Tertiary Referral Teaching Hospital Research Articles

Characteristics of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Producing Enterobacterales Isolated from Dogs and Cats, 2011-2021.

The rising prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales is a significant threat to animal and human health. This study aims to describe the clinical features, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and genotypic features of infections associated with ESBL-producing Enterobacterales in dogs and cats seen at a tertiary referral veterinary teaching hospital. Enterobacterales isolated from dogs and cats that underwent ESBL testing during the study period were identified using a search of the hospital antimicrobial susceptibility test software database. Medical records of confirmed ESBL isolates were reviewed, and the source of infection, clinical findings, and antimicrobial susceptibility were recorded. Genomic DNA from bacterial isolates was evaluated for antimicrobial resistance genes with whole genome sequencing. Thirty ESBL-producing isolates were identified based on phenotypic testing (twenty-nine from dogs, one from a cat); twenty-six were Escherichia coli and the remainder were Klebsiella spp. Bacterial cystitis was the most commonly identified (8/30, 27%) clinical problem associated with infection. Resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes was identified in 90% (27/30) of isolates, and all isolates were susceptible to imipenem. Over 70% of isolates were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam, amikacin, and cefoxitin. BlaCTX-M-15 was the most common ESBL gene identified, present in 13/22 (59%) isolate genomes. A wide range of clinical infections were identified. Piperacillin-tazobactam and amikacin may be alternatives to carbapenem therapy. Further, larger-scale studies are needed.

Concurrence of Vesicoureteral Reflux and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Children

Background: There is anecdotal evidence regarding the simultaneous occurrence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which indicates the probability of pathophysiological commonality. Objectives: In the present study, we evaluated the concurrence of VUR and GERD in children candidates for the voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) study. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 62 children between 1 and 14 years old referred to a tertiary referral teaching hospital for VCUG in 2019 - 2020. All subjects underwent ultrasound to assess GERD and VCUG to rule out VUR. Results: According to the ultrasound assessment, 14.5% of subjects were diagnosed with GERD: 8.3% in males and 18.4% in females. VUR was detected in 48.4% of children (50.0% in males and 47.4% in females) using VCUG. Overall, seven (23.3%) had concomitant VUR and GERD: 4.2% in boys and 15.8% in girls, indicating no difference between the two genders (P = 0.125). The prevalence of concurrent GERD and VUR was also independent of age. In the two groups with and without VUR, the prevalence of GERD was 23.3% and 6.2%, respectively, indicating a relative risk of 2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32 - 3.02, P = 0.001). Conclusions: Regarding the relationship between GERD and VUR, despite the deletion of physiologic GER cases, the pathophysiological overlap between the two phenomena could be considered.

Assessment of Depression and Its Correlation with Serum Levels of Interleukin-6 in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis.

Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in patients on hemodialysis. An imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of depression in patients on dialysis. We undertook this study to assess the correlations of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 with depression in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. This cross-sectional observational study was carried out at our hospital, a tertiary care referral government teaching hospital, over 2 years. Depression was assessed using the Becks Depression Inventory score. A higher cutoff of >16 was taken for a diagnosis of depression. Clinical, demographic, and laboratory parameters were analyzed. Cytokines were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Eighty patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of depression in our study was 41.5%. Depression was more common in those who were unemployed and/or illiterate. Mild depression was found in patients from the upper-lower and lower-middle classes, but severe depression was seen in lower-economic classes. Serum levels of IL-6 showed a positive correlation with the severity of depression. Depression was common in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. High levels of serum IL-6 were observed in those with depression. Depression in patients on maintenance hemodialysis is associated with a considerable risk of mortality.

Etiological Profile, Targeted Levothyroxine Dosing and Impact of Partial Newborn Screening in Congenital Hypothyroidism-A Single Centre Experience.

