Continuous positive airway pressure to reduce the risk of early peripheral oxygen desaturation after onset of apnoea in children: A double-blind randomised controlled trial.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during anaesthesia induction improves oxygen saturation (SpO2) outcomes in adults subjected to airway manipulation, and could similarly support oxygenation in children. We evaluated whether CPAP ventilation and passive CPAP oxygenation in children would defer a SpO2 decrease to 95% after apnoea onset compared to the regular technique in which no positive airway pressure is applied. In this double-blind, parallel, randomised controlled clinical trial, 68 children aged 2-6 years with ASA I-II who underwent surgery under general anaesthesia were divided into CPAP and control groups (n = 34 in each group). The intervention was CPAP ventilation and passive CPAP oxygenation using an anaesthesia workstation. The primary outcome was the elapsed time until SpO2 decreased to 95% during a follow-up period of 300 s from apnoea onset (T1). We also recorded the time required to regain baseline levels from an SpO2 of 95% aided by positive pressure ventilation (T2). The median T1 was 278 s (95% confidence interval [CI]: 188-368) in the CPAP group and 124 s (95% CI: 92-157) in the control group (median difference: 154 s; 95% CI: 58-249; p = 0.002). There were 17 (50%) and 32 (94.1%) primary events in the CPAP and control groups, respectively. The hazard ratio was 0.26 (95% CI: 0.14-0.48; p<0.001). The median for T2 was 21 s (95% CI: 13-29) and 29 s (95% CI: 22-36) in the CPAP and control groups, respectively (median difference: 8 s; 95% CI: -3 to 19; p = 0.142). SpO2 was significantly higher in the CPAP group than in the control group throughout the consecutive measures between 60 and 210 s (with p ranging from 0.047 to <0.001). Thus, in the age groups examined, CPAP ventilation and passive CPAP oxygenation deferred SpO2 decrease after apnoea onset compared to the regular technique with no positive airway pressure.

Subcutaneous Versus Intravenous Rehydration in Hospitalized Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis.

Subcutaneous rehydration is an optional infusion route in hospitalized older adults. This meta-analysis sought to compare the effectiveness of subcutaneous versus intravenous (IV) fluid administration to reverse mild-to-moderate dehydration in hospitalized older adults. A literature search was performed. No restrictions were imposed regarding language. Three randomized clinical trials conducted with patients 60 years of age or older treated with subcutaneous or IV rehydration were included, with a total sample size of 197 patients. Controlled quasi-randomized and crossover trials were excluded. The primary end point was reversal of dehydration. Secondary end points were patient satisfaction and frequency of adverse events (eg, cellulitis, edema, phlebitis, erythema, hyponatremia, and pain). Both treatments were effective in rehydrating the patients within 48 hours, with no statistically significant difference between the groups. Subcutaneous fluid administration effectively reversed dehydration while protecting against phlebitis. Since the quality of evidence was considerably low, further multicenter randomized clinical trials of efficient methodological quality should be conducted to consolidate the body of evidence.

Development, implementation and evaluation of a management specialization course in oncology using blended learning.

BACKGROUND: Identifying effective methods for safeguarding the efficient functioning of the healthcare system contributes significantly towards establishing a successful healthcare organization. Consequently, quality management programs are currently being implemented in healthcare as a vital strategy for patient care. Quality management encompasses protocols and guidelines in decision-making and in the evaluation of processes and treatment flowcharts, data analysis and health indicators, and addresses improvement in the interaction between different health professionals. Qualifying health professionals to perform quality management has represented a barrier to implementing a well-structured management system. Indeed, the pathway to qualifying health managers is often poorly outlined, with clear gaps in the definition of their competencies, training and career plans. Therefore, studies and education-related actions aimed at qualifying health professionals in management are vital if health services of excellence are to be established. The present study aimed to plan, develop, implement and evaluate a management specialization course in oncology using blended learning. METHODS: Following approval by the institution's internal review board, the study was conducted at the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP). The Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation (ADDIE) model was used to plan, develop, implement and evaluate the course. Data were collected as the course participants who had concluded all the modules evaluated the program. RESULTS: A management course in oncology, consisting of ten sequential modules, was developed and implemented between March 2018 and February 2019. The course consisted of monthly face-to-face encounters, each with 12 h of activities, and distance education using a virtual learning environment. Each module was presented by a specialist on the subject in question. After the end-of-course conclusion work had already been handed in and evaluated by the tutors, the participants completed a form to assess the course using Kirkpatrick's training evaluation model. CONCLUSIONS: A management course in oncology was developed using the ADDIE model. A high degree of satisfaction was found among the participants regarding improvements in their management skills and their professional behavior. The expectation is that this initiative will ultimately improve healthcare and reduce costs, as well as encourage further innovative educational actions for health professionals.

