Trends in malpractice litigation in relation to the delivery of breast care in the National Health Service

Malpractice litigation involving the delivery of breast care has been evaluated in the United States of America (USA) but is a relatively new area of study in the United Kingdom (UK). We sought to study and evaluate the emerging trends in litigation claims in relation to breast disease with the National Health Service Litigation Authority (NHSLA) over the last 15 years, up to December 2010.     

Defense of breast cancer malpractice claims

The goal of this study was to determine whether factors associated with the successful defense and cost of malpractice cases involving the failure to diagnose breast cancer could be identified in medical and legal records. Secondary goals were to develop a multidisciplinary clinical algorithm utilizing National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) practice guidelines with practitioner risk management strategies. Physician deviations from these guidelines were tracked to identify high-risk areas in the diagnosis of breast cancer. A multidisciplinary clinical algorithm was introduced and practitioner risk management issues were addressed. In this study specific medical, legal, and cost factors were retrospectively abstracted and analyzed to identify associations between medical and legal factors and medicolegal outcome. ProMutual handled 156 malpractice cases involving breast cancer between January 22, 1986, and November 20, 1997. Of the total, 124 cases involving 212 defendants were closed. The closed cases were analyzed, using multivariable stepwise logistic and linear regression, to identify associations between clinical factors and case outcome. Women's health practitioners (WHPs), including obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs), family medicine, and internal medicine clinicians, were the largest group of defendants (97). Others included radiologists (43), surgeons (33), and pathologists (3). OB-GYNs accounted for 31% of these defendants, with a cost of more than $16 million. The greatest number of specialists represented in the open cases were radiologists, with 38% of the total. The defense model predicts that the probability of successful defense is lessened with inadequate record keeping, a patient that has metastasis and is alive, and a delay in diagnosis of 12 months or more. The overall indemnity model predicts a higher indemnity with the spread of disease at the time of evaluation, a patient who has metastasis and is alive, and a date of occurrence closer to the present. Indemnity is less in patients who have had a lymph node dissection, who have died, or who are alive without metastasis. The WHP model predicts an increased overall indemnity with the spread of disease at the time of evaluation and the presence of a mass without pain. Indemnity decreases with a history of pregnancy, absence of presenting symptoms, or presentation with pain with or without a mass, and the performance of a lymph node dissection.     

Importance of patient reported outcome measures versus clinical outcomes for breast cancer patients evaluation on quality of care

IntroductionGiven increasing numbers of breast cancer survivors, there is an increased focus on quality of life and quality of care. This study aims to investigate whether clinical or patient reported outcomes are most important for perceived quality of care by breast cancer patients.MethodsOverall, 606 patients aged 18 years or older, who underwent breast cancer surgery 9–18 months ago in five hospitals in the Netherlands, were invited to complete an internet-based questionnaire. Patients were asked to judge a random selection of 24 patient profiles and choose which of 2 presented patients had received the best quality of care, using conjoint analysis. The individual relative importance (RI) for each outcome was estimated using Hierarchical Bayes Estimation, and averaged over all patients to assess which outcomes were most important.ResultsComplete data were available for 350 patients (58%). Avoiding severe breast symptoms was most important for good quality of care according to patients (RI 23.22 [95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) 22.32–24.12]), followed by a 2 year longer disease free survival (18.30 [17.38–19.22]). However, the importance differed by age: younger patients (<50 years) assigned higher importance to longer disease free survival (21.99 [19.52–24.46]) than older patients (65 + years) (15.03 [13.88–16.18]).ConclusionAvoiding severe breast symptoms rather than 2 year longer disease free survival is considered most important in our population of breast cancer patients for evaluation of quality of care. These data should thus be included in both information provision prior to treatment choices and post treatment quality of care evaluation.     

Continuation of poor surgical outcome after elderly brain injury

BACKGROUND: In spite of the decline in mortality among trauma patients, with advanced trauma care, the outcome for elderly patients remains poor. Both operative and nonoperative outcome for elderly patients after head trauma has resisted improvement. METHODS: Forty-five consecutive patients 70 years or older were included in the study. All these patients were admitted from January 2000 to June 2005. Road-traffic accidents caused most of the head injuries. RESULTS: Most of the patients (n = 33) belonged to severe head injury category. Contusions were the commonest CT scan finding (n = 27), for which surgery was indicated. Unexplained clinical deterioration, in spite of timely surgery and satisfactory postoperative CT scans, in a significant number of patients (n = 29) was noteworthy. Over the same period, the comparative group of younger patients (20-40 years, n = 1026) was also analyzed. CONCLUSION: Elderly patients experienced higher mortality and poorer functional outcome. The natural history of traumatized brain among elderly patients remains unchanged till the present times. The nihilistic scenario asks for reevaluation of interventions, relook into the neurobiology of aging brain, and aggressive research for remedial measures for such patients, especially among severe head injury group.     

