A Simulation Study to Assess the Effect of Analytic Error on Neonatal Glucose Measurements Using the Canadian Pediatric Society Position Statement Action Thresholds.

BACKGROUND: The Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS) has endorsed an algorithm for the screening and immediate management of babies at risk of neonatal hypoglycemia that provides time-dependent glucose concentration action thresholds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of glucose analytic error (bias and imprecision) on the misclassification of glucose meter results from a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) using the CPS guidelines. METHODS: A simulation dataset of true glucose values (N = 100 000) was derived by finite mixture model analysis of NICU glucose data (N = 23 749). Bias and imprecision were added to create measured glucose values. The percentages of measured glucose values that were misclassified at CPS action thresholds were determined by Monte Carlo simulation. RESULTS: Measurement biases ranging from -20 to +20 mg/dL combined with coefficients of variation 0% to 20% were evaluated to predict misclassification rates at 32, 36, and 47 mg/dL. The models demonstrated low risk of false normoglycemia-at 5% CV and +10 mg/dL bias: 0.8% to 5% misclassification at the 32 and 47 mg/dL thresholds due to bias. The models demonstrated risk of false hypoglycemia-at 5% CV and -10 mg/dL bias: 3% to 12.5% misclassification at 32 and 47 mg/dL thresholds due to both bias and imprecision. CONCLUSION: Using CPS action thresholds, the simulation model predicted the proportion of neonates at risk of inappropriate clinical action-both of omission or "failure to treat" and commission or "overtreatment" in response to NICU glucose meter results at specific bias and imprecision values.

Cost savings associated with an outpatient otolaryngology telemedicine clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To test the null hypothesis that there is no difference in patient cost savings between the telemedicine and traditional face-to-face approach. The second objective was to assess the financial impact on the peripheral healthcare system, as compared with staffing a conventional clinic with "on-site" otolaryngologist. METHODS: Twenty-one patients were enrolled. To assess "patient-benefit" cost savings, a model was formulated that would utilize a certified nurse practitioner (CNP) to conduct a general otolaryngology clinic at the peripheral site, as compared with having to travel to the tertiary referral center. A "peripheral site-benefit" cost analysis was performed to assess costs of initiating and operating a telemedicine clinic at the peripheral site, compared with having an on-site otolaryngologist. RESULTS: The total patient-benefit cost savings would be $182.09 per patient per encounter and $333.22 per patient annually. The fixed cost to the peripheral site to initiate the telemedicine system was $9,895. Two hundred sixty telemedicine encounters would be needed to offset the initial cost, and 537 encounters would be needed to surpass revenue of the conventional clinic. CONCLUSION: A real-time telemedicine otolaryngology clinic provides significant cost savings for both patients and the peripheral healthcare system. This pilot study supports telemedicine as a cost-effective approach to providing general otolaryngology care to rural patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Perioperative care of congenital adrenal hyperplasia - a disparity of physician practices in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency is the most common cause of primary adrenal insufficiency in children. Current guidelines recommend the use of perioperative stress dose (supraphysiologic) glucocorticoids for children with CAH undergoing anesthesia, although a perceived difference in practice patterns among Canadian pediatric subspecialists prompted an assessment of perioperative glucocorticoid administration. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional survey of Canadian Pediatric Anesthesia Society (CPAS) and Canadian Pediatric Endocrine Group (CPEG) members via membership email lists to assess reported practice patterns to select clinical scenarios. RESULTS: Responses were collected from 49 anesthesiologists and 37 pediatric endocrinologists. Less than half of anesthesiologists reported they would provide stress dose corticosteroids for patients undergoing cystoscopy while a significant majority of pediatric endocrinologists reported they would recommend stress dose corticosteroid administration (45% vs 92% respectively, p < 0.0001). Twenty-one percent of anesthesiologists reported they would not provide stress dose corticosteroids for patients undergoing laparotomy. Pediatric endocrinologists reported they were more likely to refer to guidelines for management of stress dose steroids (84% vs 51%, p < 0.001), with many Canadian pediatric endocrinologists reporting to use institution specific guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate a clear difference in the reported approach to perioperative stress dose steroids between pediatric anesthesiologists and pediatric endocrinologists which may impact patient care. Further dialogue is required to address this apparent discrepancy in practice patterns and future research is needed to provide evidence-based practice recommendations.

Comparison between conventional and "clinical" assessment of experimental lung fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a treatment resistant disease with poor prognosis. Numerous compounds have been demonstrated to efficiently prevent pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in animal models but only a few were successful when given to animals with established fibrosis. Major concerns of current PF models are spontaneous resolution and high variability of fibrosis, and the lack of assessment methods that can allow to monitor the effect of drugs in individual animals over time. We used a model of experimental PF in rats and compare parameters obtained in living animals with conventional assessment tools that require removal of the lungs. METHODS: PF was induced in rats by adenoviral gene transfer of transforming growth factor-beta. Morphological and functional changes were assessed for up to 56 days by micro-CT, lung compliance (measured via a mechanical ventilator) and VO2max and compared to histomorphometry and hydroxyproline content. RESULTS: Standard histological and collagen assessment confirmed the persistent fibrotic phenotype as described before. The histomorphological scores correlated both to radiological (r2 = 0.29, p < 0.01) and functional changes (r2 = 0.51, p < 0.0001). VO2max did not correlate with fibrosis. CONCLUSION: The progression of pulmonary fibrosis can be reliably assessed and followed in living animals over time using invasive, non-terminal compliance measurements and micro-CT. This approach directly translates to the management of patients with IPF and allows to monitor therapeutic effects in drug intervention studies.