scholarly journals Impact of health disparities on treatment for single-suture craniosynostosis in an era of multimodal care

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. E13
Author(s):  
Caitlin Hoffman ◽  
Alyssa B. Valenti ◽  
Eseosa Odigie ◽  
Kwanza Warren ◽  
Ishani D. Premaratne ◽  
...  

Craniosynostosis is the premature fusion of the skull. There are two forms of treatment: open surgery and minimally invasive endoscope-assisted suturectomy. Candidates for endoscopic treatment are less than 6 months of age. The techniques are equally effective; however, endoscopic surgery is associated with less blood loss, minimal tissue disruption, shorter operative time, and shorter hospitalization. In this study, the authors aimed to evaluate the impact of race/ethnicity and insurance status on age of presentation/surgery in children with craniosynostosis to highlight potential disparities in healthcare access. Charts were reviewed for children with craniosynostosis at two tertiary care hospitals in New York City from January 1, 2014, to August 31, 2020. Clinical and demographic data were collected, including variables pertaining to family socioeconomic status, home address/zip code, insurance status (no insurance, Medicaid, or private), race/ethnicity, age and date of presentation for initial consultation, type of surgery performed, and details of hospitalization. Children with unknown race/ethnicity and those with syndromic craniosynostosis were excluded. The data were analyzed via t-tests and chi-square tests for statistical significance (p < 0.05). A total of 121 children were identified; 62 surgeries were performed open and 59 endoscopically. The mean age at initial presentation of the cohort was 6.68 months, and on the day of surgery it was 8.45 months. Age at presentation for the open surgery cohort compared with the endoscopic cohort achieved statistical significance at 11.33 months (SD 12.41) for the open cohort and 1.86 months (SD 1.1473) for the endoscopic cohort (p < 0.0001). Age on the day of surgery for the open cohort versus the endoscopic cohort demonstrated statistical significance at 14.19 months (SD 15.05) and 2.58 months (SD 1.030), respectively. A statistically significant difference between the two groups was noted with regard to insurance status (p = 0.0044); the open surgical group comprised more patients without insurance and with Medicaid compared with the endoscopic group. The racial composition of the two groups reached statistical significance when comparing proportions of White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, and other (p = 0.000815), with significantly more Black and Hispanic patients treated in the open surgical group. The results demonstrate a relationship between race and lack of insurance or Medicaid status, and type of surgery received; Black and Hispanic children and children with Medicaid were more likely to present later and undergo open surgery.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Agustin ◽  
Lori Lyn Price ◽  
Augustine Andoh-Duku ◽  
Peter LaCamera

