The role of an abbreviated ultrasound in the evaluation of necrotizing enterocolitis.

BACKGROUND: Bowel ultrasound is a useful diagnostic tool in the diagnosis and management of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) but can be time-consuming and requires technical expertise, particularly for assessing pneumatosis. Previous literature on sonographic evaluation of NEC has focused on a full bowel ultrasound protocol, but the utility of an abbreviated protocol primarily aimed at identifying high-risk sonographic findings without focused bowel assessment has not been well studied. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the diagnostic accuracy of an abbreviated ultrasound protocol for identifying high-risk NEC findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, institutional review board-approved study. We identified all abbreviated NEC ultrasounds performed between January 2014 and August 2022 at our institution. Exams were reviewed for the presence of high-risk findings including pneumoperitoneum, fluid collections, and complex free fluid. Clinical outcome was categorized as poor or good depending on if emergent surgical intervention or death related to NEC occurred. The frequency of follow-up NEC ultrasounds was reviewed to determine if new findings affected outcome. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were generated to assess the performance of the abbreviated ultrasounds to identify high-risk findings. RESULTS: A total of 84 abbreviated abdominal ultrasounds were performed on 73 children. Median age at the time of ultrasound was 41 days (interquartile range (IQR) 53 days) and median gestational age was 35 weeks and 3 days (IQR 80 days), and 44/73 (60%) were male. Thirteen ultrasounds had at least one high-risk finding with nine (69%) resulting in a poor outcome, including seven surgical interventions and four deaths. Two patients had surgical intervention and died as a result of necrotizing enterocolitis. Ultrasounds without high-risk findings were not associated with poor clinical outcomes. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the abbreviated NEC ultrasound were 100% (95% CI 60-100%), 95% (95% CI 86-98%), 69% (95% CI 39-90%), and 100% (95% CI 94-100%), respectively. Twelve abbreviated ultrasounds were followed by a second NEC ultrasound within 5 days. Five follow-up ultrasounds demonstrated new high- or low-risk findings, but the new findings did not correlate with a change in outcome as predicted by the initial ultrasound. CONCLUSION: An abbreviated NEC ultrasound can be of clinical utility in predicting poor outcomes, particularly during non-business hours when resources are limited.

Managing Health Concerns Related to Post-Industrial Sites Redevelopment: A Warsaw, Poland Case Study.

An important issue in the redevelopment of post-industrial sites, e.g., into housing, is the resolution of contaminated land issues, including health risks and environmental protection. The purpose of this article is to examine awareness of this aspect from the perspective of city or such site residents, using Warsaw as an example. Using a survey-style form data collection technique, a total of 55 fully completed survey questionnaires were collected and analysed using cross-tabulation. Furthermore, a desk research methodology was used to study the availability of sources on industrial areas and their transformation from the perspective of different stakeholder groups involved in the development of such areas in Poland. Similarly, information management was assessed from the viewpoint of information communities participating or being affected by redevelopment processes. The survey results evidenced that respondents are aware that post-industrial sites may be contaminated, but do not associate the possibility of potential health risks when residing on or near such sites. The analysis of the management of information on the reurbanisation of post-industrial sites in urban areas in Poland, including the availability of data on location and contamination, revealed a problematic data flow between central and local level authorities and mootable consistency of legal acts. Public awareness of negative phenomena, such as contamination and the consequent health risks associated with dwelling in such sites, can positively influence, as an input to monitoring and enforcement, the actions taken by other stakeholders in the clean-up processes of contaminated sites and force improvements in the management of such information. The flow of information, the activities forming the information function, and the decision-making process can be improved by technologies, such as spatial information systems and their infrastructures, by facilitating the integration of data from multiple sources and consequently enabling the analysis to be extended to include further relevant data.

