Surgical ICU Underutilization Does not Significantly Discourage Discharge

1996 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 238-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Dexter ◽  
K. Pearson ◽  
D. L. Griffiths ◽  
P. Jebson

An SICU must have sufficient capacity to handle peak weekly demand to prevent re-admission and/or poor quality of care. Excess capacity may, however, encourage unnecessary SICU utilization. The goal of this study was to assess the influence of availability of SICU beds on patient discharge and re-admission rates. The case series included 1,492 days, 36,816 patient days, 8,821 discharges, and 186 re-admissions within 3 days from a 24-bed multidisciplinary SICU at a tertiary care center. Census was defined to equal the total number of patients in the SICU each day. We found low census levels were not associated with significantly lower discharge rates. Decreasing the census from 19–24 to 13–18 patients per day decreased discharge rates from 31% to 30%. Odds ratio that a decrease in census by five from 24 decreased discharge rate equaled 1.01 (95% confidence interval 0.96 to 1.06). We conclude that when hospital managers choose an appropriate SICU capacity they need not be concerned that intermittent excess capacity will prompt physicians to significantly decrease their discharge rates.

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamshed Ali ◽  
Osman Faheem ◽  
Pirbhat Shams ◽  
ghufran adnan ◽  
Maria Khan

Introduction: Social containment measures have been adopted globally to control COVID-19 outbreak. Reduction in hospital visits and inpatient admission rates have become cause for concern. Through this study we aimed to analyze the impact of SARS-CoV-2 virus Outbreak on cardiology inpatient admissions at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Hypothesis: COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant decline in cardiology admissions. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study at our center. Admission log was accessed via electronic record system. Comparison was made for same months of 2019 and 2020 with regard to cardiology inpatient admissions. Results: A total of 239 patients were admitted to cardiology services in 2019 period and 106 in 2020 period with resultant reduction of 55.6%. Number of patients admitted to the coronary care unit were 179 and 78 respectively where as the numbers declined to 28 from 60 for cardiac step down. Reduction for admission numbered to 52.4% for males and 38.89% for females. 9.3% patients left against medical advice in 2019 and 3.4% in 2020. Conclusions: Our study concludes that numbers of cardiology admissions have dwindled. Possible explanation for this can be implementation of social containment and fear of acquiring infection. This has raised a question of whether a significant number of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has occurred without seeking medical attention and has went unrecorded during the pandemic. This calls for stringent diagnostic measures in future to diagnose previously unrecorded burden.


1995 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franklin Dexter ◽  
John H. Tinker

Background The goal of this study was to identify interventions that anesthesiologists can make to decrease total costs of a postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Methods Data were collected retrospectively from patients who underwent ambulatory surgery at our tertiary care center. Results Supplies and medications accounted for only 2% of PACU charges. Personnel costs, which depend on the peak number of patients in the PACU, accounted for almost all PACU costs. If nausea and vomiting could have been eliminated in each patient who suffered this complication, without causing sedation, the total time to discharge for all patients would have been decreased by less than 4.8% (95% confidence interval < 7.3%). Arrival rates to and times to discharge from the PACU followed triangular and log-normal distributions, respectively. Computer simulations, using published times to discharge for drugs with "faster recovery," such as propofol, showed that the use of these drugs would only decrease PACU costs if operating rooms were consistently scheduled to run later each day. Such earlier discharge also might be beneficial if used at night, but only if the PACU could close after a single patient leaves. However, reasonably achievable decreases in the times to discharge for all patients undergoing general anesthesia are unlikely to substantively decrease PACU costs. In contrast, arranging an operating room schedule to optimize admission rates would greatly affect the number of PACU nurses needed. Conclusions Anesthesiologists have little control over PACU economics via choice of anesthetic drugs. The major determinant of PACU costs is the distribution of admissions.


