Inferior Vena Cava Filters: Aligning Practice With Evidence to Improve Patient Outcomes

BackgroundDespite indications for the removal of temporary inferior vena cava (IVC) filters, many filters are unintentionally left in place, predisposing patients to adverse outcomes.ObjectiveThis quality improvement study set out to determine the impact of an IVC filter retrieval protocol on filter retrieval rates and patients lost to follow-up for patients who had undergone placement of a temporary IVC filter.MethodsFollowing a quasi-experimental design, data of all consecutive patients who underwent insertion of a temporary IVC filter for a period of 24-month preprotocol and 12-month postprotocol were compared.ResultsFilter retrieval rates of eligible filters increased from 64.2% to 100%; patients lost to follow-up decreased from 35.9% to 0% (p < .01, both outcomes).ConclusionAdoption of a comprehensive IVC filter protocol by the service that implants these devices can improve filter retrieval rates and decrease patients being lost to follow-up.     

品管圈在植入式静脉输液港患者护理中的应用

目的探讨品管圈在植入式静脉输液港(IVAP)患者护理中的应用。方法选取本院2018年10月-2018年12月IVAP患者30例作为对照组,2019年1月-2019年3月品管圈活动干预后IVAP患者30例作为观察组。对照组采用常规护理措施,观察组采用品管圈活动干预后的护理措施。比较两组IVAP患者并发症的发生率和对护理工作的满意度。结果观察组导管堵塞1例;并发症发生率为3.33%(1/30)。对照组感染4例,血栓2例,导管堵塞4例;并发症发生率为33.33%(10/30)。观察组并发症发生率低于对照组(P <0.05)。观察组对优质服务、技术水平、关怀、出院指导、护理总满意度评分分别为(42.39±5.27)分、(31.49±4.32)分、(22.25±4.69)分、(20.26±4.91)分、(112.24±10.38)分;对照组分别为(38.65±4.91)分、(28.68±4.26)分、(19.96±4.30)分、(19.94±4.63)分、(103.37±10.12)分;观察组对优质服务、技术水平、关怀、出院指导、护理总满意度评分均高于对照组(P <0.05)。结论通过品管圈活动干预后的护理措施明显降低IVAP患者并发症的发生率,提高患者对护理工作的满意度。     

护士分层级管理对急性肝炎患者护理满意度的影响

目的分析护士分层级管理的实施对急性肝炎患者护理满意度的影响。方法该院自2018年3月起实施护士分层级管理,以该院10名肝病科护理人员为研究对象,其中2017年3月—2018年2月实施前(对照组)及2018年3月—2019年2月实施后(研究组)的管理效果。结果与对照组比较,研究组患者的病房管理、患者护理、文书书写、基础护理、入院宣教方面的护理质量评分均明显升高(P<0.05);与对照组82.29%的护理总满意率比较,研究组护理总满意率显著升高,达到了97.92%(P<0.05);与对照组工作自我满意度比较,研究组患者的自我价值体现等方面的工作自我满意度评分均明显升高(P<0.05)。结论护士分层级管理策略的实施,有效提高了急性肝炎患者护理满意度,提升了科室护理质量。     

精索静脉曲张手术后患者的管理策略

手术治疗精索静脉曲张在改善精液质量、提高配偶自然怀孕率和缓解局部疼痛症状中的作用已为多数医生所认同。随着手术方式的改进,越来越多的精索静脉曲张患者接受手术治疗,然而,临床对手术后患者的管理还重视不够。本文系统介绍了对精索静脉曲张手术后患者的疗效判断和后续治疗选择,包括观察随诊、非手术治疗方法和再手术。     

疼痛管理在创伤骨科护理管理中的应用价值

目的探究创伤骨科护理管理中疼痛管理的应用价值。方法 82例患者选取于2017年6月-2018年6月,所有患者均来源于本院骨科收治的住院患者,数字表为患者分组原则,常规组41例,疼痛组41例,分别予以常规护理、常规护理+疼痛管理,比较满意度、疼痛评分及平均住院时间。结果疼痛组满意度92.68%比常规组73.17%高,差异具有统计学意义(χ^2=5.513,P <0.05),患者干预后的疼痛评分低于常规组,平均住院时间短于常规组,差异存在统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论疼痛管理用于创伤骨科护理管理中,患者疼痛明显减轻,患者满意度高,缩短了患者的平均住院时间。     