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common cause of preventable intellectual disability. Newborn screening (NBS) for CH has been in vogue in many parts of the world since 1970, but despite its well-known benefits, many developing countries including India have not been able to establish universal NBS for CH till date. The aim of this study was to review the clinical aspects of congenital hypothyroidism in a tertiary care university referral teaching hospital, focusing on aetiology of CH, predictors of permanence, optimal targeted dose strategies based on aetiology and the effect of newborn screening on the time to diagnosis. The electronic medical records of 233 children with CH referred to our centre between January 2009 and December 2019 were analysed. A partial NBS was established in the state in 2012. Dyshormonogenesis (57.5%) was the most common aetiology of CH. The incidence of transient CH in children with a gland in situ (GIS) was 35%. Levothyroxine (LT-4) dose of >2.75 μg/kg/day (sensitivity 76.5, specificity 72), >2.15 μg/kg/day (sensitivity 82.4, specificity 61.9) and >1.85 μg/kg/day (sensitivity 76.5, specificity 61.9) at years 1, 2 and 3, respectively, were predictors of permanent CH. An initial LT-4 dose ≥8 μg/kg was sufficient and very seldom led to undertreatment in children with dyshormonogenesis. On the contrary, even doses ≥13 mcg/kg/day led to frequent undertreatment in children with thyroid dysgenesis. After the introduction of newborn screening, the median age at diagnosis came down from 45 days (IQR 14-180 days) to ten days (IQR 3-12 days). Targeted dosing based on aetiology of CH may be more appropriate to optimise outcomes. The time to diagnosis of CH reduced significantly after the adoption of even a partial NBS program highlighting the urgent need for implementation of the same in resource poor settings.

Ophthalmological Symptom Presentations in Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases - A Cross-sectional Study from a South Indian Centre

Introduction Ophthalmological symptoms are common in ear, nose and throat conditions. Orbital involvement and ophthalmological presentations may be indicative of the extensive and aggressive nature of the pathology. This study evaluated the causes of various ophthalmological presentations in relation to primary ENT diseases in patients attending the ENT Department of a government tertiary referral teaching hospital. Material and Methods Sixty patients with ophthalmological presentations arising out of primary ENT diseases were assessed in detail. Comprehensive physical, ophthalmological and ENT examinations were done. Ophthalmological and ENT diagnoses, treatment details, outcome and complications if any were also noted. Results Most number of patients were in the age group 51 to 60 years (14; 23.4%). Most common ophthalmological symptom was periorbital oedema (51.6%) followed by epiphora (48.3%); the most common ENT symptom was headache (50%) followed by nasal discharge (48.3%). Most common diagnosis among patients was sinusitis (46.7%) followed by mucocele (21.7%). Most common (47%) otorhinological diagnosis associated with proptosis in this study was infections in the form of orbital cellulitis or abscess associated with sinusitis. Majority (43, 71.7%) of the study sample had surgical management. Conclusion This study reiterates the need for a high index of suspicion from the part of the ophthalmologist to look beyond eye diseases as causes for ophthalmological presentations and from the part of otorhinolaryngologist to be aware of various non-ENT symptoms secondary to ear, throat and nose diseases. A close collaboration between the ophthalmology and ENT departments is essential in successful management of such patients.

Initial observations on the impact of implementation of a seven-day clinical pharmacy service on dispensary activity and performance

