Cultural analysis of surgical safety checklist items in Spain and Argentina. / Análisis cultural de los ítems de dos listas de verificación quirúrgica de España y Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the agreement between two surgical checklists implanted in two hospitals in Spain and Argentina, using the international classification for patient safety as a framework. METHOD: This was an expert opinion study carried out using an ad hoc questionnaire in electronic format, which included 7 of the 13 categories of the international classification for patient safety. Fifteen surgical security experts from each country participated in this study by classifying the items on the checklists into the selected ICPS categories. The data were analyzed with SPSS V20 software. RESULTS: There was a greater percentage of classifications in fields related to the prevention of critical events. The category "clinical processes and procedures" was mentioned most frequently in both lists. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the surgical safety checklist is variable. Experts considered that the Argentinian list was clearer in every dimension.

Venous thromboprophylaxis in general surgery ward admissions: strategies for improvement.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the adherence to institutional venous thromboprophylaxis clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in general surgery patients and to assess the effectiveness of a multi-strategy improvement intervention. DESIGN: A prospective before-after study. SETTING: Two teaching hospitals located in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. PARTICIPANTS: Prescriptions belonging to patients admitted to the general surgery wards were evaluated. INTERVENTION: A multi-strategy intervention that included (i) simplification of institutional CPGs for venous thromboprophylaxis using a single drug at a single dose, based on the American College of Chest Physicians recommendations, (ii) distribution of pocket cards with an algorithm for the implementation of new recommendations to both, physicians and nurses, working in the general surgery units, (iii) educational talks, (iv) paper-based reminders and (v) audit and feedback. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The adherence of the venous thromboprophylaxis prescription to the institutional recommendations. RESULTS: The prescriptions of 100 admitted patients before and 90 after the intervention were included in the analysis. The initial rate of adherence was 31%. After the intervention this rate rose to 71.1% (P< 0.001). The major improvement observed was the reduction in omitted prophylaxis in patients at risk of venous thromboembolism from 45 to 13.3% (P< 0.001). In the adjusted model, prescribing compliance with CPGs was five times more likely during the second stage than during the first stage (OR = 5.60, 95% CI = 2.92-10.74). CONCLUSIONS: Simple and economical interventions such as those described in this study can improve general surgeons compliance with the institutional and international guidelines, thus assuring patient safety and quality of health care.

Adherence to local guidelines for venous thromboprophylaxis: a cross-sectional study of medical inpatients in Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis has been shown to safely and cost-effectively reduce the incidence of thromboembolic events in medical inpatients. However, there is a gap between evidence and medical practice. The aim of this study was evaluate the appropriateness of prescribing venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in accordance with local recommendations for medical inpatients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 310 prescriptions of medical general-ward admitted patients of two university hospitals of Buenos Aires, Argentina.Data was collected using filled-out prescriptions, medical records and interviews with the head attending physician. Information was gathered at different times during 16 days randomly selected over September 2007 and January 2008. RESULTS: One hundred eighty eight patients' prescriptions (60.6%) were appropriate according to the institutional guidelines. Inappropriateness was due to excessive (14.2%), insufficient (15.8%) and absent (9.4%) prescribing. According to the recommendations of the American College of Chest Physicians, 256 (82.6%) patients received appropriate prophylaxis. Twenty-nine patients (9.4%) were considered at low risk for thromboembolism and did not need pharmacologic or mechanical prophylaxis. One hundred three patients (33.2%) had at least one major risk factor for venous thromboembolism. Compliance with the institutional guidelines was more frequently in the case of high risk patients. Complex preventive measures and low risk patients were related to lower adherence to recommendations. In the multivariate analysis, predictors of inappropriateness were the requirement of a surgical procedure and absence of prophylaxis prescribing at admission. In contrast, patients with a diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders had lower odds of inappropriateness than those with an infectious disease. CONCLUSIONS: Most medical inpatients received some thromboprophylaxis measure, but the compliance with recommendations was less frequent. Efforts should be made to improve the appropriate prescription.

[Prognostic risk factors for serious complications in an inpatient population with neutropenia at the onset of a febrile episode]. / Factores de mal pronóstico en pacientes internados con neutropenia al inicio del episodio febril.

