Months Of Hospital Discharge Research Articles

Tracheobronchial aspiration of foreign bodies: current indications for emergency plain chest radiography

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of plain chest radiography in the evaluation of patients with suspected foreign-body aspiration. During a 5-year period, 31 patients (18 men and 13 women; age range 6 months to 85 years) were referred to our observation for clinical suspicion of foreign-body aspiration. Clinically, the patients presented with cough in 27/31 cases (87.1%), decreased breath sounds in 22/31 (71%), choking in 18/31 (58.1%), fever in 7/31 (22.6%) and cyanosis in 5/31 (16.1%). Suspected foreign-body aspiration had occurred 2-72 h before hospitalisation. Within 2 h of hospitalisation, all patients underwent plain chest radiography performed in the upright position (two projections) in 10/31 (32.3%) patients and in the supine decubitus position in the remaining 21 (67.7%) patients. Plain chest radiography was subsequently integrated with multislice computed tomography (MSCT) of the chest in 3/31 (9.7%) patients and with bronchoscopy in 27/31 (87.1%) patients. Plain chest radiography showed the presence of a foreign body in the tracheobronchial tree in 7/31 (22.6%) patients, who subsequently underwent successful bronchoscopy in all cases. Foreign bodies included tooth fragment (three cases), nail (two cases), metallic spiral of a ball-point pen (one case) and an earring (one case). In the remaining 24/31 patients, plain chest radiography was positive in 14 cases, showing atelectasis (seven cases), pneumonia (six cases), pulmonary hyperinflation (one case) and pneumomediastinum (one case). Such findings had been caused by an aspirated foreign body, which was subsequently removed by means of bronchoscopy in all 14 patients. Moreover, three of the remaining ten patients with negative plain chest radiograph were submitted to MSCT of the chest, which required in 1 case tracheobronchial aspiration of a foreign body that was subsequently removed by means of bronchoscopy. Overall, plain chest radiography showed the presence of foreign-body aspiration and/or pleuroparenchymal lesions in 21/31 patients (67.7%); bronchoscopy was positive in 23/27 patients (85.2%), localising the foreign body in the right main bronchus in 16/27 patients (59.3%), left main bronchus in 7/27 patients (25.9%), intermediate bronchus in 2/27 patients (7.4%) and right lower lobe bronchus in 2/27 patients (7.4%). No late complications were observed within 6 months of hospital discharge. Plain chest radiography remains the initial imaging modality for patients with clinically suspected tracheobronchial aspiration of a foreign body. Nevertheless, in the case of negative chest radiography and a clinical suspicion of foreign-body aspiration, MSCT-possibly integrated with virtual bronchoscopy-should be considered in order to avoid unnecessary bronchoscopy.

Basic neuropsychological dimensions in schizophrenia

Neuropsychological (NP) studies in schizophrenia often require data reduction to avoid statistical type I error from multiple comparisons. Typically, this involves grouping measures into domains defined by experts a priori based on delineations validated in brain-injured but not schizophrenia samples (e.g. attention, executive functioning, memory, language visuospatial, motor). Component measures are arbitrarily selected and validity may not generalize to different samples or within the same sample over time. One solution to these problems is illustrated using neurocognitive subdomains based on recent schizophrenia literature, and validated with data from a longitudinal study (156 subjects) involving repeated NP testing (baseline—within 6 months of hospital discharge—and 6 and 18 months later). A priori subdomains were grouped and submitted to principal component analysis (PCA) at each time point. Longitudinal stability of the resulting factors was tested by computing congruency coefficients. Six stable factors were extracted having good construct, divergent and predictive validity. Five neuropsychological measures frequently studied in schizophrenia were not correlated with these factors, suggesting that they should be maintained as independent neurocognitive subdomains. Distinct factors for executive functioning, verbal memory and motor functions could not be validated; this raises concerns about conclusions of previous studies regarding the pattern, severity and correlates of specific neurocognitive functions in schizophrenia.

Evaluation and management of osteoporosis following hospitalization for low-impact fracture.