Abstract Introduction The need for seven-day clinical pharmacy services is widely acknowledged, although limited, in the acute sector of the National Health Service.1,2 Timely medicine supply is integral to provision of improved clinical pharmacy services to patients across seven-days, and is essential in effective discharge planning. There is a paucity of evidence for implementation of seven-day clinical pharmacy services, including the impact of service transformation on dispensary activity and performance. This limits planning and development of seven-day pharmacy services. Aim To assess the impact of a seven-day clinical pharmacy service on dispensary activity and performance, at the main site of a tertiary-referral teaching hospital. Methods A seven-day clinical pharmacy service was implemented in October 2021. Prior to this, pharmacy services were largely dispensary-based with clinical pharmacy services for acute and neurosciences admission and limited ward-based services in other specialities. At implementation, clinical pharmacy technicians and pharmacists (n=16) provided patient-facing pharmaceutical care for 7.5-hours/day across all specialities over the weekend; this included medicines reconciliation, preparation of discharge-medication lists, independent prescribing, counselling and clinical review of prioritised patients. The weekend dispensary staffing, skill-mix and shift patterns were redesigned to facilitate staff release from the dispensary rota. Dispensing activity data were obtained from Ascribe for six months pre- and post-implementation (April 2021-March 2022). Data were categorised as inpatient/discharge and the mean number of items dispensed per month analysed using Microsoft Excel. Discharge turnaround performance was calculated as percentage of discharge prescriptions dispensed within two-hours of dispensary receipt and obtained from the Prescription Tracking System. Verbal staff feedback was sought 4-months post-implementation. The study was deemed a service evaluation by the Pharmacy Research and Audit Group and so ethical approval was not required. Results Twelve dispensing staff and one pharmacist were rostered to one of three daily 3.75-hour dispensary shift patterns. Following implementation, mean total inpatient dispensing activity increased from 12799 to 13250 items/month (3.5% increase) and mean weekend activity from 2184 to 2677 items/month (22.6% increase). Mean weekday inpatient activity was stable at 10615 to 10573 items/month. The mean discharge dispensing activity increased from 9065 to 9837 items/month (8.5% increase): mean weekday discharge from 8498 to 8622 items/month (1.5% increase); mean weekend activity from 569 to 1215 items/month (114% increase). Discharge turnaround performance remained stable with 85% discharge prescriptions dispensed within 2-hours, versus 84% pre-implementation. Weekday performance also remained stable - from 84% to 83% and the weekend performance increased from 85% to 92%. Dispensary staff fed-back that weekend shift patterns were effective, activity was manageable and shifts usually ran smoothly and finished on time. Discussion/Conclusion Introduction of a seven-day clinical pharmacy service led to an increase in weekend dispensary activity, which was not offset by decrease in weekday activity. Importantly, the dispensary performance was not negatively impacted and weekend discharge performance improved. Increases could be because of weekend medicines reconciliation, pro-active medication ordering and pharmacist-led preparation of discharge-medicine lists. Dispensary activity in Winter 2020 was atypical because of COVID-19, thus it was not feasible to compare data. Further review, including 12 months data would reduce impact of seasonal variations in NHS activity. Limitations include that patient data including length of stay and time to discharge were not within scope.

Development, implementation and evaluation of a seven-day clinical pharmacy service in a tertiary referral teaching hospital during surge-2 of the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundSeven-day clinical pharmacy services in the acute sector of the National Health Service are limited. There is a paucity of evidential patient benefit. This limits investment and infrastructure, despite United Kingdom wide calls.AimTo optimise medicines seven-days a week during surge-2 of the COVID-19 pandemic through implementation of a seven-day clinical pharmacy service. This paper describes service development, evaluation and sustainability.SettingA tertiary-referral teaching hospital, London, United Kingdom.DevelopmentThe seven-day clinical pharmacy service was developed to critical care, acute and general medical patients. Clinical leads developed the service specification and defined priorities, targeting complex patients and transfer of care. Contributing staff were briefed and training materials developed.ImplementationThe service was implemented in January 2021 for 11 weeks. Multidisciplinary team communication brought challenges; strategies were employed to overcome these.EvaluationA prospective observational study was conducted in intervention wards over two weekends in February 2021. 1584 beds were occupied and 602 patients included. 346 interventions were reported and rated; 85.6% had high or moderate impact; 56.7% were time-critical.The proportion of medicines reconciliation within 24-h of admission was analysed across the hospital between November 2020 and May 2021. During implementation, patients admitted Friday-Sunday were more likely to receive medicines reconciliation within 24-h (RR 1.41 (95% CI 1.34–1.47), p < 0.001). Rostered services were delivered sustainably in terms of shift-fill rate and medicines reconciliation outcome.ConclusionSeven-day clinical pharmacy services benefit patient outcome through early medicines reconciliation and intervention. Investment to permanently embed the service was sustained.

Liberal use of local anaesthetic and the risk of toxicity in elective arthroplasties at a tertiary teaching hospital

Background Local anaesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) is a life-threatening potential complication that may follow the administration of local anaesthetic (LA) drugs, and is cumulative across the drug class. Local anaesthetics are commonly administered via different routes for elective orthopaedic procedures – both by anaesthetists and surgeons. We hypothesized that total doses of LA may be routinely encroaching upon toxicity. Methods All total hip or knee arthroplasties (THAs and TKAs) performed within a 3 month period at the John Hunter Hospital (tertiary referral centre and teaching hospital) were audited to assess total administration of LA. Demographics, surgical characteristics, use of general anaesthesia or sedation, and use of local anaesthetic via any route of administration was recorded. For each patient, a weight-based theoretical maximum safe dose was calculated and compared against the dose they received. Data is presented as mean ± SD, percentages. Statistical significance was determined at p &lt; 0.05. Results 130 THAs and TKAs were identified within the audit period. 52 patients exceeded their drug-class theoretical maximum safe dose. 49 patients exceeded their weight-based maximum dose for a single LA agent, in all cases ropivacaine. Non-obese individuals receive significantly higher mean dose than obese individuals (119.4% [98.6–140.3] vs 78.82% [65.95–91.69], p = 0.001). No LAST events were identified. Conclusions Patients who received elective total hip or knee arthroplasties were exposed to concerningly high total doses of local anaesthetic, suggesting that greater awareness of the additive toxicity of drugs within this class is required.

