The effect of Iran's health sector evolution plan on hospitals performance indicators: an interrupted time series analysis.

Background: The Health Sector Evolution Plan (HSEP) was set up in Iran's health system to respond to some of the main problems in hospitals and other health sectors. We aimed to compare the effect of the HSEP on teaching hospital performance before and after the implementation of the HSEP through the interrupted time series (ITS) analysis. Methods: With a cross-sectional design, data collection was performed in 17 teaching hospitals affiliated with the Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS). We used the existing data on three indicators of hospitalization rate (per 10,000 population), Emergency Department Visits (EDVs) (per 10,000 population), and in-hospital mortality (per 10,000 population). The monthly data from 2009 to 2019 was analyzed by the ITS method 60 months before and 61 months after the HSEP. Results: We found a non-statistically significant decrease in the monthly trend of hospitalization rate relative to the period before the HSEP implementation (-0.084 per 10,000 population [95%CI: -0.269, 0.101](. There was a statistically significant increase in the monthly trend of EDVs rate compared to before the HSEP implementation (1.07 per 10,000 population [95%CI: 0.14, 2.01]). Also, a significant decrease in the monthly trend of in-hospital mortality compared to before the HSEP implementation [-0.003 per 10,000 population (95%CI: -0.006, -0.001)] was observed. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a significant increasing and decreasing trend for EDVs and in-hospital mortality following the HSEP implementation, respectively. Regarding the increase in hospitalization rate and EDVs after the implementation of HESP, it seems that there is a need to increase investment in healthcare and improve healthcare infrastructure, human resources-related indicators, and the quality of healthcare.

Target-controlled infusion of remifentanil to provide analgesia for awake nasotracheal fiberoptic intubations in cervical trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Awake fiberoptic tracheal intubation is the best choice for situations in which neck movement is limited or hazardous, and remifentanil is one of the most popular drugs that are used in these circumstances. We administered remifentanil with target-controlled and manually controlled infusion techniques in two groups of patients who had cervical trauma and semielective maxillofacial surgery. METHODS: Twenty-two patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups. Bronchoscopy data were gathered in four data points. In the target-controlled infusion (TCI) group, patients received 0.8 ng · mL remifentanil as effect-site target, and in the manually controlled group, patients received remifentanil with a loading dose of 0.75 µg · kg and 0.075 µg · kg · min as maintenance. Patients were evaluated separately for recall and pain during procedure 24 hours after operation by visual analog scale. Comparison of vital signs was performed using Mann-Whitney U test. Fischer's exact test was used to analyze quantitative data when appropriate. RESULTS: Preparation time was shorter in the TCI group, and remifentanil effect-site targets were higher in the TCI group. Vital signs were more stable in the TCI group. Levels of sedation were comparable in both groups. Recall and pain during endoscopy were more common in the manually controlled infusion group. CONCLUSION: Remifentanil infusion could be recommended to provide good conscious sedation in procedures such as awake nasotracheal intubation, but target-controlled remifentanil infusion seems to provide better conditions compared with manually controlled remifentanil infusion and is easier to use.

Target-controlled infusion anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil compared with manually controlled infusion anesthesia in mastoidectomy surgeries.

Target-controlled infusion (TCI) system is increasingly used in anesthesia to control the concentration of selected drugs in the plasma or at the site of drug effect (effect-site). The performance of propofol TCI delivery when combined with remifentanil in patients undergoing elective surgeries has been investigated. Our aim in this study was to assess the anesthesia profile of the propofol and remifentanil target controlled infusion (TCI) anesthesia as compared to the manually controlled infusion (MCI), in mastoidectomy surgery, where a bloodless field is of utmost importance to the surgeon. Sixty patients, aged 18-60 years ASA I-II enrolled in the study, were divided into two equal groups. Group MCI received propofol and remifentanil by conventional-dose-weight infusion method, and Group TCI received propofol 4 microg/ml and remifentanil 4 ng/ml as effect-site target concentration. The hemodynamic variability, recovery profile, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), surgeons satisfaction were assessed. Results were analyzed by SPSS version 11.5. The two groups were comparable with respect to age, ASA class, sex, weight, basal vital signs, operation time. The blood pressure and pulse were above desired levels in some data points in the MCI Group (P < or = 0.05). The PACU stay time to reach Aldret score of 10 was longer in the MCI Group (42.54 +/- 8 vs 59.01 +/- 6 min) (P < or = 0.05). The PONV was more common in the MCI Group (P < or = 0.05). Surgeon's satisfaction of the surgical field showed no significant differences except when described as "good", more common in the TCI Group. TCI is capable to induce and maintain anesthesia as well as MCI. In some stages of anesthesia, the TCI control of vital signs are better than the MCI. In some stages of anesthesia, the TCI control of vital signs are beter than the MCI. Recovery profile and complication rate and surgeon's satisfactions are more acceptable in the TCI than in the MCI Group.