Rationale. The impact of emergency department length of stay (EDLOS) upon sepsis outcomes needs clarification. We sought to better understand the relationship between EDLOS and both outcomes and protocol compliance in sepsis. Methods. We performed a retrospective observational study of septic patients admitted to the ICU from the ED between January 2012 and December 2015 in a single tertiary care teaching hospital. 287 patients with severe sepsis and septic shock were included. Study population was divided into patients with EDLOS < 6 hrs (early admission) versus ≥6 hours (delayed admission). We assessed the impact of EDLOS on hospital mortality, compliance with sepsis protocol, and resuscitation. Statistical significance was determined by chi-square test. Results. Of the 287 septic ED patients, 137 (47%) were admitted to the ICU in <6 hours. There was no significant in-hospital mortality difference between early and delayed admissions (p=0.68). Both groups have similar compliance with the 3-hour protocol (p=0.77). There was no significant difference in achieving optimal resuscitation within 12 hours (p=0.35). Conclusion. We found that clinical outcomes were not significantly different between early and delayed ICU admissions. Additionally, EDLOS did not impact compliance with the sepsis protocol with the exception of repeat lactate draw.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S145-S146
Author(s):  
İlknur Çağlar ◽  
Duygu Özkerim ◽  
Neryal Tahta ◽  
Mine Düzgöl ◽  
Nuri Bayram ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of serum galactomannan (GM) test by investigating the impact of positivity according to different threshold levels and consecutiveness in terms of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in pediatric hematology-oncology patients. Methods Positive GM test results between January 2015 and August 2017 were reviewed, retrospectively. The children with hematological malignancies and GM positivity were included in the study and grouped according to the presence of IA. Impact of single and consecutive (3-day interval) GM positivity on IA diagnosis were evaluated according to different galactomannan index (GMI) threshold values of >0.5, >0.7, >1.0, and >1.5. Results There were 104 positive GM results from 70 patients. Forty-one patients (58.6%) had no clinical evidence of IA and categorized as the non-IA group. Invasive aspergillosis diagnosis was identified in 29 (41.4%) of the patients; 2 of them were proven and 27 were probable. Demographic characteristics and clinical findings of the patients were reviewed in Tables 1 and 2. According to different cutoff GMI values, the number of positive results was 104 for >0.5, 76 for >0.7, 57 for >1.0 and 32 for >1.5. The PPVs were low at a single GMI of >0.5 (39.4%) and reached to 50.0% with single GMI of >1.0. There was not a statistically significant difference between IA and non-IA groups in terms of different thresholds of a single GM positivity (P > 0.05) (Table 3). The number of two consecutive positive results was 34 for GMI of >0.5, 20 for GMI of >0.7, 13 for GMI of >1.0 and 4 for GMI of >1.5. In the IA group, GM positivity of consecutive results was significantly higher than non-IA group (P < 0.05). The PPVs of two consecutive positive results for GMI >0.5, GMI >0.7, GMI >1.0, and GMI >1.5 were 58.8%, 65.0%, 84.6%, and 100.0%, respectively. The effect of the GMI increase between two consecutive GM results on IA diagnosis (GM2-GM1 >0.5) was also evaluated and the PPV was found 53.8% without a statistical significance between two groups (Table 4). Conclusion When evaluated with consecutive GM positivity, the GM assay would have higher PPVs independently from the GMI cutoff value chosen. Since it may be more effective on IA diagnosis, consecutive sampling should be performed in pediatric patients at high risk. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


Author(s):  
Natuya Zhuori ◽  
Yu Cai ◽  
Yan Yan ◽  
Yu Cui ◽  
Minjuan Zhao

As the trend of aging in rural China has intensified, research on the factors affecting the health of the elderly in rural areas has become a hot issue. However, the conclusions of existing studies are inconsistent and even contradictory, making it difficult to form constructive policies with practical value. To explore the reasons for the inconsistent conclusions drawn by relevant research, in this paper we constructed a meta-regression database based on 65 pieces of relevant literature published in the past 25 years. For more valid samples to reduce publication bias, we also set the statistical significance of social support to the health of the elderly in rural areas as a dependent variable. Finally, combined with multi-dimensional social support and its implications for the health of the elderly, meta-regression analysis was carried out on the results of 171 empirical studies. The results show that (1) subjective support rather than objective support can have a significant impact on the health of the elderly in rural areas, and there is no significant difference between other dimensions of social support and objective support; (2) the health status of the elderly in rural areas in samples involving western regions is more sensitive to social support than that in samples not involving the western regions; (3) among the elderly in rural areas, social support for the older male elderly is more likely to improve their health than that for the younger female elderly; and (4) besides this, both data sources and econometric models greatly affect the heterogeneity of the effect of social support on the health of the elderly in rural areas, but neither the published year nor the journal is significant. Finally, relevant policies and follow-up studies on the impact of social support on the health of the elderly in rural areas are discussed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 152660282199672
Author(s):  
Giovanni Tinelli ◽  
Marie Bonnet ◽  
Adrien Hertault ◽  
Simona Sica ◽  
Gian Luca Di Tanna ◽  
...  