Utility of Deep Brain Stimulation Telemedicine for Patients With Movement Disorders During the COVID-19 Outbreak in China

ObjectiveTo explore the utility of deep brain stimulation (DBS) telemedicine in the management of patients with movement disorders from January 2019 to March 2020, covering the main period of the COVID-19 outbreak in China.Materials and MethodsWe obtained data from 40 hospitals around China that employed DBS tele-programming for their outpatients with Parkinson’s disease or dystonia from January 2019 to March 2020. Data were obtained on the number and nature of patients’ DBS health care service requests, reasons for their requests, the number of DBS telemedicine sessions subsequently completed, safety issues, and the patients’ satisfaction with the DBS tele-programing parameter adjustments made.ResultsThere were 909 DBS tele-programming health service requests (from 196 patients) completed during the study period. The results showed: 1) the number of DBS telemedicine sessions requested and the number of patients examined increased during the COVID-19 outbreak in February and March 2020 when compared with the monthly numbers in 2019; 2) the most common reason for the patients’ health service requests was poor symptom control; 3) the most common DBS tele-programming adjustment made was voltage change; 4) overall, most (89%) DBS tele-programming adjustment sessions were experienced by the patients as satisfactory; and 5) significant adverse events and unexpected treatment interruptions caused by connection failure or other hardware- or software-related problems did not occur.ConclusionsDBS telemedicine could have a unique role to play in maintaining the delivery of DBS treatment and medical care to outpatients with movement disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic.     

A biological or a synthetic mesh in immediate breast reconstruction? A cohort-study of long-term Health related Quality of Life (HrQoL)

ObjectivesMeshes/matrices are commonly used in immediate breast reconstruction. There are few studies comparing biological and synthetic meshes and it is unknown what type of mesh gives the best long-term results. The aim of this study was to compare long-term health-related quality of life (HrQoL) and patient satisfaction in implant-based immediate breast reconstruction with a biological mesh (Surgisis®) with that of patients reconstructed with a synthetic mesh (TIGR ® Matrix Surgical Mesh).Material and methodsBoth cohorts were prospectively included and consecutively operated. Clinical data was collected. HrQoL was evaluated with EuroQoL-5 dimension – 3 levels questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Breast-Q.Results and conclusionSeventy-one patients were operated on in the biological group and 49 in the synthetic group. The response rates were 75 and 84 per cent, respectively. Mean follow-up time was 74 months and 23 months, respectively. There were no statistical differences in satisfaction and quality of life between the two groups. Complications and radiation seem to lead to a lower satisfaction. Our findings could indicate that biological and synthetic meshes give an equal long-term result as regards patients’ perceived quality of life.     

The Current Pediatric Surgery Job Market: A Perspective of Recent Fellowship Graduates

PurposeThis study describes the job market from the perspective of recent pediatric surgery graduates.MethodsAn anonymous survey was circulated to the 137 pediatric surgeons who graduated from fellowships 2019–2021.ResultsThe survey response rate was 49%. The majority of respondents were women (52%), Caucasian (72%), and had a median student debt burden of $225,000. Considering job opportunities, respondents strongly emphasized camaraderie (93%), mentorship (93%), case mix (85%), geography (67%), faculty reputation (62%), spousal employment (57%), compensation (51%), and call frequency (45%). 30% were satisfied with the employment opportunities available, and 21% felt strongly prepared to negotiate for their first job. All respondents were able to secure a job. Most jobs were university-based (70%) or hospital employed (18%) positions where surgeons covered median of two hospitals. 49% wanted protected research time, and 12% of respondents were able to secure substantial, protected research time. The median compensation for university-based jobs was $12,583 below the median AAMC benchmark for assistant professors for the corresponding year of graduation.ConclusionThese data highlight the ongoing need for assessment of the pediatric surgery workforce and for professional societies and training programs to further assist graduating fellows in preparing to negotiate their first job.Type of studySurveyLevel of EvidenceLevel V.