开始时间为(36.48±10.75)h，术后住院时间为(13.95±2.93)d，2组比较差异均有统计学意义(t＝11.670、－7.616，P值均小于0.05)。2组医护合作满意度结果显示，观察组患者信息的交流得分为(3.78±0.85)分，共同参与治疗或护理决策得分为(3.86±0.87)分，医师和护士的关系得分为(4.00±0.84)分，总分为(3.87±0.67)分；对照组患者信息的交流得分为(3.32±1.00)分，共同参与治疗或护理决策得分为(3.23±0.93)分，医师和护士的关系得分为(3.45±0.96)分，总分为(3.33±0.84)分，2组比较差异均有统计学意义(P值均小于0.05)。 结论总责任护士主导的医护一体化护理模式的应用，以亚专科为核心，重新整合医护资源，共同参与制订患者的诊疗护理方案，共同聚焦患者安全与质量，加强了医护间的配合，提高了医疗护理服务质量，提升医护合作满意度。     

基于内控视角的医院后勤维修改造项目管理与审计

主要就医院后勤支出中占比较高的后勤维修改造项目的管理和审计进行探讨和分析,研究如何规范管理,从内控视角出发制定一套高标准、高质量的项目全流程监管体系和审计方法,以提高医院运营效率,降低运营成本。