Patients with neutropenia and fever conform a heterogeneous population with a variable risk of serious complications and mortality. The goal of this study was to identify prognostic risk factors present at the beginning of the episode, for adverse events and serious complications in patients admitted in a general ward with fever and neutropenia. A cohort of 238 episodes with neutropenia and fever (neutrophils < 1000/mm3 and T > 38.3 00) in 167 patients admitted to our general hospital between 1997 and 2004 was followed. Eighty two percent of the patients had hematologic malignancies, 14% solid tumors and 4% were not associated with chemotherapy. Sixty seven adverse events were registered (46% renal insufficiency, 27% refractory hypotension, 15% respiratory insufficiency and 12% major bleeding). Significant differences were found in presence of current co-morbidities, body temperature > 39 00, heart rate > 120 beats per minute, respiratory rate > 24 per minute, systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg, presence of 3 or more altered laboratory values, presence of a clinical site of infection and positive blood cultures. The logistic regression multivariate analysis showed that the following characteristics were independently associated with adverse events: systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg (OR = 7, p < 0.01), current co-morbidities (OR = 8.5, p = 0.02), respiratory rate > 24 per minute (OR = 2.8, p = 0.01), and the presence of a clinical site of infection (OR = 2.1, p = 0.03). The presence of systolic hypotension, high respiratory rate, current co-morbidities and a clinical site of infection at the time of admission were identified predictors of subsequent serious complications in patients admitted with fever and neutropenia in a general ward.

Análisis cultural de los ítems de dos listas de verificación quirúrgica de España y Argentina / Análise cultural dos itens de duas listas de verificação cirúrgica de Espanha e Argentina / Cultural analysis of surgical safety checklist items in Spain and Argentina

RESUMEN Objetivo Comparar la concordancia entre dos listas de verificación quirúrgica implantadas en dos hospitales en España y Argentina utilizando como marco de referencia la Clasificación Internacional para la Seguridad de Pacientes. Método Estudio basado en el juicio de expertos realizado con un cuestionario ad hoc en soporte electrónico que abarca 7 de las 13 categorías de la Clasificación Internacional para la Seguridad de Pacientes. Participaron 15 expertos en seguridad quirúrgica de cada país, asociando cada ítem de las listas de verificación con las dimensiones seleccionadas. Los datos se analizaron con el programa SPSS V20. Resultados Se evidencia un mayor porcentaje de coincidencias con campos relacionados con prevención de eventos críticos. La dimensión Procesos clínicos y procedimientos obtuvo una mayor frecuencia de asignación en ambas listas. Conclusión Existe variabilidad en la implantación de las listas de verificación quirúrgica. Los expertos consideran la lista argentina más clara en cada dimensión.

RESUMO Objetivo Comparar a concordância entre duas listas cirúrgicas, implantadas em dois hospitais na Espanha e na Argentina, usando como quadro de referência a classificação internacional para a segurança do paciente. Método Estudo baseado na opinião de especialistas, realizado através de um questionário ad hoc em formato eletrônico, que inclui 7 das 13 categorias da classificação internacional para a segurança do paciente. Participaram 15 especialistas em segurança cirúrgica de cada país, associando cada item das listas de verificação nas dimensões selecionadas. Os dados foram analisados com o programa SPSS V20. Resultados Uma porcentagem mais elevada de coincidências é evidente com domínios relacionados à prevenção de eventos críticos. A dimensão Processos clínicos e procedimentos apresentou uma maior frequência de atribuição em ambas as listas. Conclusão Há variabilidade na implantação das listas cirúrgicas de verificação. Especialistas acreditam que a lista da Argentina é mais clara em todas as dimensões.

ABSTRACT Objective To compare the agreement between two surgical checklists implanted in two hospitals in Spain and Argentina, using the international classification for patient safety as a framework. Method This was an expert opinion study carried out using an ad hoc questionnaire in electronic format, which included 7 of the 13 categories of the international classification for patient safety. Fifteen surgical security experts from each country participated in this study by classifying the items on the checklists into the selected ICPS categories. The data were analyzed with SPSS V20 software. Results There was a greater percentage of classifications in fields related to the prevention of critical events. The category “clinical processes and procedures” was mentioned most frequently in both lists. Conclusion The implementation of the surgical safety checklist is variable. Experts considered that the Argentinian list was clearer in every dimension.

Hemoglobin concentration variations over time in general medical inpatients.

