Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Sauaia

Publications and source records attributed to A Sauaia.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Diagnosing pneumonia in mechanically ventilated trauma patients: endotracheal aspirate versus bronchoalveolar lavage.

We prospectively investigated the diagnostic value of semiquantitative (semiQC) and quantitative (QC) cultures of endotracheal aspirate (ETA) compared with QC of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids in 18 mechanically ventilated trauma patients with clinical signs of pneumonia. The general agreement between QC of ETA and BAL was 89% when conventional cutoffs for the QC were used and 94% if the cutoffs were adjusted for previous antibiotic therapy. In all six patients whose clinical diagnoses of pneumonia were considered definite, both QC of ETA and QC of BAL were positive; however, standard semiQC of ETA showed comparable results in this group. On the contrary, in the 12 patients whose clinical diagnoses were uncertain, QC of BAL and ETA were negative in ten patients and in five (50%) of these, pneumonia was eventually excluded. Semiquantitative cultures of ETA were positive in all these patients. Five (28%) patients experienced a decrease in PaO2/FiO2 (> 15% of previous value) 2 hours after BAL, and in three (17%) this derangement persisted for 24 hours. These data suggest that BAL may be hazardous in mechanically ventilated trauma patients and that its use should be restricted to patients in whom the diagnosis is in doubt.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Process of care and outcomes for elderly patients hospitalized with peptic ulcer disease: results from a quality improvement project.

CONTEXT: Since publication in 1994 of guidelines for management of peptic ulcer disease (PUD), trends in physician practice and outcomes related to guideline application have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVES: To describe changes in process of care that occurred in a quality improvement program for patients hospitalized with PUD and to evaluate associations between in-hospital treatment of PUD and 1-year rehospitalization for PUD and mortality in a subset of these patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Cohort study of 4292 sequential Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized at acute care hospitals with a principal diagnosis of PUD in 5 states (Colorado, Georgia, Connecticut, Oklahoma, and Virginia) in 1995 (baseline) and 1997 (remeasurement); outcomes were evaluated for 752 patients in Colorado. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in rates of screening for Helicobacter pylori infection, treatment for H pylori infection, screening for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, counseling about NSAID use; outcomes included rehospitalization for PUD and all-cause mortality within 1 year of discharge in Colorado. RESULTS: Screening for H pylori infection increased significantly (12%-19% increase; P<.001) in each of the 5 states. Treatment of H pylori infection increased in each state and was significantly increased for the entire group of hospitalizations examined (8% increase overall; P =.001). Despite increased screening, detection of H pylori infection was less frequent than expected in every state, (13%-24%) and did not increase in any state. Screening for and counseling about NSAIDs did not significantly increase overall or in any state. In the Colorado cohort, the proportion of patients rehospitalized was unchanged in 1995 (8.9%) and 1997 (6.8%), and 124 patients (16%) in the combined 1995 and 1997 cohorts died within 1 year. Treatment for H pylori was not associated with a reduction in rehospitalization within 1 year (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-2.36) or with a reduction in mortality (adjusted OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.68-1.71). Counseling about NSAID use was associated with a decrease in risk of 1-year rehospitalization for PUD (adjusted OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.22-0.99) and risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.26-0.75). CONCLUSIONS: This quality improvement program for elderly patients with PUD resulted in increased screening for H pylori and increased treatment of H pylori infection but no change in counseling about NSAID use. However, with the low prevalence of H pylori detected, treatment of H pylori infection was not associated with a reduction in repeat hospitalization for PUD or subsequent mortality, whereas counseling about the risks of using NSAIDs was associated with a reduction in the risk of both outcomes.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influencing care in acute myocardial infarction: a randomized trial comparing 2 types of intervention.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate performance feedback delivered by on-site presentations compared to mailed feedback on improving acute myocardial infarction (AMI) care. We used a randomized trial including 18 hospitals nested within the Cooperative Cardiovascular Project. Patients comprised AMI Medicare patients admitted before (n = 929, 1994 and 1995) and after intervention (n = 438, 1996). Control hospitals received written feedback by mail. The experimental intervention group received a presentation led by a cardiologist and a quality improvement specialist. We assessed the proportion of patients receiving appropriate AMI care before and after the intervention. Both univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated no effect of the intervention in increasing the proportion of patients who received reperfusion, aspirin, beta-blockers, or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. On-site feedback presentations were not associated with a larger improvement in AMI care compared to the mailed feedback. Other interventions, such as opinion leaders and patient-directed interventions, may be necessary in order to improve the care of AMI patients.

Aged↗