Transition from paediatric to adult care: a qualitative study of the experiences of young adults with type 1 diabetes.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to explore how young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) experienced the transition from paediatric to adult health care services. DESIGN: A qualitative, explorative design was used. METHODS: Eleven young adults with T1D receiving adult diabetes care at a hospital in western Norway participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using Interpretive Description, an inductive approach inspired by grounded theory, ethnography and phenomenology, and specifically designed to explore phenomena in clinical practice aiming to generate new knowledge and skills. RESULTS: Four main themes regarding the adolescents' experiences of the transfer from paediatric to adult care emerged: (i) limited information about the transition; (ii) transition from frequent, thorough and personal follow-up to a less comprehensive and less personal follow-up; (iii) the importance of being seen as a whole person; (iv) limited expectations of how the health care services were organised. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that the existing routines for transfer between paediatric and adult care are not optimal. The participants expressed that they were not prepared for the dissimilarities in follow-up and were predominantly less pleased with the adult care follow-up. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The findings support a need for structured transition programmes, that is programmes that contribute to young adults with T1D receiving a safe and positive transition at an otherwise demanding life phase. Young peoples' individual needs for the transition to and follow-up in adult care may be promoted by an approach based on person-centred care.

Long-term follow-up in patients treated by stent implantation for post-ablation pulmonary vein stenosis.

PURPOSE: Symptomatic severe pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a rare but well-recognized complication. Treatment options include pulmonary vein angioplasty with or without drug eluting balloons or angioplasty with stent implantation. The treatment of choice is unclear. In our center, pulmonary vein stenting is the treatment of choice for significantly stenotic veins. We present the long-term clinical outcome of 9 patients treated with stent implantation. METHODS: Between 2001 and 2015, 3048 patients with AF were treated with catheter ablation at our institution, of which 9 developed symptomatic PVS. A total of 11 PVS were treated. Pre-procedural imaging (CT, MR, transesophageal echocardiography, angiography) was performed in all patients. RESULTS: Mean time from ablation to stenting was 18 months. Three patients had recurrent pneumonia and the remaining reduced functional capacity (NYHA 2). All patients were in functional capacity NYHA 1 (p < 0.05) after a mean follow-up of 64 (18-132) months. Three patients still had paroxysmal AF, of which two have undergone repeated ablation. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic PVS after AF ablation can be successfully treated by stent implantation with durable results and good clinical outcome. AF ablation is still a feasible option after stent deployment.