Measuring the Quality of Hospital-based Domestic Violence Programs

OBJECTIVE: To obtain consensus among a panel of experts on performance measures useful for evaluating the quality of hospital-based domestic violence (DV) programs. METHODS: The Delphi process of consensus development was used with a panel of 18 experts including DV researchers, program planners, and advocates. Three rounds were conducted over a period of six months, with each round involving the completion of a written questionnaire. Panelists were instructed to concentrate on structure and process measures of DV program performance. Health outcome measures were not considered. During each round, panelists rated (scale of 1-5) their level of agreement with each measure, in terms of the measure's usefulness for evaluating hospital-based DV programs. Data were entered into SPSS on a personal computer and frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, and variance were computed for each measure. Consensus development was defined as a reduction in the item-specific variance from one round to the next. RESULTS: A total of 37 performance measures were agreed upon. These measures fell within nine different domains of DV program activities, including: Policies and Procedures, Hospital Physical Environment, Hospital Cultural Environment, Training of Providers, Screening and Safety Assessment, Documentation, Intervention Services, Evaluation Activities, and Collaboration. CONCLUSIONS: A number of measures have been identified as useful for evaluating hospital-based DV programs. Use of these measures should assist researchers, program planners, and administrators in assessing the quality of hospital-based DV programs.     

Quality in Clinical Practice

This paper reports the proceedings of the discussion panel assigned to look at clinical aspects of quality in emergency medicine. One of the seven stated objectives of the Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference on quality in emergency medicine was to educate emergency physicians regarding quality measures and quality improvement as essential aspects of the practice of emergency medicine. Another topic of interest was a discussion of the value of information technology in facilitating quality care in the clinical practice of emergency medicine. It is important to note that this is not intended to be a comprehensive review of this extensive topic, but instead is designed to report the discussion that occurred at this session of the consensus conference.     

异丙酚静脉全麻复合硬膜外腔阻滞麻醉期间CO2气腹对血流动力学和氧耗的影响

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of intraperitoneal CO2 insufflation on the hemodynamics, oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) during intravenous anesthesia with propofol in combination with epidural block. METHODS: Intratracheal intubation was performed after rapid induction of anesthesia and mechanical ventilation was given. Maintenance of anesthesia was achieved using continuous intravenous propofol infusion (2 mg/kg/h) ?N2O inhalation and intermittent epidural administration. Indices of hemodynamics and respiratory function were collected 5 min before induction, 1 min before CO2 insufflation, and 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 min after the start of insufflation and 5 min after the termination of insufflation. RESULTS: The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), end-tidal PCO2 (P(ET)CO2), VO2 and VCO2 1 min before insufflation were markedly reduced(P<0.01), compared with those recorded before induction. MAP and HR did not undergo any conspicuous changes during CO2 insufflation and 5 min after insufflation termination. Compared with that 1 min before insufflation, PETCO2 was significantly increased 20 min after the start of insufflation (P<0.01), and subsequently carried on the increase though of a lesser scale. VO2 and VCO2 gradually rose after the start of insufflation, and VO2 presented a significantly elevation (P<0.01) 10 min after the insufflation while VCO2 did not show this marked increase(P<0.05) till 20 min after the insufflation in comparison with the levels before insufflation. Subsequently, VO2 continued to rise and VCO2 also retained the increase but of smaller magnitude. CONCLUSION: Intravenous propofol anesthesia combined with epidural block assisted by well-managed excessive ventilation before insufflation can alleviate the adverse effects of CO2 insufflation on respiratory and circulatory systems.     

