Parental Satisfaction With Autonomous Pediatric Ambulatory Surgery Units.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ambulatory surgery is much favored in children, as they are usually healthy with no major comorbidities. Obvious benefits are minimization of health costs, optimal utilization of resources, decreased exposure to infections, and psychological and emotional advantages of avoiding admission of the patient, especially for the family. Parental satisfaction is a challenge in pediatric surgery processes. The objective of this study was to compare satisfaction in parents whose children underwent surgery without overnight stays with parents whose children were operated on in an autonomous major ambulatory surgery unit (hospital isolated). METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of 200 children who received surgery on an outpatient basis (133 were included in an outpatient unit and 67 in a hospital setting). Different variables were collected, including sex, age, type of surgery, and length of stay in the hospital and location, and a telephone perception survey was conducted (questionnaire of satisfaction of 14 questions with possible answers from 1 to 4 on a Likert scale and a 15th question on global satisfaction, with an answer from 0 to 10). RESULTS: Overall satisfaction during the hospital stay was higher in the group operated on in the autonomous major surgery unit (3.54 ± 0.57 vs 3.28 ± 0.64, P = .004). Whether parents respond as being very satisfied with the hospital stay is influenced by several factors, among which are: being treated at major ambulatory surgery units (odds ratio [OR] = 2.16), good or very good information received prior to surgery (OR = 2.03), and good or very good information received at discharge (OR = 2.48). CONCLUSIONS: Parents of children who received surgery on an outpatient basis were more satisfied if the procedure was performed in an autonomous major ambulatory surgery unit compared with hospitalization, even if it was not overnight. The information received during the care process influenced the parents' satisfaction. These findings suggest that efforts should be devoted to the creation of autonomous units for ambulatory surgery and to the improvement of perioperative information.

Anesthesia outside the Operating Room in a Patient with Mitochondrial Disease.

Mitochondrial dysfunction comprehends a wide range of genetic disorders. These patients' precarious metabolic balance makes its management difficult. Furthermore, the same systems affected by mitochondrial disease can be altered by many of the frequently used anesthetic agents. Each patient has to be evaluated individually according to their comorbidities and anesthetic requirements.

Cerebral Oxygen Saturation and Negative Postoperative Behavioral Changes in Pediatric Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if an intraoperative cerebral regional oxygen saturation (crSO2) decrease, less pronounced than 20% below baseline (the current threshold believed to be associated with cognitive dysfunction in adults), is associated with negative postoperative behavioral changes (NPOBC) in the pediatric population after noncardiac surgeries. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective observational study was conducted with 198 children aged 2-12 years old scheduled for noncardiac procedures under general anesthesia. Intraoperatively, crSO2 was monitored with a cerebral oximeter. On postoperative day 7, the Post-Hospital Behavior Questionnaire was used to diagnose NPOBC. RESULTS: The incidence of NPOBC was 38.8%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that with every 1% reduction of crSO2 from the baseline value, the odds of developing NPOBC were 1.199 higher. Likewise, preoperative anxiety (OR 2.832, P = .006), duration of surgery (OR 1.026, P < .0001), and being between the ages of 2 and 3 years (OR 2.604, P = .048) were associated with NPOBC incidence. The multivariable logistic regression model receiver operating characteristic curve showed an area under the curve (95% CI) = 0.820 (0.759-0.881). CONCLUSIONS: During noncardiac surgeries in the pediatric population, an intraoperative decrease in crSO2 less pronounced than 20% from the baseline value is associated with negative postoperative behavior changes on postoperative day 7. The long-term implications remain to be determined, but this supports attention to crSO2 during noncardiac surgeries.

Impact of empirical treatment with antifungal agents on survival of patients with candidemia / Impacto del tratamiento antifúngico empírico en la supervivencia de pacientes con candidemia

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of echinocandins and fluconazole) on mortality 7 and 30 days after candidemia onset and overall in-hospital mortality), in patients with candidemia at a Spanish tertiary hospital. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted that enrolled all non-neutropenic adult patients diagnosed with candidemia at Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid between 2007 and 2016. A total of 179 patients were evaluated, they were divided into two sub-groups: surviving patients (n = 92) and non-surviving patients (n = 87). Results: The 7-day mortality was 25,1% (45), 30-day mortality was 46,9% (84), and overall in-hospital mortality was 48,6% (87). 40.8% of patients received no antifungal treatment (43.8% of surviving patients and 37.8% of non-surviving patients; p=0.15). A total of 106 (59.2%) patients were treated, of which 90 patients (50.3%) received empiric treatment. 19.6% and 47.8% of surviving patients were treated with echinocandins and fluconazole, respectively. By contrast, of non-surviving patients, 31.0% were treated with echinocandins and 47.1% received fluconazole. Survival for the first 7 days was significantly higher in treated with antifungal agents (log-rank = 0.029), however, there were not significant differences in 30-day survival. Factors linked to a significant increase in overall in-hospital mortality were age (OR 1.040), septic shock (OR 2.694) and need for mechanical ventilation > 48 h (OR 2.812). Conclusion: Patients who received antifungal treatment, regardless of whether they received fluconazole or echinocandins, had a significantly lower mortality rate after 7 days than untreated patients, although no significant differences in 30-day mortality were seen