Gastrostomy Tube Use in Pediatrics: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Despite frequency of gastrostomy placement procedures in children, there remains considerable variability in preoperative work-up and procedural technique of gastrostomy placement and a paucity of literature regarding patient-centric outcomes. OBJECTIVES: This review summarizes existing literature and provides consensus-driven guidelines for patients throughout the enteral access decision-making process. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline, and Scopus. STUDY SELECTION: Included studies were identified through a combination of the search terms "gastrostomy," "g-tube," and "tube feeding" in children. DATA EXTRACTION: Relevant data, level of evidence, and risk of bias were extracted from included articles to guide formulation of consensus summaries of the evidence. Meta-analysis was conducted when data afforded a quantitative analysis. EVIDENCE REVIEW: Four themes were explored: preoperative nasogastric feeding tube trials, decision-making surrounding enteral access, the role of preoperative imaging, and gastrostomy insertion techniques. Guidelines were generated after evidence review with multidisciplinary stakeholder involvement adhering to GRADE methodology. RESULTS: Nearly 900 publications were reviewed, with 58 influencing final recommendations. In total, 17 recommendations are provided, including: (1) tTrial of home nasogastric feeding is safe and should be strongly considered before gastrostomy placement, especially for patients who are likely to learn to eat by mouth; (2) rRoutine contrast studies are not indicated before gastrostomy placement; and (3) lLaparoscopic placement is associated with the best safety profile. LIMITATIONS: Recommendations were generated almost exclusively from observational studies and expert opinion, with few studies describing direct comparisons between GT placement and prolonged nasogastric feeding tube trial. CONCLUSIONS: Additional patient- and family-centric evidence is needed to understand critical aspects of decision-making surrounding surgically placed enteral access devices for children.

Comprehensive pain management strategy for infants with moderate to severe osteogenesis imperfecta in the perinatal period.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic heterogeneous disorder that causes increased bone fragility and recurrent fractures. For infants with OI and diffuse fractures, pain management, which is nuanced and specific for this population, is of the utmost importance to their neonatal care. Through experience at our center, we have developed a standard approach that has been successful in optimizing survival for these infants during this tenuous period. In this paper, we outline our multidisciplinary approach to pain management for infants with moderate to severe OI during the neonatal period, with emphasis on promotion of fracture healing and adequate pain control.

Awake Neonatal Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used in patients with acute respiratory failure that is not responsive to conventional management. The practice of awake ECMO has become an area of interest but with limited data and experience. Most reported experience comes from adult and pediatric populations. Traditional management of these patients still includes mechanical ventilator support and often requires the use of sedatives for provision of safe care. We present a series of eight neonates who were electively extubated while on ECMO, with expanded discussion of two representative cases. We discuss the rationale for extubation and outcomes. The greatest benefit of this management was seen in patients with significant air leak, and in no reported case did we experience any adverse effects or complications as a direct result of extubation while on ECMO. In conclusion, in our experience, awake neonatal ECMO appears safe and effective and may offer significant advantages over traditional management in certain clinical scenarios. Prospective comparison trials are warranted to further investigate the clinical benefits and risks of awake neonatal ECMO.

Elbow Flexion Assist Orthosis for Arthrogryposis.

INTRODUCTION: People with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) often have muscle weakness in the biceps that makes elbow flexion difficult. An elbow-flexion assist orthosis was designed using the force of springs, combined with a sliding joint, to apply appropriate elbow torque to aid a user in lifting her hand to her mouth. The sliding joint allows an increasing elbow torque despite a decreasing spring force. METHODS: The device was prototyped for a user with AMC. An occupational therapist measured the user's flexion with and without the device. Benchtop torque measurements were also determined and compared with user trials. RESULTS: The assist orthosis applied an increasing torque as the elbow flexed, thereby allowing the subject to reach her mouth for feeding and then extend her elbow to a position of no applied torque. Without the device, the subject had active elbow flexion of 87 degrees. With the device, this flexion increased to 120 degrees. CONCLUSION: The novel prototype is a lightweight, spring-powered flexion orthosis which can be made relatively easily and is potentially concealed under clothing. It provides the appropriate torque to move the hand against gravity and increases elbow-flexion of the user.

O Impacto da Histerectomia e a Participação dos Profissionais de Saúde Durante o Processo Cirúrgico / The Impact of Hysterectomy and the Involvement of Healthcare Professionals During the Surgical Process / El impacto de la histerectomía y la participación de los profesionales de la salud durante el proceso quirúrgico

Objetivo:descrever a o impacto da histerectomia e a participação dos profissionais de saúde durante o processo cirúrgico. O problema de pesquisa parte do seguinte questionamento: que impacto tem a histerectomia na vida da mulher em idade reprodutiva? Que participação tem os profissionais de saúde no processo cirúrgico? Método: Estudo de natureza descritiva com abordagem qualitativa conforme os pressupostos de Minayo (2009) com método de pesquisa exploratória. Resultados:Foram entrevistadas 7 mulheres que foram submetidas a histerectomia, com idade acima de 18 anos, que responderam perguntas referentes ao impacto do diagnóstico, conhecimento sobre a cirugia e experiências sobre o acolhimento dos profissionais da saúde no processo cirúrgico. A entrevista foi realizada em ambiente virtual na plataforma Google Forms. Conclusão: As entrevistadas revelaram sentimentos de angústia e medo ao se depararem com o diagnóstico cirúrgico por ausência de conhecimento inicialmente, evidenciando insatisfação e ausência dos profissionais da saúde quanto à cirurgia. O estudo reforça a importância das equipes multidisciplinares em hospitais e/ou locais de cuidados de saúde, uma vez que o foco principal no trabalho com pessoas acometidas por uma enfermidade não é a doença em si, mas elas mesmas.