Ethanol Lock Therapy for the Prevention of Nontunneled Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infection in Pediatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: Ethanol lock therapy (ELT) has been reported as being effective in preventing central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) in tunneled (or long-term) central venous catheters (CVCs). To the best of our knowledge, no studies have evaluated this therapy in relation to nontunneled (or short-term) CVCs. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of ELT in preventing CLABSI in nontunneled CVC in pediatric patients. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted with children aged 0-5 years and >2 kg in weight, in whom a double-lumen polyurethane nontunneled CVC had been inserted. Patients with catheters inserted in an emergency situation, critically ill patients, and/or those with a history of hypersensitivity or allergic reactions to ethanol were excluded from the study. The variables evaluated were CLABSI, etiological agents, adverse events, and the mechanical effects of ethanol on the catheter (breakage and obstruction). RESULTS: The CLABSI rate was lower in the ELT group compared with the control group (P = 0.0177). However, when the occurrence of CLABSI was evaluated per 1000 catheter-days, no significant difference was found between the groups (P = 0.077). The frequency of side effects and catheter breakage was greater in the ELT group (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0005, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The CLABSI rate was statistically significantly reduced in the ELT group compared with the controls, but the analysis of frequency per catheter-day showed no significant difference between the groups. Thus, we should not recommend ELT for CLABSI prophylaxis in nontunneled polyurethane CVC, which requires further clinical trials.

Risk factors associated with anesthesia emergence delirium in children undergoing outpatient surgery / Fatores de risco associados a delírio no despertar da anestesia em crianças submetidas à cirurgia ambulatorial

Abstract Introduction: Anesthesia emergence delirium is a self-limiting clinical phenomenon very common in children. Although pathophysiology is still uncertain, some factors seem to be involved, such as rapid awakening in an unknown environment, agitation during anesthetic induction, preoperative anxiety, environmental disorders, use of preanesthetic medication, use of inhalational anesthetics, and postoperative pain. Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with anesthesia emergence delirium in children undergoing outpatient surgery. Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out with 100 children aged 2-10 years, who underwent surgery on an outpatient basis. The study variables were: anesthesia emergence delirium and the associated risk factors (preoperative anxiety, child impulsive behavior, use of pre-anesthetic medication, traumatic induction, type of anesthesia, and postoperative pain). Multivariate Poisson's logistic regression was used to analyze the possible explanatory variables, where the prevalence ratios were estimated with the respective 95% confidence intervals, considering a significance level of 5%. Results: Delirium and pain were observed in 27% and 20% of children, respectively. Only postoperative pain after Poisson's regression, was shown to be associated with anesthesia emergence delirium, with a prevalence ratio of 3.91 (p < 0.000). Conclusion: The present study showed 27% prevalence of anesthesia emergence delirium in the study population. The incidence of anesthesia emergence delirium was higher in children who had postoperative pain.