农村贫困地区妇女保健状况变化的评价

目的　对第五期计划生育项目改善农村贫困地区妇女保健状况进行评估 ,探讨改善农村贫困地区妇女保健状况的有效方法和手段。　方法　对国际合作第五期计划生育结合项目的资料进行定量和定性分析。　结果　项目实施后 ,三个县产前检查率均达 80 %以上。新法接生率在隆化已达 1 0 0 % ,惠水及民和也较项目实施前将近翻了一番 ,在 90 %左右。妇女病检查率大幅度增加 ,妇女病患病率呈下降趋势 ,“五期”知识知晓率均有明显提高。　结论　以健康教育为主 ,结合普查普治的方法能够有效改善农村贫困地区妇女知识与保健状况     

预见性护理干预对整形美容者心理的影响分析

目的:分析预见性护理干预对整形美容者心理的影响。方法:分析2011年5月至2013年5月我院收治的100例整形美容者的临床资料。结果:术前两组患者的SAS和SDS评分之间的差异均不显著(P0.05);术后观察组患者的SAS和SDS评分均明显比对照组低,术前术后观察组患者的焦虑和抑郁改善程度明显比对照组大(P0.05);观察组患者对护理工作的满意度92%(46/50)明显比对照组64%(32/50)高(P0.05)。结论:预见性护理干预能够有效改善整形美容者的焦虑和抑郁心理。     

Risk factors for a poor outcome following surgical treatment of cervical spondylotic amyotrophy: a multicenter study

Introduction

Cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (CSA) is characterized by muscle atrophy in the upper extremities without gait disturbance. However, the indications and outcomes of surgical treatment for CSA have not been clarified. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors for a poor outcome following surgical treatment of CSA.

Materials and methods

We performed a retrospective review of CSA in patients from 1991 to 2010 through a multicenter study. We collected information regarding age, type of muscle atrophy, preoperative manual muscle test (MMT), duration of symptoms, high-intensity areas on T2-weighted MR images, low-intensity areas on T1-weighted MR images, levels of spinal canal stenosis, cervical kyphosis and surgical procedures (laminoplasty, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and posterior spinal fusion), and calculated overall risk factors related to a poor outcome following surgery. Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify correlates of a poor outcome.

Results

Fifty-nine patients, 95 % male (56 patients), were included in our analysis with a mean age of 59 years (range 32–78 years). Eighteen patients did not improve after surgery. Symptom duration (OR = 1.263), preoperative MMT grade (OR = 0.169) and distal type of CSA (OR = 9.223) were all associated with an increased risk of a poor surgical outcome.

Conclusion

Early surgery is recommended for CSA patients in whom conservative treatment has not been successful. We also recommend surgery for patients who have severe preoperative muscle weakness or have the distal type of CSA.     

预测乳腺癌术后切口愈合不良的列线图模型建立

目的探讨乳腺癌术后切口愈合不良的危险因素,构建预测术后切口愈合不良发生的列线图模型,并评估模型的预测效果。 方法采用便利抽样法,选择2016年1月至2021年10月徐州医科大学附属淮安医院行乳腺癌手术的813例患者,根据术后切口愈合情况分为愈合良好组（767例）和愈合不良组（46例）。收集两组患者基本信息、病理特征及手术情况开展单因素分析,通过多因素Logistic回归分析筛选术后切口愈合不良的危险因素,利用R 4.1.3软件绘制术后切口愈合不良发生的列线图预测模型并评估其区分度和符合度。 结果愈合不良组年龄、营养不良、合并糖尿病、贫血及手术切口为纵切口比例、置引流管时间与愈合良好组比较,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。Logistic回归分析显示,乳腺癌术后切口愈合不良发生的主要危险因素为年龄大（OR=1.269）、营养不良（OR=2.376）、合并糖尿病（OR=2.262）、贫血（OR=2.227）、置引流管时间长（OR=1.571）（均P<0.05）;受试者工作特征曲线及校准曲线分析结果显示,构建的列线图预测模型区分度（曲线下面积为0.785,95% CI：0.725~0.845）及符合度（拟合优度HL检验χ²=8.294,P=0.405）均较高。 结论基于年龄、营养不良、合并糖尿病、贫血、置引流管时间5项危险因素构建的乳腺癌术后切口愈合不良列线图模型具有较好的预测效能。     