Purpose: Evaluate the impact of hybrid operating room (HOR) guidance on the long-term clinical outcomes following fenestrated and branched endovascular repair (F-BEVAR) for complex aortic aneurysms. Materials and Methods: Prospectively collected registry data were retrospectively analyzed to compare the procedural, short- and long-term outcomes of consecutive F-BEVAR performed from January 2010 to December 2014 under standard mobile C-arm versus hybrid room guidance in a high-volume aortic center. Results: A total of 262 consecutive patients, including 133 patients treated with a mobile C-arm equipped operating room and 129 with a HOR guidance, were enrolled in this study. Patient radiation exposure and contrast media volume were significantly reduced in the HOR group. Short-term clinical outcomes were improved despite higher case complexity in the HOR group, with no statistical significance. At a median follow-up of 63.3 months (Q1 33.4, Q3 75.9) in the C-arm group, and 44.9 months (Q1 25.1, Q3 53.5, p=0.53) in the HOR group, there was no statistically significant difference in terms of target vessel occlusion and limb occlusion. When the endograft involved 3 or more fenestrations and/or branches (complex F-BEVAR), graft instability (36% vs 25%, p=0.035), reintervention on target vessels (20% vs 11%, p=0.019) and total reintervention rates (24% vs 15%, p=0.032) were significantly reduced in the HOR group. The multivariable Cox regression analysis did not show statistically significant differences for long-term death and aortic-related death between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Our study suggests that better long-term clinical outcomes could be observed when performing complex F-BEVAR in the latest generation HOR.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s302-s302
Author(s):  
Amanda Barner ◽  
Lou Ann Bruno-Murtha

Background: The Infectious Diseases Society of America released updated community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) guidelines in October 2019. One of the recommendations, with a low quality of supporting evidence, is the standard administration of antibiotics in adult patients with influenza and radiographic evidence of pneumonia. Procalcitonin (PCT) is not endorsed as a strategy to withhold antibiotic therapy, but it could be used to de-escalate appropriate patients after 48–72 hours. Radiographic findings are not indicative of the etiology of pneumonia. Prescribing antibiotics for all influenza-positive patients with an infiltrate has significant implications for stewardship. Therefore, we reviewed hospitalized, influenza-positive patients at our institution during the 2018–2019 season, and we sought to assess the impact of an abnormal chest x-ray (CXR) and PCT on antibiotic prescribing and outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all influenza-positive admissions at 2 urban, community-based, teaching hospitals. Demographic data, vaccination status, PCT levels, CXR findings, and treatment regimens were reviewed. The primary outcome was the difference in receipt of antibiotics between patients with a negative (<0.25 ng/mL) and positive PCT. Secondary outcomes included the impact of CXR result on antibiotic prescribing, duration, 30-day readmission, and 90-day mortality. Results: We reviewed the medical records of 117 patients; 43 (36.7%) received antibiotics. The vaccination rate was 36.7%. Also, 11% of patients required intensive care unit (ICU) admission and 84% received antibiotics. Moreover, 109 patients had a CXR: 61 (55.9%) were negative, 29 (26.6%) indeterminate, and 19 (17.4%) positive per radiologist interpretation. Patients with a positive PCT (OR, 12.7; 95% CI, 3.43–60.98; P < .0007) and an abnormal CXR (OR, 7.4; 95% CI, 2.9–20.1; P = .000003) were more likely to receive antibiotics. There was no significant difference in 30-day readmission (11.6% vs 13.5%; OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.21–3.08; P = 1) and 90-day mortality (11.6% vs 5.4%; OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 0.48–12.75; P = .28) between those that received antibiotics and those that did not, respectively. Furthermore, 30 patients (62.5%) with an abnormal CXR received antibiotics and 21 (43.7%) had negative PCT. There was no difference in 30-day readmission or 90-day mortality between those that did and did not receive antibiotics. Conclusions: Utilization of PCT allowed selective prescribing of antibiotics without impacting readmission or mortality. Antibiotics should be initiated for critically ill patients and based on clinical judgement, rather than for all influenza-positive patients with CXR abnormalities.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S162-S163
Author(s):  
Jennifer B Radics-Johnson ◽  
Daniel W Chacon ◽  
Li Zhang