Effect of laparoscopic cystectomy on ovarian reserve in patients with ovarian cyst.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic cystectomy on ovarian reserve in patients with ovarian cysts.Material and methodsThis prospective study was performed on 113 women with ovarian cysts in a tertiary referral teaching hospital. All patients underwent laparoscopic cystectomy. Serum levels of antimüllerian hormone (AMH) were measured pre-and, 3 months postoperatively. The primary outcome of the study was to assess the effect of laparoscopic cystectomy on ovarian reserve based on alterations in serum AMH levels. The secondary outcome of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the number of cauterizations, size and type of cysts, bilaterality (bilateral or unilateral), age, and body mass index (BMI) on the ovarian reserve after laparoscopic excision.ResultsLaparoscopic cystectomy reduced the serum AMH levels preoperatively (1.32 ± 4.48 ng/ml) to postoperatively (3.2 ± 1.93 ng/ml) and the difference (- 1.28 ng/ml) was statistically different (0.001 >P). There was a negative significant relationship between the number of cauterizations used and postoperative serum AMH levels (p ≤ 0.001). There was a significant relationship between the location (p ≤ 0.01), type of cyst (p ≤ 0.001) and the serum AMH levels reduction.ConclusionThe number of cauterizations used during surgery, the type of cyst, and bilaterality can affect AMH levels that need to be addressed.

Risk Factors and Prognosis of Acute Kidney Injury after Cardiac Surgery in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Introduction: Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is one of the most prevalent complications of cardiac surgery, while the renal and overall prognoses of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with CSA-AKI are extremely poor. However, there is little published information on the occurrence of CSA-AKI in patients with CKD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors and prognostic factors of cardiac surgery-related AKI in patients with CKD. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on CKD patients who underwent cardiac surgery at a tertiary referral teaching hospital. CSA-AKI was defined based on the KDIGO criteria. The risk factors for CSA-AKI and the factors affecting renal function recovery at discharge or death in patients with AKI were investigated. Results: Among 1638 CKD patients enrolled, the incidence of CSA-AKI was 50.55%. AKI patients’ in-hospital mortality was higher than patients without AKI (AKI vs. no AKI, 4.7 vs. 0.9%, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male (odds ratio [OR] 1.479), preoperative hypertension (OR 1.548), preoperative hemoglobin <110 g/L (OR 2.389), and aortic clamping time >58 min (OR 1.567) were independent risk factors for AKI after cardiac surgery in patients with CKD. Factors affecting renal function recovery of AKI patients included preoperative diabetes mellitus (OR 0.306), hyperchloremia (OR 0.927), estimate of the glomerular filtration rate (OR 1.034), and AKI progression. Compared with patients with AKI stage 1, the rate of renal function recovery in patients with AKI stage 2 and stage 3 was reduced by 78.9% and 82.3%, respectively. Conclusions: In the population of patients with CKD, the incidence of CSA-AKI was high, which significantly affected renal and overall prognosis. The prompt intervention of modifiable factors may help improve the prognosis of patients with CKD.

Nurse preceptors’ perceptions of benefits, rewards, support, and commitment to the preceptor role in a new preceptorship program

BackgroundNurse preceptorship is a new concept emerging in the Iranian health care system. The purpose of this research was to assess preceptor nurses’ perceived benefits, rewards, support, and commitment to the role in a new nurse preceptorship program in Iran and to examine the relationships between these concepts.MethodsA descriptive correlational study was employed, and using total population sampling method, 45 preceptor nurses were recruited from a tertiary referral teaching hospital in Iran. Data were collected using the Preceptor’s Perception of Benefits and Rewards Scale, the Preceptor’s Perception of Support Scale, and the Commitment to the Preceptor Role Scale. Descriptive statistics and correlational analysis were used to analyse data.ResultsPreceptors’ commitment to their role was positively and moderately associated with their perceived benefits and rewards (r = 0.503, p = 0.001) and perceived support (r = 0.430, p = 0.003). None of the examined demographic and practice variables showed statistically significant association with commitment to the preceptor role.ConclusionsCommitment to the preceptor role was associated with benefits, rewards and support that preceptor nurses perceive in relation to their role. To optimise the effectiveness of nurse preceptorship programs, benefits, rewards, recognition, and support should be integral to planning of these programs.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic resection versus total laparoscopic gastric surgery for primary gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs): an analysis from a high-volume institution