Objective: to describe the impact of hysterectomy and the involvement of healthcare professionals during the surgical process. The research problem originates from the following questions: What impact does hysterectomy have on the life of a woman of reproductive age?What role do healthcare professionals play in the surgical process? Method:A descriptive study with a qualitative approach according to Minayo's (2009) assumptions using an exploratory research method. Results:Seven women who underwent hysterectomy, aged over 18 years, were interviewed. They answered questions regarding the impact of the diagnosis, knowledge about the surgery, and experiences of healthcare professionals' support during the surgical process. The interviews were conducted in a virtual environment using the Google Forms platform. Conclusion:The interviewees revealed feelings of anguish and fear when faced with the surgical diagnosis due to initial lack of knowledge, showing dissatisfaction and absence of healthcare professionals regarding the surgery. The study reinforces the importance of multidisciplinary teams in hospitals and/or healthcare facilities, as the main focus in working with people affected by an illness is not the disease itself, but the individuals themselves

Objetivo: describir el impacto de la histerectomía y la participación de los profesionales de la salud durante el proceso quirúrgico. El problema de investigación se basa en la siguiente pregunta: ¿qué impacto tiene la histerectomía en la vida de las mujeres en edadreproductiva? ¿Qué papel juegan los profesionales de la salud en el proceso quirúrgico? Método:Se trata de un estudio descriptivo con enfoque cualitativo según los supuestos de Minayo (2009) con un método de investigación exploratorio. Resultados:Se entrevistó a 7 mujeres mayores de 18 años sometidas a histerectomía, quienes respondieron preguntassobre el impacto del diagnóstico, conocimientos sobre cirugía y experiencias sobre la recepción de profesionales de la salud en el proceso quirúrgico. La entrevista se realizó en un entorno virtual en la plataforma Google Forms. Conclusión:Los entrevistados revelaron sentimientos de angustia y miedo frente al diagnóstico quirúrgico debido a la falta de conocimiento inicial, evidenciando insatisfacción y ausencia de profesionales de la salud con respecto a la cirugía. El estudio refuerza la importancia de los equipos multidisciplinarios en los hospitales y/o en los entornos sanitarios, ya que el foco principal en el trabajo con personas afectadas por una enfermedad no es la enfermedad en sí, sino ellos mismos.

Inflammatory Response of Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells Exposed to Oxidative and Biophysical Stress.

Pulmonary hypertension in the neonate requires treatment with oxygen and positive pressure ventilation, both known to induce lung injury. The direct response of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, the most abundant cells in the artery wall, to the stress of positive pressure and hyperoxia has not been previously studied. Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells were cultured in temperature- and pressure-controlled air-tight chambers under conditions of positive pressure or hyperoxia for 24 h. Control cells were cultured in room air under atmospheric pressure. After the exposure period, culture medium was collected and samples were analyzed by ELISA, Human Cytokine 25-Plex Panel using a Luminex 200 analyzer and Western blot. Secretion of various inflammatory mediators, specifically IL-6, IL-8, IL-2R, MIP-1ß, MCP-1, IP-10, IL-7, IL-1RA, and IFN-α, was higher in the positive pressure and hyperoxia groups compared with control. The level of cyclin D1 was decreased in the hyperoxia and positive pressure group compared with control. Levels of fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin were not different among the groups. Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells directly produce multiple inflammatory mediators in response to oxidative and biophysical stress in vitro, which may be part of a cascade that leads to the vascular and perivascular changes in pulmonary hypertension.

Tidal volume monitoring during emergency neonatal transport.

OBJECTIVE: The study aim was to identify the frequency with which tidal volumes were achieved in a target range in infants requiring positive pressure ventilation on emergency transport. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a prospective observational study of infants requiring continued positive pressure ventilation during emergency transport after resuscitation and stabilization. Blindly recorded data were analyzed for percentage of breaths that were below range, in range, and above desired range of 4-6 mL/kg. RESULT: Fourteen patients were monitored during transport from the delivery room to the neonatal intensive care unit, and 15 patients were monitored during inter-facility transport. During delivery room transport, 21 and 7% of patients were in target range greater than 50 and 90% of the time, respectively. During inter-hospital transport, 60 and 7% of patients were in target range greater than 50 and 90% of the time, respectively. CONCLUSION: Clinical assessment of appropriate ventilation is difficult and often inaccurate during emergency neonatal transport. Improved monitoring of respiratory function to guide clinical status during transport is necessary. More investigation and implementation are urgently needed.