Abstract Introduction Burn camps provide a unique environment and activities for children that have experienced a burn-injury. Positive outcomes from attending burn camp include increased self-esteem, decreased feelings of isolation and a greater sense of self-confidence. In a 3-year retrospective review of camper evaluations from one of the largest and longest running week-long burn camps in the nation for ages 5–17, we aimed to assess if a child’s gender, age, TBSA or ethnicity affected the impact that burn camp had on a child. Methods A 3-year retrospective review of a Burn Camp’s camper evaluation forms was conducted for campers that attended burn camp between 2017–2019. Camp rosters were reviewed to determine the camper gender, age, TBSA and ethnicity. Camper self-evaluation forms completed at the end of each camp session were reviewed to record camper responses to questions regarding their opinions on the impact camp had on them as well as how camp will impact their lives once they return home. Categorical variables were summarized as frequency and percentage, and continuous variables were described as median and range. To check the relationship between two categorical variables, Chi-square test was used. To compare the continuous variable among groups, Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA was used. Statistical significance was declared based on a p value&lt; 0.5. Results Within 2017–2019, there were 413 camper records. Participants’ demographic characteristics are summarized in Table 1. There were 208 males (50.3%) and 205 females (49.6%). The median age of campers were 11.86, 12.44 and 12.45 for 2017–2019, with the range from 5.16 years to 17.96 years. The median TBSA were 20, 20 and 18 for 2017–2019, with the range from 0.08 to 90. Collectively there were 47.7% Hispanic (n= 197); 24.2% Whites (n=100); 13.1% Black (n= 54); 4.6% Asian (n=19) and 7.7% Other (n=32). There were 395 camper self-evaluation forms submitted. Results of three questions there we were interested in are summarized collectively in Table 2. 57% of campers responded, “Yes, Definitely” to the question “After going to this event, will you feel more comfortable being around your classmates or friends?” 54% responded, “ Yes, Definitely” to the question “Do you feel more confidents in sharing your burn story with others when returning home?” and 51% responded “Yes, Definitely” to “Did you learn anything that will help you when you return home?” Conclusions In analyzing the camper responses, there was no statistically significant difference in responses comparing gender, age, TBSA or ethnicity.


Author(s):  
Jasmine Peters ◽  
Mariel S Bello ◽  
Leigh Spera ◽  
T Justin Gillenwater ◽  
Haig A Yenikomshian

Abstract Racial and ethnic disparities are endemic to the United States and are only beginning to attract the attention of researchers. With an increasingly diverse population, focused and tailored medicine to provide more equitable care is needed. For surgical trauma populations, this topic is a small but expanding field and still rarely mentioned in burn medicine. Disparities in prevention, treatment, and recovery outcomes between different racial and ethnic minorities who are burned are rarely discussed. The purpose of this study is to determine the current status of identified disparities of care in the burn population literature and areas of future research. A systematic review was conducted of literature utilizing PubMed for articles published between 2000-2020. Searches were used to identify articles that crossed the burn term (burn patient OR burn recovery OR burn survivor OR burn care) and a race/ethnicity and insurance status-related term (race/ethnicity OR African-American OR Black OR Asian OR Hispanic OR Latino OR Native American OR Indigenous OR Mixed race OR 2 or more races OR socioeconomic status OR insurance status). Inclusion criteria were English studies in the US that discussed disparities in burn injury outcomes or risk factors associated with race/ethnicity. 1,169 papers were populated, 55 were reviewed, and 36 articles met inclusion criteria. Most studies showed minorities had poorer inpatient and outpatient outcomes. While this is a concerning trend, there is a paucity of literature in this field and more research is needed to create culturally-tailored medical care and address the needs of disadvantaged burn survivors.