BackgroundLaparoscopic resection of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is technically feasible and associated with favorable outcomes. We compared the clinical efficacy of hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HLS) and total laparoscopic surgery (TLS) for gastric GISTs.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 69 consecutive patients diagnosed with a gastric GIST in a tertiary referral teaching hospital from December 2016 to December 2020. Surgical outcomes were compared between two groups.ResultsFifty-three patients (TLS group: n = 36; HLS group: n = 17) were included. The mean age was 56.9 and 58.1 years in the TLS and HLS groups, respectively. The maximum tumor margin was significantly shorter in the HLS group than in the TLS group (2.3 ± 0.9. vs. 3.0 ± 0.8 cm; P = 0.004). The operative time of the HLS group was significantly shorter than that of the TLS group (70.6 ± 19.1 min vs. 134.4 ± 53.7 min; P < 0.001). The HLS group had less intraoperative blood loss, a shorter time to first flatus, and a shorter time to fluid diet than the TLS group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the groups in the incidence or severity of complications within 30 days after surgery. Recurrence or metastasis occurred in four cases (HLS group; n = 1; TLS group; n = 3).ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that compared with TLS, HLS for gastric GISTs has the advantages of simpler operation, shorter operative time, and faster postoperative recovery.

Association of Adjuvant Chemotherapy With Overall Survival Among Patients With Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a standard treatment option for locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC); however, the indications for adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in patients with LAGC who received NAC remain controversial. To compare survival rates between patients with LAGC who received AC and those who did not after NAC followed by surgery. This multicenter, international cohort study included 353 patients with LAGC undergoing curative-intent gastrectomy after NAC at 2 tertiary referral teaching hospitals in China between June 1, 2008, and December 31, 2017. To externally validate the findings in the Chinese patients, 109 patients from the US and Italy between June 1, 2006, and June 30, 2013, were reviewed. The follow-up period of the Chinese patients was completed in December 2020, and the follow-up period of the Western patients was completed between February and July 2017. Data analysis was performed from December 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021. Patients who received AC and those who did not were propensity score matched to evaluate the association of AC with survival. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival, and disease-specific survival. Of 353 patients from China (275 [78.1%] male; mean [SD] age, 58.0 [10.7] years), 262 (74.1%) received AC and 91 (25.9%) did not. After propensity score matching, the 3-year OS was significantly higher in patients who received AC (60.1%; 95% CI, 53.1%-68.1%) than in those who did not (49.3%; 95% CI, 39.8%-61.0%) (P = .02). Lymph node ratio (LNR) was significantly associated with AC benefit (P < .001 for interaction), and a plot of the interaction between LNR and AC demonstrated that AC was associated with improved OS in patients with higher (≥9%) LNRs (3-year OS: 46.6% vs 21.7%; P < .001), but not in patients with LNRs less than 9% (3-year OS: 73.9% vs 71.3%; P = .30). When stratified by AC cycles, only those patients who completed at least 4 AC cycles exhibited a significant survival benefit in the 6-month (hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.33-0.96; P = .03) and 9-month landmark analysis (hazard ratio, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.27-0.94; P = .03). In the external cohort, improved OS with AC administration was also found in patients with LNRs of 9% or greater (3-year OS: 53.0% vs 26.3%; P = .04). In this cohort study, the administration of AC after NAC and resection of LAGC was associated with improved prognosis in patients with LNRs of 9% or greater. These findings suggest that LNR might be valuable in AC selection in future decision-making processes.

Characterization of Reflective Capacity of Anesthesiology Trainees in an Irish Tertiary Referral Teaching Hospital.

