Predictors of Repeat Emergency Department Visits by Elders

Objective: To determine which characteristics of older patients who use a hospital ED are associated with repeat visits during the 90 days following the index visit.
Methods: The study was conducted in the ED of a 400-bed university-affiliated acute care community hospital in Montreal. Patients aged ≥75 years who visited the ED between 08:00 and and 16:00 on a convenience sample of days over an 8-week period (July and August 1994) were assessed using a questionnaire, physical and cognitive status instruments, and a functional problem checklist. The hospital's administrative database was used to identify repeat visits during the 90 days following the ED visit. The representativeness of the sample was assessed by analyses of ED visits made by 4,466 persons aged ≥65 years during a 12-month period (September 1993 to August 1994) using the hospital's administrative database.
Results: 256 patients aged ≥75 years visited the ED during the study period and 167 were assessed. Of these, 54 (32%) were admitted to the hospital. Among the 113 patients released from the ED, 27 (24%) made repeat visits during the next 90 days. In univariate analyses, repeat visits were significantly associated with the number of functional problems, cognitive impairment, and previous ED visits. In multiple logistic regression, male gender, living alone, and number of functional problems were independent predictors of repeat visits. In the administrative data analyses, nighttime arrival to the ED for the index visit was significantly associated with repeat visits.
Conclusions: Self-reported risk factors can help to identify a group of elders likely to make repeated ED visits; the development of a screening instrument incorporating questions on these problems and implementation of appropriate interventions might improve these patients' quality of life and reduce the demand for further ED care in this age group.     

End-tidal Carbon Dioxide Monitoring during Procedural Sedation

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively determine whether end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) monitors can detect respiratory depression (RD) and the level of sedation in emergency department (ED) patients undergoing procedural sedation (PS). METHODS: This was a prospective observational study conducted in an urban county hospital of adult patients undergoing PS. Patients were monitored for vital signs, depth of sedation per the physician by the Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation scale (OAA/S), pulse oximetry, and nasal-sample ETCO2 during PS. Respiratory depression was defined as an oxygen saturation <90%, an ETCO2 >50 mm Hg, or an absent ETCO2 waveform at any time during the procedure. The physician also determined whether protective airway reflexes were lost during the procedure and assisted ventilation was required, or whether there were any other complications. Rates of RD were compared with the physician assessment of airway loss and between agents using chi-square statistics. Spearman's rho analysis was used to determine whether there was a correlation between ETCO2 and the OAA/S score. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were enrolled in the study. Forty (54.1%) received methohexital, 21 (28.4%) received propofol, ten (13.5%) received fentanyl and midazolam, and three (4.1%) received etomidate. Respiratory depression was seen in 33 (44.6%) patients, including 47.5% of patients receiving methohexital, 19% receiving propofol (p = 0.008), 80% receiving fentanyl and midazolam, and 66.6% receiving etomidate. No correlation between OAA/S and ETCO2 was detected. Eleven (14.9%) patients required assisted ventilation at some point during the procedure, all of whom met the criteria for RD. Pulse oximetry detected 11 of the 33 patients with RD. Post-hoc analysis revealed that all patients with RD had an ETCO2 >50 mm Hg, an absent waveform, or an absolute change from baseline in ETCO2 >10 mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS: There was no correlation between ETCO2 and the OAA/S score. Using the criteria of an ETCO2 >50 mm Hg, an absolute change >10 mm Hg, or an absent waveform may detect subclinical RD not detected by pulse oximetry alone. The ETCO2 may add to the safety of PS by quickly detecting hypoventilation during PS in the ED.     

1515例精神科住院患者医院感染调查与分析

目的：了解精神科住院患者医院感染情况，以利采取切实可行的预防控制措施，降低感染率。方法：对我院两年半间住院患者进行有关医院感染的调查，逐份查阅原始记录，填写统一表格，将所得资料进行相关分析。结果：医院感染72例，感染率为4．75％；感染多发生在20～29岁和30—39岁组：精神分裂症为医院感染例数最多的病种(占68．06％)；皮肤及软组织和下呼吸道感染为主要感染部位，分别为23．61％和22．22％；男女两性在年龄和病程方面差异均无显著性。结论：预防及控制精神病患者的医院感染应从病人初入院时即开始；在积极控制精神症状的同时，采取多方面措施，尽可能去除医院感染的易感因素；合理规范使用抗生素，增强患者体质等，这些均有助于预防及控制医院感染。     

Improving emergency obstetric care in Mozambique: the story of Sofala.

