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Biomedical subjects

Charles Weissman

Publications and source records attributed to Charles Weissman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A clinical survival score predicts the likelihood to benefit from preoperative thallium scanning and coronary revascularization before major vascular surgery.

AIMS: Guidelines advocate selective non-invasive testing before major non-cardiac surgery, yet data defining who may benefit from such tests is lacking. We aimed to find the predictors that define patients who are most likely to benefit from preoperative cardiac testing and coronary revascularization (CR). METHODS AND RESULTS: In 624 consecutive major vascular surgery patients, the preoperative thallium scanning (PTS) results and subsequent CRs were correlated with long-term (3-15 years) survival. Of all patients, 510 (80.6%) had PTS, 154 (24.7%) had moderate-severe ischaemia on PTS, and 96 (15.4%) underwent CR. Seven predictors: age >or=65, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, ischaemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, ST-depression on preoperative ECG, and renal insufficiency, independently determined long-term survival. A long-term survival score (LTSS) comprised of these predictors, divided all patients into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups (0-1, 2-3, >or=4 predictors, respectively) with a 5-year survival of 83 +/- 2%, 60 +/- 3%, and 34 +/- 6%, respectively. Compared with low-risk patients, intermediate and high-risk patients had worse survival [HR (CI) = 2.6 (2.0-3.4) and 5.9 (4.1-8.9), respectively, P < 0.001]. Yet, only the intermediate-risk group had better long-term survival following preoperative CR [HR = 0.48 (0.31-0.75), P = 0.001]. The low-risk groups' favourable survival and high-risk groups' poor survival were not significantly affected by CR. CONCLUSION: Intermediate-risk patients (LTSS 2-3) are most likely to have a long-term survival benefit from PTS and CR.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Randomized phase II trial of pemetrexed combined with either cisplatin or carboplatin in untreated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Given the activity and tolerability of pemetrexed/platinum combinations in non-small-cell lung cancer, and the success of novel therapeutic strategies employed in recent extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) trials, a randomized phase II trial was initiated to evaluate the use of cisplatin or carboplatin plus pemetrexed in previously untreated ES-SCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m2 or pemetrexed plus carboplatin area under the concentration curve 5. Treatment was administered once every 21 days for a maximum of six cycles. All patients received folic acid, vitamin B12, and steroid prophylaxis. RESULTS: Between December 19, 2002, and May 17, 2004, 78 patients were enrolled onto this multicenter trial. Median age was 63 years (range, 46 to 82 years) for cisplatin/pemetrexed and 66 years (range, 47 to 75 years) for carboplatin/pemetrexed. Median survival time (MST) for cisplatin/pemetrexed was 7.6 months, with a 1-year survivorship of 33.4% and a response rate of 35% (95% CI, 20.6% to 51.7%). The MST for carboplatin/pemetrexed was 10.4 months, with a 1-year survivorship of 39.0% and a response rate of 39.5% (95% CI, 24.0 to 56.6). Median time to progression for cisplatin/pemetrexed was 4.9 months and for carboplatin/pemetrexed was 4.5 months. Median dose-intensity (actual/planned dose) was 98.94% for cisplatin and 99.95% for pemetrexed in the cisplatin/pemetrexed group and 93.21% for carboplatin and 98.50% for pemetrexed in the carboplatin/pemetrexed group. Grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities included neutropenia (15.8% v 20.0%) and thrombocytopenia (13.2% v 22.9%) in the cisplatin/pemetrexed and carboplatin/pemetrexed treatment groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pemetrexed/platinum doublets had activity and appeared to be well-tolerated in first-line ES-SCLC.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

In-hospital resource utilization during multiple casualty incidents.

