Standards for polysomnography in Canada. The Standards Committees of the Canadian Sleep Society and the Canadian Thoracic Society.

OBJECTIVE: To develop standards for polysomnography in Canada in order to assist in the uniform provision of diagnostic and therapeutic services related to sleep disorders. OPTIONS: Uniform testing versus no current Canadian standards. OUTCOMES: Uniform delivery of health care; reduction in number of repeat studies and their attendant costs. EVIDENCE: Availability of diagnostic laboratories and services, and survey responses (written and oral) from directors of sleep laboratories; the American Thoracic Society statement on indications and standards for cardiopulmonary sleep studies was used as a template. VALUES: Acceptable standards of practice were based on consensus opinion of the standards committees of the Canadian Sleep Society and the Canadian Thoracic Society. The committees comprised specialists in neurology, psychiatry, psychology, respirology and polysomnographic technology; family practitioners and otolaryngologists were also consulted. BENEFITS, HARMS, COSTS: Improved level of care and reduction in duplicate or unnecessary testing; establishment, with available resources, of diagnostic sleep laboratories by appropriately qualified physicians in areas where polysomnography is unavailable. RECOMMENDATIONS: Health care practitioners involved in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders should possess a minimum amount of training (both clinical and research) in sleep disorders medicine. The variables recorded and findings entered in a patient's report must be relevant to the sleep disorder under investigation. The recording equipment must provide reliable, accurate and reproducible data and lend itself to appropriate calibration and quality-control procedures. Facilities for sleep studies must meet patient care safety standards, with provisions for emergency or resuscitative measures when necessary; all personnel must be trained in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation. VALIDATION: No previous standards concerning polysomnography in Canada exist. The recommended standards were reviewed by all members of the Canadian Sleep Society and a revised document was approved by the Standards Committee of the Canadian Sleep Society and by the Standards and Executive committees of the Canadian Thoracic Society. SPONSORS: These standards are endorsed by the Canadian Sleep Society and the Canadian Thoracic Society. The cost of preparing this statement was borne by the individual members of the standards committees; no external funding was provided.     

Recommendations for prevention of neonatal ophthalmia. Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee, Canadian Paediatric Society.

Without preventive measures, gonococcal ophthalmia will develop in approximately 28% of infants born to women with gonorrhea, a disease that is relatively frequent and largely asymptomatic in pregnant women. In addition, in some settings conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis may be more frequent than gonococcal conjunctivitis among neonates. The Canadian Paediatric Society therefore recommends that, as soon as possible after birth, all infants receive prophylaxis with silver nitrate, tetracycline or erythromycin, administered according to specific guidelines.     

Grain dust and the lungs.

Grain dust is composed of a large number of materials, including various types of grain and their disintegration products, silica, fungi, insects and mites. The clinical syndromes described in relation to exposure to grain dust are chronic bronchitis, grain dust asthma, extrinsic allergic alveolitis, grain fever and silo-filler's lung. Rhinitis and conjunctivitis are also common in grain workers. While the concentration and the quality of dust influence the frequency and the type of clinical syndrome in grain workers, host factors are also important. Of the latter, smoking is the most important factor influencing the frequency of chronic bronchitis. The role of atopy and of bronchial hyperreactivity in grain dust asthma has yet to be assessed. Several well designed studies are currently being carried out in North America not only to delineate the frequency of the respiratory abnormalities, the pathogenetic mechanisms and the host factors, but also to establish a meaningful threshold limit concentration for grain dust.     

Guidelines for the assessment and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Canadian Thoracic Society Workshop Group.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fifth commonest cause of death in North America and is the only leading cause of death that is increasing in prevalence. Early detection and prevention through smoking cessation are essential to stem this epidemic. Once COPD is diagnosed there is a compelling rationale for vaccination against influenza and possibly pneumococcal pneumonia, although proof of efficacy is lacking. If airways obstruction is present, inhaled quaternary anticholinergic bronchodilators or inhaled beta 2 agonists or both may be of benefit, the former agents showing fewer side effects and often greater efficacy in elderly patients. Theophylline may enhance the effect or increase the duration of the bronchodilatation produced by an inhaled agent and may offer added nonbronchodilatory effects such as improved respiratory muscle endurance and ventilatory stimulation. If significant airflow obstruction persists, an objectively monitored trial of oral steroid therapy is required. Limitation of activity despite optimum medical therapy may be alleviated in selected patients by a supervised exercise rehabilitation program. If hypoxemia is present supplemental oxygen therapy will improve the patient's survival and quality of life. Additional therapies, from respiratory stimulants to lung transplantation, remain under investigation.     

Antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgery. Committee on Antimicrobial Agents, Canadian Infectious Disease Society.

OBJECTIVE: To provide guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis on the basis of the type of surgical procedure. OPTIONS: Standard drug regimens for prophylaxis of infection in a variety of surgical procedures were considered, including a first-generation cephalosporin; an aminoglycoside in combination with metronidazole, clindamycin or erythromycin; a second-generation cephalosporin; and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. OUTCOMES: In order of importance: efficacy, side effects and cost. EVIDENCE: A MEDLINE search of articles published between January 1980 and December 1991. For clinical trial data, greatest emphasis was placed on randomized, double-blind studies using appropriate controls. VALUES: The Committee on Antimicrobial Agents of the Canadian Infectious Disease Society (CIDS) and two recognized experts (T.K.W. and O.D.R.) recommended antimicrobial regimens suitable for prophylaxis of infections in surgery. Whenever possible, recommendations were based on data from randomized controlled trials. BENEFITS, HARMS AND COSTS: Implementation of the guidelines is expected to reduce the incidence of postoperative infections, the inappropriate use of antibiotics and costs to hospitals. RECOMMENDATIONS: Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for operations with a high risk of postoperative wound infection or with a low risk of infection but significant consequences if infection occurs. These operations include clean-contaminated procedures and certain clean procedures. Drugs should be administered intravenously immediately before the operation. In colorectal operations oral administration also appears to be effective. A single dose is sufficient for most procedures. The regimen chosen depends on the pathogens usually associated with wound infection in a given operation, the serum half-life of the drugs, the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in the local hospital and the cost of the drugs. VALIDATION: The guidelines were compared with others in standard textbooks of surgery and peer-reviewed articles. The guidelines were prepared and revised by the Committee on Antimicrobial Agents of the CIDS. They were then reviewed and revised further by the Council of the CIDS. SPONSOR: The CIDS was solely responsible for developing, funding and endorsing these guidelines.     

Neonatal circumcision revisited. Fetus and Newborn Committee, Canadian Paediatric Society.

OBJECTIVE: To assist physicians in providing guidance to parents regarding neonatal circumcision. OPTIONS: Whether to recommend the routine circumcision of newborn male infants. OUTCOMES: Costs and complications of neonatal circumcision, the incidence of urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases and cancer of the penis in circumcised and uncircumcised males, and of cervical cancer in their partners, and the costs of treating these diseases. EVIDENCE: The literature on circumcision was reviewed by the Fetus and Newborn Committee of the Canadian Paediatric Society. During extensive discussion at meetings of the committee over a 24-month period, the strength of the evidence was carefully weighed and the perspective of the committee developed. VALUES: The literature was assessed to determine whether neonatal circumcision improves the health of boys and men and is a cost-effective approach to preventing penile problems and associated urinary tract conditions. Religious and personal values were not included in the assessment. BENEFITS, HARMS AND COSTS: The effect of neonatal circumcision on the incidence of urinary tract infection, sexually transmitted diseases, cancer of the penis, cervical cancer and penile problems; the complications of circumcision; and estimates of the costs of neonatal circumcision and of the treatment of later penile conditions, urinary tract infections and complications of circumcision. RECOMMENDATION: Circumcision of newborns should not be routinely performed. VALIDATION: This recommendation is in keeping with previous statements on neonatal circumcision by the Canadian Paediatric Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The statement was reviewed by the Infectious Disease Committee of the Canadian Paediatric Society. The Board of Directors of the Canadian Paediatric Society has reviewed its content and approved it for publication. SPONSOR: This is an official statement of the Canadian Paediatric Society. No external financial support has been received by the Canadian Paediatric Society, or its members, for any portion of the statement's preparation.