scholarly journals 931 COVID-19 and the Irish National Spinal Injuries Unit: Impact on Service Provision and Strategies to Protect Urgent Care

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Power ◽  
A Juhdi ◽  
M Macken ◽  
K A Synnott ◽  
J S Butler

Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the provision of healthcare worldwide. The delivery of a national spinal service for emergent surgery, elective surgery and outpatient assessment has been incredibly challenging. Method Prospectively collected data regarding referrals to, and operative workload of, the Irish National Spinal Injuries Unit (NSIU) during the period of national lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic was compared to the same period in 2019. Results During the period of national lockdown there was a 47% decrease in the number of urgent referrals to the NSIU and a 61% reduction in the number of surgical cases performed. A particularly concerning finding was that for surgical cases there was a 400% increase in attempted suicide as the cause of injury with this cohort representing 11% of all surgical cases performed during the pandemic lockdown. The introduction of a national instant messaging application (Siilo) referral group resulted in a median time to first response by a National Spinal Injuries Unit (NSIU) surgeon of 15.5 minutes. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the provision of a national spinal service, however innovative strategies have been adopted to protect the capacity to provide urgent care.

2021 ◽  
pp. 000313482110111
Author(s):  
Ryan C. Pickens ◽  
Angela M. Kao ◽  
Mark A. Williams ◽  
Andrew C. Herman ◽  
Jeffrey S. Kneisl

Background In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, children’s hospitals across the country postponed elective surgery beginning in March 2020. As projective curves flattened, administrators and surgeons sought to develop strategies to safely resume non-emergent surgery. This article reviews challenges and solutions specific to a children’s hospital related to the resumption of elective pediatric surgeries. We present our tiered reentry approach for pediatric surgery as well as report early data for surgical volume and tracking COVID-19 cases during reentry. Methods The experience of shutdown, protocol development, and early reentry of elective pediatric surgery are reported from Levine’s Children’s Hospital (LCH), a free-leaning children’s hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. Data reported were obtained from de-identified hospital databases. Results Pediatric surgery experienced a dramatic decrease in case volumes at LCH during the shutdown, variable by specialty. A tiered and balanced reentry strategy was implemented with steady resumption of elective surgery following strict pre-procedural screening and testing. Early outcomes showed a steady thorough fluctuating increase in elective case volumes without evidence of a surgery-associated positive spread through periprocedural tracking. Conclusion Reentry of non-emergent pediatric surgical care requires unique considerations including the impact of COVID-19 on children, each children hospital structure and resources, and preventing undue delay in intervention for age- and disease-specific pediatric conditions. A carefully balanced strategy has been critical for safe reentry following the anticipated surge. Ongoing tracking of resource utilization, operative volumes, and testing results will remain vital as community spread continues to fluctuate across the country.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
rhow not provided ◽  
Vidhya Gunaseelan ◽  
mbicket not provided

This retrospective cohort study will investigate the timeliness of surgery based on the racial/ethnic group of patients who under colorectal surgery for cancer. Patients are included if they underwent surgical procedures for colon cancer between January 1, 2015 and April 30, 2020. The primary exposure of interest is the racial/ethnic group of the patient. The primary outcome is the the timeliness of surgery, defined as having urgent/emergent surgery (less timely) vs. elective surgery (more timely). Secondary outcomes relate to comprehensiveness of surgery, and include performance of preoperative staging tests, preoperative lab testing, and preoperative teaching of patients, as well as length of stay and additional clinical outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression models will be used to adjust for other demographic and clinical differences between study groups.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenhui Deng ◽  
Jay Pan

