Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Kahl

Publications and source records attributed to K Kahl.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with unfractionated heparin. A prospective study of inpatient treatment of internal medicine patients].

AIM: To investigate the influence of unfractionated heparin on heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II. PATIENTS AND METHOD: In 162 patients with internal diseases treated therapeutically of prophylactically with unfractionated heparin (heparin sodium, heparin calcium), we carried out a prospective study to determine the incidence of HIT type I and II. 55.6% of the patients were female (n = 90) with an average age of 76.5 years (range: 25 to 96 years) and 44.4% male (n = 72) with an average age of 67.5 years (range: 17 to 93 years). A platelet count was taken regularly before the start of heparin treatment, on the first day of treatment and then every second day from day 5 to 20. Whenever HIT II was suspected, an HIPA test was performed. RESULT: Type I HIT occurred in 10%, type II in 3% of the cases. Two of the 5 patients with type II developed severe thrombotic complications. CONCLUSION: In view of the high incidence of HIT, regular platelet counts should always be carried out in patients receiving heparin treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The Incidence of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenias

The incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) types I and II was investigated retrospectively in 500 heparin-treated patients. In our department of internal medicine 500 patients were treated with unfractionated, middle- or low-molecular heparin (s.c. or i.v.) during 1995 as inpatients. Excluded were patients with other known causes of thrombocytopenia. There were 306 females (61%), mean age 76 years (17-98 years) and 194 males (39%), mean age 73 years (24-93 years). The incidence of HI type I was 4.4% and of HIT type II 0.6% with a positive heparin-induced-platelet-activation test (HIPA test). In addition, HIT type II was suspected in another 1.4% of cases with negative or missing HIPA test. Because of our results on the incidence of HIT type I and type II a close control of thrombocyte count during heparin therapy is necessary. In the case of HIT type II disease, heparin therapy must be stopped immediately.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Bar code tracking system enhances record- and film-handling productivity.

The bar coding system has proven to be highly successful. Use of the bar code label has already been added to the dictation system in medical record and medical imaging services departments for entry of patient identification of each dictated report. Other system enhancements under consideration include tracking ancillary department reports as they are forwarded to the medical record department for storage in the permanent patient record and tracking individual volumes of a patient's medical record.

Data Display↗
PubMed1991

Characterization of the C5a receptor on guinea pig platelets.

Guinea pig (gp) platelets react to nanomolar doses of the complement-derived anaphylatoxin C5a with a shape change, aggregation and release of biogenic amines and nucleotides from their granules. We have investigated the specific receptor for C5a on gp platelets which mediates these biological effects. Competitive binding studies with 125I-labeled guinea pig C5a (125I-gpC5a) revealed approx. 4000 binding sites/cell with Kd = 6 x 10(-9) M. The more than 60-fold higher biological activity (ATP-release from gp platelets) of gpC5a versus recombinant human C5a (rhuC5a) and the different binding behavior of gpC5a and rhuC5a point to a species restriction in the gp platelet system. Cross-linking of 125I-gpC5a to gp platelets (250 microM DSS) and analysis by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions resulted in labeling of a single band with a molecular mass of 32 kDa (ligand-receptor complex). Because of these characteristics, the C5a receptor on gp platelets clearly differs from all previously described C5a receptors.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1991

Automated nursing documentation system provides a favorable return on investment.

Severe competition for the limited investment capital available and the high acquisition cost of bedside terminal systems require that the full benefit potential they offer be identified and realized. The authors discuss a multiple-phase study process used to: 1) identify the savings potential offered (to cost-justify its acquisition); and 2) assure the savings potential offered was realized.

Capital Expenditures↗
PubMed1990

Use of care levels in the postanesthesia care setting.

Most hospitals no longer charge a flat postanesthesia care rate, although many have only one charge code based on unit of time to cover all patients regardless of the level or intensity of their care. The author reports a mechanism developed to charge patients for PACU care based on both length of time and level or intensity of care required. Objectives of the project included a more accurate determination of cost of care provided to each patient, and provision of accurate data for productivity measurement and reporting on an ongoing basis. The installed system, based on four levels of care, provided the following results: more accurate cost of PACU care data reflecting both length and intensity of care; more accurate PACU workload units provided to hospital-wide productivity reporting system; patients charged based on both level and intensity of nursing care in the PACU; nurses feeling that their care efforts are recognized and appreciated; and estimation of overall workload for the next day along with when workload should peak.

Accounting↗
PubMed1986

Attributes of healthcare productivity standards.

While not an exact science, the development, installation and use of reasonable standards can be developed from an historical perspective on the quantity and quality of work produced, to allow the manager to measure the effects of changes on departmental productivity. Those seeking to develop and install standards in the interest of managing productivity improvement will find helpful hints in this article about the attributes of "good" standards.

Efficiency↗