Stroke Unit care in Italy. Results from PROSIT (Project on Stroke Services in Italy). A nationwide study

Abstract The future challenge for improving stroke patients’ outcome will be to implement new Stroke Units (SUs) worldwide. However the best SU model remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the number of SUs and the quality characteristics of acute stroke care in Italy. We conducted a SU survey in Italy, interviewing the directors of the hospital wards that discharged at least 50 acute stroke patients a year. A SU was defined as an acute ward area with stroke-dedicated beds and staff. To compare the quality of care provided in SUs with that in general wards (GWs) we investigated the characteristics of five domains: hospital setting, unit setting, staffing, process of care and diagnostic investigations. We identified 68 SUs and 677 GWs. Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that SUs compared to GWs had higher quality scores in unit setting (ROC area=0.9721), staffing (ROC area=0.8760) and care organisation (ROC area=0.7984). The hospital setting (ROC area=0.7033) and the availability of rapid diagnostic investigations (ROC area=0.7164) had lower power in discriminating SU from GW. In Italy in 2003/04 only 9% of the hospital services had organised SU care. The study demonstrated that SUs admitted more than 100 patients per year, had more monitoring equipment and staffing time, and practised multidisciplinary meetings and early mobilisation. The utility of these structural and performance characteristics needs validation from outcome studies.     

Evaluation of bedside blood glucose monitoring by the phlebotomy team in an acute general care hospital

A feasibility study was undertaken to evaluate laboratory phlebotomists performing bedside glucose monitoring (BGM) over a 3-month period on a medical and surgical floor. Specific questions included: feasibility of providing testing on a 24-h basis, accuracy, appropriate utilization, effect on patient care, and an analysis of cost. In all, 1975 tests were performed on 114 patients. BGM results were within 15% of the laboratory's result 97% of the time. Patient and physician satisfaction was high. Although the cost of BGM is slightly higher than a laboratory glucose test, its use appeared to reduce the length of hospital stay by 0.47 days. Practical information on initiating a highly successful BGM program is provided.     

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.     

罂硝软膏的制备及质量控制

目的 :制备罂硝软膏 ,并建立质量控制方法。方法 :以硝酸甘油、盐酸罂粟碱、双氯芬酸钾为主药研制软膏剂 ,用紫外分光光度法及酸碱滴定法分别测定硝酸甘油、盐酸罂粟碱、双氯芬酸钾3组分的含量。结果 :硝酸甘油、盐酸罂粟碱、双氯芬酸钾的平均回收率分别为100 65 %、99 86 %、100 55 %,相对标准差分别为0 4945 %、0 1719 %、0 3205 %(n=3)。结论 :该软膏制备工艺可行 ,质量可控 ,性质稳定。     

血糖水平对18F-FDG PET/CT图像质量的影响

目的 研究血糖水平对18F-脱氧葡萄糖(FDG) PET/CT图像质量的影响.方法 80例行体格检查或评价肿瘤性质的受检者,按空腹血糖水平分为9组(组间距为1mmol/L),第1组为血糖正常组,即血糖＜6.0mmol/L(10例);第2～9组血糖水平高于正常,分别为6.0～6.9mmol/L(11例),7.0～7.9mmol/L(13例),8.0～8.9mmol/L(11例),9.0～9.9mmol/L(11例),10.0～10.9mmol/L(8例),11.0～11.9mmol/L(6例),12.0～12.9mmol/L(5例),≥13.0mmol/L(5例).受检者做完PET/CT检查后,图像质量由2位有经验的医师独立判断.同时根据肝不同层面的标准摄取值(SUV)最大值(SUVmax)及SUV平均值(SUVavg)分别计算肝图像噪声.采用SPSS 12.0软件进行统计学处理.结果 (1)9组之间图像质量评分、肝噪声差异有统计学意义(P均＜0.05).将第2～9组图像质量评分、肝噪声分别与第1组进行比较,第2～7组与第1组差异无统计学意义(P均＞0.05);第8,9组与第1组比较差异有统计学意义(P均＜0.05),且评分低于第1组.(2)血糖水平与图像质量评分呈负相关(r=-0.52,P＜0.05);血糖水平与肝噪声呈正相关(SUVmax、SUVavgr值分别为0.33和0.60,P均＜0.05);SUVavg所算噪声与血糖水平的相关性优于SUVmax.结论 图像质量随血糖水平的升高而下降,血糖＜12.0mmol/L时与血糖正常者PET/CT图像质量差异无统计学意义,但当血糖水平≥12.0mmol/L时图像质量将显著下降.     

