Effects of indigo carmine intravenous injection on noninvasive and continuous total hemoglobin measurement

The effects of an intravenous injection of indigo carmine on noninvasive and continuous total hemoglobin (SpHb) measurement were retrospectively evaluated. The subjects were 21 patients who underwent elective gynecologic surgery under general anesthesia. During surgery, 5 mL of 0.4 % indigo carmine was intravenously injected, and subsequent changes in SpHb concentrations were evaluated. The results demonstrate that the pre-injection SpHb level was 10 g/dL, and the minimum post-injection SpHb level was 8.3 g/dL. The amount of decrease was 1.8 g/dL. The time to reach the minimum value was 4 min, and the time to return to the pre-injection value was 15 min. The decrease in SpHb was greater in the group with a perfusion index (PI) < 1.4 than in the group with a PI > 1.4. The assessment of SpHb after an intravenous injection of indigo carmine necessitates caution.     

Clinical outcomes of point-of-care testing in the interventional radiology and invasive cardiology setting

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care testing (POCT) can provide rapid test results, but its impact on patient care is not well documented. We investigated the ability of POCT to decrease inpatient and outpatient waiting times for cardiovascular procedures. METHODS: We prospectively studied, over a 7-month period, 216 patients requiring diagnostic laboratory testing for coagulation (prothrombin time/activated partial thromboplastin time) and/or renal function (urea nitrogen, creatinine, sodium, and potassium) before elective invasive cardiac and radiologic procedures. Overall patient management and workflow were examined in the initial phase. In phase 2, we implemented POCT but utilized central laboratory results for patient management. In phase 3, therapeutic decisions were based on POCT results. The final phase, phase 4, sought to optimize workflow around the availability of POCT. Patient wait and timing of phlebotomy, availability of laboratory results, and therapeutic action were monitored. Split sampling allowed comparability of POCT and central laboratory results throughout the study. RESULTS: In phase 1, 44% of central laboratory results were not available before the scheduled time for procedure (n = 135). Mean waiting times (arrival to procedure) were 188 +/- 54 min for patients who needed renal testing (phase 2; n = 14) and 171 +/- 76 min for those needing coagulation testing (n = 24). For patients needing renal testing, POCT decreased patient wait times (phases 3 and 4 combined, 141 +/- 52 min; n = 18; P = 0.02). For patients needing coagulation testing, wait times improved only when systematic changes were made in workflow (phase 4, 109 +/- 41 min; n = 12; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Although POCT has the potential to provide beneficial patient outcomes, merely moving testing from a central laboratory to the medical unit does not guarantee improved outcomes. Systematic changes in patient management may be required.     

Accuracy of non-invasive continuous total hemoglobin measurement by Pulse CO-Oximetry in severe traumatized and surgical bleeding patients

The Masimo Radical-7 Pulse CO-Oximeter (Masimo Corp., USA) non-invasively computes hemoglobin concentration (SpHb). SpHb was compared to Co-Oximeter readings (CoOxHb) of arterial samples in surgery patients of the emergency department. Forty-six patients were enrolled. The Masimo R1 25L (revision F and G) adult adhesive sensor was attached to the ring finger of the arterially cannulated hand. Before start, every 30 min during surgery and in the case of severe bleeding SpHb and CoOxHb values were documented. SpHb and post hoc adjusted SpHb (AdSpHb) values were analyzed. Linear regression analysis and Bland–Altman plot for agreement were performed. The detection failure rate of SpHb was 24.5 %. CoOxHb and SpHb showed a strong correlation (r = +0.81), but agreement was moderate [bias (LOA) of ?0.6 (?3.0; +1.9)] g/dl. Positive and negative predicted value was 0.49 and 0.69. Exclusion of changes of CoOxHb values ≤1 g/dl resulted in a positive and negative predictive value of 0.66 and 1.00. Post hoc adjustment of the SpHb (AdSpHb) improved linear correlation of CoOxHb and AdSpHb [r = +0.90 (p < 0.001)] but less the agreement [bias (LOA) of CoOxHb and AdSpHb = ?0.1 (?2.1/+1.9) g/dl]. SpHb agreed only moderately with CoOxHb values and predicted decreases of CoOxHb only if changes of SpHb ≤ 1.0 g/dl were excluded. The detection failure rate of SpHb was high. At present, additional refinements of the current technology are necessary to further improve performance of non-invasive hemoglobin measurement in the clinical setting.     