OBJECTIVE: To suggest guidelines for hospital organization during terror-related multiple casualty incidents (MCIs) based on the experience of 6 level I trauma centers. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Most terror-related MCIs are bombings. The sporadic nature of these events complicates in-hospital preparation. METHODS: Data were collected at all level I Trauma centers during/after MCIs for the Israel National Trauma registry. Patients were included if they were admitted or died in hospital following injury in suicide bombings (October 1, 2000 to June 30, 2003), which fulfilled Ministry of Health suggested criteria for MCIs (number of admissions, severity of injury). RESULTS: Included were 325 casualties from 32 events, 34% of which had an Injury Severity Score >16. A third of the admissions arrived within 10 minutes and 65% within 30 minutes. Forty percent of the patients underwent CT scans directly from the ED. Operative procedures were performed on 60% of patients and 36% were transferred directly from the ED to the OR. Initiation of surgical procedures peaked at 1 to 1.5 hours, mainly multidisciplinary abdominal, thoracic, and vascular surgery. Orthopedic and plastic surgery predominated later. A third of the patients were admitted to ICUs, often (31%) directly from the ED. CONCLUSIONS: High staffing demands for ED, OR, and ICU overlap. Anesthesiologists, general, thoracic, and vascular surgeons are in immediate demand. ICU admissions occur simultaneously with ongoing patient arrival to the ED. Most patients operated within the first 2 hours require multidisciplinary surgical teams. Demand for orthopedic and plastic surgery and anesthesiology services continues for >24 hours.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Posttraumatic stress disorder among hospital surgical physicians exposed to victims of terror: a prospective, controlled questionnaire survey.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Surgical physicians often treat victims of terror-related multiple-casualty incidents. This may cause secondary posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), impairing their ability to care for patients. The objective of this study was to determine whether professional exposure to victims of terror caused PTSD in Israeli physicians from surgical disciplines. METHOD: This was a validated questionnaire survey of physicians (November 2002 through March 2003) from 2 Jerusalem hospitals (a tertiary trauma center and a secondary regional hospital) divided into study (physicians from surgical disciplines regularly exposed to victims of terror) and control (physicians not regularly exposed) groups. Questionnaires included the PTSD Symptom Scale-Self-Report to diagnose PTSD (DSM-IV criteria) and allowed exclusion of other causes of similar symptoms. The main outcome measure was the difference in the prevalence of PTSD between groups. RESULTS: Included were 212 (102 study, 110 control) participants. The study group experienced a significantly higher level of exposure to terror victims at work, validating prospective group definitions. The prevalence of PTSD was similar in both groups (study group = 16%, control group = 15%; p = 1.00). The study and control groups were similar in all predicting variables except for number of years in medical practice, occupational status, and workplace. The groups had similar levels of exposure to terror outside work (p = .24). The probability that a physician would have PTSD was related to use of nonadaptive coping strategies (OR = 5.1; p = .009) and a higher level of exposure to terror out of work (OR = 3.5; p = .013). CONCLUSION: Hospital physicians from surgical disciplines who were professionally exposed to victims of terror did not demonstrate a higher incidence of PTSD than their less exposed counterparts.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2006

The Israeli anesthesiology physician workforce.

BACKGROUND: Anesthesiology is a vital specialty that permits the safe and humane performance of painful procedures. Most Israeli anesthesiologists are immigrants, while only a minimal number of Israeli medical school graduates enter the specialty. Unfortunately, the supply of immigrant physicians is declining due to falling immigration rates. OBJECTIVES: To examine the current Israeli anesthesiology workforce and project future needs. METHODS: Demographic and professional information about Israeli hospital anesthesiologists was solicited from anesthesiology department heads. Data were also gathered about the past, present and projected future growth, age distribution and birth rate of the Israeli population. Needs and demand-based analyses were used to project future anesthesiology workforce requirements. RESULTS: Data on 711 anesthesiologists were obtained from 30 hospital anesthesiology department heads. Eighty-seven anesthesiologists (12.2%) graduated from Israeli medical schools and 459 (64.6%) graduated from medical schools in the former Soviet Union. Among the 154 anesthesiology residents < or = 40 years old, only 13 (8.4%) graduated from Israeli medical schools. There are approximately 10.8 anesthesiologists per 100,000 population. Projections for 2005-2015 revealed a need for 250-300 new anesthesiologists. CONCLUSIONS: The anesthesiology workforce is predominantly composed of immigrants. This has vast implications for the future viability of the specialty because of the continuing reduction in immigration, the lack of interest in the specialty by Israeli medical school graduates, and the projected need for many new anesthesiologists to replace retirees and to provide care to a growing and aging population.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Clinical review: the Israeli experience: conventional terrorism and critical care.

Over the past four years there have been 93 multiple-casualty terrorist attacks in Israel, 33 of them in Jerusalem. The Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center is the only Level I trauma center in Jerusalem and has therefore gained important experience in caring for critically injured patients. To do so we have developed a highly flexible operational system for managing the general intensive care unit (GICU). The focus of this review will be on the organizational steps needed to provide operational flexibility, emphasizing the importance of forward deployment of intensive care unit personnel to the trauma bay and emergency room and the existence of a chain of command to limit chaos. A retrospective review of the hospital's response to multiple-casualty terror incidents occurring between 1 October 2000 and 1 September 2004 was performed. Information was assembled from the medical center's trauma registry and from GICU patient admission and discharge records. Patients are described with regard to the severity and type of injury. The organizational work within intensive care is described. Finally, specific issues related to the diagnosis and management of lung, brain, orthopedic and abdominal injuries, caused by bomb blast events associated with shrapnel, are described. This review emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach in caring for these patients.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed2005

The enhanced postoperative care system.

