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.     

脑卒中患者医院感染的临床分析及预防对策

在我国大规模人群调查显示，脑卒中年发病率为109．7～217/10万，且随年龄而增长，脑卒中患者为医院感染的高危人群，其感染发生率明显高于其他疾病。为了解脑卒中患者的医院感染危险因素，预防和控制医院感染的发生，现对海安肿瘤医院院收治的396例脑卒中患者病历资料进行调查，分析脑卒中患者医院感染的危险因素和特点，为有效控制院内感染提供依据。     

Quadrilateral space syndrome: a rare cause of shoulder pain

The authors report a case of quadrilateral space syndrome in a baseball pitcher. The diagnosis was made by means of subclavian arteriography performed with the arm in abduction and external rotation. This entity is a rare cause of shoulder pain caused by occlusion of the posterior humeral circumflex artery in the quadrilateral space.     

Tetrahydrocannabinol vs. prochlorperazine. The effects of two antiemetics on patients undergoing radiotherapy

The authors tested the effectiveness of orally administered delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as compared to prochlorperazine for the alleviation of symptoms, such as vomiting and nausea, experienced by patients receiving radiotherapy. The test subjects rated the severity of their illness, as well as the extent of their subsequent moods, their level of concentration, their amount of physical activity, and their desire for social interaction. They chose the drug they preferred and recorded its side effects. The use of THC was slightly more beneficial than the use of prochlorperazine.     

曲马多对母婴乳酸盐和新生儿神经行为的影响

目的　研究曲马多对母婴血乳酸盐和新生儿神经行为与适应能力评分 (NACS)的影响。方法　 6 0例足月妊娠剖宫产产妇随机分三组 :T0 组 ,2 0例 ,肌注 0 9%氯化钠 2ml;T1组 2 0例 ,肌注曲马多 1 5mg/kg ;T2 组 ,2 0例 ,肌注曲马多 2mg/kg。各组肌注后开始麻醉 ,三组均采用脊麻与硬膜外联合阻滞。观察指标 :新生儿生后 15min的Apgar评分及新生儿生后 15min的NACS ;胎儿娩出时采脐动、静脉血和母体动脉血各 2ml,行血乳酸值测定及血气分析。结果　三组新生儿Apgar评分无明显差异 ,T0 组NACS明显高于T1组 (P <0 0 5 )和T2 组 (P <0 0 1) ;T2 组脐动、静脉血乳酸值明显高于T1组 (P <0 0 5 )和T0 组 (P <0 0 1) ;母体乳酸值三组间无明显差异 ;T2 组母体和脐动、静脉血PaCO2 明显高于T0 组 (P <0 0 1) ,T2 组脐动、静脉血SaO2 明显低于T0 组 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　剖宫产术前肌注曲马多 1 5mg/kg对新生儿无明显不良影响。但 2mg/kg曲马多肌注具有呼吸抑制作用 ,使脐动、静脉血乳酸盐增加 ,对新生儿NACS有一过性影响     

Effects of malnutrition on the erythrocyte fatty acid composition and plasma vitamin E levels of Pakistani children

Abstract Erythrocyte fatty acids and plasma vitamin E concentrations were determined in 47 grade 2 and 21 grade 3 malnourished Pakistani children (ages 4–56 months). Data were compared with those of 26 age- and sex-matched apparently healthy controls. Evaluation with three statistical approaches revealed that both grade 2 and grade 3 malnourished children had decreased erythrocyte ω6 fatty acids and to a lesser extent decreased ω3 fatty acids. These decreases were compensated for by increased ω9 fatty acids. The patients tended to have lower plasma vitamin E concentrations. We conclude that malnourished Pakistani children have low essential fatty acid status, notably those of the ω6 series. The combination of low erythrocyte 22:6ω3 and a low 22:5ω6/22:4ω6 ratio in grade 2 patients suggests low Δ4-desaturation activity, which may be due to impaired peroxisomal β-oxidation.