The adverse childhood experiences checklist: Can it serve as a clinical and quality indicator?

AIM: There is strong evidence that adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with poor short-, medium- and long-term health outcomes. In South Western Sydney, we trialled a modified ACE checklist in community paediatric clinics. Our aim was to design the best version of the ACE checklist for routine clinical use to serve as both a clinical and quality indicator. METHODS: We trialled two versions of the modified ACE checklist based on a pre-existing tool in child development (CD) and vulnerable child (VC) clinics over a 6-month period in 2012 (V1) and 7-month period in 2017 (V2). We analysed clinical and demographic data and correlated with ACE scores. We asked clinicians about the use of the ACE checklist and modified the checklist based on clinicians' recommendations. RESULTS: In phase 1, V1 was trialled in CD clinics only; 77 children were assessed, of whom 38 children (49%) had ACE score of ≥1, and 8 (10%) had a score of ≥4. In phase 2, of 279 children assessed, 178 (64%) had ACE ≥1, and 78 (28%) had ACE ≥4. In both phases, clinicians found the checklist simple to use and helpful in identifying especially vulnerable children. CONCLUSIONS: The ACE checklist helps clinicians and managers identify the burden of exposure to trauma, violence and abuse of children attending paediatric clinics, both to facilitate intervention and aid service development. This version of the ACE checklist has the potential to be used across a variety of populations and settings as a clinical and quality indicator.

Successful Thrombolysis in Artery of Percheron Infarction: Grabbed an Extremely Rare Opportunity.

Artery of Percheron (AOP) is an uncommon anatomical variation in the posterior circulation neurovasculature. It is a single artery arising from P1 segment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) which supplies bilateral paramedian thalami and the rostral midbrain and as a result, occlusion of it leads to bilateral thalamic and mesencephalic infarction. Due to very low incidence (ranges from 0.1% to 2% of all ischemic strokes) and varied presentation, the diagnosis of AOP infarction requires strong clinical and radiological suspicion and hence, AOP infarction is often missed and patients are rarely thrombolysed. Here we discuss a patient with acute altered sensorium who recovered completely in short time following treatment with intra-venous thrombolysis for bilateral medial thalamic ischemic stroke due to AOP occlusion.

Treatment outcome of standardized regimen in patients with multidrug resistant tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment outcome of second line drugs used in directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS)-Plus regimen under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, observational study was carried out on multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients enrolled for DOTS-Plus regimen at TB and Chest Disease Department from January to December 2009. Demographic details, symptoms, sputum examination and adverse drug reactions were recorded in a case record form. Patients were followed up for 24 months. The data were analysed by Fisher's exact test and paired student's 't' test. RESULTS: Out of 130 patients, 51 (39%) were cured, 7 (5%) completed the treatment, 25 (19%) died, 30 (23%) defaulted and 17 (13%) failure. A significant increase in body weight (P < 0.0001) was observed at the end of the 24 months. Out of 89 patients with sputum culture conversion, majority (73) turned negative within first 3 months. Female gender (P < 0.05), conversion of sputum culture from positive to negative (P < 0.0001), and radiological improvement (P < 0.0001) were found to be positive predictors of a successful treatment outcome. While smoking habit (P < 0.05) and alcohol consumption (P < 0.05) were negative predictors of successful treatment outcome. Thirty five (26%) patients developed ADRs that required withdrawal of causal drug. The most common ADR was joint pain due to pyrazinamide (11) followed by neurological and psychiatric disturbances due to cycloserine (9). CONCLUSION: The treatment outcome of standardized regimen in MDR-TB patients was low. The long duration of treatment and defaulters are major challenges for a successful outcome.