The perioperative care system is a continuum that includes preoperative patient evaluation, operating room scheduling, the operation itself, and postoperative care. This costly fast-paced system requires its various components to function efficiently and interact effectively. This review explores the interrelation between the operational elements of the enhanced care postoperative care system (intensive care units, intermediate care units, postanesthesia care units, and monitored floor beds) and other perioperative care activities. This care system provides patients with enhanced (from routine floor) nursing and medical care, continuous physiological monitoring, and sophisticated treatments (eg, continuous infusion of vasoactive substances). A management, rather than clinical, approach is used to provide insight into the operations of the perioperative care system so that bottlenecks to patient flow may be identified and eliminated. Emphasis is placed on the need to switch from a "fiefdom" mentality, where each component of the system acts independently and defensively, to systems thinking, in which complex interrelated patterns are identified, analyzed, and optimized.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed2005

Effect of intraoperative fluid management on outcome after intraabdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: The debate over the correct perioperative fluid management is unresolved. METHODS: The impact of two intraoperative fluid regimes on postoperative outcome was prospectively evaluated in 152 patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status of I-III who were undergoing elective intraabdominal surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to receive intraoperatively either liberal (liberal protocol group [LPG], n = 75; bolus of 10 ml/kg followed by 12 ml x kg(-1) x h(-1)) or restrictive (restrictive protocol group [RPG], n = 77; 4 ml x kg(-1) x h(-1)) amounts of lactated Ringer's solution. The primary endpoint was the number of patients who died or experienced complications. The secondary endpoints included time to initial passage of flatus and feces, duration of hospital stay, and changes in body weight, hematocrit, and albumin serum concentration in the first 3 postoperative days. RESULTS: The number of patients with complications was lower in the RPG (P = 0.046). Patients in the LPG passed flatus and feces significantly later (flatus, median [range]: 4 [3-7] days in the LPG vs. 3 [2-7] days in the RPG; P < 0.001; feces: 6 [4-9] days in the LPG vs. 4 [3-9] days in the RPG; P < 0.001), and their postoperative hospital stay was significantly longer (9 [7-24] days in the LPG vs. 8 [6-21] days in the RPG; P = 0.01). Significantly larger increases in body weight were observed in the LPG compared with the RPG (P < 0.01). In the first 3 postoperative days, hematocrit and albumin concentrations were significantly higher in the RPG compared with the LPG. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing elective intraabdominal surgery, intraoperative use of restrictive fluid management may be advantageous because it reduces postoperative morbidity and shortens hospital stay.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2005