Abstract Background Because there is heterogeneity in disease types, competition among hospitals could be influenced in various ways by service provision for diseases with different characteristics. Limited studies have focused on this matter. This study aims to evaluate and compare the relationships between hospital competition and the expenses of prostatectomies (elective surgery, representing treatments of non-acute common diseases) and appendectomies (emergency surgery, representing treatments of acute common diseases). Methods Multivariable log-linear models were constructed to determine the association between hospital competition and the expenses of prostatectomies and appendectomies. The fixed-radius Herfindahl-Hirschman Index was employed to measure hospital competition. Results We collected data on 13,958 inpatients from the hospital discharge data of Sichuan Province in China from September to December 2016. The data included 3578 prostatectomy patients and 10,380 appendectomy patients. The results showed that greater competition was associated with a lower total hospital charge for prostatectomy (p = 0.006) but a higher charge for appendectomy (p <  0.001). The subcategory analysis showed that greater competition was consistently associated with lower out-of-pocket (OOP) and higher reimbursement for both surgeries. Conclusions Greater competition was significantly associated with lower total hospital charges for prostatectomies, while the opposite was true for appendectomies. Furthermore, greater competition was consistently associated with lower OOP but higher reimbursement for both surgeries. This study provides new evidence concerning the heterogeneous roles of competition in service provision for non-acute and acute common diseases. The findings of this study indicate that the pro-competition policy is a viable option for the Chinese government to relieve patients’ financial burden (OOP). Our findings also provide references and insights for other countries facing similar challenges.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 2730-2730
Author(s):  
Efstathios Kastritis ◽  
Monique C. Minnema ◽  
Meletios A. Dimopoulos ◽  
Giampaolo Merlini ◽  
Foteini Theodorakakou ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: In systemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis free light chains produced by clonal plasma cells form amyloid fibrils that are deposited in tissues and organs resulting in organ dysfunction. Cardiac involvement by AL amyloidosis is frequent and the most critical prognostic factor. Prognostic evaluation in AL is based on cardiac biomarkers and patients with very high levels of both NTproBNP (≥8500 pg/ml) and cardiac Troponins (Mayo stage 3B) are at high-risk of early death and have a median survival of just 3-6 months in most series. The outcome of stage 3B patients has not improved despite the introduction of bortezomib-based therapies and there is an urgent need for new non-toxic treatments which can also lead to rapid and deep hematologic responses. Daratumumab, an IgGκ monoclonal antibody targeting CD38, has proved highly effective either alone or in combination with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone and with good tolerability in AL amyloidosis patients. Methods: EMN22 is a phase 2, open-label, multicenter study planning to enroll 40 newly diagnosed patients with stage 3B AL amyloidosis from 5 sites in Greece, the Netherlands, Italy and France. Eligible patients should have high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) &gt;54 pg/mL and NT-proBNP ≥8500 pg/mL. Primary treatment consists of daratumumab monotherapy, initially administered intravenously at 16 mg/mL, and since February 2020 administered subcutaneously at a fixed dose of 1800 mg; weekly during Cycles 1-2, every 2 weeks for Cycles 3-6 and every 4 weeks thereafter. Patients who do not achieve a hematologic VGPR or better by Cycle 4 may also receive at investigator's discretion weekly bortezomib and low dose dexamethasone. Treatment continues until disease progression according to major organ deterioration progression-free survival criteria, start of new therapy, or for a maximum of 2 years. The current analysis includes patients who started treatment at least 3 months prior to the cut-off date (16 June 2021). Results: Among 17 patients included in this analysis, 9 (53%) are still on treatment and 8 (47%) have discontinued, either due to an adverse event (n=5, 29%), or due to disease progression (n=3, 18%). Most patients were males (n=12, 71%) and median age was 65 years (range 45-84). Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was 1 for 5 (29%), 2 for 11 patients (65%), and 3 for one patient (6%). Eight (47%) patients had New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II symptoms, and 9 (53%) NYHA class IIIA. At screening, median NT-proBNP was 13,994 pg/mL (range 8,816-40,428), median hsTnT 119.1 pg/mL (range 59.8-692) and median difference of involved to uninvolved free light chains (dFLC) was 553 mg/L (range 49-2823). Apart from the heart, the median number of other organs involved was 1 (range 0-5), with nervous system (n=8, 47%) and kidneys (n=7, 41%) most commonly affected. The median number of daratumumab infusions was 13 and the median duration of therapy with daratumumab therapy was 3.7 months. Overall, 5 patients (29%) started additional treatment with bortezomib after completion of 3 cycles of daratumumab monotherapy. All 17 patients had at least one treatment-emergent adverse event. Eleven patients (65%) had a serious adverse event (SAE); 9 (53%) had at least one cardiac-related serious adverse event, and one SAE (fatigue) was related to bortezomib. Six patients (35%) suffered a fatal SAE: sepsis (n=1), sudden death (n=3), and cardiac failure (n=2). Most common grade 3 or 4 non-serious AEs were peripheral edema (n=4, 24%), dyspnea (n=3, 18%), and atrial fibrillation (n=2, 12%), and only one non-serious neutropenia grade 3 was related to daratumumab. The overall response rate was 71%, with 3 patients (18%) achieving CR, 6 (35%) VGPR, and 3 (18%) a PR, with a combined CR+VGPR rate of 53% (9/17). One-, two-, and three-month overall response rates were 65% (n=11), 71% (n=12), and 71% (n=12), and the median time to first response was 7 days while the median time to at least VGPR was 14 days. The 6-month and 12-month OS rate were 70% and 53% respectively (median OS has not been reached). Conclusions: In this prospective phase 2 study, in patients with high-risk AL amyloidosis (stage 3B), daratumumab monotherapy shows a favorable safety profile and induced very rapid and deep hematologic responses with a median time to first response of 7 days, with 53% of the patients achieving VGPR or better and a 6-month OS of 70%. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Kastritis: Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genesis Pharma: Honoraria. Minnema: Jansen-Cilag: Consultancy; Kite/Gilead: Consultancy; Alnylam: Consultancy; Celgene: Other: Hospitality; BMS: Honoraria. Dimopoulos: Amgen: Honoraria; Beigene: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria. Huart: Janssen: Honoraria. Leonidakis: Health Data Specialists: Current Employment. Manousou: Health Data Specialists: Current Employment. Sonneveld: Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; SkylineDx: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Palladini: Pfizer: Honoraria; Siemens: Honoraria; Janssen Global Services: Honoraria, Other: advisory board fees.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1949-1949
Author(s):  
Zunairah Shah ◽  
Madeeha Shafqat ◽  
Faiza Jamil ◽  
Mustafa Nadeem Malik ◽  
Abdul Rafae ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Despite the recent advancements in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), there is a constant need of newer therapies in order to treat the complex issue of the disease relapse and refractory disease. Isatuximab (ISA) is a non-Food and Drug Administration (FDA) anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody that acts through immune cell engagement and direct tumor targeting. We report efficacy & toxicity of ISA in newly diagnosed MM ((NDMM) as well as relapsed, refractory MM (RRMM) patients (pts). Methods: Following Prisma guidelines, we performed a comprehensive literature search on articles published after January 2012 using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Clinicaltrials.gov. On initial search, 246 articles were found and after a detailed screening, 6 completed and 11 ongoing phase I/II/III studies were included. Results: A total of 249 pts were included. Two hundred thirty-four pts had RRMM while 15 pts had NDMM, overall response rate (ORR) was 37.60% and 87% respectively. In a phase I trial involving 34 pts with RRMM, single-agent ISA (1-20 mg/kg) was given. The median age of pts was 64 years (y) [range (r) = 38-85]. The overall response rate (ORR) was 24% with a partial response (PR) in 18% pts. The most common adverse events (AEs) were nausea (34%), fatigue (49%), fever (29%) and headache (26%) and upper respiratory infection (23%). In a phase II trial, 97 pts with RRMM were stratified into 4 groups. Single-agent ISA [3mg/kg, every 2 week,(Q2W); 10 mg/kg, Q2W - every 4 weeks (Q4W); 10 mg/kg (Q2W), 20 mg/kg (QW-Q2W)] was given. The median age of pts was 62.5 y (r = 38-85). The ORR was 9%, 20%, 29% and 24% respectively. The cumulative ORR was 20.6%. The median time to first response was 1.4 months (M) while the median duration of response was 6.6 M. The most common AEs were nausea (33%), fatigue (30%), diarrhea (26%) and cough (24%). In a phase Ib trial, 57 pts with RRMM were stratified into 5 groups. ISA [3 mg/kg (Q2W); 5 mg/kg (Q2W); 10 mg/kg (Q2W); 10 mg/kg (QW-Q2W); 20 mg/kg (QW-Q2W)] in combination with lenalidomide (R) (25mg), and dexamethasone (D) (40 mg) was given. The median age of pts was 61 y (r = 42-76). The median time since the initial diagnosis was 4 y. The ORR was 33%, 67%, 63%, 50%, and 50% respectively. The cumulative ORR was 56% with complete response (CR) in 3.8 % pts, very good partial response (VGPR) in 32.7 % pts and PR in 19.2 % pts. The progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.5 M (r=4.73-16.59). The most common grade 3 and 4 AEs were neutropenia (60%), lymphopenia (58%), leukopenia (53%), anemia (25%), thrombocytopenia (38%), pneumonia (9%), fatigue (7%), and dyspnea (4%). In another phase Ib trial, 36 pts with RRMM were stratified into 3 groups. ISA (5 mg/kg; 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg) in combination with pomalidomide (P) (4 mg), and D (40 mg) was given. The ORR was 63%, 55%, and 50% respectively. The cumulative ORR was 55.5%. The median time to first response was 4.1 weeks (W) while the median duration of response was 33.1 W. The most common grade 3 AEs were neutropenia (81%), lymphopenia (75%), and leukopenia (75%). In another phase Ib trial involving 10 pts with RRMM, ISA (10-20 mg/kg) in combination with carfilzomib (CFZ) (27 mg) was given. The median number of prior lines of therapy was 4.5 (2-8). The ORR was 80% with VGPR in 20% pts and PR in 60% pts. The most common grade 3 and 4 AEs were lymphopenia (64%), anemia (9%), and neutropenia (9%). In a phase Ib trial involving 15 pts with NDMM, ISA (10 mg) in combination with bortezomib (V) (1.3 mg/m2) and cyclophosphamide (CY) (300 mg/m2) was given. The median age of pts was 71 y (r= 68-80). The ORR was 87% with CR in 33% pts, VGPR in 27% pts, and PR in 27% pts. The median time to first response was 1.5 M while the median duration of response was 11 M. The most common grade 3 and 4 AEs were lymphopenia (50%), leucopenia (18%), neutropenia (8%), anemia (6%) and thrombocytopenia (6%). Conclusion: In RRMM pts, ISA as a single agent has shown weaker efficacy when compared to combination regimens i.e. ORR 21% vs. 58%. The best result was seen when ISA was used in combination with CFZ demonstrating an ORR of 80%. In NDMM pts, combination regimens have shown excellent efficacy with an ORR of 87%. Nausea and fatigue were the major AEs reported with the monotherapy while neutropenia, leucopenia, and lymphopenia were the major AEs reported with the combination regimens. Further studies involving a larger population are required to gather evidence in favor of the improved efficacy and to evaluate AEs. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yar Luan Yeap ◽  
John W. Wolfe ◽  
Jennifer Stewart ◽  
Kevin M. Backfish

