Comprehensive Pharmacist-led Transitions-of-care Medication Management around Hospital Discharge Adds Modest Cost Relative to Usual Care: Time-and-Motion Cost Analysis.

Optimal medication management is important during hospitalization and at discharge because post-discharge adverse drug events (ADEs) are common, often preventable, and contribute to patient harms, healthcare utilization, and costs. Conduct a cost analysis of a comprehensive pharmacist-led transitions-of-care medication management intervention for older adults during and after hospital discharge. Twelve intervention components addressed medication reconciliation, medication review, and medication adherence. Trained, experienced pharmacists delivered the intervention to older adults with chronic comorbidities at 2 large U.S. academic centers. To quantify and categorize time spent on the intervention, we conducted a time-and-motion analysis of study pharmacists over 36 sequential workdays (14 519 min) involving 117 patients. For 40 patients' hospitalizations, we observed all intervention activities. We used the median minutes spent and pharmacist wages nationally to calculate cost per hospitalization (2020 U.S. dollars) from the hospital perspective, relative to usual care. Pharmacists spent a median of 66.9 min per hospitalization (interquartile range 46.1-90.1), equating to $101 ($86 to $116 in sensitivity analyses). In unadjusted analyses, study site was associated with time spent (medians 111 and 51.8 min) while patient primary language, discharge disposition, number of outpatient medications, and patient age were not. In this cost analysis, comprehensive medication management around discharge cost about $101 per hospitalization, with variation across sites. This cost is at least an order of magnitude less than published costs associated with ADEs, hospital readmissions, or other interventions designed to reduce readmissions. Work is ongoing to assess the current intervention's effectiveness.

Role of needle aspiration and surgical excision in management of suppurative Bacillus Calmette Guerin lymphadenitis.

The aim was to determine the role of needle aspiration and surgical excision in the management of suppurative Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) lymphadenitis. This prospective study was done in Rafha Central Hospital, over 1.5 years. Thirty two patients were enrolled after informed consent. Needle aspiration was done if size of lymphadenitis was up to 3cm. Surgical excision was done primarily for size more than 3cm or in cases of failed aspiration. Eighteen were males and 14 were females. Median age was 3.75 months (IQR 2-7). All were full term with normal birth weight and vaccinated in first 2 days of life. Predominantly single region of lymphadenitis was involved in 75% cases; with left axilla being mainly affected (56.3% cases). Needle aspiration was done in 18 cases and surgical excision was carried out in 14 cases. Resolution of lymphadenopathy was 7 days in cases of surgical excision, while within 60 days in cases of aspiration. Failure of aspiration was noted in cases of multiple, matted suppurative lymph nodes.

Myocardial Structural and Functional Response After Long-Term Mechanical Unloading With Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device: Axial Versus Centrifugal Flow.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) type-axial flow (AX) versus centrifugal flow (CR)-on myocardial structural and functional response following mechanical unloading. BACKGROUND: The use of continuous-flow LVADs is increasing steadily as a therapeutic option for patients with end-stage heart failure who are not responsive to medical therapy. Whether the type of mechanical unloading influences the myocardial response is yet to be determined. METHODS: A total of 133 consecutive patients with end-stage heart failure implanted with continuous-flow LVADs (AX, n = 107 [HeartMate II Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, California]; CR, n = 26 [HeartWare, HeartWare International, Framingham, Massachusetts]) were prospectively studied. Echocardiograms were obtained pre-LVAD implantation and then serially at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months post-implantation. RESULTS: The 2 pump types led to similar degrees of mechanical unloading as assessed by invasive hemodynamic status and frequency of aortic valve opening. Myocardial structural and functional parameters showed significant improvement post-LVAD in both AX and CR groups. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased significantly from a mean of 18% to 28% and 26% post-LVAD in the AX and CR groups, respectively. Left ventricular end-systolic volume index and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index decreased significantly as early as 30 days post-implantation in the 2 groups. The degree of myocardial structural or functional response between patients in the AX or CR groups appeared to be comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term mechanical unloading induced by AX and CR LVADs, while operating within their routine clinical range, seems to exert comparable effects on myocardial structural and functional parameters.

Reasons for, and outcomes of patients who were referred for a ventricular assist device but were declined: the recent era forgotten ones.

BACKGROUND: Ventricular assist devices (VADs) have a proven survival benefit in select patients with advanced heart failure, yet many patients considered for implantation are declined for various reasons. The outcome of these patients is obscure owing to their exclusion from recent VAD studies. We aim to compare the outcomes of patients who received a VAD to those who did not. METHODS: For this study, the Artificial Heart Program's database at Intermountain Medical Center was queried from 2006 to 2012 for patients referred for a VAD. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed with log-rank test determining significance. RESULTS: Of 232 patients included, 118 patients received a VAD and 114 patients did not. The prevailing reason for VAD decline in eligible and willing patients was due to pre-existing illness (39%). Mortality was higher in non-VAD vs. VAD patients (58.8% vs. 35.6%, p < 0.001) with a median time-to-death of 67 (IQR:12-314) and 301 (IQR:136-694) d, respectively (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: In the current era of non-pulsatile VADs, mortality of patients who are considered but not implanted remains high. Additionally, mortality of these patients occurred much sooner. Educational efforts ensuring timely referral for VAD therapy are important to maximize the number of patients who may benefit.