Future shock: automatic external defibrillators.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review provides a practical overview of the performance capabilities of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs), and of advances in technology and dissemination programmes for these devices. RECENT FINDINGS: Arrhythmia analysis by AEDs is extremely reliable in most settings (sensitivity 81-100%, specificity 99.9-97.6%). Accurate detection of arrhythmias has also been demonstrated in children, leading the US Food and Drug Administration to approve the use of several AEDs in children aged 8 years or younger. Factors that potentially may reduce the quality of arrhythmia detection are the presence of wide complex supraventricular tachycardia and location of an arrythmic event near to high-power lines. AED use by professional basic life support providers resulted in increased survival in the prehospital setting. However, provision of AEDs to nonmedical rescue services did not result in universal improvement in patient outcome. Public access defibrillation programmes have led to higher rates of survival from cardiac arrest. The role of AEDs in hospitals has yet to be elucidated, although in-hospital mortality from ventricular arrhythmias has been shown to decrease following AED deployment. SUMMARY: Given the correct setting, AEDs can ensure that defibrillation is not limited by lack of medical knowledge or difficulties in decision making. However, event-related variables and operator-related factors, that are yet to be determined, can significantly affect the efficacy of automatic external defibrillation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Myocardial ischemia, cardiac troponin, and long-term survival of high-cardiac risk critically ill intensive care unit patients.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence and association of myocardial ischemia with troponin elevation and survival in high-cardiac-risk intensive care patients. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital. SUBJECTS: One-hundred one general intensive care unit patients having a history of coronary artery disease or at least two risk factors for coronary artery disease. INTERVENTIONS: Continuous 12-lead electrocardiographic monitoring with on-line ST-trend analysis, daily cardiac troponin measurements, clinical and physiologic assessment, and up to 2-yr follow-up for survival. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During 8,988 hrs or a mean +/- sd of 95 +/- 85 hrs/patient of continuous 12-lead electrocardiographic monitoring, 21 patients (21%) had ischemic ST-segment changes, characterized in most (19) by ST depression and lasting >60 mins in 15 (71.4%). Of the 38 patients (38%) with troponin elevation, myocardial infarction was clinically suspected in four and myocardial ischemia on continuous 12-lead electrocardiographic monitoring was observed in 14 (36.8%). Fourteen (66.7%) of the patients with ischemic ST changes and 12 (75%) of those with prolonged (>60 mins) ischemia had troponin elevation. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of prolonged (>60 mins) ischemia predicting troponin elevation were 31.6%, 95.2%, 80.0%, and 69.8%, respectively. Prolonged (>60 mins) ischemia was significantly associated with troponin elevation by both univariate and multivariate analyses (odds ratio = 9.0; p = .008). Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, renal failure, and the use of norepinephrine also independently predicted troponin elevation. Troponin but not ischemia predicted increased 1-month, 6-month, and 2-yr mortality (odds ratio = 6.0, 3.2, and 2.99, respectively; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Silent ischemia is strongly associated with troponin elevation in high-cardiac-risk intensive care unit patients, and troponin elevation predicts both early and late mortality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Conventional terrorist bomb incidents and the intensive care unit.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: A terror bombing creates a momentary stress on acute care services, including the emergency medical system, emergency departments, and intensive care units. A knowledge of the progression of events, the anticipated volume of injured survivors, and the pattern of injuries will enable the physician in the intensive care unit to prepare the unit quickly and efficiently for the expected rush of injured survivors. RECENT FINDINGS: In the past 2 years it has become apparent in the medical literature that terror bombing causes more complicated injuries than other types of trauma. The injuries are a combination of blast, penetrating, and blunt trauma, as well as burns. As a result, a significant number of patients will need care in the intensive care unit for a long time. Treating these injuries mandates an understanding of the combination of injury mechanisms because the ideal treatment for one mechanism might cause harm if another coexists. In addition, recent literature delineates the volume of admissions an intensive care unit should anticipate. This information should allow the preparation of sufficient vacant intensive care unit beds and facilitate the efficient use of equipment and personnel. SUMMARY: This review, based on recently published data, aims to provide the intensive care unit physician with crucial information about the anticipated progression of events, the possible numbers of patients, and the nature of their injuries after a terrorist bombing. This information should aid in rational crisis planning.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

An internet web site as a data collection platform for multicenter research.

The Internet can be an effective alternative for data collection for multicenter studies. It has major advantages over the "classical" method of using paper and traditional ("snail") mail. We developed an Internet site and implemented collection of data for a multicenter study of ethical decision-making. The Web site was built with Microsoft FrontPage as the authoring tool. Database management was performed with Microsoft Access. Security issues were the major concerns for the web design. Thirty-seven European centers enrolled 4248 patients during 1.5 yr using the Internet site. The use of this Internet site for data acquisition was highly effective, and the investigators were able to use the system without training. Overall satisfaction of the investigators was high. After security issues, interactivity and user-friendly design are the main cornerstones for the success of such a system.

Computer Security↗
PubMed2004

Cardiac troponin after major vascular surgery: the role of perioperative ischemia, preoperative thallium scanning, and coronary revascularization.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the role of preoperative predictors, particularly ischemia, on preoperative thallium scanning (PTS) and coronary revascularization on low-level and conventional troponin elevations after major vascular surgery. BACKGROUND: Postoperative cardiac troponin (cTn) elevations have recently been shown to predict both short- and long-term mortality after vascular surgery. METHODS: The perioperative data, including PTS and subsequent coronary revascularization, continuous perioperative 12-lead ST-segment trend monitoring, cTn-I and/or cTn-T, and creatine kinase-MB fraction in the first three postoperative days, were prospectively collected in 501 consecutive elective major vascular procedures. RESULTS: Moderate to severe inducible ischemia on PTS was associated with a 49.0% incidence of low-level (cTn-I >0.6 and/or cTn-T >0.03 ng/ml) and 22.4% conventional (cTn-I >1.5 and/or cTn-T >0.1 ng/ml) troponin elevation. In contrast, patients with preoperative coronary revascularization had 23.4% and 6.4% low-level and conventional troponin elevations, respectively, similar to patients without ischemia on PTS. By multivariate logistic regression, ischemia on PTS was the most important predictor of both low-level and conventional troponin elevations (adjusted odds ratios [ORs] 2.5 and 2.7, p = 0.02 and 0.04, respectively), whereas preoperative coronary revascularization predicted less troponin elevations (adjusted ORs 0.35 and 0.16, p = 0.045 and 0.022, respectively). Postoperative ischemia (>10 min), the more so prolonged (>30 min) ischemia was the only independent predictor of troponin elevation if added with the preoperative predictors to the multivariate analysis (ORs 15.8 and 22.8, respectively, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Troponin elevations occur frequently after vascular surgery. They are strongly associated with postoperative ischemia, predicted by inducible ischemia on PTS, and reduced by preoperative coronary revascularization.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