To evaluate the pattern of osteoporosis evaluation and management in postmenopausal women who present with low-impact (minimal trauma) fracture. Retrospective chart review of patients admitted with a fracture in the absence of trauma or bone disease. Telephone follow-up survey was conducted at 12 months after discharge to collect information on physician visits, pharmacological therapies for osteoporosis, functional status, and subsequent fractures. Postmenopausal women admitted to a hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota between June 1996 and December 1997 for low-impact fractures were identified. Low-impact fracture was defined as a fracture occurring spontaneously or from a fall no greater than standing height. Retrospective review of 301 patient medical records was conducted to obtain data on pre-admission risk factors for osteoporosis and/or fracture, and osteoporosis-related evaluation and management during the course of hospitalization. Follow-up 1 year after the incident fracture was obtained on 227 patients. Two hundred twenty-seven women were included in the study. Osteoporosis was documented in the medical record in 26% (59/227) of the patients at hospital discharge. Within 12 months of hospital discharge, 9.6% (22/227) had a bone mineral density test, and 26.4% (60/227) were prescribed osteoporosis treatment. Of those who were prescribed osteoporosis treatment, 86.6% (52/60) remained on therapy for 1 year. Nineteen women suffered an additional fracture. Compared to women without a prior fracture, women with at least 1 fracture prior to admission were more likely to have osteoporosis diagnosed and to receive osteoporosis-related medications. Despite guidelines that recommend osteoporosis evaluation in adults experiencing a low-trauma fracture, we report that postmenopausal women hospitalized for low-impact fracture were not sufficiently evaluated or treated for osteoporosis during or after their hospital stay. There are substantial opportunities for improvement of care in this high-risk population to prevent subsequent fractures.

Persistent abnormal lung function after childhood empyema.

The purpose of this study was to examine pulmonary function tests in children at various time points in their recovery from empyema. Cross-sectional study. Academic Children's Hospital. Pediatric patients with a diagnosis of empyema between 1992-2000. A total of 45 pulmonary function tests were carried out in 36 study participants. Within 3 months of hospital discharge, 91% of pulmonary function tests demonstrated a restrictive pattern with a mean forced vital capacity (FVC) of 69.2 +/- 4% and a mean total lung capacity (TLC) of 74.9 +/- 4% of predicted. The incidence of restriction in pulmonary function significantly decreased over time and for patients tested > 1 year from hospital discharge the mean FVC was 87.1 +/- 2% and the mean TLC 95.0 +/- 2% of predicted. However, 19% of the patients tested > 1 year from discharge demonstrated a mild restrictive pattern and 16% demonstrated a mild obstructive changes. Patients with abnormal lung function > 1 year from hospital discharge did not demonstrate any signs or symptoms of respiratory insufficiency . There is a high incidence of restrictive patterns in lung function for children tested within 3 months from hospital discharge for empyema. The incidence of restrictive patterns decreased significantly over time and most patients tested >1 year from hospital discharge demonstrated normal lung function.

Biomechanical factors and failure of transcervical hip fracture repair

Objective: To assess the association between biomechanical measurements (bone quality of the femoral neck, comminution, fracture angle, and fracture level) and the likelihood of fixation failure among patients who have a multiple screw stabilisation of an intracapsular hip fracture. Methods: A cohort study of 139 Washington State residents greater than 60 years of age who sustained a fall-related transcervical hip fracture treated from 1990 to 1996 inclusive. Measurements of bone quality, fracture angle, fracture level, and comminution were taken from perioperative X-rays. The outcome measure was clinical failure of the internal fixation procedure within 12 months of hospital discharge, as measured by readmission for further surgery to that hip. Results: Of the four biomechanical aspects examined, only bone quality, as measured by presence of an ICD code for osteoporosis, was significantly associated with risk of subsequent hospitalisation for revision surgery (adjusted hazard ratio 7.7, 95% CI 1.8–32.8). Conclusion: A diagnosis code for osteoporosis was related to the outcome of intracapsular fractures repaired with multiple pins. Other biomechanical measurements from diagnostic X-rays were not related to the need for further surgery.