Accuracy of noninvasive ejection fraction measurement in a large community-based clinic

OBJECTIVE: Compare the agreement of two dimensional echocardiography (echocardiography) and electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), with left ventricular contrast angiography (angiography) for the evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. DATA SOURCE: American College of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Data Registry(TM) (ACC-NCDR). PARTICIPANTS: Patients from a large, community-based clinic in central Wisconsin. METHODS: Consecutive patients (1999-2002) were identified from the ACC-NCDR dataset who underwent angiography and echocardiography or SPECT within 1 month of each other for evaluation of LVEF. Noninvasive LVEF values were compared to those obtained by angiography using the paired t-test. Regression analysis was used to assess the relation between the compared methods. Bland-Altman analyses were performed to assess the agreement between LVEF values obtained by the noninvasive techniques and angiography. Sensitivity and specificity of detecting depressed LVEF were determined for noninvasive techniques. Regression equations were determined for estimating angiographic values from the echocardiographic or SPECT values. RESULTS: Five hundred thirty-four patients underwent 542 angiographic studies: SPECT in all 534 patients, combined SPECT and echocardiographic studies in 201 patients, and combined angiographic and echocardiographic studies in 202 patients. Correlation of angiographic LVEFs with both echocardiographic and SPECT LVEFs was significant (r = 0.70 and r = 0.69, respectively; p < 0.0001). Echocardiographic LVEFs were lower than those determined by angiography (49% +/- 1.0% versus 54% +/- 1.0%; p < 0.0001). SPECT LVEFs were also lower than angiographic LVEFs (49% +/- 0.6% versus 57% +/- 0.6%; p < 0.0001). For 201 patients who underwent both SPECT and echocardiography, SPECT LVEFs were lower (47% +/- 1.0% for SPECT versus 49% +/- 1.0% for echocardiography; p < 0.05). Bland-Altman analysis revealed widely varying differences between techniques with broad confidence intervals. Nonetheless, sensitivity and specificity for determining LVEFs of <40% for SPECT and echocardiography were 90% and 86%, and 75% and 89%, respectively. LVEF of < or = 35% was correctly assessed by both SPECT and echocardiography. Sensitivity and specificity for SPECT were 82% and 89%, and 81% and 88% for echocardiography. CONCLUSION: At our institution, LVEFs obtained noninvasively by echocardiography or SPECT are lower than angiographic LVEFs with widely fluctuating differences. Regression equations can be used to correct the noninvasive readings. Although lower, noninvasive techniques appear to accurately assess depressed LVEFs (<40% and <35%). The accuracy of noninvasive techniques for the evaluation of LVEF should be considered when managing and determining prognoses of patients with cardiac conditions. Individual institutions should determine the validity of the noninvasive techniques they use to assess LVEF.     

Accuracy and precision of noninvasive temperature measurement in adult intensive care patients.

BACKGROUND: Research on the accuracy and precision of noninvasive methods of measuring body temperature is equivocal. OBJECTIVES: To determine accuracy and precision of oral, ear-based, temporal artery, and axillary temperature measurements compared with pulmonary artery temperature. METHODS: Repeated-measures design conducted for 6 months. Sequential temperature measurements on the same side of the body were obtained within 1 minute, with measurements repeated 3 times at 20-minute intervals. Accuracy, precision, and confidence limits were analyzed. RESULTS: In 60 adults with cardiopulmonary disease and a pulmonary artery catheter, mean pulmonary artery temperature was 37.1 degrees C (SD 0.6 degrees C, range 35.3 degrees C-39.4 degrees C). Mean (SD) offset from pulmonary artery temperature (with the mean reflecting accuracy and SD reflecting precision) and confidence limits were 0.09 degrees C (0.43 degrees C) and -0.75 degrees C to 0.93 degrees C for oral measurements, -0.36 degrees C (0.56 degrees C) and -1.46 degrees C to 0.74 degrees C for ear measurements, -0.02 degrees C (0.47 degrees C) and -0.92 degrees C to 0.88 degrees C for temporal artery measurements, and 0.23 degrees C (0.44 degrees C) and -0.64 degrees C to 1.12 degrees C for axillary measurements. Percentage of pairs with differences greater than +/-0.5 degrees C was 19% for oral, 49% for ear, 20% for temporal artery, and 27% for axillary measurements. Intubation increased oral measurements compared with pulmonary artery temperatures (mean difference 0.3 degrees C, SD 0.3 degrees C, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Oral and temporal artery measurements were most accurate and precise. Axillary measurements underestimated pulmonary artery temperature. Ear measurements were least accurate and precise. Intubation affected the accuracy of oral measurements; diaphoresis and airflow across the face may affect temporal artery measurements.     

