Straight to the Operating Room: An Emergent Surgery Track for Acute Testicular Torsion Transfers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of implementing an emergency surgery track for testicular torsion transfers. We hypothesized that transferring children from other facilities diagnosed with torsion straight to the operating room (STOR) would decrease ischemia time, lower costs, and reduce testicular loss. STUDY DESIGN: Demographics, arrival to incision time, hospital cost in dollars, and testicular outcome (determined by testicular ultrasound) at follow-up were retrospectively compared in all patients transferred to our tertiary care children's hospital with a diagnosis of testicular torsion from 2012 to 2016. Clinical data for STOR and non-STOR patients were compared by Wilcoxon rank-sum, 2-tailed t test, or Fisher exact test as appropriate. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients met inclusion criteria: 35 STOR and 33 non-STOR. Children taken STOR had a shorter median arrival to incision time (STOR: 54 minutes vs non-STOR: 94 minutes, P < .0001) and lower median total hospital costs (STOR: $3882 vs non-STOR: $4419, P < .0001). However, only 46.8% of STOR patients and 48.4% of non-STOR patients achieved surgery within 6 hours of symptom onset. Testicular salvage rates in STOR and non-STOR patients were not significantly different (STOR: 68.4% vs non-STOR: 36.8%, P = .1), but follow-up was poor. CONCLUSIONS: STOR decreased arrival to incision time and hospital cost but did not affect testicular loss. The bulk of ischemia time in torsion transfers occurred before arrival at our tertiary care center. Further interventions addressing delays in diagnosis and transfer are needed to truly improve testicular salvage rates in these patients.

Costo efectividad y análisis de impacto presupuestario del óxido nítrico inhalatorio neonatal en un hospital, desde la perspectiva del sistema público de salud / Cost effectiveness and budget impact analysis of inhaled nitric oxide in a neonatal unit from the perspective of the public health system

El óxido nítrico inhalatorio (ONi) es actualmente la terapia de primera línea en la insuficiencia respiratoria hipoxémica grave del recién nacido; la mayor parte de los centros neonatales de regiones en Chile no cuentan con esta alternativa terapéutica. Objetivo: Determinar el costo-efectividad del ONi en el tratamiento de la insuficiencia respiratoria asociada a hipertensión pulmonar del recién nacido, comparado con el cuidado habitual y el traslado a un centro de mayor complejidad. Pacientes y método: Se modeló un árbol de decisiones clínicas desde la perspectiva del sistema de salud público chileno, se calcularon razones de costo-efectividad incremental (ICER), se realizó análisis de sensibilidad determinístico y probabilístico, se estimó el impacto presupuestario, software: TreeAge Health Care Pro 2014. Resultados: La alternativa ONi produce un aumento promedio en los costos de 11,7 millones de pesos por paciente tratado, con una razón de costo-efectividad incremental comparado con el cuidado habitual de 23 millones de pesos por muerte o caso de oxigenación extracorpórea evitada. Al sensibilizar los resultados por incidencia, encontramos que a partir de 7 casos tratados al año resulta menos costoso el óxido nítrico que el traslado a un centro de mayor complejidad. Conclusiones: Desde la perspectiva de un hospital regional chileno incorporar ONi en el manejo de la insuficiencia respiratoria neonatal resulta la alternativa óptima en la mayoría de los escenarios posibles.

Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is currently the first-line therapy in severe hypoxaemic respiratory failure of the newborn. Most of regional neonatal centres in Chile do not have this therapeutic alternative. Objective: To determine the cost effectiveness of inhaled nitric oxide in the treatment of respiratory failure associated with pulmonary hypertension of the newborn compared to the usual care, including the transfer to a more complex unit. Patients and method: A clinical decision tree was designed from the perspective of Chilean Public Health Service. Incremental cost effectiveness rates (ICER) were calculated, deterministic sensitivity analysis was performed, and probabilistic budget impact was estimated using: TreeAge Pro Healthcare 2014 software. Results: The iNO option leads to an increase in mean cost of $ 11.7 million Chilean pesos (€ 15,000) per patient treated, with an ICER compared with the usual care of $ 23 million pesos (€ 30,000) in case of death or ECMO avoided. By sensitising the results by incidence, it was found that from 7 cases and upwards treated annually, inhaled nitric oxide is less costly than the transfer to a more complex unit. Conclusions: From the perspective of a Chilean regional hospital, incorporating inhaled nitric oxide into the management of neonatal respiratory failure is the optimal alternative in most scenarios.

[Cost effectiveness and budget impact analysis of inhaled nitric oxide in a neonatal unit from the perspective of the public health system]. / Costo efectividad y análisis de impacto presupuestario del óxido nítrico inhalatorio neonatal en un hospital, desde la perspectiva del sistema público de salud.

Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is currently the first-line therapy in severe hypoxaemic respiratory failure of the newborn. Most of regional neonatal centres in Chile do not have this therapeutic alternative. OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost effectiveness of inhaled nitric oxide in the treatment of respiratory failure associated with pulmonary hypertension of the newborn compared to the usual care, including the transfer to a more complex unit. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A clinical decision tree was designed from the perspective of Chilean Public Health Service. Incremental cost effectiveness rates (ICER) were calculated, deterministic sensitivity analysis was performed, and probabilistic budget impact was estimated using: TreeAge Pro Healthcare 2014 software. RESULTS: The iNO option leads to an increase in mean cost of $ 11.7 million Chilean pesos (€15,000) per patient treated, with an ICER compared with the usual care of $23 million pesos (€30,000) in case of death or ECMO avoided. By sensitising the results by incidence, it was found that from 7 cases and upwards treated annually, inhaled nitric oxide is less costly than the transfer to a more complex unit. CONCLUSIONS: From the perspective of a Chilean regional hospital, incorporating inhaled nitric oxide into the management of neonatal respiratory failure is the optimal alternative in most scenarios.

Transfer rates from nonprocedure hospitals after initial admission and outcomes among elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction.

IMPORTANCE: It is unknown whether hospital transfer rates for patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to nonprocedure hospitals (facilities that do not provide catheterization) vary and whether these rates further influence revascularization rates, length of stay, and mortality. OBJECTIVES: To examine hospital differences in transfer rates for elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction across nonprocedure hospitals and to determine whether these rates are associated with revascularization rates, length of stay, and mortality. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We used Medicare claims data from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2008, to assess transfer rates in nonprocedure hospitals, stratified according to transfer rates as low (≤ 20%), mid-low (>20%-30%), mid-high (>30%-40%), or high (>40%). Data were analyzed for 55,962 Medicare fee-for-service patients admitted to 901 nonprocedure US hospitals with more than 25 admissions per year for acute myocardial infarction. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: We compared rates of catheterization, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery during hospitalization and within 60 days, as well as hospital total length of stay, across groups. We measured risk-standardized mortality rates at 30 days and 1 year. RESULTS The median transfer rate was 29.4% (interquartile range [25th-75th percentile], 21.8%-37.8%). Higher transfer rates were associated with higher rates of catheterization (P < .001), percutaneous coronary intervention (P < .001), and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (P < .001). Median length of stay was not meaningfully different across the groups. There was no meaningful evidence of associations between transfer rates and risk-standardized mortality at 30 days (mean [SD], 22.3% [2.6%], 22.1% [2.3%], 22.3% [2.4%], and 21.7% [2.1%], respectively; P = .054) or 1 year (43.9% [2.3%], 43.6% [2.2%], 43.5% [2.4%], and 42.8% [2.2%], respectively; P < .001) for low, mid-low, mid-high, and high transfer groups. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Nonprocedure hospitals vary substantially in their use of the transfer process for elderly patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction. High-transfer hospitals had greater use of invasive cardiac procedures after admission compared with low-transfer hospitals. However, higher transfer rates were not associated with a significantly lower risk-standardized mortality rate at 30 days. Moreover, at 1 year there was only a 1.1% difference (42.8% vs 43.9%) between hospitals with higher and lower transfer rates. These findings suggest that, as a single intervention, promoting the transfer of patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction may not improve hospital outcomes.

[Interhospital transfer of ECMO-assisted patients in Martinique]. / Transfert interhospitalier sous assistance circulatoire extracorporelle (ECMO): l'expérience martiniquaise.

OBJECTIVE: The transportation of critically ill patients in the French West Indies represents a real challenge; in order to ensure territorial continuity of health care provision, the cardiac surgical department of the Fort-de-France Hospital created a mobile ECMO/ECLS unit. The aim of our work is to describe the logistical, technical and financial aspects of the interhospital transfer of ECMO/ECLS-assisted patients in the French Caribbean. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All ECMO/ECLS-assisted patients in the French Antilles-Guyane area subsequently repatriated towards the Fort-de-France Hospital were included from December 29th, 2009 to September 30th, 2011. Indication and type of the extracorporeal assistance used, location of departure, type of transport vehicle, complications during transfer, survival after hospital discharge and direct costs were collected. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were supported by our mobile unit far away from our centre (sex-ratio 0.63, median age 34years old [16-64]). Twelve were assisted by ECMO for a refractory ARDS, and seven were assisted by ECLS for a refractory cardiogenic shock. Four patients were transferred by ambulance (7-29km), seven by helicopter (190-440km), and eight by plane (440-1430km). No patient died during transfer. No major adverse event occurred during these transfers. Fifteen patients survived. An economic assessment was conducted. CONCLUSION: Interhospital transfer of ECMO/ECLS-assisted patients by land or air is technically feasible under perfectly secure conditions in our area. Prior coordination of this activity has helped to make it affordable.

