One respiratory care department's contribution to the 'bottom line'.

BACKGROUND: Although many hospital departments that were revenue producers have become cost centers and revenues above expenditures have shrunk, some departments continue to contribute. METHODS: I analyzed the financial statements of our 240-bed, not-for-profit hospital to determine the Respiratory Care Department's actual contribution to the hospital's 'bottom line' (ie, revenue above expenditures). The Respiratory Care Department's financial statement, the Hospital's profit and loss statement, and the financial statements for all 54 hospital departments were reviewed. RESULTS: Analysis revealed that the Respiratory Care Department's revenue dollar contributed $0.095 to the hospital bottom line for each revenue dollar generated. Analysis also demonstrated that the break-even contribution margin for revenue departments was 76.77%. Departments with contribution margins greater than 76.77% were revenue contributors and those departments with less than 76.77% were cost centers. CONCLUSIONS: The Respiratory Care Department was the hospital's largest revenue contributor, generating 42.8% of the hospital's revenue above expenditures. In today's health-care environment, it is sound fiscal reasoning to control cost and to strengthen those departments and services that are responsible for the financial viability of the institution. The results of this study show that our Respiratory Care Department has assumed the leadership role in the economic viability of our hospital and is its most cost-efficient contributor to health care.

1980 assessment of eight adult manual resuscitators.

Eight adult manual resuscitators were compared with regard to weight, dimensions, number of parts, possibility of misassembly, durability, self-reinflation time, average stroke volume with male and female operators using one hand and two hands, maximum cycling rate at room temperature and low temperature, delivered oxygen concentration, per cent demand ventilation, and ease of use. Of the devices tested, the Robertshaw and the Hudson Lifesaver had design problems in the oxygen delivery system, reducing the effective cycling rates. The Ohio Hope I delivered inadequate oxygen concentrations, and the Ohio Hope II delivered inadequate oxygen concentrations when used without a reservoir. The Hope II was also found awkward to use because of the bulky reservoir. The Puritan PMR delivered low oxygen concentrations and its valve required a screwdriver for disassembly and cleaning: a possible misassembly hazard was also noted. The Air-Shields Ambu Mark II, the Laerdal II, and the Penlon units rated high with respect to the tested variables, with the Penlon and Laerdal II devices achieving oxygen concentrations greater than 95%.

[Female urethral diverticulum. Report of a case]. / Divertículo uretral femenino. A propósito de un caso.

PURPOSE: We describe the successful repair of a large and complex urethral diverticulum in a female by transvaginal approach. Epidemiology, diagnostic methods, treatments and complications of female urethral diverticula are reviewed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 35-year-old woman with a history of postvoid dribbling, dyspareunia and recurrent urinary tract infections for 4 months was referred. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated two fluido-filled collections in the pelvis of 3.5 and 1 cm in size respectively which may be a very large and complex diverticulum, however, Bartholin gland cyst could not be rule out. Cystourethroscopy revealed a urethral diverticulum at 10 mm from the bladder neck with two ostia. It was performed transvaginal diverticulectomy and an anterior vaginal wall flap was placed. The published literature on female urethral diverticula was identified using a Pubmed Medline search and analysed. RESULTS: Convalescence was unremarkable. Suprapubic cystostomy tube was removed 2 weeks after surgery. The patient regained normal voiding. In the published literature there are no agreement neither in the diagnostic nor in the surgical techniques for female urethral diverticula. CONCLUSIONS: Urethral diverticula are diagnosed with increasing frequency. However, this entity continues to be overlooked because the symptoms may mimic other disorders. Cystourethroscopy, retrograde urethrograme using a double balloon catheter and recently magnetic resonance imaging may diagnose this disease. The cure rate of urethral diverticula with appropriate surgical management has a range of 86-100%. Complete excision through the anterior vaginal wall is the most successful treatment modality with minimum postoperative complications.

Divertículo uretral femenino. A propósito de un caso / Female urethral diverticula. A propos of one case

OBJETIVO: Se describe la reparación transvaginal de un divertículo uretral grande y complejo. Se ha realizado una revisión y análisis crítico de la epidemiología, los métodos diagnósticos, tratamientos y complicaciones de los divertículos uretrales femeninos. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Una mujer de 35 años consultó por goteo terminal, dispareunia e infecciones urinarias de repetición durante cuatro meses. Las imágenes de resonancia magnética nuclear mostraron dos formaciones líquidas en la pelvis de 3,5 y 1 cm de tamaño, respectivamente, que podían corresponder a un gran divertículo complejo, sin poder descartar un quiste de la glándula de Bartolino. En la cistouretroscopia se encontró un divertículo uretral a 10 mm del cuello vesical, con dos ostium. Se realizó una diverticulectomía transvaginal con colgajo de la pared anterior vaginal. Se identificó y analizó la literatura publicada de divertículo uretral femenino mediante la búsqueda en Pubmed Medline. RESULTADOS: Convalecencia sin complicaciones. El tubo de cistostomía suprapúbica se retiró 2 semanas después de la intervención. La paciente recuperó la micción normal. En la literatura publicada no hay consenso ni en los métodos de diagnóstico ni en las técnicas quirúrgicas para los divertículos vesicales femeninos. CONCLUSIONES: Los divertículos uretrales se diagnostican cada vez con más frecuencia. Sin embargo, continúan pasando desapercibidos porque los síntomas simulan otros trastornos. La cistouretroscopia, el uretrograma retrógrado mediante el catéter de doble balón y últimamente las imágenes de resonancia magnética nuclear pueden diagnosticar esta patología. Con la indicación quirúrgica adecuada, se curan el 86-100 por ciento de los divertículos uretrales. La extirpación completa a través de la pared vaginal anterior es el mejor tratamiento con las mínimas complicaciones post-operatorias (AU)

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