Digital zoom is a useful, simple, and cost-effective method of reducing radiation exposure in percutaneous coronary intervention.

Reducing radiation exposure is a very important issue in interventional cardiology techniques such as percutaneous coronary intervention. Although novel techniques to reduce radiation exposure are valuable, we should also reconsider older techniques. Digital zoom has been available in Japan from 2005. Digital zoom enlarges an 8-inch field of view (FOV) by 1.2 times, allowing visualization of a 6.7-inch FOV without FOV switching. We identified 2101 suitable cases of percutaneous intervention (PCI) and divided them into two groups according to the use of digital zoom; 1195 patients were included in the digital zoom group and 906 patients in the conventional group. We collected data regarding the reference air kerma (RAK) and dose-area product (DAP). We calculated RAK and DAP per minute fluoroscope time (RAK/min, DAP/min, respectively). There were intergroup differences in RAK, DAP, RAK/min, and DAP/min (digital zoom group vs conventional group; RAK, 1590 mGy [990-2410] vs 1850 [1220-2720], p < 0.01, RAK/min; 54.7 mGy/min [38.5-73.2] vs 71.2 [51.5-93.0], p < 0.01; DAP, 16,000 cGy × cm2 [10,300-24,400] vs 20,700 [13,400-29,500], p < 0.001; DAP/min, 557 cGy × cm2/min [392-737] vs 782 [571-1010], p < 0.01, respectively). Because of baseline differences between the two groups, we performed propensity score matching. Even after score matching, there were intergroup differences in DAP, DAP/min, RAK, and RAK/min. Furthermore, the least squares method showed that digital zoom is a significant predictor of RAK (ß = 0.14, p < 0.01) and DAP (ß = 0.20, p < 0.01). Digital zoom is an older cost-effective technique that can significantly reduce radiation exposure in PCI.

[Clinical significance of a standardized clinical pathway in gastrectomy patients].

UNLABELLED: In traditional practice patterns, physicians take care of all clinical decisions, such as diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. In the Nippon Medical School Hospital a clinical pathway for distal gastrectomy patients, recorded as a post-operative care map, was introduced in August 2000. In January 2001 the post-operative management was analyzed and standardization of practice was carried out with printed order sets, such as drugs and infusion solutions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of the clinical pathway for gastrectomy patients by employing standardized postoperative management and printed order sets. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2001 to December 2001, 87 patients underwent distal (43), total (28), proximal (7) and partial gastrectomy (9) for gastric cancer (stage IA: 47, IB: 9, II: 7, IIIA: 8, IIIB 2, IV: 10) and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (4). These patients were randomly assigned to either the main building or the east building of our hospital. In the main building 38 patients were looked after using traditional practice (control group). In the east building 47 patients were looked after according to the clinical pathway (path group) and 2 patients were excluded from the path group because of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and severe heart failure. Aspects of the patients' outcomes, including length of stay, the first day of the diet, morbidity, and medical costs, were compared between the path group and the control group. All data were expressed as means+/-standard deviation. Statistical analyses were made using Student t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and chi(2) test, and the 5%level was chosen for statistical significance. RESULTS: The length of the hospital stay was 27.1+/-10.0 and 40.8+/-26.1 days (p<0.005) and the length of post-operative stay was 18.1+/-9.5 and 28.2+/-22.3 days (p<0.01) in the path group and the control group, respectively. The post-operative day when the diet was started for the path and control groups was 6.8+/-8.9 and 8.2+/-7.2, respectively; however, the length of the intravenous infusion for the two groups was 11.8+/-1.1 and 16.5+/-1.2 days (p<0.01), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the morbidity rate between the path group (3/47) and the control group (5/38). The total cost was 1,502,587 yen +/-41,650 in the path group and 1,932,197 yen +/-131,030 in the control (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: A clinical pathway for gastrectomy patients proved useful to optimize their postoperative care, including medication management and diet education. It is suggested that the implementation of a standardized clinical pathway for gastrectomy patients reduced the length of the hospital stay and the medical costs.

[An economic evaluation on the clinical pathway for gastrectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the costs of gastrectomy patients treated with the clinical pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-six patients (path group 44, control 32) had undergone gastrectomy in our hospital in 2001. The clinical pathway included the same care map. Treatment costs were estimated from medical cost receipt data. The economical analysis was performed from the point of the direct cost payer's view. RESULTS: The length of hospital stay in the path group was 27.1 +/- 5.9 days and decreased 8.3 days in comparison with the control(p < 0.001). The cost of the path group was 145.290 +/- 23.773 points and 19.278 points less than the control(p < 0.005). In the path group the operation case per bed was increased 30% and the cost per bed was also increased 15% more than the control. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of the clinical pathway decreased the length and the cost of hospital stay. The clinical pathway is effective to use the hospital resources, such as bed.