Clinical outcomes and maternal perceptions of an updated model of perinatal care

BACKGROUND: Postpartum hospital stays seem likely to remain limited even under new laws which mandate that insurers cover 48-hour hospitalization after uncomplicated delivery. Clinicians, who are increasingly practicing in capitated arrangements, need better information to maximize clinical benefit to mothers and newborns using finite resources. OBJECTIVE AND INTERVENTIONS: This study's aim was to evaluate the clinical outcomes, patient perceptions, and costs of a revised model of perinatal care services. In this model, a new postpartum care center was established for routine follow-up of newborns within 48 hours after hospital discharge, educational efforts were shifted from the postpartum hospitalization to the prenatal period, and lactation consultant hours were increased. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Controlled, nonrandomized (double cohort) study that compared mothers and newborns with hospital stays of 48 hours or less during the Baseline Care (preintervention) study period (N = 344) with those under the Revised Care (postintervention) study period (N = 456). SETTING: The Hayward, California, medical center of Kaiser Permanente, a nonprofit health maintenance organization. DATA COLLECTION: Telephone interviews were attempted with all mothers 3 weeks after delivery. Data on rehospitalizations, emergency department (ED) and clinic visits, and costs during the first 14 postpartum days were collected from computerized databases and chart review. OUTCOME MEASURES: The combined clinical outcome was defined as any undesirable health event, including rehospitalization, an ED visit, or an urgent clinic visit by either the mother or newborn within the first 14 days postpartum, or breastfeeding discontinuation within the first 21 days postpartum. Maternal satisfaction and costs were also studied. RESULTS: Of 876 attempted interviews, 800 were completed (91%). Analyses were adjusted for age, race, education, parity, breastfeeding experience, and other relevant variables. Among the interviewed mother-newborn pairs, 45% in the Revised Care group experienced the combined clinical outcome, compared with 52% in the Baseline Care group. Newborns in the Revised Care group (29%) were significantly less likely to make urgent clinic visits during the first 14 days of life than those in the Baseline Care group (36%). There were no differences between groups in newborn ED visits or rehospitalizations, maternal clinical outcomes, or breastfeeding continuation. Mothers in the Revised Care group expressed higher satisfaction with the newborn's care, the amount of information they received about newborn care and breastfeeding, and the amount of help they received with breastfeeding. Planned hospital care, planned follow-up visits, and unplanned care costs decreased by $149 per delivery, while the new prenatal class and increased lactation consultant services cost $58 per delivery, for an estimated overall reduction in cost. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the revised model of perinatal care in this health maintenance organization medical center improved clinical outcomes and maternal satisfaction for low-risk mothers and newborns without increasing costs.     

The number of receptors for factor VII correlates with the ability of cultured cells to initiate coagulation

Previously, we showed that cells derived from nonvascular tissues initiate clotting primarily by markedly increasing the activity of coagulation factor VII. Cells derived from vascular tissue do not normally exhibit this property (tissue factor activity). In this study, we have characterized the relationship between the tissue factor activity of cultured cells derived from normal tissues and the number of receptors they possess for coagulation factor VII. Only cultured nonvascular cells expressed tissue factor activity or possessed receptors for 125I-factor VII. Fetal lung cells, the nonvascular tissue with the largest amount of procoagulant and tissue factor activity, possessed the most receptors for 125I-factor VII (880,000/cell). Bovine corneal endothelial cells, the nonvascular tissue possessing the fewest number of receptors (2,400/cell), had the least amount of procoagulant or tissue factor activity. The affinity of nonvascular cells for 125I- factor VII varied for the cells studied (Kd congruent to 1.3-90 X 10(- 10) M). Vascular cells expressed no tissue factor activity, nor did they bind 125I-factor VII. 125I-factor VII and unlabeled factor VII bound to cells had identical procoagulant activities. These results indicate that the ability of cultured cells to initiate coagulation may be regulated in part by the number of receptors they possess for factor VII.     

Patient characteristics and resource utilisation in paediatric intensive care

To determine the relation between basic clinical characteristics and resource utilisation in paediatric intensive care, an open prospective study was performed. Resource utilisation was expressed using the therapeutic intervention score system (TISS) and length of stay (LOS), from which total resource utilisation per admission (TISSTOT) and average daily resource utilisation (TISSMEAN = TISSTOT/LOS) were obtained. Overall 593 admissions, totalling 3130 days, were included. Mortality was 8.4% and non-survivors accounted for 14.1% of overall resource utilisation. In non-survivors, TISSTOT and TISSMEAN were higher, whereas LOS was not different from survivors'. Severity of illness, surgical status, significant chronic comorbidity, emergency admission, and transfer status constituted the major predictive determinants of TISSTOT (r2 = 0.19) and TISSMEAN (r2 = 0.45) in multiple regression analysis. High resource utilisation in high risk patients was probably warranted, as effectiveness of prolonged intensive treatment was demonstrated. It is concluded that TISSTOT and TISSMEAN are appropriate, non-monetary measures of resource utilisation, a considerable proportion of which are determined by a concise set of basic clinical characteristics.     

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the femoropopliteal artery: initial and long-term results

Patients with dilated stenoses and recanalized occlusions were evaluated to assess the initial and long-term results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in the femoropopliteal artery. The follow-up period was at least 1 year. The initial success rate was 84% (128/164). The initial results were influenced by the radiologist's experience, catheter selection, and type of lesion. The 5- and 7-year cumulative patency rates were 70% and 60%. There was no difference in long-term patency between initially successful stenoses and short (less than 3 cm) occlusions. Both the morphology and location of the stenotic lesion influenced the long-term results. Although many factors influence the initial and long-term success rate, results of this study justify PTA in the femoropopliteal artery. Patients with localized stenoses and short occlusions are best suited for this treatment.