Dressings for the central venous catheter to prevent infection in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To identify the most effective dressing for covering long-term central venous catheter exit site to prevent catheter-related infections and skin irritation in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. METHODS: Systematic Review. The search was performed in the following electronic databases: CINAHL, Cochrane Library CENTRAL, EMBASE, LILACS, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Google Scholar was used for the gray literature search. RESULTS: Seven studies were included which tested different arrangements of dressings: sterilized gauze and adhesive tape with a transparent polyurethane film (n = 2), transparent polyurethane film with a different replacement interval frequency (n = 2), transparent polyurethane film with and without chlorhexidine released continuously by the dressing at the site of intravascular catheter insertion (n = 2), and dressings vs. no dressings (n = 1). The meta-analysis for catheter-related infection prevention showed no difference between type of dressing (RR 1.76, [95% CI 0.82; 3.75], I2 0%) and for the replacement frequency at different intervals (RR 1.04, [95% CI 0.67; 1.61], I2 0%). The meta-analysis for skin irritation evaluated the transparent polyurethane film replacement frequency and indicated that a longer dressing replacement interval (10 to 15 days) reduces the risk of developing this outcome (RR 0.71, 0.52; 0.96, 95% CI, I2 24%). CONCLUSIONS: Regarding the type of the dressing, there is no evidence indicating the best dressing. Although there is no evidence available for the ideal replacement frequency, the risk to develop skin irritation is reduced in longer dressing replacements intervals.

Surgical count process for prevention of retained surgical items: an integrative review.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To analyse the evidence reported in the literature concerning the surgical count process for surgical sponges, surgical instruments and sharps and to identify knowledge gaps for future research on the surgical count process. BACKGROUND: The surgical count process stands out among the practices advocated by the World Health Organization to ensure surgical safety. The literature indicates that this practice should be performed in all surgical processes. However, surgical items are still retained. DESIGN: Integrative review. METHODS: The literature search was conducted in the PubMed, CINAHL and LILACS databases and included studies on the surgical count process published in English, Spanish and Portuguese from January 2003-December 2013. RESULTS: A total of 28 primary studies were included in the sample, allowing the knowledge on the surgical count process to be summarised and grouped into three categories: risk factors for retained surgical items, how the surgical count process should be performed in the intraoperative period and the accompanying technologies that collaborate to improving the manual count process. CONCLUSIONS: The correct implementation of the surgical count process by the perioperative nurse may contribute to preventing retained surgical items, thereby improving surgical patient safety. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurses can use this review to assist in decision-making directed towards preparing, updating and implementing a reliable system for the surgical count process based on recent evidence because the perioperative nurse plays a key role in the implementation of this practice in health services.

Health-related quality of life in Brazilian outpatients with Chagas and non-Chagas cardiomyopathy.

PURPOSE: To examine differences in demographic, clinical, and health-related characteristics of quality of life in heart failure patients with Chagas and non-Chagas cardiomyopathy in Brazil. METHODS: This observational study was carried out with 43 Brazilian out-patients with Chagas and 59 non-Chagas cardiomyopathy. RESULTS: No differences were evident between the 2 groups regarding age, sex, mean left-ventricular ejection fraction, and duration of follow-up. Compared with the non-Chagas group, patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy had a higher percentage of participants using artificial pacemakers (P < .001), more symptoms of heart failure as measured by New York Heart Association classes III and IV (P = .02), higher intakes of aspirin and warfarin, a higher use of artificial pacemakers because of bradycardia, and lower health-related quality of life in the Physical Functioning (P = .01) and Role Physical (P = .002) domains of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-Item Health Status Survey. CONCLUSION: Our study population was limited to one region endemic for Chagas disease in Brazil, and therefore findings need to be confirmed and should not be generalized to other populations without further research.

Health-related quality of life determinants in outpatients with heart failure / Determinantes da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em pacientes ambulatoriais com insuficiência cardíaca / Determinantes de la calidad de vida relacionada a la salud en pacientes atendidos en ambulatorios con insuficiencia cardíaca

This descriptive and exploratory study analyzed variables associated with health-related quality of life among 130 outpatients. Health-related quality of life was measured through the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. Significant associations were found between patients’ health-related quality of life and their age (r=-0.177; p=0.044), vitality (r=-0.625; p=<0.001) as well as mental health (r=-0.672; p=<0.001), which are both SF-36 domains. The linear regression showed that heart failure symptom severity, vitality and mental health explained 54 percent of HRQOL measurement variation. To control symptoms and preserve good mental well-being are important to maintain health-related quality of life and to deliver effective heart failure care.

Trata-se de estudo descritivo e exploratório que analisou as variáveis associadas à qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS), de 130 pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca, em seguimento ambulatorial. A QVRS foi avaliada pelo Minnesota Living with Heart Failure e realizada análise de regressão linear. A média da QVRS foi de 34,9 (dp=24,8; intervalo de 0 a 99). Foram encontradas associações significantes entre a medida da QVRS e idade (r=-0,177; p=0,044), vitalidade (r=-0,625; p=<0,001) e saúde mental (r=-0,672; p=<0,001), domínios do SF-36. A regressão linear mostrou que a gravidade dos sintomas da insuficiência cardíaca, e dois domínios do SF-36, vitalidade e saúde mental, explicaram 54 por ciento da variação da medida da QVRS. Controlar os sintomas e manter bem-estar mental é essencial para a manutenção da QVRS e são essenciais para o cuidado eficaz da insuficiência cardíaca.

Se trata de un estudio descriptivo y exploratorio que analizó las variables asociadas a la calidad de vida relacionada a la salud (CVRS) de 130 pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca en seguimiento en ambulatorio. La CVRS fue evaluada por el Minnesota Living with Heart Failure y realizado análisis de regresión linear. El promedio de la CVRS fue de 34,9 (DE = 24,8; intervalo de 0 a 99). Fueron encontradas asociaciones significantes entre la medida de la CVRS y edad (r=-0,177; p=0,044), vitalidad (r=-0,625; p=<0,001) y salud mental (r=-0,672; p=<0,001), dominios del SF-36. La regresión linear mostró que la gravedad de los síntomas de la Insuficiencia Cardíaca, y dos dominios del SF-36, vitalidad y salud mental, explicaron 54 por ciento de la variación de la medida de la CVRS. Controlar los síntomas y mantener el bienestar mental es esencial en la manutención de la CVRS y son esenciales para el cuidado eficaz de la Insuficiencia Cardíaca.