Evaluation of cosmetic outcome following breast‐conserving therapy in trials: panel versus digitalized analysis and the role of PROMs

Cosmetic outcome is an important quality of life‐related end point following breast‐conserving therapy (BCT). To advise on a gold standard, we compare cosmetic outcome evaluated by panel and an objective evaluation (BCCT.core software). Second, patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) are compared to cosmetic outcome evaluation by panel and BCCT.core. Sixty‐eight breast cancer patients were included following BCT between 2007 and 2012. Two independent 6‐member panels and two observers using the BCCT.core evaluated cosmetic outcome. First, reproducibility, repeatability, and relatedness of panel and BCCT.core were analyzed using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Second, the association between panel/BCCT.core with PROMs (EORTC‐QLQ‐C30/BR23, EQ‐5D‐5L, and BREAST‐Q) was analyzed with a linear regression and the goodness of fit by the R². Both panel and BCCT.core evaluations showed “excellent” intraobserver agreement (ICC 0.93 [95% CI: 0.83; 0.97] and 0.93 [95% CI: 0.84; 0.97]) for respectively panel 1 and BCCT.core 1 and “excellent” interobserver agreement (ICC 0.94 [95% CI: 0.90; 0.96] and 0.85 [95% CI: 0.77; 0.91]) respectively for panel and BCCT.core. Association between panel and BCCT.core varied, ICC 0.59‐0.69. Only the PROM BREAST‐Q showed a significant association with both panel evaluations and BCCT.core observers (panel 1 and BCCT.core 1; R² of .157 [P = .002] and .178 [P = .001]). Both panel and BCCT.core showed comparable “excellent” intraobserver and interobserver agreement. For future trials evaluating cosmetic outcome following BCT, one of those can be chosen. Solely, the PROM BREAST‐Q showed a significant association with panel and/or BCCT.core evaluation. To enable standardized cosmetic outcome evaluation and corresponding patient satisfaction in future trials, at least the BREAST‐Q should be combined with a panel or BCCT.core evaluation.     

不同方法乳房重建术的患者报告结局

乳腺癌术后乳房重建可以提高患者的自尊和健康相关的生活质量,重建方式有自体组织重建与假体重建。自体重建有不同自体组织;假体重建有一步法与二步法,假体植入物有不同类型,按重建时间分为即刻与延期重建;重建后可能需要放疗。不同重建材料、重建时机和术后放疗,都可能会对乳房重建患者的报告结局产生影响。本文就不同方法乳房重建术的患者报告结局的研究进展作一综述。     

Simple oncoplastic breast defect closure improves long-term cosmetic outcome of breast conserving surgery for breast cancer: A randomised controlled trial

IntroductionBreast conserving surgery (BCS) is associated with unsatisfactory cosmetic outcomes in up to 30% of patients, carrying psychological and quality-of-life implications. This study compares long-term cosmetic outcomes after BCS for breast cancer with v without simple oncoplastic defect closure.MethodsA randomised controlled trial was performed, recruiting patients who underwent BCS over four years and randomising to the “reshaping” group (closure of excision defect with mobilised breast tissue; n = 124) and to the “control” group (no attempt at defect closure; n = 109). The estimated excision volume (EEV) was <20% of breast volume (BV) in both groups. Photography and breast retraction assessment (BRA) were recorded preoperatively. Cosmetic outcomes were blindly assessed annually for five years by BRA, panel assessment of patients, and body image questionnaire (BIQ).ResultsThere were no significant differences between the reshaping and control groups in mean age (52.4 v 53.0; p = 0.63), body mass index (27.8 v 27.7; p = 0.80), margin re-excision (9 v 9; p = 0.78), mean BV (562.5 v 590.3 cc; p = 0.56), mean EEV (54.6 v 60.1 cc; p = 0.14), mean EEV/BV ratio (11.2 v 11.0; p = 0.84), or mean specimen weight (52.1 v 57.7 g; p = 0.24). Reshaping group patients had significantly better outcomes compared to control group patients in terms of mean BRA (0.9 v 2.8; p < 0.0001), achieving a score of “good” or “excellent” by panel assessment at 5 years (75.8% v 48%, p < 0.0001), body image questionnaire top score at 5 years (66.9% v 35.8%; p = 0.0001).ConclusionsSimple oncoplastic closure of defects after breast-conserving surgery improves long-term objective and subjective cosmetic outcomes.     