BACKGROUND: A decrease in hemoglobin concentration [Hb] with no apparent cause is frequently observed in critically ill patients. Scarce information is available about this situation in general ward-admitted patients (GWAP). OBJECTIVES: To describe [Hb] variation with no obvious cause in GWAP, and to estimate the prevalence and predictors of patients with [Hb] decreases > or =1.5 g/dL. DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS: Prospective, observational study in internal medicine GWAP, carried out at two teaching hospitals in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Patients with a history of, or admitted for diseases associated with decreases in [Hb], as well as those with length of stay less than three days, were excluded. MEASUREMENTS: Upon hospitalization, complete personal and clinical data were recorded. Furthermore, Katz index, APACHE II acute physiology score (APS) and Charlson score were calculated. [Hb] and hematocrit (HCT) were also assessed during hospitalization. RESULTS: A total of 338 patients were evaluated, 131 were included. A mean [Hb] decrease of 0.71 g/dL was observed between admission and discharge (P < 0.001; 95% CI, 0.47-0.97). Forty-five percent of the included patients had decreases in [Hb] > or = 1.5 g/dL. This was associated with a higher APS, a higher [Hb] at admission, and a discharge diagnosis of infectious or gastrointestinal disease. No bleeding episodes were observed. CONCLUSIONS: An [Hb] decrease was frequently observed during GWAP hospitalization with no evident blood loss. Even though this decrease has multiple causes, the severity of the acute illness seems to play a major role.

Factores de mal pronostico en pacientes internados con neutropenia al inicio del episodio febril / Prognostic risk factors for serious complications in an inpatient population with neutropenia at the onset of a febrile episode

Los pacientes con neutropenia y fiebre constituyen una población heterogénea con riesgo variable para el desarrollo de complicaciones serias y mortalidad. El objetivo de este trabajo es identificarfactores que, presentes al ingreso, estuvieran asociados a mayor riesgo de complicaciones graves en pacientesque se internan por neutropenia y fiebre. Se trata de un estudio de seguimiento de una cohorte de 238 episodios de neutropenia y fiebre (neutrófilos <1000/mm3 y T>38.3 °C) en 167 pacientes internados en sala general en nuestra institución desde 1997 a 2004. Ochenta y dos por ciento de los pacientes tenían enfermedad hematológica, 14% tumores sólidos y 4% no asociados a quimioterapia. Se registraron 67 eventos adversos (46% de insuficiencia renal, 27% de hipotensión refractaria, 15% de insuficiencia respiratoria y 12% con sangrado mayor). Se hallaron diferencias significativas en presencia de comorbilidades previas, temperatura mayor a 39 °C, frecuencia cardíaca mayor a 120 latidos por minuto, frecuencia respiratoria mayor a 24 por minuto, tensión arterial sistólica menor a 90 mm Hg, presencia de 3 o más valores de laboratorio alterados al ingreso, presencia de foco clínico y hemocultivos positivos. En el análisis multivariado de regresión logística mantuvieron asociación independiente con mayor riesgo de eventos graves: hipotensión arterial sistólica (OR=7, p<0.01), comorbilidades (OR=8.5, p=0.02), taquipnea (OR=2.8, p=0.01), y presencia de foco clínico (OR=2.1, p=0.03)

Patients with neutropenia and fever conform a heterogeneouspopulation with a variable risk of serious complications and mortality. The goal of this study was to identifyprognostic risk factors present at the beginning of the episode, for adverse events and serious complications inpatients admitted in a general ward with fever and neutropenia. A cohort of 238 episodes with neutropenia andfever (neutrophils <1000/mm3 and T>38.3 °C) in 167 patients admitted to our general hospital between 1997and 2004 was followed. Eighty two percent of the patients had hematologic malignancies, 14% solid tumors and4% were not associated with chemotherapy. Sixty seven adverse events were registered (46% renal insufficiency, 27% refractory hypotension, 15% respiratory insufficiency and 12% major bleeding). Significant differences werefound in presence of current co-morbidities, body temperature >39 °C, heart rate >120 beats per minute, respiratory rate >24 per minute, systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg, presence of 3 or more altered laboratory values, presenceof a clinical site of infection and positive blood cultures. The logistic regression multivariate analysis showedthat the following characteristics were independently associated with adverse events: systolic blood pressure<90 mm Hg (OR=7, p<0.01), current co-morbidities (OR=8.5, p=0.02), respiratory rate >24 per minute (OR=2.8, p=0.01), and the presence of a clinical site of infection (OR=2.1, p=0.03). The presence of systolic hypotension, high respiratory rate, current co-morbidities and a clinical site of infection at the time of admission were identified predictors of subsequent serious complications in patients admitted with fever and neutropenia in a general ward