Reflective practice is associated with improved accuracy of medical diagnosis and superior performance in complex situations. Systematic observation of trainees' reflective capacities constitutes a basis for an effective support of reflective practice within the training paradigm. We set out to examine the reflective capacity among anesthesiology trainees in a tertiary referral hospital. We invited 61 anesthesiology trainees in Cork University Hospitals, Ireland, to participate. Each trainee was invited to respond to 2 investigator-written vignettes prepared by the investigators and suitable for evaluation using the Reflection Evaluation for Learners' Enhanced Competencies Tool (REFLECT) and to produce and then respond to a written vignette based on their own experience. All responses were assessed by 2 independent assessors who had undergone training in the application of the REFLECT rubric, which gives quantifiable scores. Interrater reliability was assessed by weighted kappa coefficient. Association between years of training in medicine and level of reflective capacity was examined using correlation and multiple regression analyses, controlling for age. Twenty-nine trainees agreed to participate, the overall REFLECT Level was 2.16 (SD 0.7), corresponding to "thoughtful action," indicating low to moderate reflective ability. Cronbach's alpha for the 5 items of the REFLECT scale was excellent (r = 0.92). Weighted kappa was very satisfactory (k = 0.81). A strong association was demonstrated between years in medicine and scores on REFLECT, controlling for age of participant (F = -2.57, Beta coefficient = -0.30). Respondents with less experience had greater mean REFLECT scores than respondents with more experience (F = 5.5, P = .02; post hoc mean difference = 0.7, P = .03 for ≤32 months vs ≥99 months). There was a significant effect for gender (t = -4.3, P = .001), with women's responses receiving greater REFLECT scores than men's responses (mean difference = 0.67, P = .001). Overall, participants demonstrated low to moderate reflective capacity, as assessed by the REFLECT rubric. Reflective capacity of the anesthesiology trainees appears to decrease as years of medical training progress. However, our respondents were not sampled over time to fully support this conclusion. Further research is needed on the psychometric properties of the REFLECT rubric and the generalizability of our findings.

Burnout syndrome among residents of different surgical specialties in a tertiary referral teaching hospital in Indonesia during COVID-19 pandemic

IntroductionBurnout is experienced frequently by residents, especially during COVID-19 pandemic. Impacts of the pandemic on clinical workload and training program of the residents has also resulted in burnout, which may impact their clinical performance and safety. Therefore, this paper aims to assess burnout syndrome among surgical residents in Indonesia during COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted on 120 surgical residents (from orthopedics, general surgery, and urology department) of a tertiary referral teaching hospital in Malang using web-based questionnaire. Personal data form and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) for medical personnel were used. There are 3 subscales of MBI: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal achievement (PA). Comparative and correlative analysis were performed to analyze the socio-demographic, academic, and work-related factors in relation to the subscales scores of MBI-HSS and the presence of burnout. ResultsBurnout were experienced by 56.67% of residents in this study. There were statistically significant association regarding burnout and marital status, residency specialty, year of residency, and working hours upon analysis of mean and classification of subscale scores of MBI with the examined factors. ConclusionThis study showed that burnout is a major issue in surgical residents during COVID-19 pandemic and may be associated with certain socio-demographic, academic, and work-related factors. Further studies to identify factors contributing to burnout in residents during COVID-19 pandemic are needed. It is imperative to formulate resident-centered strategies to prevent and address burnout among residents to ensure their overall well-being during this pandemic.

Playful interventions to promote the subjective wellbeing of pediatric cancer inpatients during laboratory and imaging exams: A qualitative study.

We investigate the experience of pediatric oncology patients with objects and equipment involved in laboratory and image examinations during hospitalization for cancer treatment while generating guidelines for playful interventions to improve their subjective wellbeing. The study was carried out at a public tertiary referral teaching hospital in Southern Brazil. Data collection was based on participatory observations with six children aged 4-8 years. Their experiences with exams were observed through pretend play and recorded in field diaries, audio, and video. Data were analyzed using Thematic Analysis and discussed according to the PERMA-V model, a theoretical framework from positive psychology. Several objects and equipment that seem to affect the wellbeing of children during exams were identified. Four playful interventions were proposed as supportive care initiatives: use of technology to allow immersive experiences in learning about treatment and medical condition; design for personalization; gamifying experiences to allow positive reinforcement; and design for focus redirection. Guidelines for playful interventions to foster the subjective wellbeing of hospitalized children during image and laboratory exams were proposed. The PERMA-V model provided a solid base for the analysis of the interventions, which will be implemented and tested in future studies in clinical settings.