ABSTRACT Background  Arterial line insertion is traditionally done by blind palpation. Residents may need multiple attempts for successful insertion, leading to longer procedure times and many failed attempts. Objective  We hypothesized that ultrasound guidance (USG) would be faster and more successful than traditional blind palpation (TBP) for radial artery line placement by residents. Methods  Patients undergoing elective surgery requiring a radial arterial line were randomized to either the USG or TBP groups. Exclusion criteria included a need for arterial line placement in an awake patient, emergent surgery, or American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status class VI. After the induction of anesthesia, a postgraduate year 3 (PGY-3) or PGY-4 anesthesia resident placed an arterial line by either USG or TBP. Results  A total of 412 patients and 85 of 106 residents (80%) in the training program were included. The 2 groups were similar with respect to sex, weight, height, ASA class, baseline systolic blood pressure, and baseline heart rate. USG was faster than TBP (mean times 171.1 ± 16.7 seconds versus 243.6 ± 23.5 seconds, P = .012), required fewer attempts (mean 1.78 ± 0.11 versus 2.48 ± 0.15, P = .035), and had an improved success rate (96% versus 90%, P = .012). Conclusions  We found that residents using USG in an academic institution resulted in significantly faster placement of the arterial lines, fewer attempts, and fewer catheters used.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i7-i11
Author(s):  
S Mclachlan ◽  
M Chakravorty ◽  
J Odone ◽  
J Stevenson ◽  
J Minshul ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction An estimated 64 million Medication Compliance Aids (MCAs) are dispensed by pharmacies in England each year as a method of reasonable adjustment to improve medication adherence (NICE 2009) and support medicines administration by carers (RPS 2013). Complexities exist when implementing medication changes for patients using MCAs, particularly at hospital discharge or outpatient appointments, where practices seem to vary. This National Survey is the first to determine the current policy and service provision of MCAs by acute hospitals in England. Methods An electronic survey was emailed to Chief Pharmacists via the Regional Medicines Information Services in Spring 2019. Initial non-responders were contacted by email and telephone. Results 51% (73/144) of acute hospital trusts in England responded. 77% (56/73) dispensed medication in MCAs at discharge. Of these, 62.5% would initiate MCAs and 61% supplied a different length of MCA vs non-MCA prescription (see table). 41 hospitals had designated staff completing MCAs. The median time to complete an MCA was 59.5 minutes (range 10–200). The median time from prescription receipt in pharmacy to MCA arrival on ward was 144.5 minutes (range 60–1,440). Of the 17 hospitals not providing MCAs, the majority would, upon discharge, contact the community pharmacy that provided the MCA pre-admission to update any medication changes and request the provision of a new supply of medicines. Conclusion Despite the ubiquitous nature of the MCA, there is no standard approach to the supply of these devices from acute hospitals across England. When hospitals do provide MCAs their preparation is time consuming, often requiring additional staff. A national approach to MCAs might help patients and carers, and reduce medication-related problems and costs.