Resumo Introdução Delírio ao despertar anestésico é um fenômeno clínico autolimitado muito comum em crianças. Apesar de fisiopatologia ainda incerta, alguns fatores parecem estar envolvidos, como despertar rápido em um ambiente desconhecido, agitação durante a indução anestésica, ansiedade pré-operatória, perturbações ambientais, uso de medicação pré-anestésica, uso de anestésicos inalatórios e dor pós-operatória. Objetivo Determinar a prevalência e os fatores de risco associados ao delírio ao despertar anestésico em crianças submetidas à cirurgia ambulatorial. Métodos Estudo observacional prospectivo, envolveu 100 crianças entre dois e 10 anos, submetidos à cirurgia em caráter ambulatorial. As variáveis de estudo foram: delírio ao despertar anestésico e os fatores de risco associados (ansiedade pré-operatória, comportamento impulsivo da criança, uso de medicação pré-anestésica, indução traumática, tipo de anestesia e dor pós-operatória). Foi feita a regressão multivariada de Poisson para análise das possíveis variáveis explanatórias, na qual foram estimadas as razões de prevalência com os respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95%, considerou-se o nível de significância de 5%. Resultados Delírio e dor foram observados em 27% e 20% das crianças respectivamente. Apenas a dor no pós-operatório, após a regressão de Poisson, mostrou ter uma associação com o delírio ao despertar anestésico, cuja razão de prevalência foi 3,91 (p < 0,000). Conclusão O presente estudo evidenciou uma prevalência de delírio ao despertar anestésico de 27% na população estudada. A incidência de delírio ao despertar anestésico foi maior em crianças que apresentaram dor no pós-operatório.

[Risk factors associated with anesthesia emergence delirium in children undergoing outpatient surgery]. / Fatores de risco associados a delírio no despertar da anestesia em crianças submetidas à cirurgia ambulatorial.

INTRODUCTION: Anesthesia emergence delirium is a self-limiting clinical phenomenon very common in children. Although pathophysiology is still uncertain, some factors seem to be involved, such as rapid awakening in an unknown environment, agitation during anesthetic induction, preoperative anxiety, environmental disorders, use of preanesthetic medication, use of inhalational anesthetics, and postoperative pain. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with anesthesia emergence delirium in children undergoing outpatient surgery. METHODS: A prospective observational study was carried out with 100 children aged 2 to 10 years, who underwent surgery on an outpatient basis. The study variables were: anesthesia emergence delirium and the associated risk factors (preoperative anxiety, child impulsive behavior, use of pre-anesthetic medication, traumatic induction, type of anesthesia, and postoperative pain). Multivariate Poisson's logistic regression was used to analyze the possible explanatory variables, where the prevalence ratios were estimated with the respective 95% confidence intervals, considering a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Delirium and pain were observed in 27% and 20% of children, respectively. Only postoperative pain after Poisson's regression, was shown to be associated with anesthesia emergence delirium, with a prevalence ratio of 3.91 (p<0.000). CONCLUSION: The present study showed 27% prevalence of anesthesia emergence delirium in the study population. The incidence of anesthesia emergence delirium was higher in children who had postoperative pain.

Low-level laser therapy prevents severe oral mucositis in patients submitted to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy for the prevention of oral mucositis in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. METHODS: This is a randomized, parallel, superiority trial including 35 patients divided into the following: laser (n = 17) and sham (n = 18). The variables assessed were oral mucositis (grade 2 of the World Health Organization oral toxicity scale), severe oral mucositis (grade 3 or 4), and pain (according to a visual analogue scale). In the laser group, a InGaAlP laser, wavelength of 650 nm, power 100 mW, energy per point of 2 J, time 20 s by point, extremity fiber optic 0.028 cm(2), and energy density 70 J/cm(2), was used, applied the first day of conditioning until D + 5, while the sham group received simulated laser over the same period. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found in the incidence of oral mucositis (p = 0.146). Severe mucositis was found in 40% of the patients (14/35), 3 in the intervention group (17.65%) and 11 in the sham group (61.11%) (p = 0.015). The cumulative probability of survival with respect to the development of severe oral mucositis was >0.6 for the intervention group and 0 for the control group (p = 0.0397). On the day on which pain was considered the worst, patients in the sham group were more likely to classify their pain as severe compared to those in the laser group (p = 0.041). CONCLUSION: Low-level laser therapy proved effective for the prevention of severe oral mucositis and intense oral pain in patients submitted to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.