Social issues in the rehabilitation of younger stroke patients

Objectives: To study social factors and outcomes in stroke rehabilitation patients under the age of 50.Study Design: Retrospective chart review examining (1) martial status and employment status on admission and at 3 months post discharge, (2) discharge destination, (3) the presence of absence of children under the age of 16, and (4) psychosocial difficulties as recorded by staff during hospitalization.Subjects and Setting: Eighty-three consecutive stroke patients under the age of 50 admitted to a Canadian tertiary-care hospital rehabilitation unit.Main Outcome Measures: Discharge destination and primary caregiver at discharge, and return to work and marital separation 3 months after rehabilitation discharge.Results: Of the 55 patients with spouses, 8 (14.5%) separated within 3 months of hospital discharge. Fifteen of the 83 patients (18.1%) were not able to return to their premorbid place of residence; 4 (4.8%) required institutionalization. Of the 64 patients employed outside the home or studying at the time of their stroke, only 13 (20.3%) were able to return to work within 3 months of their discharge to home. Only 9.4% of those working full-time were able to return to full-time employment.Conclusions: Rehabilitation of young stroke patients is associated with a variety of social problems, including marital breakup, child care responsibilities, and return to employment, which are uniquely important in this age group.

Compliance with and dosing of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors before and after hospitalization.

Compliance with and dosing of angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors as they occur before and after hospitalization for heart failure were studied, and factors predictive of compliance with and dosing of ACE inhibitors after hospitalization were identified. Two hundred thirty-six patients hospitalized with heart failure between October 1, 1995, and April 30, 1996, were identified. Compliance with and use and dosing of ACE inhibitors were examined over the 180-day period before admission and the 180-day period after discharge using an integrated pharmacy and medical claims database. Use of an ACE inhibitor was defined as at least one claim for an ACE inhibitor over the period examined, and dosing was assessed by calculating the mean percentage of an adequate daily dose dispensed. Before hospitalization 109 patients (46.2%) used ACE inhibitors, and after hospitalization 148 (62.7%) used them--a significant increase. ACE inhibitor use before hospitalization was a predictor of postdischarge use. Younger patients were more likely to take ACE inhibitors after hospitalization than older ones, and men had better compliance after hospitalization than women. Additional analyses revealed that, among hospitalized patients, compliance was lower in individuals who also took an antidepressant. Dosing increased from 72% to 85% of an adequate daily dose after hospitalization among patients who took ACE inhibitors during both prehospitalization and posthospitalization periods. However, almost one third of hospitalized patients stopped taking their ACE inhibitor within six months of hospital discharge. The study found few significant predictors of patient compliance after hospitalization. Dosing of ACE inhibitors before and after hospitalization needs to be improved.

Assessing clinical predictions of early rehospitalization in schizophrenia.

This study determines patient characteristics that predict early hospital readmission in schizophrenia and evaluates the extent to which inpatient staff accurately predict these readmissions. Adult inpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (N = 262) were evaluated at hospital discharge and 3 months later to assess hospital readmission. At hospital discharge, inpatient staff were asked to identify which patients were likely to be readmitted during this period. Comparisons were made between patients who were or were not readmitted and between readmitted patients who were or were not identified by staff as likely to be readmitted; 24.4% of the sample were readmitted within 3 months of hospital discharge. Early readmission was associated with four or more previous hospitalizations (85.7% vs. 57.7%, p = .004), comorbid substance use disorder (60.3% vs. 35.5%, p = .0006), major depression (40.6% vs. 26.8%, p = .04), absence of a family meeting with inpatient staff (58.2% vs. 41.8%, p = .02), and prescription of a conventional rather than an atypical antipsychotic medication (93.7% vs. 83.8%, p = .045). Twelve of the 63 readmitted patients were correctly predicted by staff to re-hospitalize. Staff tended to overestimate the risk of rehospitalization in patients with a poor therapeutic alliance, low global function, or initial involuntary admission and to underestimate the risk in patients with alcohol use disorders or four or more previous psychiatric hospitalizations. Early rehospitalization is common in schizophrenia and difficult to predict. Greater emphasis on comorbid alcohol use disorders and a history of multiple previous admissions may help clinicians identify patients at greatest risk for early rehospitalization.