微刺激方案对卵巢低反应患者体外受精-胚胎移植周期治疗结局的分析

目的探讨来曲唑/尿卵泡刺激素微刺激方案对卵巢低反应患者的治疗结局。方法研究对象为2007年7月至2009年4月在我院生殖中心接受体外受精/卵胞浆内单精子注射(IVF/ICSI)助孕的卵巢低反应患者111例,随机分为两组,60例使用微刺激方案(实验组),51例使用微量长方案(对照组)。对两组的周期取消率、获卵数、可移植胚胎数、临床妊娠率、胚胎种植率等进行比较。结果对照组与实验组的平均获卵数分别为(4.0±1.3)和(3.0±2.0)个,差异有显著性(P0.05);两组周期取消率、可移植胚胎数、临床妊娠率、胚胎种植率差异无显著性(P0.05)。结论来曲唑/尿卵泡刺激素微刺激方案对卵巢低反应的患者是一种有效的治疗方案,并且费用低廉。     

来曲唑促排卵在卵巢低反应患者中的应用

目的探讨来曲唑促排卵对IVF-ET卵巢低反应患者妊娠结局的影响。方法回顾性分析IVF-ET卵巢低反应患者应用来曲唑促排卵的62个周期(A组),随机选取同期年龄35岁应用短效GnRH-a降调后促排卵的长方案62个周期作为对照(B组)。比较两组患者临床资料、获卵、受精及妊娠情况。结果 A组Gn治疗时间及总剂量均显著低于B组(P0.01);A组HCG日子宫内膜厚度、E2及P水平均显著低于B组,LH水平显著高于B组(P0.01);A组未获卵周期率高于B组,平均获卵数及可移植胚胎数均显著低于B组(P0.01),但受精率及卵裂率两组无显著性差异(P0.05);A组取消周期率显著高于B组(P0.01),临床妊娠率/取卵周期显著低于B组(P0.01),但两组的胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率/移植周期及流产率无显著性差异(P0.05)。结论来曲唑促排卵获得卵母细胞数目少,但受精及卵裂情况较好;而且对子宫内膜影响小,适宜受精卵着床,适合于卵巢低反应的IVF-ET患者。     

The effect of tracheostomy on outcome in intensive care unit patients

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous dilatation tracheostomy (PDT) is increasingly being used in the intensive care unit (ICU), and has probably increased the number of procedures performed. The primary aim of this study was to document the short- and long-term outcome of patients with a tracheostomy performed during an ICU stay. METHODS: Patients in our ICU who underwent an unplanned tracheostomy between 1997 and 2003 were included in this analysis. The type of tracheostomy (PDT or surgical tracheostomy) and time of the procedure were registered prospectively in our ICU database. Survival was followed using the People's Registry of Norway and morbidity data from the individual hospital record. These patients were also compared with a group of ICU patients ventilated for more than 24 h, but managed without a tracheostomy. We also compared patients who had early tracheostomy (less than median time to procedure) with those who had late tracheostomy. RESULTS: Of the 2844 admissions (2581 patients), unplanned tracheostomy was performed during 461 admissions (16.2%) on 454 patients (17.6%). The median time to tracheostomy was 6 days. The ICU, hospital and 1-year mortality rates were 10.8, 27.1 and 37.2%, respectively, significantly less than those of the group ventilated without tracheostomy. The median time to decannulation was 14 days. Patients who had early tracheostomy had a more favourable long-term survival than those who had late tracheostomy. No procedure-related mortality was registered. CONCLUSIONS: In our ICU, having a tracheostomy performed was associated with a favourable long-term outcome with regard to survival, and early tracheostomy improved survival in addition to consuming less ICU resources.     

Validating quality breast care: three new validation programs for 2007

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in treatment and decreases in mortality, high-quality breast care is distributed unevenly across the country. Efforts to measure and monitor the quality of breast care have been initiated for breast centers and breast surgeons. METHODS: The current efforts to define measures of breast care quality were examined. Each program was defined by their quality indicators, ease of use, and potential problems. RESULTS: Three new innovative programs were identified: (1) the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers uses an on-site survey of the structural components of breast center care to offer breast center accreditation; (2) the National Quality Measures for Breast Care (National Consortium of Breast Centers, Inc, Warsaw, IN) uses a confidential online questionnaire of process indicators to offer quality breast center certification; and (3) the American Society of Breast Surgeons program uses a confidential online questionnaire to validate breast surgeon quality. CONCLUSIONS: Three new programs to validate quality breast care are available in 2007. One or more of these programs likely will be used to validate increased payments for quality care. Breast centers and breast surgeons are advised to consider participation in these programs.     