Evaluation of Autofluorescence in Identifying Parathyroid Glands by Measuring Parathyroid Hormone in Fine-Needle Biopsy Washings

BackgroundNear-infrared autofluorescence imaging has potentially great value for assisting endocrine surgeons in identifying parathyroid glands and may dramatically change the surgical strategy of endocrine surgeons in thyroid surgery. This study is designed to objectively evaluate the role of near-infrared autofluorescence imaging in identifying parathyroid glands during thyroid surgery by measuring intraoperative parathyroid hormone in fine-needle aspiration biopsy washings.MethodsThis study was conducted at a tertiary referral teaching hospital in China from February 2020 to June 2020. Patients undergoing total thyroidectomy with or without neck lymph node dissection were consecutively included. The surgeon used near-infrared autofluorescence imaging to identify parathyroid glands during thyroid surgery and confirmed suspicious parathyroid tissues by measuring their intraoperative parathyroid hormone. Nanocarbon was injected into the thyroid gland if the thyroid autofluorescence intensity was too strong. The sensitivity and accuracy of near-infrared autofluorescence imaging and vision for identifying parathyroid glands, and the difference in autofluorescence intensity in various tissues were the main outcomes.ResultsOverall, 238 patients completed the trial. Based on the pathological and aIOPTH results, the sensitivity of near-infrared autofluorescence imaging for detecting parathyroid glands (568 of 596 parathyroid glands; 95.30%)was significantly higher than that of vision (517 of 596 parathyroid glands; 86.74%, P<.001). The accuracy of near-infrared autofluorescence imaging (764 of 841 tissues; 90.84%) was significantly higher than that of vision (567 of 841 tissues; 67.42%, P<.001) when the evaluations of certain tissues were inconsistent. There was a significant difference between the autofluorescence intensity of the parathyroid glands and that of the lymph nodes (74.19 ± 17.82 vs 33.97 ± 10.64, P<.001).ConclusionThe use of near-infrared autofluorescence imaging, along with intraoperative parathyroid hormone and nanocarbon for the identification of parathyroid glands in thyroid surgery may increase the number of confirmed parathyroid glands. Using near-infrared autofluorescence imaging can effectively distinguish lymph nodes and parathyroid glands during lymph node dissection.

A 6-Year Thematic Review of Reported Incidents Associated With Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Calls in a United Kingdom Hospital.

Critical incident reporting can be applied to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) events as a means of reducing further occurrences. We hypothesized that local CPR-related events might follow patterns only seen after a long period of analysis. We reviewed 6 years of local incidents associated with cardiac arrest calls. The following search terms were used to identify actual or potential resuscitation events: "resuscitation," "cardio-pulmonary," "CPR," "arrest," "heart attack," "DNR," "DNAR," "DNACPR," "Crash," "2222." All identified incidents were independently reviewed and categorized, looking for identifiable patterns. Nottingham University Hospitals is a large UK tertiary referral teaching hospital. A total of 1017 reports were identified, relating to 1069 categorizable incidents. During the same time, there were approximately 1350 cardiac arrest calls, although it should be noted that many arrest-related incidents were not associated with cardiac arrest call (e.g., failure to have the correct equipment available in the event of a cardiac arrest). Incidents could be broadly classified into 10 thematic areas: no identifiable incident (n = 189; 18%), failure to rescue (n = 133; 12%), staffing concerns (n = 134; 13%), equipment/drug concerns (n = 133; 12%), communication issues (n = 122; 10%), do-not-attempt-CPR decisions (n = 101; 9%), appropriateness of patient location or transfer (n = 96; 9%), concerns that the arrest may have been iatrogenic (n = 76; 7%), patient or staff injury (n = 43; 4%), and miscellaneous (n = 52; 5%). Specific patterns of events were seen within each category. By reviewing incidents, we were able to identify patterns only noticeable over a long time frame, which may be amenable to intervention. Our findings may be generalizable to other centers or encourage others to undertake this exercise themselves.

Epidemiology of electrical burns and its impact on quality of life - the developing world scenario.