Introducción: El objetivo del estudio es evaluar el impacto del tratamiento antifúngico en la mortalidad hospitalaria a los 7 y 30 días en pacientes con candidemia en un hospital terciario español. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo que incluyó los pacientes adultos no neutropénicos diagnosticados de candidemia en el Hospital Clínico Universitario entre 2007 y 2016. Se evaluaron 179 pacientes, se dividieron en grupo de supervivientes (n=92) y no supervivientes (n=87). Resultados: La mortalidad a 7 días fue 25,1% (45), a los 30 días 46,9% (84) y la hospitalaria 48,6% (87). El 40,8% no recibieron antifúngico (43,8% de supervivientes y 37,8% de no supervivientes; p=0,15). El 50,3% (90) recibieron tratamiento empírico. De los supervivientes el 19,6% y 47,8% se trataron con equinocandinas y fluconazol, respectivamente. De los no supervivientes el 31% recibió equinocandinas y el 47,1% fluconazol. La supervivencia a los 7 días fue significativamente mayor en los tratados (log-rank = 0.029), no hubo diferencias a los 30 días. Los factores asociados a mortalidad hospitalaria fueron edad (OR: 1.040), shock séptico (OR: 2.694) y ventilación mecánica> 48 h (OR: 2.812). Conclusión: Los pacientes tratados con antifúngicos (ya sean equinocandinas o fluconazol) tienen una tasa de mortalidad inferior a los 7 días que los no tratados, sin embargo no hallamos diferencias a los 30 días

Antifungal treatment with echinocandins: a 10-year clinical experience / Tratamiento antifúngico con equinocandinas: 10 años de experiencia clínica

Introduction. The number of studies evaluating the use of echinocandins, whether or not its indication meets international guidelines, in clinical practice is limited. The objective of the present study was to determine the use of echinocandins in a tertiary Spanish hospital in 10 years of clinical practice, and to evaluate its impact on prognosis. Methods. This retrospective study involved adult nonneutropenic ill patients with suspicion of fungal invasion who started treatment with echinocandins between 2006 and 2015. Results. The number of patients treated with echinocandins was 153, and candidemia was detected thereafter in 25.5%. Factors associated with in-hospital mortality in patients receiving echinocandins were: sex male, septic shock, Charlson comorbidity index, and total stay at the hospital. In-hospital mortality after 7, 30 and 90 days was 13.7%, 24.8%, and 56.8%, respectively. From patients receiving echinocandins, 98 did no show multifocal colonization, 50 had Candida score <2.5, and 49 did not meet Ostrosky-Zeichner prediction rule. A total of 19 patients did not show any of these 3 potential risk factors for candidemia. Conclusions. The use of echinocandins in 10 years of clinical practice in our tertiary hospital has been performed according to international guidelines; however, candidemia was only diagnosed thereafter in only 25.5% of cases. Furthermore, according to our results, the adequate use of echinocandins seems not to be associated with reduced mortality rates. Further studies, involving a large cohort of patients and more hospitals, are required to corroborate these results (AU)

Introducción. El número de estudios que evalúan la utilización de equinocandinas de acuerdo con las guías internacionales es limitado. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la utilización de equinocandinas en un hospital terciario español en los últimos 10 años y evaluar su impacto en el pronóstico del paciente. Métodos. Este estudio retrospectivo incluye pacientes adultos no neutropénicos con sospecha de infección fúngica invasora a los que se indicaron equinocandinas entre 2006 y 2015. Resultados. El número de tratados con equinocandinas fue 153, la candidemia se confirmó en un 25,5% de estos pacientes. La mortalidad hospitalaria a los 7, 30 y 90 días fue 13,7%, 24,8% y 56,8% respectivamente. De los pacientes a los que se indicó equinocandina 98 no sufrían colonización multifocal, 50 tenían un Candida score <2,5 y 49 no cumplían la regla de Ostrosky-Zeichner. En 19 pacientes no concurrían ninguno de estos 3 factores de riesgo de candidemia. Los factores de riesgo de mortalidad hospitalaria fueron: varón, shock séptico, índice de Charlson y estancia hospitalaria. Conclusiones. El uso de equinocandinas durante 10 años en nuestro hospital terciario se realizó de acuerdo con las guías internacionales; sin embargo solo se detectó candidemia en un 25,5% de los pacientes. Incluso, de acuerdo a nuestros resultados la indicación adecuada de equinocandinas no se asocia con disminución de la mortalidad. Se requieren estudios multicéntricos que incluyan una cohorte más grande de pacientes para corroborar estos resultados (AU)

Ventilator-associated pneumonia is an important risk factor for mortality after major cardiac surgery.

PURPOSE: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the main infectious complication in cardiac surgery patients and is associated with an important increase in morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to analyze the impact of VAP on mortality excluding other comorbidities and to study its etiology and the risk factors for its development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 1610 postoperative cardiac surgery patients' status post cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) between July 2004 and January 2008. The primary outcome measures were the development of VAP and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Ventilator-associated pneumonia was observed in 124 patients (7.7%). Patients with VAP had a longer length of hospitalization (40.7 ± 35.1 vs 16.1 ± 30.1 days, P < .0001) and greater in-hospital mortality (49.2% [61/124] vs 2.0% [30/1486], P = .0001) in comparison with patients without VAP. After performing the Cox multivariant analysis adjustment, VAP was identified as the most important independent mortality risk factor (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 8.53; 95% confidence interval, 4.21-17.30; P = .0001). Other independent risk factors of in-hospital mortality were chronic renal failure (HR, 2.56), diabetes mellitus (HR, 1.90), CPB time (HR, 1.51), respiratory failure (HR, 2.13), acute renal failure (HR, 2.39), and mediastinal bleeding of at least 1000 mL (HR, 1.81). CONCLUSIONS: The development of VAP after CPB is the most important independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality. Identification of effective strategies for the prevention of VAP is needed.