Comparison of target-controlled infusion of sufentanil and remifentanil in blunting hemodynamic response to tracheal intubation.

BACKGROUND: Maintaining blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) after laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation has always been a concern in injured patients. Opioids can attenuate or stop an increase in these two parameters if administered with proper doses or targets in target-controlled infusion (TCI). Remifentanil and sufentanil are widely used for this purpose because their cardiac side effects are low and, especially in traumatic patients, they are tolerated well. A comparison of the benefits and limitations of these two opioids in TCI is much needed. A literature review in electronic data bases revealed few results. METHODS: 40 normotensive patients were enrolled to this randomized clinical trial study. After BIS guided anesthesia with a target-controlled propofol infusion and muscle relaxation with cisatracurium, remifentanil and sufentanil were infused using TCI with 2 and 0.2 ng.ml-1 targets respectively. BP and HR were recorded for five data points and compared with Fischer's exact test. RESULTS: Systolic, mean and diastolic arterial pressure and HR in different points of the study remained below baseline values but were out of control in some cases, however the out-of-control values showed significant difference between the two groups only for heart rate changes. The relative risk for producing out-of-control changes with remifentanil compared to sufentanil is significantly more than 1 for HR decrease. CONCLUSIONS: Sufentanil produced more common pre-intubation hypotension than remifentanil in propofol anesthetized patients but this hypotension disappeared sooner than remifentanil after tracheal intubation. Both opioids prevent an increase in BP and HR after tracheal intubation but the side effects (hypotension and bradycardia) may be a cause for concern (IRCT138710011361N3).

Correlation between bispectoral index and predicted effect-site concentration of propofol in different levels of target-controlled, propofol induced sedation in healthy volunteers.

INRODUCTION: Bispectral Index is an objective tool to assess electroencephalographic activity and measure the effect of certain sedatives and hypnotics on the brain. In addition, there are certain subjective tools such as the observer's assessment of alertness and sedation which are used. The correlation between BIS and the concentration of propofol in the brain, and the relationship between these subjective and objective tools in assessing sedation levels are the subject of this study. METHODS: Thirty healthy volunteers enrolled in this prospective observational study. They were sedated with a target controlled infusion of propofol with an initial target of 0.8 microg.mL(-1)and an increase in target to 0.2 microg.mL(-1) ten minutes after equilibration of the predicted and set target concentrations. In each sedation score, the Bispectral Index value and predicted effect site concentration of propofol were recorded and analyzed. Analysis of variance and significant differences between groups were analyzed by paired t-test. Correlations between Bispectral Index and effect site concentration of propofol at each sedation score and the relationship of BIS and effect site concentration of propofol to each sedation score were assessed and analyzed by nonparametric Spearman's rho. RESULTS: The means of Bispectral Index and effect site concentration of propofol at each sedation score showed a significant difference with the following score. Additionally, Bispectral Index and effect site concentration of propofol showed a significant negative correlation in sedation scores 3 and 2 when inducing sedation. In other sedation scores or when reversing the sedation, no strong correlation was noted. CONCLUSION: Both Bispectral Index and effect site concentration of propofol indicate a good estimate of sedation levels; however their correlations are significant and negative only at moderate and deep sedation levels, and during the induction of sedation.