2012 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Mirza ◽  
L McClelland ◽  
M Daniel ◽  
N Jones

AbstractBackground:Many ENT conditions can be treated in the emergency clinic on an ambulatory basis. Our clinic traditionally had been run by foundation year two and specialty trainee doctors (period one). However, with perceived increasing inexperience, a dedicated registrar was assigned to support the clinic (period two). This study compared admission and discharge rates for periods one and two to assess if greater registrar input affected discharge rate; an increase in discharge rate was used as a surrogate marker of efficiency.Method:Data was collected prospectively for patients seen in the ENT emergency clinic between 1 August 2009 and 31 July 2011. Time period one included data from patients seen between 1 August 2009 and 31 July 2010, and time period two included data collected between 1 August 2010 and 31 July 2011.Results:The introduction of greater registrar support increased the number of patients that were discharged, and led to a reduction in the number of children requiring the operating theatre.Conclusion:The findings, which were determined using clinic outcomes as markers of the quality of care, highlighted the benefits of increasing senior input within the ENT emergency clinic.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie A Dunleavy ◽  
Ryan C Ungaro ◽  
Laura Manning ◽  
Stephanie Gold ◽  
Joshua Novak ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Micronutrient deficiencies are common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To date, the literature has focused on vitamin D, vitamin B12, and iron deficiencies. Methods We report a case series of 20 patients with IBD and vitamin C deficiency treated at a single tertiary care center. Results Sixteen (80%) patients had symptoms of clinical scurvy, including arthralgia, dry brittle hair, pigmented rash, gingivitis, easy bruising and/or brittle nails. Eighteen patients underwent a nutritional assessment, 10 (56%) patients reported complete avoidance of fruits and vegetables, and 3 (17%) reported reduced intake of fruits and vegetables. Conclusions Vitamin C deficiency should be considered in IBD patients, particularly those with reduced fruit/vegetable intake, as it can lead to significant signs and symptoms.


2021 ◽  
pp. 263183182110323
Author(s):  
Aditya Prakash Sharma ◽  
Japleen Kaur ◽  
Ravimohan S. Mavuduru ◽  
Shrawan K. Singh

Sexual health-care seeking behavior and practices have been affected during COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of COVID-19 on this subspecialty is far reaching. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on health-care seeking practice pertaining to sexual health in men in our tertiary care center and review the relevant literature regarding impact of COVID-19 on sexual health seeking practice and challenges faced. Outpatient data was analyzed from January 2019 to April 2021. Patients awaiting surgical procedures due to COVID were documented. A narrative synthesis of literature based on systematic search using the keywords sexual health, sexual health seeking, sexual health practice, andrology, and COVID with operators “AND” and “OR” was carried out in three search engines PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. The study outcomes were obtained by comparing data of outpatient attendance and compiling the reviewed literature. The mean attendance fell significantly from 95.11±11.17 to 17.25±13.70 persons (P <.0001) per outpatient clinic, March 2020 being the reference point. Teleconsultation has taken over physical consultation. In 98/949 cases, teleconsult could not be provided despite registration. Over 25 patients were waiting for surgical procedures pertaining to andrology due to shut down of elective services. Similar trends have been reported from other countries. Number of patients seeking consultation for sexual health problems has dramatically decreased during COVID-19 era. Establishment of data safe teleconsultation facility and its widespread advertisement is needed to encourage patients to seek consult.


2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamta Agarwal ◽  
Patricia Clinard ◽  
John M. Burkart

Objective To determine the clinical experience of using combined-modality [simultaneous hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD)] treatment in patients with end-stage renal disease. Design We reviewed data on 4 patients from our center that were treated with “combined-mode therapy.” We then conducted a retrospective survey by sending questionnaires to nephrologists in the US and Canada by mail and by posting the survey on the Internet. Data queried included number of patients on combined modality, solute clearances, albumin levels pre and post combined therapy, reasons for using combined therapy, duration and success of combined therapy, and reimbursement issues. Setting and Participants Ours is a tertiary-care center. Patients that were not doing well on PD alone were put on combined modality of treatment between 1992 and 1998. Main Outcome Measures Clinical improvement in the indication for which the participant was started on combined modality. Results In response to the survey, data on 27 patients were collected. These data were combined with data on 4 patients from our unit that had previously been treated with combined HD and PD. Most patients were reported to have more than one clinical reason for changing from PD to combined therapy. The main clinical reason for offering combined treatments was inadequate solute clearance (34%), followed by ultrafiltration problems (16%) and neuropathy (11%). Mean duration of time followed on combined treatment was 8.5 ± 0.12 months. Most patients tolerated combined treatment well and were reported to show improvement in the clinical reasons for which they needed the combined modality. Dual access and reimbursement issues were not a problem. There was no single method used for calculating total (HD, PD, and residual renal) solute clearance. No universal total solute clearance goal was reported. Conclusion Hemodialysis and PD are not mutually exclusive. They can be used in combination to achieve targeted solute clearances, to improve certain clinical conditions, and to control volume and blood pressure in a subset of patients. Further evaluation is needed to better establish the long-term outcomes of using combined modality. Total solute clearance goals and methods for determining total solute clearance need to be standardized.