As Políticas de Saúde no Saber do Usuário do SUS / Health Policies in the Knowledge of SUS Users / Políticas de Salud en el Conocimiento de Los Usuarios del SUS

Objetivo: analisar o perfil e o conhecimento dos usuários do SUS a respeito das políticas de saúde implementadas na Atenção Básica na cidade de Anápolis-Go. Para tal análise, é necessário entender todo o contexto da saúde brasileira desde o princípio da colônia e transição para império e república, pois por se tratar de uma política pública entender o contexto econômico e político na época de implementação do SUS é de grande valia. Método: estudo de abordagem quantitativa e a coleta de dados se deu por meio de roteiro de entrevista com perguntas fechadas e os resultados surgiram por meio de uma análise estatística descritiva com a apresentação dos dados por meio de gráficos. Resultados: foi possível conhecer o perfil dos usuários do SUS e notar uma divergência entre o saber do usuários em relação às políticas de saúde, sendo a ESF pouco conhecida entre os usuários da mesma, não conseguindo distinguir seu significado e representação dentro das Unidades Básicas de Saúde, assim como demonstraram conhecer os Programas da ESF quase que em sua totalidade, onde a deficiência no conhecimento se dá ao nome específico do programa mas discernindo suas atividades e locais de referência para atendimento. Conclusão: certifica-se a importância de tais estudos na área para aprimoramento do processo de assistência na Atenção Básica, evidenciando os principais desafios a serem superados por parte dos profissionais atuantes no serviço e pelo gestores dos mesmo para a implementação efetiva de um cuidado de qualidade.

Objective: to analyze the profile and knowledge of SUS (Brazil's Unified Health System) users regarding the health policies implemented in Primary Care in the city of Anápolis, Goiás. To achieve this analysis, it is necessary to understand the entire context of Brazilian healthcare from the colonial period to the transition to the imperial and republican eras. Since this involves a public policy, comprehending the economic and political context during the implementation of SUS is of great value. Method: it was a quantitative approach, and data collection was carried out through an interview script with closed-ended questions. The results emerged from descriptive statistical analysis, presented through graphs. Results: it was possible to understand the profile of SUS users and observe a divergence between their knowledge and the health policies. The Family Health Strategy (ESF) was relatively unknown among the users, with difficulty in distinguishing its significance and representation within the Basic Health Units. However, they demonstrated nearly complete awareness of ESF programs, with the knowledge gap mostly related to specific program names, but an understanding of their activities and reference locations for care. Conclusion: the importance of such studies in the field is confirmed, as they contribute to the improvement of the Primary Care assistance process. These studies highlight the main challenges to be overcome by professionals working in the service and by its managers for the effective implementation of quality care

Objetivo: analizar el perfil y el conocimiento de los usuarios del SUS (Sistema Único de Salud de Brasil) con respecto a las políticas de salud implementadas en la Atención Primaria en la ciudad de Anápolis, Goiás. Para lograr este análisis, es necesario comprender todo el contexto de la atención médica brasileña desde el período colonial hasta la transición a las eras imperial y republicana. Dado que esto involucra una política pública, comprender el contexto económico y político durante la implementación del SUS es de gran valor. Método: estúdio de enfoque cuantitativo, y la recopilación de datos se realizó a través de un guión de entrevista con preguntas cerradas. Los resultados surgieron del análisis estadístico descriptivo, presentado a través de gráficos. Resultados: fue posible comprender el perfil de los usuarios del SUS y observar una divergencia entre su conocimiento y las políticas de salud. La Estrategia de Salud Familiar (ESF) era relativamente desconocida entre los usuarios, con dificultades para distinguir su importancia y representación dentro de las Unidades Básicas de Salud. Sin embargo, demostraron un conocimiento casi completo de los programas de la ESF, con una brecha de conocimiento relacionada principalmente con los nombres específicos de los programas, pero con una comprensión de sus actividades y lugares de referencia para la atención. Conclusión: se confirma la importancia de tales estudios en el campo, ya que contribuyen a la mejora del proceso de asistencia en la Atención Primaria. Estos estudios resaltan los principales desafíos a superar por parte de los profesionales que trabajan en el servicio y por sus gestores para la implementación efectiva de una atención de calidad