Improving quality of care in peptic ulcer bleeding: nationwide cohort study of 13,498 consecutive patients in the Danish Clinical Register of Emergency Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The treatment of peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) is complex, and mortality remains high. We present results from a nationwide initiative to monitor and improve the quality of care (QOC) in PUB. METHODS: All Danish hospitals treating PUB patients between 2004 and 2011 prospectively registered demographic, clinical, and prognostic data. QOC was evaluated using eight process and outcome indicators, including time to initial endoscopy, hemostasis obtainment, proportion undergoing surgery, rebleeding risks, and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 13,498 PUB patients (median age 74 years) were included, of which one-quarter were in-hospital bleeders. Preadmission use of anticoagulants, multiple coexisting diseases, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists scores increased between 2004 and 2011. Considerable improvements were observed for most QOC indicators over time. Endoscopic treatment was successful with primary hemostasis achieved in more patients (94% in 2010-2011 vs. 89% in 2004-2006, relative risk (RR) 1.06 (95% confidence intervals 1.04-1.08)), endoscopy delay for hemodynamically unstable patients decreased during this period (43% vs. 34% had endoscopy within 6 h, RR 1.33 (1.10-1.61)), and fewer patients underwent open surgery (4% vs. 6%, RR 0.72 (0.59-0.87)). After controlling for time changes in prognostic factors, rebleeding rates improved (13% vs. 18%, adjusted RR 0.77 (0.66-0.91)). Crude 30-day mortality was unchanged (11% vs. 11%), whereas adjusted mortality decreased nonsignificantly over time (adjusted RR 0.89 (0.78-1.00)). CONCLUSIONS: QOC in PUB has improved substantially in Denmark, but the 30-day mortality remains high. Future initiatives to improve outcomes may include earlier endoscopy, having fully trained endoscopists on call, and increased focus on managing coexisting disease.

[Preoperative delay in patients with peptic ulcer perforation: a clinical audit from the Danish National Indicator Project]. / Praeoperativt delay hos patienter med perforeret ulcus: en klinisk audit fra Det Nationale Indikatorprojekt.

INTRODUCTION: Mortality following perforated peptic ulcer in Denmark is nearly 30%. Delayed surgery is a prognostic factor, but only half of the patients are operated within six hours of perforation - a predefined quality of care criterion in The Danish National Indicator Project. A clinical audit was conducted to investigate possible reasons. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients (n = 89) surgically treated for peptic ulcer perforation in six university hospitals in Denmark over a period of one year were included. The association between a number of predefined variables related to the internal organisation of health care, the patient's pathological picture and the quality of treatment given, and a preoperative delay of at least 6 hours was examined using modified Poisson regression analyses. RESULTS: The following variables were associated with a preoperative delay = 6 hours: 1) out of hospital versus in hospital perforation (adjusted relative risk (RR) 1.87; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86-4.05), 2) no classical clinical symptoms of ulcer perforation (adjusted RR with peritonism 0.32; 95% CI 0.14-0.73), 3) first physician attendance later than median time, i.e. > 25 minutes after debut (adjusted RR 2.78; 95% CI 1.32-5.87), 4) first attendance not by senior physician (adjusted RR 1.97; 95% CI 0.95-4.05) and/or senior physician not called in (adjusted RR 2.53; 95% CI 1.12-5.75), and 5) oxygen saturation not monitored upon admission (adjusted RR 1.45; 95% CI 0.73-2.91). CONCLUSION: Although of limited size, this audit suggests that long preoperative delay in patients with peptic ulcer perforation is associated with factors related to both the internal organisation of the healthcare system, the patient's pathological picture, and the quality of diagnosis and treatment given.