Predictors of early post-cardiac transplant exercise capacity.

This study was conducted to identify which pre- and perioperative clinical parameters were predictive of predischarge submaximal exercise capacity and early postdischarge maximal exercise capacity in cardiac transplant recipients. We studied 24 patients (mean age = 46; 25% African American) who underwent cardiac transplantation followed by an early (immediately posttransplant) postoperative exercise training program. The patients' submaximal exercise capacity was measured at hospital discharge (25 days posttransplant) using the 6-minute distance walk test. Maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing was done within 4 months of hospital discharge (68 days) to measure peak exercise oxygen consumption (VO2) and to estimate peak exercise capacity as measured by metabolic equivalents (METs). Six clinical variables were assessed for their relationship with predischarge submaximal exercise capacity and 10 clinical variables were evaluated for their relationship with early posttransplant maximal exercise capacity. Predischarge submaximal exercise capacity was correlated with postdischarge estimated METs (r = 0.43; P = 0.04). No predictors of predischarge submaximal exercise capacity were identified. Predictors of estimated peak exercise METs following discharge were younger age, longer time since resolution of rejection, and shorter postoperative hospitalization. Younger age was the only predictor of peak VO2. Postoperative physical training may improve exercise capacity early after transplantation and minimize effects of preoperative clinical factors that could negatively affect exercise capacity. Interpretation of these results, however, is limited by the small sample and absence of a nonexercising control group. Older recipients, those with a longer length of hospital stay, and shorter duration of time since resolution of rejection may be at risk of reduced early postoperative maximal exercise capacity. Identification of these predictors is important to maximize early reconditioning efforts and plan outpatient rehabilitation.

Suicide within 12 months of contact with mental health services: national clinical survey

Objective: To describe the clinical circumstances in which psychiatric patients commit suicide.Design: National clinical survey.Setting: England and Wales.Subjects: A two year sample of people who had committed suicide, in particular...

Contemporary percutaneous treatment of unprotected left main coronary stenoses: initial results from a multicenter registry analysis 1994-1996.

Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) has been considered the therapy of choice for patients with unprotected left main (ULMT) coronary stenoses. Selected single-center reports suggest that the results of percutaneous intervention may now approach those of CABG. To assess the results of percutaneous ULMT treatment from a wide variety of experienced interventional centers, we requested data on consecutive patients treated after January 1, 1994, from 25 centers. One hundred seven patients were identified who were treated either electively (n=91) or for acute myocardial infarction (n=16). Of patients treated electively, 25% were considered inoperable, and 27% were considered high risk for bypass surgery. Primary treatment included stents (50%), directional atherectomy (24%), and balloon angioplasty (20%). Follow-up was 98.8% complete at 15+/-8 months. Results varied considerably, depending on presentation and treatment. For patients with acute myocardial infarction, technical success was achieved in 75%, and survival to hospital discharge was 31%. For elective patients, technical success was achieved in 98.9%, and in-hospital survival was strongly correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (P=.003). Longer-term event (death, infarction, or bypass surgery) -free survival was correlated with ejection fraction (P<.001) and was inversely related to presentation with progressive or rest angina (P<.001). Surgical candidates with ejection fractions > or = 40% had an in-hospital survival of 98% and a 9-month event-free survival of 86+/-5%, whereas patients with ejection fractions < 40% had 67% and 22+/-12% in-hospital and 9-month event-free survivals, respectively. Nine hospital survivors (10.6%) experienced cardiac death within 6 months of hospital discharge. While results for selected patients appear promising, until early post-hospital discharge cardiac death can be better understood and minimized, percutaneous revascularization of ULMT stenosis should not be considered an alternative to bypass surgery for most patients. When percutaneous revascularization of ULMT is required, directional atherectomy and stenting appear to be the preferred techniques, and follow-up angiography 6 to 8 weeks after treatment is probably advisable.