Author(s):  
Madharam Bishnoi ◽  
Tabish Tahir Kirmani ◽  
Najmul Huda ◽  
Gaurav Chahal ◽  
Sandeep Bishnoi

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Hip fractures are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population posing significant burden on health care resources. The purpose of this study is to determine the epidemiological analysis of hip fractures at a tertiary care center.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This was a retrospective study done on patients with hip fractures admitted during the period 2015-2017 in Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh. Case files and radiographs of patients were reviewed for age, gender, nature of trauma, associated comorbidities, type of fracture and presence of osteoporosis.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> During the 2015-2017 period, 2214 patients with hip fractures were admitted, out of which 1180 were males and rest females. The mean age of patients was 56.8 years with 41.6% belonging to age group 60-75 years. In elderly patients, a low energy simple fall accounted for &gt;85% of fractures with presence of significant osteoporosis (Singh’s index grade 3). The in hospital mortality was 2.1%. Hip fracture characteristics included intertrochanteric 57.81%, femoral neck 30.26% and sub trochanteric 11.93%. Smoking and medical comorbidities were present in a significant number of patients.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> With increased longevity, hip fractures are an increasing health care problem. Various preventive measures for osteoporosis and falls will decline the prevalence of these fractures.</p>


Author(s):  
Subrata Kumar Das ◽  
Saptadipa Das

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The aim was to evaluate the parameters of metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients of alopecia areata and to investigate the possibility of an existing relationship between MS and alopecia areata (AA).</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This cross-sectional observational study included 50 patients with AA who attended OPD of department of dermatology at a tertiary care center during a period of 1 year. Clinical and laboratory parameters were noted in each patient.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> This study included 50 patients with AA (33 males and 17 females). In the present study maximum number of patients belonged to the age group 20-30 years with 23 patients, followed by 30-40 years with 17  patients. Most of the study subjects, 17 were college students and number of employees were 15. Out of 50 patients 44  had patch(es) and 2 patient had alopecia totalis. In this study out of 50 patients, 38 had mild AA, 7 had AA and 5 patients had severe AA. No significant derangement of clinical and laboratory parameters of MS observed in patients of AA.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> In the present study we did not observe any significant derangement of clinical and laboratory parameters of  MS  in patients of alopecia areata.</p>


Author(s):  
Vadlakonda Sruthi ◽  
Annaladasu Narendra

Background: Tramadol use has been increasing in the adult and pediatric population. Practitioners must be alert because Tramadol misuse can lead to severe intoxication in which respiratory failure and seizures are frequent. Overdoses can lead to death. We report 47 pediatric cases with history of accidental tramadol exposure in children.Methods: An observational, retrospective, single center case -series of children with a history of accidental tramadol exposure in children admitted in pediatric intensive care unit of tertiary care center, Niloufer Hospital (Osmania Medical College) Hyderabad, Telangana India.Results: Of 47 children, 22 (47%) are male and 25 (53%) were female. At presentation 11 (23%) had loss of consciousness, 14 (29%) seizures, 17 (36%) hypotonia was noted. Pupils were miotic in 22 (47%) mydriatic in 2 (4.2%) normal in rest of children. Hemodynamic instability noted in 13 (27.6%). Serotonin syndrome (tachycardia, hyperthermia, hypertension, hyper reflex, clonus) was noted on 5 (10.6%) children. Respiratory depression was seen in 4 (8%) children who needed ventilatory support. Antidote Naloxone was given in 7 children. No adverse reaction was noted with Naloxone. All 47 children were successfully discharged.Conclusions: Overdoses can lead to death and practitioners must be alert because of the increasing use of tramadol in the adult and pediatric population. The handling of the tramadol should be explained to parents and general population and naloxone could be efficient when opioid toxicity signs are present.


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