Functional and cosmetic outcome of partial penile disassembly repair in isolated male epispadias patients

Introduction

Epispadias is a rare congenital anomaly and requires a carefully constructed and well-planned approach for the management. Modified Cantwell-Ransley technique and Mitchell's complete penile disassembly are commonly used technique and these may require multiple surgeries in majority of the patients to achieve the goals of cosmesis and continence.

The perception of support received from breast care nurses by depressed patients following a diagnosis of breast cancer

INTRODUCTION

Due to their specialist training, breast care nurses (BCNs) should be able to detect emotional distress and offer support to breast cancer patients. However, patients who are most distressed after diagnosis generally experience least support from care staff. To test whether BCNs overcome this potential barrier, we compared the support experienced by depressed and non-depressed patients from their BCNs and the other main professionals involved in their care: surgeons and ward nurses.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Women with primary breast cancer (n = 355) 2–4 days after mastectomy or wide local excision, self-reported perceived professional support and current depression. Analysis of variance compared support ratings of depressed and non-depressed patients across staff types.

RESULTS

There was evidence of depression in 31 (9%) patients. Depressed patients recorded less surgeon and ward nurse support than those who were not depressed but the support received by patients from the BCN was high, whether or not patients were depressed.

CONCLUSIONS

BCNs were able to provide as much support to depressed patients as to non-depressed patients, whereas depressed patients felt less supported by surgeons and ward nurses than did non-depressed patients. Future research should examine the basis of BCNs'' ability to overcome barriers to support in depressed patients. Our findings confirm the importance of maintaining the special role of the BCN.     

Serum osmolality and outcome in intensive care unit patients

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare 16 routine clinical and laboratory parameters, acute physiologic and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score for their value in predicting mortality during hospital stay in patients admitted to a general intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: A retrospective observational clinical study was carried out in a 15-bed ICU in a university hospital. Nine hundred and thirty-three consecutive patients with ICU stay > 24 h (36.2% surgical, 29.1% medical and 34.7% trauma) were observed. Blood sampling, patient surveillance and data collection were performed. The primary outcome was mortality in the hospital. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses and logistic regression to compare the 16 relevant parameters, APACHE II and SOFA scores. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-three out of the 933 patients died (mortality 25.0%). One laboratory parameter, serum osmolality [area under the curve (AUC) 0.732] had a predictive value for mortality which lay between that of APACHE II (AUC 0.784) and SOFA (AUC 0.720) scores. When outcome prediction was restricted to long-term patients (ICU stay > 5 days), serum osmolality (AUC 0.711) performed better than either of the standard scores (APACHE AUC 0.655, SOFA AUC 0.636). Using logistic regression analysis, the association of clinical parameters, age and diagnosis group with mortality was determined. CONCLUSION: Elevated serum osmolality at ICU admission is associated with an increased mortality risk in critically ill patients. Serum osmolality is cheaper and more rapid to determine than the scoring systems. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the predictive value of serum osmolality in different patient populations.     

Patient-subjective cosmetic outcomes following the varying stages of tissue expander breast reconstruction: the importance of completion

IntroductionTissue expander breast reconstruction consists of three major surgical steps: placement of the expander after mastectomy, exchange of the expander for an implant, and nipple-areola complex reconstruction. The evolution of patient satisfaction throughout this process has not been evaluated. Here we performed a stratified analysis of patient-subjective cosmetic outcomes during the stages of breast reconstruction.MethodsTwenty-eight consecutive tissue expander-implant reconstructions were performed by the senior author using human acellular dermis. Cosmetic outcomes were assessed after each reconstructive stage using a validated Breast Evaluation Questionnaire consisting of questions related to breast size, shape and firmness in three separate contexts: intimate or sexual activities, leisure or social activities, and professional or job-related activities.ResultsEighteen patients underwent unilateral reconstruction, while 10 underwent bilateral reconstruction. Satisfaction scores were statistically higher following Stage I and II procedures for bilateral reconstructions. For unilateral reconstructions, there was a statistically significant elevation in scores following Stage II. The addition of nipple-areola reconstruction resulted in the highest scores for both unilateral and bilateral reconstructions. These score elevations were significant (p < 0.05) in nearly every measured context for unilateral reconstructions and as such, the significant differences in scores between unilateral and bilateral cohorts after stages I and II were nearly eliminated after completion of the entire reconstructive process.ConclusionSatisfaction with tissue expander reconstruction is significantly affected by the patients’ stage during the reconstructive process. Completion of all three stages, including nipple-areolar complex reconstruction, achieves maximal patient satisfaction. For unilateral reconstructions, completion of the entire reconstructive process, including contralateral symmetry procedures and nipple-areolar complex reconstruction, results in cosmesis scores that are similar to those in bilateral cases.