Engaging Radiology Nurses in Quality Improvement Projects in a Women's Specialty Hospital

Measuring outcomes in health care have become mandatory as regulatory agencies, institutional guidelines, employers, and consumer groups advocate for quality health care focusing on improving patient outcomes. System-level quality departments often provide a framework for performance improvement (PI) that supports the organizational PI plan. However, nurses must learn to lead and be actively involved in projects in the radiology department to ensure key performance indicators are developed with on-the-ground quality management to improve patient outcomes, system performance, and professional development. This article explores such efforts at a large women’s specialty hospital in the Southern United States.     

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.     

经导管局部溶栓治疗髂-股静脉血栓:58例回顾性分析

目的　探讨经导管局部溶栓治疗髂 股静脉血栓的效果及临床应用中的有关问题。资料与方法　对 5 8例髂 股静脉血栓形成患者 (病程 <4周 4 5例 ,>4周 13例 ) ,采取经导管血栓局部灌注尿激酶 ,尿激酶先团注2 5 0 0 0 0U ,然后以 12 5 0 0 0～ 15 0 0 0 0U/h持续灌注。结果　全组溶栓治疗时间 4～ 5 6h ,平均 36h ,尿激酶用量75 0 0 0 0～ 72 5 0 0 0 0U ,平均 4 70 0 0 0 0U。阻塞段完全开通 (残存狭窄率 <30 % )者 30例 ,部分开通者 2 3例 ,无效 5例 ,有效率达 91.4 %。对残存狭窄率 >30 %的 2 3例 ,14例行经皮球囊血管成形术 (PTA)治疗 ,9例行PTA及内支架治疗。 6例溶栓前放置下腔静脉过滤器。本组无严重并发症及肺栓塞发生。结论　经导管血栓局部灌注尿激酶是治疗髂 股静脉血栓的安全、有效方法。溶栓术后继续肝素全身抗凝治疗可增强溶栓疗效     

350例脊髓血管畸形介入治疗的护理分析

目的探讨护理工作在脊髓血管畸形介入治疗中的价值。方法通过对我院介入中心350例脊髓血管畸形患者介入治疗,针对脊髓血管畸形患者的临床特点和介入治疗方法的适应证、操作过程和预后等特点,从护理学的角度对术前、术中、术后等阶段进行讨论分析。结果术前进行有效的心理护理和健康教育;术中与介入医生及技术操作人员进行有机的配合、熟练使用输液微量泵、准确使用相关药物及认真观察病情变化;术后对患者进行严密的护理观察,可减少并发症的发生,将有助于该手术的成功。结论介入护理工作对脊髓血管畸形介入治疗手术的成败起着至关重要的作用。     

CT导向下125I种子源植入治疗恶性肿瘤

目的:探讨CT导向下125I种子源植入治疗恶性肿瘤的安全性及临床疗效。方法:11例患者14个病灶行CT导向下125I种子源植入,其中原发肿瘤5例,转移瘤6例(9个病灶)。根据治疗计划系统(TPS)计算布源,在CT导向下将18.5~29.6MBq活度的125I种子源相隔1.0~1.5cm多层面植入肿瘤内。术后1~10个月复查CT观察种子源在瘤体内的分布、疗效及有无并发症。结果:随诊CT复查,14个病灶完全缓解(CR)5个;明显缓解(OR)7个;部分缓解(PR)2个;无效(P)0。治疗前后病灶平均大小分别为4.23cm和2.07cm(t=5.018,P<0.01)。未见急性并发症和治疗相关的放射损伤。结论:CT导向下125I种子源植入治疗恶性肿瘤是一种安全、有效的方法,近期疗效肯定。     

Value of digital volume tomography in patients with conductive hearing loss

Digital volume tomography (DVT) is an extension of panoramic tomography. With this diagnostic technique, characterized by high resolution, a narrow section width (0.125 mm) and three-dimensional display, small pathological processes can be well visualized. Twenty-five patients with the history of a progressive hearing loss were examined with DVT (Accu-I-tomo, Morita, Japan). The results were compared with pre- and intraoperative findings to evaluate the diagnostic value of DVT in cases of erosion of the ossicular chain. With high resolution and artifact-free demonstration of the middle ear and the ossicular chain, it was possible to define its continuity preoperatively by DVT in all 25 cases. An intact ossicular chain was found by DVT in 13 cases and was later confirmed by surgery. The predicted erosion of the ossicles was verified in 12 patients, and a tympanoplasty type III was performed. Digital volume tomography is an excellent technique to examine the middle ear cleft and inner ear, and expands the application of diagnostic possibilities in the lateral skull base. Therefore, improvement in preoperative diagnosis is achieved along with more accurate planning of the surgical procedure. Digital volume tomography delivers a small radiation dose with a high resolution and a low purchase price for the equipment.     

Significance of beaten copper appearance on skull radiographs in children with isolated sagittal synostosis

Aims and Objectives The significance of beaten copper appearance (BCA) on skull radiographs in children following surgery for isolated sagittal craniosynostosis has not been studied. This study was designed to look for any correlation between BCA and symptoms suggestive of intracranial hypertension in this group of patients. Materials and Methods Forty-eight consecutive children, who were operated for isolated sagittal synostosis from1987 to 2000 and had postoperative skull radiographs, were included. Patients were divided into: (a) BCA group (n = 20), consisting of children who had beaten copper appearance on skull radiographs at last follow up, and (b) Non-BCA group (n = 28), consisting of children who did not have this finding. Records were reviewed to look for symptoms suggestive of intracranial hypertension, such as headache, head banging, and irritability. Results Median age at surgery was 4.8 months for BCA group and 4 months for the non-BCA group. Follow up ranged from 4 to 156 months with a mean of 36.2 months. Total of 28.6% (n = 6) of the children with follow up radiographs done at ≤18 months of age had BCA. The incidence of BCA increased to 83.3% in children with skull radiographs performed after 48 months of age. In 18 (90%) children, the BCA was ‘diffuse’ with 5 (25%) children having the maximum possible score of 8. In the BCA group, 45% (n = 9) had symptoms compared to 10.7% (n = 3) in the control group (p = 0.0068). Conclusions This study suggests a significant number of children with BCA on radiographs develop symptoms suggestive of raised ICP following surgical treatment in infancy and prolonged follow up may be warranted in this group of patients.     

腹茧症的影像诊断

目的探讨腹茧症的影像特点，提高术前诊断水平。方法回顾性分析经手术病理证实的腹茧症6例，术前均进行立位腹部X线平片和腹部CT检查，4例同时行胃肠道钡剂造影，复习其影像表现。结果6例立位腹部X线平片中3例诊断为肠梗阻。4例胃肠道钡剂造影，均可见小肠交错盘绕成团，呈“菜花”状或“手风琴”状表现。6例CT检查，均可见小肠聚集成团，其周围可见膜样的囊状物将其包裹。结论对患者进行胃肠道造影时观察到“菜花”状征象，或CT检查时观察到小肠聚集成团被一层膜样物包裹，应考虑到腹茧症的可能。