BACKGROUNDElectrical burns are devastating injuries and can cause deep burns with significant morbidity and delayed sequelae. Epidemiological data regarding the etiology, socioeconomic differences and geographic variation are necessary to assess the disease burden and plan an effective preventive strategy. These severe injuries often lead to amputations and thus hamper quality of life in the long termAIMTo identify the population at maximum risk of sustaining electrical burns. We also studied the impact of electrical burns on these patients in terms of quality of life as well as return to work. METHODSThe study was conducted at a tertiary referral teaching hospital over a period of eighteen months. All patients with a history of sustaining electrical burns and satisfying the inclusion criteria were included in the study. All relevant epidemiological parameters and treatment details were recorded. The patients were subsequently followed up at 3 mo, 6 mo and 9 mo. The standardized Brief Version of the Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS-B) was adopted to assess quality of life. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS statistics (version 22.0). A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTSA total of 103 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 31.83 years (range 18-75 years). A significant majority (91.3%) of patients were male. The mean total body surface area (TBSA) in these patients was 21.1%. In most of the patients (67%), the injury was occupation-related. High voltage injuries were implicated in 72.8% of patients. Among the 75 high voltage burn patients, 31 (41%) required amputation. The mean number of surgeries the patients underwent in hospital was 2.03 (range 1 to 4). The quality of life parameters amongst the patients sustaining high voltage electrical burns were poorer when compared to low voltage injuries at all follow-up intervals across nine domains. In eight of these domains, the difference was statistically significant. Similarly, the scores among the amputees were poorer when compared to non-amputees. The difference was statistically significant in six domains. CONCLUSIONElectrical burns remain a problem in the developing world. Most injuries are occupation-related. The quality of life in patients with high voltage burns and amputees remains poor. Work resumption was almost impossible for amputees. These patients could not regain pre-injury status. Steps should be taken to create awareness and to implement an effective preventive strategy to safeguard against electrical injuries.

Characteristics of Paediatric Patients Transported by Emergency Care Personnel in a Government Tertiary Care Centre, Mysuru, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Emergency Medical Service (EMS) systems have been well established and designed largely to cater to the needs of the cardiac and trauma related emergencies in adult patients. Paediatric emergencies are different; the benefits and outcomes of paediatric EMS have been assumed but without much evidence. With the emergence of paediatric and neonatal Advanced Life Support (ALS); it is imperative to have data that define the problems encountered in the prehospital care setting and also their outcome. This analysis may also provide insights into any modifications that may be required in the EMS system that exists to transport sick children. Aim: To characterise the paediatric prehospital care with emphasis on demography, presenting symptoms, treatment given, prehospital times, vitals monitoring and interventions done during EMS transport affiliated to Emergency Medical Service Agency. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2018 to June 2019 in Cheluvamba Hospital, a tertiary care referral teaching hospital attached to Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysuru, India. The study included 147 children who were provided EMS by the 108 ambulance affiliated to the state/central government. Data pertaining to demography, presenting symptoms, vital sign monitoring, treatment given, various prehospital times, and interventions done during transport was obtained and analysed. Inpatient diagnosis with the duration of hospital stay and outcome in these childrens were also described. Results: Among the 147 children included; 3 were brought dead, hence the studied population comprised of 144 children. Amongst them, 42 were neonates and the remaining 102 belonged to the general paediatric population (older children). Overall, 61.8% were males and 57.64% hailed from a rural background. Mean ‘on- scene’ time was 12.12±2.34 minutes and 5.50±5.01 minutes, and ‘transport time’ was 33.79±16.78 minutes, and 26.11±14.2 minutes for neonates and older children, respectively. Respiratory distress was the most common presenting symptom. The mean Heart Rate (HR, beats/min), Respiratory Rate (RR, cycles/min) and temperature (°C) in neonates was 129.86±27.91, 59.90±15.40 and 36.14±0.84 whereas in older children it was 112.81±28.39, 34.87±14.86, and 37.40±0.96, respectively. Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP mmHg) in children aged more than 10 years was 116.67±8.61. Of the 39 children aged more than 6 years, 36 (92.30%) had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) between 13-15. The most common intervention done was administering oxygen in 84.02% (121/144) of children; 34.02% (49/144) of children were unstable at admission; 127 (88.2%) were discharged; remaining 17 (11.8%) succumbed to their illness. On- scene time of more than 15 minutes, transport time of more than 30 minutes and factors such as hypoxia, respiratory failure and shock at admission were significantly associated with mortality (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Majority of the EMS transports were related to medical conditions. Basic Life Support (BLS) interventions were done albeit mostly in older children. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT)/paramedics delivering EMS need special training to orient themselves to the special needs of critically ill children and to improve their outcome.