A survey of physicians' attitudes toward blood transfusion in patients undergoing cesarean section.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the attitude of anesthesiologists and gynecologists to the use of blood during cesarean section operation and, on the basis of the results, to ascertain the need for improvement of current transfusion guidelines. STUDY DESIGN: A scenario-based survey was performed. RESULTS: The response rate was 94% (327/347) among anesthesiologists and 91% (355/391) among gynecologists. The majority of responders selected a hemoglobin threshold ranging from 7.5 to 8.5 g/dL (62%). Threshold hemoglobin concentration differed significantly (P<.001) between anesthesiologists (median, 7.5 g/dL) and gynecologists (median, 8 g/dL). At that threshold, 56% of anesthesiologists compared with 86% of gynecologists administered 2 units of blood (P<.05). When transfusing packed cells, most practitioners would give 2 units regardless of the transfusion threshold. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate differing approaches to current transfusion protocols. Transfusion consensus recommendations should be improved and unified to enhance red blood cell transfusion practices for relatively young and healthy patients undergoing anesthesia and surgery.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed2004

Evacuation priorities in mass casualty terror-related events: implications for contingency planning.

OBJECTIVE: To assess evacuation priorities during terror-related mass casualty incidents (MCIs) and their implications for hospital organization/contingency planning. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Trauma guidelines recommend evacuation of critically injured patients to Level I trauma centers. The recent MCIs in Israel offered an opportunity to study the impositions placed on a prehospital emergency medical service (EMS) regarding evacuation priorities in these circumstances. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of medical evacuations from MCIs (29.9.2000-31.9.2002) performed by the Israeli National EMS rescue teams. RESULTS: Thirty-three MCIs yielded data on 1156 casualties. Only 57% (506) of the 1123 available and mobilized ambulances were needed to provide 612 evacuations. Rescue teams arrived on scene within <5 minutes and evacuated the last urgent casualty within 15-20 minutes. The majority of non-urgent and urgent patients were transported to medical centers close to the event. Less than half of the urgent casualties were evacuated to more distant trauma centers. Independent variables predicting evacuation to a trauma center were its being the hospital closest to the event (OR 249.2, P < 0.001), evacuation within <10 minutes of the event (OR 9.3, P = 0.003), and having an urgent patient on the ambulance (OR 5.6, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hospitals nearby terror-induced MCIs play a major role in trauma patient care. Thus, all hospitals should be included in contingency plans for MCIs. Further research into the implications of evacuation of the most severely injured casualties to the nearest hospital while evacuating all other casualties to various hospitals in the area is needed. The challenges posed by terror-induced MCIs require consideration of a paradigm shift in trauma care.

Ambulances↗
PubMed2004

Epidural clonidine, bupivacaine and methadone as the sole analgesic agent after thoracotomy for lung resection.

Thoracic epidural analgesia can effectively relieve post-thoracotomy pain but may also adversely affect pulmonary function. This randomised, prospective study compared the effects on pulmonary function of three different epidural analgesics (clonidine, bupivacaine and methadone). Forty-seven patients undergoing thoracotomy were treated postoperatively for 72 h with one of the study drugs. Doses were titrated to maintain visual analogue pain scale values below 4 out of 10. Throughout the postoperative period, reductions of up to 70% of the pre-operative value were observed in forced expiratory volume in 1 s, forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow rate. Patients who received clonidine showed significantly faster recovery rates of forced expiratory variables compared to other patients, and by the third postoperative day significantly higher spirometry values (10-15%) were recorded in this group. As clonidine was the most effective drug in terms of preservation of pre-operative lung function, it may be clinically advantageous in post-thoracotomy patients.

Adult↗