2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greta R. Bauer ◽  
Jake Pyne ◽  
Matt Caron Francino ◽  
Rebecca Hammond

While transgender and transsexual (trans) communities have been documented to experience high rates of suicidality, little attention has been paid to how this may vary based on experiences of social injustice. Using survey data from the Trans PULSE Project (n=433), we estimated that suicidal thoughts were experienced by 36% of trans Ontarians over the past year, and that 10% attempted suicide during that time. Moreover, we documented that youth and those experiencing transphobia and lack of support are at heightened risk. Suicidality varied greatly by medical transition status, with those who were planning to transition sex, but who had not yet begun, being most vulnerable. Recommendations are made for improving wellbeing in trans communities, through policy advocacy, service provision, access to transition care, and fostering accepting families and communities.


2021 ◽  
pp. 000313482199868
Author(s):  
Alex Zhornitskiy ◽  
Felicia Zhornitsky ◽  
Formosa C. Chen ◽  
James H. Tabibian

Self-expanding metallic stents (SEMSs) are frequently used to decompress malignant large bowel obstruction (LBO) and avoid emergent surgery with often permanent colostomy creation. However, limited data are available on the use and outcomes of SEMS in patients with nonmalignant LBO. We present a case series of 4 patients who were found to have nonmalignant LBO for which they underwent emergent colonic stenting as a bridge to elective surgery following interdisciplinary discussion between gastroenterology, colorectal surgery, and radiology. Through each patient vignette, we illustrate the use of SEMSs as a potential alternative to emergent surgery. 2 of 4 patients avoided stoma creation at the time of surgery, and 1 patient avoided surgery altogether; overall, however, the outcomes of this approach were mixed in this series, indicating a need for further investigation to better identify the patient population that would benefit most from initial SEMS placement for decompression of nonmalignant LBO.


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