Neurological and neurosurgical referrals overseas from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados, 1987-1996.

This paper reports on neurological and neurosurgical referrals overseas from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) for the period November 1987 to November 1996, and is a follow up to an earlier report for the period January 1984 to November 1987. It outlines the pattern of referral, diagnoses, referral centres and costs based on examination of the files of all QEH patients transferred overseas under a government aided scheme. There were 203 transfers of 191 patients (69 males, 122 females) including 10 patients who were transferred twice and one patient who was transferred three times. Patients' ages ranged from 1 to 80 years (mean 37 years). Twenty overseas centres were used during the period but most patients were transferred to Brooklyn Hospital, New York in 1988, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, between 1989 and 1994, and Hospital de Clinicas Caracas, Venezuela (1992 to 1996). 65% of the referrals were for neurosurgery and 25% were for magnetic resonance imaging scans for diagnosis. The largest diagnostic categories were central nervous system tumors (40%) and subarachnoid haemorrhage (25%). Estimated costs reached almost BDS$11 million, but the mean actual cost was BDS$63,916 based on information from 123 patient transfers. Thus, the actual total government expenditure was probably closer to BDS$13 million. This study demonstrates the urgent need to establish a neurosurgical service at the QEH and the cost effectiveness of doing so.

Neurological and neurosurgical referrals overseas from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados, 1987-1996

This paper reports on neurological and neurosurgical referrals overseas from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) for the period November 1987 to November 1996, and is a follow up to an earlier report for the period January 1984 to November 1987. It outlines the pattern of referral, diagnoses, referral centres and costs based on examination of the files of all QEH patients transferred overseas under a government aided scheme. There were 203 transfers of 191 patients (69 males, 122 females) including 10 patients who were transferred twice and one patient who was transferred three times. Patients ages ranged from 1 to 80 years (mean 37 years). Twenty overseas centres were used during the period but most patients were transferred to Brooklyn Hospital, New York in 1988, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, between 1989 and 1994, and Hospital de Clinicas Caracas, Venezuela (1992 to 1996). 65 percent of the referrals were for neurosurgery and 25 percent were for magnetic resonance imaging scans for diagnosis. The largest diagnostic categories were central nervous system tumors (40 percent) and subarachnoid haemorrhage (25 percent). Estimated costs reached almost BDS$11 million, but the mean actual cost was BDS$63,916 based on information from 123 patient transfers. Thus, the actual total government expenditure was probably closer to BDS$13 million. This study demonstrates the urgent need to establish a neurosurgical service at the QEH and the cost effectiveness of doing so.(AU)

Neurological and neurosurgical referrals overseas from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados, 1987-1996

This paper reports on neurological and neurosurgical referrals overseas from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) for the period November 1987 to November 1996, and is a follow up to an earlier report for the period January 1984 to November 1987. It outlines the pattern of referral, diagnoses, referral centres and costs based on examination of the files of all QEH patients transferred overseas under a government aided scheme. There were 203 transfers of 191 patients (69 males, 122 females) including 10 patients who were transferred twice and one patient who was transferred three times. Patients' ages ranged from 1 to 80 years (mean 37 years). Twenty overseas centres were used during the period but most patients were transferred to Brooklyn Hospital, New York in 1988, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, between 1989 and 1994, and Hospital de Clinicas Caracas, Venezuela (1992 to 1996). 65of the referrals were for neurosurgery and 25were for magnetic resonance imaging scans for diagnosis. The largest diagnostic categories were central nervous system tumors (40) and subarachnoid haemorrhage (25). Estimated costs reached almost BDS$11 million, but the mean actual cost was BDS$63,916 based on information from 123 patient transfers. Thus, the actual total government expenditure was probably closer to BDS$13 million. This study demonstrates the urgent need to establish a neurosurgical service at the QEH and the cost effectiveness of doing so.

Análisis sobre la situación del Hospital rural de Taco Pozo y nuevas propuestas

Realiza un diagnóstico de situación del Hospital Rural de Taco Pozo (Chaco) y de su área programática, poniendo énfasis en los recursos humanos. Realiza propuestas concretas para modificar los desajustes hallados en el diagnóstico

Análisis sobre la situación del Hospital rural de Taco Pozo y nuevas propuestas

Realiza un diagnóstico de situación del Hospital Rural de Taco Pozo (Chaco) y de su área programática, poniendo énfasis en los recursos humanos. Realiza propuestas concretas para modificar los desajustes hallados en el diagnóstico