Accuracy and feasibility of point-of-care and continuous blood glucose analysis in critically ill ICU patients

Introduction  

To obtain strict glucose regulation, an accurate and feasible bedside glucometry method is essential. We evaluated three different types of point-of-care glucometry in seriously ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The study was performed as a single-centre, prospective, observational study in a 12-bed medical ICU of a university hospital.     

The new noninvasive occlusion spectroscopy hemoglobin measurement method: a reliable and easy anemia screening test for blood donors

BACKGROUND: The tests used for anemia screening in blood donors are based on fingerstick samples, leading to discomfort and complaints. The aim of this study was to analyze the feasibility of occlusion spectroscopy method in blood banks and to compare the method with fingerstick hemoglobinometer and hemoglobin (Hb) determination on an automatic blood analyzer. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The study enrolled 205 consecutive volunteer blood donors. Samples were collected by fingerstick and venous punction to determine Hb level by a Hemocue Hb201+ (Hb‐F) and automatic blood analyzer (Hb‐V) and compare to the noninvasive Hb determination by occlusion spectroscopy using NBM200 system (Hb‐NI). The percentage errors of Hb‐F and Hb‐NI of all donors as well as stratified by sex, weight, and age levels were compared to Hb‐V as reference values using Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: The results obtained with Hb‐F showed significant errors (p < 0.001) in the general group as well as when stratified by sex, weight, and age groups, above values obtained with Hb‐V. Hb‐NI showed significant errors only in females (p = 0.026) and weight level of 61 to 70 kg (p = 0.034), below Hb‐V values. CONCLUSIONS: Hb‐NI seems to be a good method in terms of precision and feasibility for anemia screening of blood donors as well as being much more comfortable for donors.     

Prevention of tumor lysis syndrome in an outpatient setting

The prevention and identification of hyperuricemia are critical components in the management of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), which is common in acute leukemias, large cell lymphomas, bulky tumors, large tumor burdens, and other cancers with high proliferation rates. Such cancers are very receptive to cytotoxic therapy because of increased mitotic rates. Lysis of their tumor cells results in metabolic abnormalities because of the release of their intracellular products. TLS is an oncologic emergency that could lead to renal failure and death; therefore, early identification of high-risk patients is vital for successful treatment outcomes. Treatment modalities include the use of allopurinol and hydration while implementing evidence-based practices for the prevention of TLS in the outpatient clinical center.     

Determining patient discharge criteria in an outpatient surgery setting

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DISCHARGE OF AN OUTPATIENT surgical patient to home implies that the patient is clinically stable and capable, to some degree, of self-care. Nurses currently have no formal evidence-based clinical criteria to assist them in determining outpatient surgical patients' readiness for dis-charge to home. Nurses often make discharge decisions based on their education, experience, and personal beliefs.

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THE GOAL of this quality improvement project was to identify specific factors that outpatient surgery nurses consider in assessing readiness of patients for discharge.

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THE RESULTS WERE USED to develop orientation and educational programs for outpatient surgery staff members and were incorporated into a patient discharge assessment checklist.

     

Selecting a suitable appointment system in an outpatient setting

One of the principal causes of waiting time in outpatient departments is the lack of well-designed appointment systems. A conceptual framework is given for dealing with existing appointment systems and to explain their working. The variables that play a role with respect to the appointment system are discussed. All different appointment systems can be compared according to their effect on the patients' waiting time and the physician's idle time, when the systems are expressed in terms of a new variable called "prepunctuality." Prepunctuality means the difference between the time of a patient's arrival at the clinic and the expected time of treatment, and is caused by the patient's own earliness, physician's lateness and the earliness induced by the appointment system chosen. The relationship between prepunctuality and both waiting and idle time was investigated by means of a computer simulation model. In this way, the consequences of using different appointment systems have been clarified, expressed in mean waiting time for the patient and total idle time for the physician. Given certain standards for waiting and idle time, the calculated results can be used to determine an appropriate appointment system and the corresponding waiting and idle time for the range of most common clinic situations. Examples are given to illustrate how these results can be used.     

