Biomedical subjects

J García Caballero

Publications and source records attributed to J García Caballero.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

[Indications for electrocardiogram in the preoperative assessment for programmed surgery].

OBJECTIVES: To establish indications for ordering a screening electrocardiogram (ECG) before scheduled surgery. To study the prevalence of abnormalities found in routine ECGs and the impact of routine ECGs on anesthetic and surgical management and on preventing perioperative complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study of 413 patients undergoing scheduled non-cardiac surgery over a two-year period. ECG anomalies were defined as major or minor in function of their association with perioperative morbimortality. ECG results were considered expected or unexpected in function of agreement with a patient's history. RESULTS: An ECG was done for all patients before surgery. Anomalies were observed in 41.9% of the ECGs, 28.6% of which were considered major. The prevalence of anomalies was greater among men over 40 years of age, with heart or respiratory disease and these classified as ASA III-V. The anomalies were unexpected in 8.9% and did not cause postponement or cancellation of scheduled procedures. Anomalies found led to changes in preoperative approach in 0.5% of the cases. Intraoperative complications were seen in 7.9% and postoperative complications in 24.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative ECGs should be obtained only in patients over 40 years of age who present cardiac or respiratory signs or symptoms and who are diagnosed of some heart or respiratory disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

[Indications for thoracic radiography in the preoperative evaluation for elective surgery].

OBJECTIVES: To establish a protocol for ordering chest x-ray films for screening before elective surgery. To study the prevalence of anomalies detected in routinely-ordered chest x-rays, their influence on management of anesthesia and surgery and on the prevention of perioperative complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study of 413 patients undergoing elective surgery over a period of two years. Anomalies detected in chest films were classified as significant or not significant and then as expected or unexpected in function of agreement between the patient's medical history and the image. RESULTS: A preoperative chest x-ray was obtained for 99.5% of the patients and anomalies were detected in 28.1%, of which 49.1% were significant. The prevalence of anomalies was higher among men over 60 years of age, smokers, those with cardiac or respiratory disease, and those who were classified ASA III-IV. In 6.9% of the cases, the anomalous findings were unexpected based on the patient's history. Findings led to preoperative changes in management in 0.5% of the cases; no delays or cancellations occurred. The frequencies of intraoperative and postoperative complications were 7.9% and 24.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A preoperative chest x-ray should be ordered only for patients over 60 years of age, smokers of 10 cigarettes/day or more, those with heart or respiratory disease, those who have had contact with tuberculosis and who have not had any other chest x-ray taken within the past year.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

[Clinical pathways in primary care].

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Critical Pathways↗

PubMed2001

[Clinical pathway for TUR of bladder neoplasms. Analysis of the first 2 years of its implementation].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of the first two years of application of the clinical pathway for transurethral resection (TUR) of bladder tumors at La Paz University Hospital. METHODS: We developed a clinical pathway of 4 hospital stays (5 days) for TUR of the bladder that included the following: matrix-verification, treatments prescribed, verification of changes, patient information sheet and patient satisfaction questionnaire. The information for the evaluation of the results were obtained from the pathway records and data on the activities of the Urology services. To assess the results for efficiency in the use of resources, the mean duration of hospital stay of patients in the pathway were compared with that of a control group comprised of 50 randomly selected patients submitted to TUR of the bladder in 1997. RESULTS: From June 1998 to May 2000, 481 of the 494 (97.4%) treated patients entered the clinical pathway. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, the clinical pathway for the urinary bladder is a useful instrument for developing the clinical management of this condition. It reduces the unwanted changes in patient care and hospital stay, carries a low incidence of complications and readmissions, and achieves a high degree of patient satisfaction.

Critical Pathways↗

PubMed1999

[Development of a clinical pathway for radical prostatectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical care path for retropubic radical prostatectomy of the La Paz teaching hospital and the results achieved after the first 6 months. METHODS: We have developed a clinical care path for radical prostatectomy with a hospital stay of 6 days. Thirty-one patients submitted to retropubic radical prostatectomy from June to November 1998 were included in the program. The mean length of total, preoperative and postoperative stay were analyzed and compared with those of 31 patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy before the program was developed. Readmissions, adverse effects and patient satisfaction were also analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 31 patients included in the clinical care path, 22 (71%) had a stay equal to or less than the program's length of stay. The mean total, pre and postoperative stay for the group of patients included in the clinical care path were 6.0 days (SD = 1.1), 1 day (SD = 0.0) and 4.9 days (SD = 1.1), respectively. The length of stay was significantly longer before the program was developed [mean total 10.2 days (SD = 4.9), mean preoperative 2.6 days (SD = 2.6) and mean postoperative 7.6 days (SD = 3.6)] (p < 0.001). Twenty-four patients (77.4%) completed the questionnaire on patient satisfaction, which was highly positive, the overall patient satisfaction rate being higher than the 90% standard. There were no readmissions or significant events ascribable to the program. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, the clinical care path for radical prostatectomy is a useful tool to reduce the unwanted variability. Its design is based on the best possible evidence, therefore the scientific and technical quality, patient satisfaction and efficiency are enhanced. In our view, our results are attainable and feasible in any health care setting.

Critical Pathways↗

PubMed1998

[Septicemia associated with central venous catheterization in a children's hospital. A multivariate study].

