Biomedical subjects

Helen Currier

Publications and source records attributed to Helen Currier.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Surgical technique for peritoneal dialysis catheter placement in the pediatric patient: a North American survey.

In the present study, we surveyed 425 members of the American Pediatric Surgical Association and the Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgeons to identify prevalent operative techniques used in the placement of peritoneal dialysis catheters by pediatric surgeons. Our survey assessed catheter type, skin and fascial incision orientations, deep-cuff positions, exit-site directions, and omentectomy. We received responses from 156 surgeons (36.7%) and excluded 18 of those responses. Among the assessed responses, 83 surgeons (60%) indicated that they had placed at least 1 catheter in the previous 12 months. Of the 83, 13% had placed 1 catheter, 52% had placed 2 - 5, 16% had placed 6 - 9, and 18% had placed 10+. We observed significant variability in all aspects of surgical technique. The most common catheter configuration was single-cuff (59%), curled end (60%), and non swan neck (72%). The most common surgical approach was a transverse skin incision (52%), a fascial incision through the rectus (68%), a deep cuff between the peritoneum and fascia (46%), a superior-pointing exit site (37%), and a superficial cuff distant to the exit site (53%). Routine omentectomy was reported by 59% of respondents. Only 15% reported using a laparoscopic approach on first attempt. Pediatric surgeons employ a variety of surgical techniques when placing peritoneal catheters. Some of the techniques used vary from the published recommendations. Quality can potentially be improved by wider dissemination of published surgical recommendations.

Abdominal Wall↗

PubMed2003

Acute and chronic inflammation in pediatric patients receiving hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess chronic and acute inflammation in children receiving maintenance hemodialysis. STUDY DESIGN: To assess markers of acute inflammation, serum levels (ELISA) of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-10, and IL-6, 3 to 5 mL of serum was obtained from 13 pediatric patients (mean patient weight, 37.0+/-15.2 kg; mean age, 14.6+/-4.6 years) before and 30 minutes and 24 hours after a routine midweek hemodialysis treatment session. Chronic inflammation was assessed by serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. RESULTS: Early-response cytokines TNF-alpha at 30 minutes (5.84+/-0.94 to 9.67+/-0.92 pg/mL; P=.002) and 24 hours (5.84+/-0.94 to 9.54+/-1.05 pg/mL; P=.008) and IL-1beta at 30 minutes (17.19+/-2.00 to 26.17+/-1.12 pg/mL; P=.001) and 24 hours (17.19+/-2.00 to 23.01+/-1.13 pg/mL; P=.02) increased significantly after hemodialysis. Later-response cytokines IL-10 and IL-6 activation was not significant. CRP levels were elevated in 10 of 13 patients (mean, 14.7+/-9.5mg/L; range, 7.2-38.8 mg/L) and correlated with dialysis vintage. Baseline IL-6 and IL-10 levels correlated with dialysis vintage and correlated negatively with eqKt/V. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a chronic inflammatory state in pediatric hemodialysis patients not related to the hemodialysis treatment but rather dialysis vintage and hemodialysis adequacy. We suggest that either more frequent dialysis or enhanced cytokine clearance may ameliorate the chronic inflammatory state observed in pediatric patients receiving hemodialysis.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2003

Noninvasive interventions to decrease hospitalization and associated costs for pediatric patients receiving hemodialysis.

Minimal pediatric data describe hospitalization causes and associated costs for children who receive maintenance hemodialysis, and no data exist to evaluate methods to decrease hospitalization. In 1999, two common causes of hemodialysis patient hospitalization at Texas Children's Hospital were fluid overload/hypertension (FO/HTN) and vascular access thrombosis (VAT). Evaluated is the effect of two noninvasive monitoring programs, monitoring of hematocrit-guided ultrafiltration algorithm and vascular access flow using ultrasound dilution vascular access flow technology, on FO/HTN and VAT in the pediatric maintenance hemodialysis population. This prospective observational study reviewed all hospitalization data for all 51 patients who received maintenance hemodialysis from January 1999 through December 2001 obtained from unit monthly performance improvement meeting records. Hospitalization rates and related costs for FO/HTN and VAT were tracked before and after institution of the noninvasive monitoring programs. Application of the noninvasive monitoring of hematocrit-guided ultrafiltration algorithm since January 2000 significantly decreased hospitalization for FO/HTN (64 total days in 1999, 4 total days in 2000 and 2001 combined) while maintaining acceptable patient BP control and minimizing antihypertensive medication requirements. The vascular access monitoring program using ultrasound dilution vascular access flow technology to direct referral for angioplasty instituted in January 2001 led to a significant decrease in hospitalization for VAT (45 d in 2000 and 21 d in 2001). It is suggested that application of noninvasive technologies to assess patient target dry weight and access flow can significantly decrease pediatric maintenance dialysis patient morbidity and health care cost.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Staff nurses' perceptions of the work environment in freestanding hemodialysis facilities.