2004 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Rodrigues ◽  
Flávio Hering ◽  
Alex Meller ◽  
João Carlos Campagnari ◽  
Márcio D'Império

CONTEXT: Antibiotic prophylaxis in transurethral resection of the prostate is a regular practice in urology. However, its prophylactic effect can be questioned when the antiseptic surgical technique is used. Nonetheless, urine culture-oriented antibiotic therapy is the gold standard for avoiding improper medication usage and bacterial resistance. OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of antibiotic usage in patients with negative urine cultures, who were submitted to transurethral resection of the prostate. TYPE OF STUDY: Prospective open labeled study. SETTING: Tertiary care referral hospital PARTICIPANTS: 124 consecutive patients, who were randomly divided into two groups to receive antibiotic prophylaxis or not. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Cultures from meatus, urine, irrigation and antiseptic fluid, and prostate tissue chips, were compared and analyzed for bacterial sensitivity to the antibiotic used, according to the surgeon's personal criteria. McLennan's test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference regarding clinical evolution was found between the groups that received or antibiotics or not. Statistical significance was found regarding the occurrence of positive urine cultures during the postoperative period for those not receiving antibiotics, but not in relation to fever, prostate chip culture or bacteremic episodes. Sixty-eight subjects (57.1%) presented positive prostatic tissue culture. There was no specific correlation between the recovered bacteria from the meatus, prostatic tissue chip and urine and the spectrum of the administered antibiotic. Six cases showed the same bacteria in the urine and prostatic tissue chip. Only fifteen cases (25%) in the antibiotic group showed the desired sensitivity directed to the collected bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic prophylaxis for patients whose urine is sterile is debatable in patients who are candidates for transurethral resection of the prostate. Most of the time, the antibiotic agent used is not specific for any of the bacteria recovered from the various sources analyzed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Kucevic ◽  
Snezana Trivunovic ◽  
Vladan Bogdanovic ◽  
Ksenija Cobanovic ◽  
Dobrila Jankovic ◽  
...  

Possible differences between composition of raw milk due to dairy farming system (organic vs conventional) as well as seasonal variations were investigated. The samples were analysed during one year. A total of 6.782 samples of raw milk were collected (4.496 from organic farming). Dairy farms were located in the northern part of Republic of Serbia (Province of Vojvodina). The principle of analysis of raw milk samples was in accordance with the methodology by midinfrared spectrometry and flow cytometry. The fixed effect of system of farming and season (winter, spring, summer and fall) have shown a high statistical significance (P < 0.01) on all examined milk parameters except fat, total solids and somatic cell count, where the impact was slightly lower (P < 0.05). Significant difference wasn't found in number of bacterial colonies (P > 0.05). Composition of milk is also affected by a number of other factors, therefore it is recommended to involve factors such as nutrition of dairy cows, breed and farm management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 1477-1483
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sohail Arshad ◽  
Waqas Imran Khan ◽  
Arif Zulqarnain ◽  
Hafiz Muhammad Anwar-ul-Haq ◽  
Mudasser Adnan

Objective: To find out the impact of Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) on growth and endocrine functions at a tertiary care child healthcare facility of South Punjab. Study Design: Case Control study. Setting: Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Institute of Child’s Health (ICH), Multan, Pakistan. Period: December 2018 to March 2020. Material & Methods: During the study period, a total of 53 cases of Echocardiography confirmed CCHD were registered. Along with 53 cases, 50 controls during the study period were also enrolled. Height, weight, body mass index (BMI) along with hormonal and biochemical laboratory investigations were done. Results: There was no significant difference between gender and age among cases and controls (p value>0.05). Most common diagnosis of CCHD among cases, 24 (45.3%) were Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) followed by 9 (17.0%) transposition of the great arteries (TGA) with Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) with Pulmonary Stenosis (PS). Mean weight of CCHD cases was significantly lower in comparison to controls (21.19+6.24 kg vs. 26.48+8.1 kg, p value=0.0003). Blood glucose was significantly lower among cases in comparison to controls (77.58+14.58 mg/dl vs. 87.25+11.82 mg/dl, p value=0.0004). No significant difference was found in between cases and controls in terms of various hormone levels studied (p value>0.05) except Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) levels (p value<0.0001). Conclusion: Children with cyanotic congenital heart disease seem to have negative effects on nutrition and growth. Change in pituitary-adrenal axis is suspected while pituitary-thyroid axis seemed to be working fine among CCHD cases. Serum glucose and IGF-1 levels were significantly decreased among CCHD cases.


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