An experimental collagen-impregnated dacron graft: Potential for endothelial seeding

This study evaluates the potential for endothelial seeding of a collagen-impregnated Dacron graft with or without surface modifiers (fibronectin, heparin) to attach and retain these cells during flow. Human umbilical endothelial cells were harvested, cultured, labeled with Indium111-oxine and seeded onto 30 mm X 4 mm diameter grafts. Six graft surfaces were studied: 1) a collagen-impregnated Dacron graft, HemashieldR (C); 2) C + fibronectin (C + F); 3) C + heparin (C + H); 4) C + F + H; 5) HytrelR + F (Hyt + F); and 6) Hyt + F + H. Radioactive loss determined the percentage attachment and then percentage retention of labeled inoculum after a one-hour in vitro perfusion. Scanning electron and light microscopy demonstrated the endothelium on the graft surface following perfusion. Fibronectin-coated grafts had a significantly higher percentage attachment than those without fibronectin (ANOVA, P less than 0.05). However, the percentage retention following perfusion was similar for all Dacron grafts and statistically inferior to the HytrelR grafts studied (ANOVA, P less than 0.05). SEM evaluation of the C + F + H graft surface was qualitatively the most impressive Dacron surface for seeding, yet was inferior to the HytrelR graft. We conclude that fibronectin benefits the initial attachment of endothelium to collagen-coated Dacron rivaling the HytrelR surface. Fibronectin does not improve percentage retention of the HemashieldR surface during perfusion, therefore, some of its initial benefit is lost.     

Infantile Digital Fibroma Treated With Mohs Micrographic Surgery

BACKGROUND: Infantile digital fibroma (IDF) is a rare benign fibrous tumor of childhood that frequently recurs despite local excision. Conservative, nonsurgical management may result in regression and/or joint deformity. OBJECTIVE: To describe the histologic features of IDF and discuss a case excised using Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). METHODS: Case report and review of the clinical, histologic, and ultrastructural features. RESULTS: Characteristic inclusion bodies of actin were identified with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and rapid actin immunostain. The tumor was debulked and the majority was removed after one stage of MMS, except where the deep margin approached the joint space. The defect healed by secondary intention. At 2 years the patient had no recurrence or functional joint deformity. CONCLUSION: MMS is a surgical treatment option for IDF.     

The effect of optical design on micromanipulator spot size using CO2 laser irradiation

Objective: The study goal was to compare the laser spot size created using reflective and refractive micromanipulators with a CO₂ laser and to determine the sensitivity of spot size to laser power. Study Design and Setting: A CO₂ laser and operating microscope (400-mm focal length) was coupled to either a reflective (Cassegrain-like) or refractive micromanipulator. Laser spot size was determined by measuring the region of ablation created by laser irradiation of wood (dry tongue depressors), exposed photographic film, and agar gel using optical micrometry. Laser power varied from 0.5 to 20 W with pulse durations of 0.1 and 0.5 second. Results: The reflective micromanipulator demonstrated overall smaller spot sizes for a given laser power and lower incremental change in spot size with increasing power. The reflective design demonstrated less sensitivity to increases in laser power. Conclusions: Micromanipulator optical design can result in significant differences in laser spot size. The reflective device used in this study demonstrated less sensitivity to increasing laser power. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002;126:593-597.)     

保留肾单位手术治疗早期小肾癌21例临床分析

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effects of nephron-sparing surgery in patients with early-stage small renal cell carcinoma. METHODS: Nephron-sparing surgery was performed in 21 patients with renal cell carcinoma including 1 with solitary kidney, 3 with unilateral tumor and contralateral renal compromise, and 17 with unilateral tumor and normal contralateral kidney. The diameter of the tumors ranged from 1.5 to 6.0 cm, with a mean of 2.8 cm. The tumor diameter in 17 patients with normal contralateral kidney was less than 4 cm (mean 2.5 cm) and the average diameter in 4 patients with contralateral renal compromise was 4.2 cm. Sixteen cases were in stage T(1), 4 in stage T(2), and 1 in stage T(3). Of the 21 patients, 4 underwent tumor enucleation, 10 polar nephrectomy and 7 wedge resection. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for an average of 40.8 months (7 to 66 months). One patient suffered a right lung and mediastinum metastasis 3 years after the surgery later and 1 with chronic glomerulonephritis required dialysis 27 months after the operation. No surgical complication or local recurrence were found in other patients. CONCLUSION: As a safe and effective therapy for early-stage small renal cell carcinoma, nephron-sparing surgery can be considered as the gold-standard therapy for patients with lesions less than 4 cm in T(1) and T(2) stages of localized unilateral tumor with normal contralateral kidney.