Quality of life after total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer

BACKGROUND: After total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer, many surgeons try to avoid an abdominoperineal resection (APR) by performing a transanally double stapled low colo-rectal anastomosis (LRA), frequently without a pouch. This policy is mainly based on the assumption that the quality of life after such LRA is higher than after APR. It has been suggested that a better functional outcome and therefore a higher quality of life might be achieved by a colo-anal J-pouch anastomosis (CPA). The aim of this study was to assess quality of life among disease-free survivors after APR, LRA and CPA. METHODS: The charts of 301 consecutive patients who had undergone surgery for cancer in the middle or lower third of the rectum were analysed. Two hundred four patients were eligible for inclusion. The quality of life among these patients was assessed using one generic (EQ-5D) and two disease-specific questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-CR38). RESULTS: The response rate was 82%. The median follow-up was 31 months. Overall, quality of life was good but CPA patients had better quality of life scores than APR and LRA patients. This difference was not only due to the better functional outcome but also to the lower incidence of disturbed micturition and sexual problems in the CPA group. CONCLUSION: The quality of life after colo-anal J-pouch anastomosis is better than after abdominoperineal resection (APR) and low colo-rectal anastomosis (LRA). The quality of life after APR is similar to that after LRA.     

Ambulatory total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair: feasibility and impact on quality of life.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Feasibility of ambulatory laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in developing countries is not known due to lack of dedicated outpatient centers. This study prospectively evaluated the feasibility of outpatient discharge after laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair done in combination with in-hospital services and its impact on quality of life. METHODS: Forty patients were studied who had uncomplicated inguinal hernias and fulfilled the selection criteria. Quality of life was evaluated by using the SF-12 questionnaire. RESULTS: Ninety percent of patients could be discharged as outpatients. Four patients required admission. No major complications or readmissions occurred. Physical components of quality of life deteriorated in the immediate postoperative period but improved to above preoperative levels within one month. A transient deterioration in subgroups of the mental health component was observed, which recovered to normal in less than a week. There was no significant alteration in the emotional component. There has been no recurrence at a median follow-up of 25 months. CONCLUSION: It was feasible to safely perform outpatient TEP in combination with routine in-hospital services without increasing complications or causing any adverse impact on quality of life. This was possible subject to adherence to proper selection and discharge criteria.     

基于人文理念的护理质量例会实践与体会

建立以人文理念为核心的护理质量分析例会制度，每月召开门诊护士长、护士组长、护士代表例会，分析、讲评门诊护理服务中存在的问题，并提出改进方案，持续改进门诊护理服务质量。     

Health-related quality of life and its predictive role for analgesic effect in patients with painful polyneuropathy.

Painful polyneuropathy is a common neuropathic pain condition. The present study describes health-related quality of life (HRQL) in a sample of patients with painful polyneuropathy of different origin and the possible predictive role of HRQL for analgesic effect. Ninety-three patients with a diagnosis of painful polyneuropathy were included in the analysis. Data were obtained from three randomised, placebo-controlled cross-over studies testing the effect of different drugs on polyneuropathic pain (St. John's wort, venlafaxine/imipramine and valproic acid). Patients completed a HRQL questionnaire (SF-36) after a drug-free baseline period and at the end of each treatment period. At baseline, all eight SF-36 scores were lower than in the normal population. No significant differences were found between SF-36 scales during placebo and treatment with valproic acid and St. John's wort. Those two drugs had not shown a pain relieving effect in former analysis. The SF-36 scale of bodily pain (BP) was improved by venlafaxine treatment (p=0.023). General health (GH) and vitality (VT) were improved under treatment with imipramine (GH: p=0.006, VT: p=0.015). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, baseline SF-36 scores predicted subsequent response to pharmacological treatment. Results show an impaired HRQL in painful polyneuropathy and suggest that HRQL may predict response to analgesic treatment.