BACKGROUND: The blood stream infections (BSI) are the principal nosocomial infection in the child hospitals. In this study we estimate the incidence of BSI associated with central venous catheterization, and estimate different risk and protective factors, through a multivariate study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study have followed in a prospective way during 6 months all the children with central venous catheterization (489 catheters), from the moment of insertion until withdrawal, collecting various data previous to the development of the infection: place of insert, type of catheter, duration, clinic information, microbiology, and the treatments administered through the catheter. In was accomplished an multivariate analysis with logistic regression, for two principal effect variables, the catheter colonization and the catheter related BSI. RESULTS: The incidence of catheter related BSI was 5.5% and for local infection 11.2%. The density of incidence was 3.15 and 6.42 for each 1,000 catheters-day, respectively. The logistic regression model included: colonization of the skin in the insertion point > 15 colonies, days with antibiotics through catheter, use of lipidic parenteral solutions and fever, previous to the infection. The area under the ROC curve was 0.72. CONCLUSIONS: In children with septicemias associated with central catheterization the predictors or sentry criterion for the decision on when to withdraw a catheter are colonization (> 15 colonies) of the insert point, together with the use of lipidic parenteral solutions or extended antibiotic treatment.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1997

[Nosocomial infection over three years in a neonatal intensive care unit. Multivariate study].

BACKGROUND: The Neonate Intensive Care Units (NICU) present high frequencies of hospital infections (HI) as well as patients with high intrinsic and extrinsic infection risks. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study of 3 years in a NICU was carried out. Six-hundred and five neonates with stays longer than 48 hours were included. A descriptive study and a predictive equation, by non-conditional logistic regression, were performed, including the principal HI risk factors. RESULTS: The HI incidence was 25.8/1,000 patients-day, and it was most frequent in children with weight lower than 2,500 g. The main etiologic agents were Streptococcus epidermis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The risk factors for HI in NICU were assisted respiration (odds ratio [OR] = 5.1; 95% CI, 2.3-11.5), low weight at birth (OR = 3.2; 95% CI, 1-1.08), transfusion (OR = 3.8; 95% CI, 1.4-10.1) and central venous catheter. Validation by ROC curve was satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of HI in NICU is high, and depends on both disease features and instrumentation in NICU.

Birth Weight↗

PubMed1997

[Nosocomial infection at an intensive care unit: multivariate analysis of risk factors].

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections, especially in the intensive care unit, are a very important problem due to their frequency and important consequences (morbility and mortality). On the other hand there are some risk factors and some preventive measures which are involved in the appearance of the nosocomial infections. The purpose of this work was to recognize these risk factors and to identify the preventive measures which are effective, and also to quantify the participation of each risk factors/preventive measures in the development of the nosocomial infections. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Follow-up of a cohort of patients admitted to the intensive care unit of the General Hospital of La Paz (Madrid, Spain) during a year and with a stay of at least 48 hours. RESULTS: We have found a cummulative incidence of patients with nosocomial infection of 32.8%. More than 80% of the patients received antibiotic treatment during their stay in the intensive care unit. The stay of the patients no infected was 4 days while the stay of infected patients was 20 days. We have found a mortality of 29.5%, which was greater in the patients who were infected (42%). In the multivariate analysis we have developed an equation to predict the development of the nosocomial infection. The following variables were identified: six or more instrumentations (OR, 4.75; 95% CI, 2.75-8.19), more of ten days of hospitalization previous to the appearance of the first nosocomial infection (OR, 4.17; 95% CI, 2.60-6.70), administration of muscle relaxing drugs (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.43-3.55), nasogastric tube (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.25-3.84), and altered consciousness (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.25-3.84). Therefore, those patients who present some of these characteristics should be monitored in a special way due to their high risk of development of a nosocomial infection. CONCLUSIONS: Several factors play an important role in the development of a nosocomial infection in the intensive care unit; these are not only intrinsec (especially the altered consciousness) but also extrinsec (instrumentations and drugs), as well as the stay at the hospital previous to the appearance of the first nosocomial infection.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

[Appropriateness of admissions and duration of stay in an ear, nose and throat department].

An evaluation was made of the appropriateness of hospital admissions in the ear, nose, and throat surgery department of a teaching hospital. One hundred fifty-two clinical histories were studied. Elective surgery admissions were reviewed using the new Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (AEP) for elective surgery. Non-elective admissions and the duration of the hospital stay were reviewed with the adult medical-surgical AEP. In the patients who underwent elective surgery, admission was inappropriate in 6.2% (95% confidence interval: 2.9-12.2%). Name of the non-elective admissions (95% confidence interval: 0-17.8%) was inappropriate. Nineteen per cent of hospital days were inactive (95% confidence interval: 13.3-26.4%).

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Nosocomial infections in pediatric patients: a prevalence study in Spanish hospitals. EPINE Working Group.

BACKGROUND: The magnitude of the problem of nosocomial infection in children has never been studied in Spain. METHODS: In 1990, a nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of nosocomial infection and associated risk factors. RESULTS: Among 38,489 patients surveyed, 4081 were pediatric patients. Three hundred forty-five patients (8.4%) had active nosocomial infection at the time of the survey. Pediatric intensive care units (29.7%), hematology (23%), and special units (22%) showed the highest rates. Infections were most common in patients younger than 1 year (prevalence, 12.3%). Frequencies of nosocomial infection by site were as follows: bloodstream, 22.1%; urinary tract, 13.1%; lower respiratory tract, 12.3%; postoperative wound, 8%; gastrointestinal tract, 7.6%; skin, 6.5%; eye, 5.8%; and others 24.6%. The factors most closely associated with a higher prevalence of nosocomial infection in pediatrics were as follows: age younger than 1 year, surgery, moderate and severe baseline risk, number of diagnoses, and all categories of extrinsic risk factors. The most frequent etiologic agents were gram-positive bacteria (45.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Although the overall prevalence is at an acceptable level, future efforts should be focused on developing more effective prevention strategies in specific areas.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991