While one suggested cause of the current nursing shortage is nurses' negative perceptions of the work environment, little is known of nephrology nurses' perceptions of the dialysis work environment. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which staff nurses who work in freestanding hemodialysis facilities rate the presence of organizational characteristics common to magnet hospitals in their current job. Study findings indicate that staff nurses in hemodialysis units identify several notable features of magnet hospitals in their work settings. However, a majority of nurses disagreed that many attributes of magnet hospitals are present in hemodialysis work environments. This study provides a preliminary description of some of the factors that affect nurses' perceptions of the work environment in freestanding dialysis facilities. Further work is needed in this area.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2003

Staff nurses' perceptions of the work environment in freestanding hemodialysis facilities.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

nPCR assessment and IDPN treatment of malnutrition in pediatric hemodialysis patients.

Very few pediatric studies have monitored nutritional status using normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) or treating protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) with intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN). The current study compares nPCR with serum albumin as a marker for nutritional status and examines the effectiveness of IDPN treatment in three malnourished adolescent patients receiving chronic hemodialysis in a pediatric dialysis unit. All patients demonstrated reversal of weight loss and initiation of weight gain within 6 weeks of IDPN initiation. Mean values of monthly percentage weight and percentage body mass index (BMI) change were significantly lower in the pre-IDPN era (-0.61+/-2.70 and -1.3+/-2.7) versus the IDPN treatment period (1.8+/-2.1 and 1.3+/-2.1) ( P<0.02). Two patients attained ideal body weight and IDPN was discontinued after 5 months. Patients required 150% recommended daily allowance to achieve weight and BMI gain. While mean monthly nPCR was significantly lower in the pre-IDPN period versus the IDPN period (1.05+/-0.36 versus 1.35+/-0.37, P<0.05), monthly serum albumin levels were no different before and after IDPN was initiated (3.7+/-0.8 versus 3.8+/-0.6). The current study demonstrates IDPN to be effective therapy for adolescent hemodialysis patients with PEM not correctable by enteral supplementation. nPCR was superior to serum albumin as a nutritional status marker in these malnourished pediatric patients receiving hemodialysis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Proactive monitoring of pediatric hemodialysis vascular access: effects of ultrasound dilution on thrombosis rates.

BACKGROUND: Hemodialysis vascular access thrombosis (VAT) is a significant cause of morbidity for hemodialysis patients and results, in part, from decreased access flow potentially caused by venous outflow stenosis. We have previously shown ultrasound dilution (UD) to be a practical and reliable predictor of venous outflow in children receiving hemodialysis. METHODS: The current study is the first to our knowledge to assess the impact of a proactive UD monitoring program upon VAT in pediatric patients. Nine patients experienced 18 VAT over the two-year study. Mean values for variables potentially associated with VAT were compared to values from a size-matched seven patient group without VAT during the study period. VAT rates were compared between the year-before (pre-UD era) and year-after (UD era) UD was initiated. During the latter half of the UD era (rapid referral period), patients with VA flow rate (QAcorr) <650 mL/min/1.73 m2 were referred for balloon angioplasty within 48 hours. RESULTS: Mean QAcorr was lower for patients with subsequent VAT (562 +/- 290 mL/min/1.73 m2) versus patients without VAT (1005 +/- 372 mL/min/1.73 m2; P = 0.02). The VAT rate was significantly lower in the UD era (4.1 VAT/100 patient-months) versus the pre-UD era (11.0 VAT/100 patient-months; P = 0.03). The decrease in VAT rates was caused predominantly in the rapid referral period, where the VAT rate dropped to 0.96 VAT/100 patient-months (P < 0.001). Cost of vascular access management was 65% higher ($1264 vs. $765/patient-month) in the pre-UD era, reflecting the increased cost for treatment of VAT. CONCLUSIONS: Monthly QAcorr <650 mL/min/1.73 m2 is predictive of imminent VAT in children receiving hemodialysis. Prompt referral for angioplasty of VA with QAcorr <650 mL/min/1.73 m2 leads to decreased VAT rates in children.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