OBJECTIVE: The 5-year project in the province of Sofala was designed to improve access, quality and utilization of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) by strengthening rural hospitals and health centers and ultimately the health system's capacity to respond to emergencies more quickly and effectively. METHODS: Implementation consisted of attention to infrastructure, human resource development, transportation and communication systems, and management. Specific management aspects that were targeted for improvement included: supportive supervision, logistics for supplies, equipment and drugs, record keeping, monitoring and evaluation, and quality improvement techniques such as maternal death audits. RESULTS: Access to EmOC improved with an increase in the number of fully functional EmOC facilities from 4 to 18. The number of women with obstetric complications who were admitted for treatment in participating facilities tripled, and the proportion of those women dying declined by half. CONCLUSIONS: Close collaboration and partnership with the provincial health directorate make the sustainability of many results likely while the replication of much of the Sofala model to other provinces is promising for the national strategy to reduce maternal mortality.     

妊娠中晚期合并输尿管结石的急诊腔内技术处理

目的探讨妊娠中晚期合并输尿管结石急诊腔内技术处理的安全性和有效性。方法1998年6月至2005年3月,对17例妊娠中晚期合并输尿管结石急症的患者行急诊腔内技术治疗。患者年龄21～35岁,平均27岁,孕周20～36周,平均29周。表现为肾绞痛反复发作11例,发热4例,急性梗阻性无尿2例。结石位于左侧5例、右侧10例、双侧2例；结石位于输尿管上段8例、中段5例、下段2例,双侧下段2例。结石大小6mm×7mm～13mm×21mm。患侧轻度肾积水6例,中度11例。行经尿道输尿管镜下气压弹道碎石14例；输尿管上段结石推至肾盂1例；因无法进镜而单纯留置双J管2例。结果17例患者的肾绞痛、发热等症状经治疗后完全消失。结石一次取净者14例(82.4%)。残留结石者3例,留置双J管至分娩后,其中1例每3个月更换双J管。未发生先兆流产或早产等情况,无输尿管穿孔及其他并发症。留置双J管后出现排尿后腰部不适1例,3d后缓解；术后肉眼血尿1例,6d后自行消失。17例均顺利生产,婴儿健康。结论经尿道输尿管镜腔内技术治疗妊娠中晚期合并输尿管结石急性发作安全、有效。     

手部爆炸伤的临床分型与治疗

目的探讨手部爆炸伤新的临床分型以指导治疗、提高疗效。方法1997～2004年收治106例手部爆炸伤,按爆炸伤的严重程度和伤情特点将其划分四型：Ⅰ型：仅有皮肤灼伤、挫裂伤或手部的小面积皮肤缺损,治疗选用清创缝合或植皮修复;Ⅱ型：手部皮肤软组织缺损合并肌腱或骨关节损伤,但无手指血运障碍,治疗选用骨与关节复位固定、肌腱修复的同时必须采用皮瓣覆盖;Ⅲ型：手部广泛皮肤软组织缺损,伴有肌腱、血管、神经及骨关节损伤,手指缺血、离断或缺失,治疗必须应用显微外科技术实施血管吻合、断指再植或拇手指再造和皮瓣移植;Ⅳ型：手广泛毁损,治疗选择截肢术。结果本组Ⅰ型12例,手功能恢复正常;Ⅱ型31例,手功能恢复较好,14例遗留皮瓣臃肿或肌腱粘连,需二期治疗。Ⅲ型57例,无1例截肢,45例进行了二期功能重建手术,手功能恢复达正常的30%～80%不等;Ⅳ型6例,手功能完全丧失。结论该分型方法简明具体,便于临床判断受伤类型和选择治疗方法,并可估计愈合,对临床处理手部爆炸伤具有较好的指导意义。     

Integrated home monitoring predicts lead failure in a pacemaker dependent 4-year-old girl.

A 4-year-old girl with post-surgical complete atrioventricular block received an epicardial dual chamber pacemaker system. During further growth intermittent exit block occurred, first misinterpreted as neurological seizures. The epicardial lead was replaced using a transvenous approach, and a pacemaker with an integrated home monitoring facility was implanted. After her discharge, a rise in the pacing threshold automatically initiated an event message. On the basis of this information, the patient was called in and imminent dislodgement of the ventricular lead was diagnosed by x-ray. The lead was repositioned and was found stable over 1-year follow-up.     

妇科腹腔镜手术患者的整体护理

目的：探讨妇科腹腔镜手术前后的护理方法。方法：回顾性分析我院应用腹腔镜行妇科手术52例患者的临床护理过程。结果：本组52例妇科腹腔镜手术患者全部康复出院，对护士的精心护理感到非常满意。结论：妇科患者腹腔镜手术通过适当的整体护理措施能够使其早日康复。     

医院制剂室的软件管理

为了探讨医院制剂室的软件管理 ,我们根据《医疗机构制剂配制质量管理规范》的要求 ,分析了我们的软件动态与静态资料 ,提出了自己的一些解决方案。