Accuracy and trending of non-invasive hemoglobin measurement during different volume and perfusion statuses

The evolution of non-invasive hemoglobin measuring technology would save time and improve transfusion practice. The validity of pulse co-oximetry hemoglobin (SpHb) measurement in the perioperative setting was previously evaluated; however, the accuracy of SpHb in different volume statuses as well as in different perfusion states was not well investigated. The aim of this work is to evaluate the accuracy and trending of SpHb in comparison to laboratory hemoglobin (Lab-Hb) during acute bleeding and after resuscitation. Seventy patients scheduled for major orthopedic procedures with anticipated major blood loss were included. Radical-7 device was used for continuous assessment of SpHb, volume status [via pleth variability index (PVI)] and perfusion status [via perfusion index (PI)]. Lab-Hb and SpHb were measured at three time-points, a baseline reading, after major bleeding, and after resuscitation. Samples were divided into fluid-responsive and fluid non-responsive samples, and were also divided into high-PI and low-PI samples. Accuracy of SpHb was determined using Bland–Altman analysis. Trending of SpHb was evaluated using polar plot analysis. We obtained 210 time-matched readings. Fluid non-responsive samples were 106 (50.5%) whereas fluid responsive samples were 104 (49.5%). Excellent correlation was reported between Lab-Hb and SpHb (r?=?0.938). Excellent accuracy with moderate levels of agreement was also reported between both measures among all samples, fluid non-responsive samples, fluid-responsive samples, high-PI samples, and low-PI samples [Mean bias (limits of agreement): 0.01 (??1.33 and 1.34) g/dL, ??0.08 (??1.27 and 1.11) g/dL, 0.09 (??1.36 and 1.54) g/dL, 0.01 (??1.34 to 1.31) g/dL, and 0.04 (??1.31 to 1.39) g/dL respectively]. Polar plot analysis showed good trending ability for SpHb as a follow up monitor. In conclusion, SpHb showed excellent correlation with Lab-Hb in fluid responders, fluid non-responders, low-PI, and high PI states. Despite a favorable mean bias of 0.01 g/dL for SpHb, the relatively wide levels of agreement (??1.3 to 1.3 g/dL) might limit its accuracy. SpHb showed good performance as a trend monitor.     

Facilitators and barriers to colorectal cancer screening in an outpatient setting

BACKGROUNDColorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Still, 1 in 3 adults aged 50 years to 75 years have not been screened for CRC. Early detection and management of precancerous or malignant lesions has been shown to improve overall mortality.AIMTo determine the most significant facilitators and barriers to CRC screening in an outpatient clinic in rural North Carolina. The results of this study can then be used for quality improvement to increase the rate of patients ages 50 to 75 who are up to date on CRC screening.METHODSThis retrospective study examined 2428 patients aged 50 years to 75 years in an outpatient clinic. Patients were up to date on CRC screening if they had fecal occult blood test or fecal immunochemical test in the past one year, Cologuard in the past three years, flexible sigmoidoscopy/virtual colonoscopy in the past five years, or colonoscopy in the past ten years. Data on patient socioeconomic status, comorbid conditions, and other determinants of health compliance were included as covariates.RESULTSAge [odds ratio (OR) = 1.058; P = 0.017], no-show rate percent (OR= 0.962; P < 0.05), patient history of obstructive sleep apnea (OR = 1.875; P = 0.025), compliance with flu vaccinations (OR = 1.673; P < 0.05), compliance with screening mammograms (OR = 2.130; P < 0.05), and compliance with screening pap smears (OR = 2.708; P < 0.05) were important factors in determining whether a patient will receive CRC screening. Race, gender, insurance or employment status, use of blood thinners, family history of CRC, or other comorbid conditions including diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and end-stage renal disease were not found to have a statistically significant effect on patient adherence to CRC screening.CONCLUSIONPatient age, history of sleep apnea, and compliance with other health maintenance tests were significant facilitators to CRC screening, while no-show rate percent was a significant barrier in our patient population. This study will be of benefit to physicians in addressing and improving the CRC screening rates in our community.