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[Digital image archiving--concept of digital image and video documentation in ENT. A contribution to quality assurance].

BACKGROUND: Currently normal or pathologic conditions are documental by color slides, photos or videotape. However, it is more difficult to manage large numbers of images and to recall specific pictures or videos at any time. Digital record archives may be a solution for this problem. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present a digital video and photographic archive that controls documents with a picture archive software designed for use in ENT examination units. RESULTS: Working on this digital unit we have developed a software program that allows the creation and administration of digital pictures and videos using only one program. To avoid mistakes manual recording of data was reduced to a minimum. Filing is done automatically and similar results can be found via self-explained criteria. Due to the pro-user computer software, less trained persons are not afraid to use the system. Hence, the number of documented diagnoses has increased. Present experience shows that material and videos make it easier to work with patients and clinical confidence is increased. Additionally, the physician is protected indirectly. When many persons work with one system, digital photographic archives increase the clinician's ability to refind documents, even after a period of years. The need for quality assurance in medicine will help find more use for a digital archive in ENT.

Computer Systems↗

Patients with malignant lymphomas experience a higher rate of documented infections than patients with breast cancer after high-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation.

The influence of underlying disease on documented infections has rarely been addressed in patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and subsequent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Because autografting has been used most frequently for malignant lymphomas and breast cancer, we analyzed in a retrospective study the data of 100 consecutive adult patients with either malignant lymphomas (group A, n = 50) or breast cancer (group B, n = 50) treated with HDCT at a single institution. The number of autografted CD34+ cells was not statistically different in either group. In this paper, we show for the first time that there is a significant difference in clinically or microbiologically documented infections in these groups of patients: documented infections occurred in 30% of malignant lymphoma patients but only in 4% of breast cancer patients (P=0.001). Of all isolated microorganisms, 78% were gram-positive. Because most of the documented infections were due to staphylococci, further studies should prospectively evaluate preventive measures to reduce the high incidence of these infections. This is especially important for lymphoma patients, who can be regarded as a high-risk group concerning gram-positive bacteremia.

Adult↗

Slow pathway ablation in children with documented reentrant supraventricular tachycardia not inducible during invasive electrophysiologic study.

UNLABELLED: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) has become the procedure of choice for permanent therapy of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). This report presents our experience with atrio-ventricular node (AVN) modification in patients with documented narrow complex reentrant SVT, but no evidence for an accessory pathway, and no inducible tachyarrhythmia during invasive electrophysiology (EP) study. METHODS: The study population consists of nine children, age range 6-13 years (median 9) with previously documented SVT who had no tachyarrhythmia inducible during EP study (at baseline and following isoprenaline infusion). Eight of the 9 EP studies were performed under general anesthesia, and one under conscious sedation. An accessory pathway was excluded in all patients by appropriate atrial and ventricular extrastimulus pacing techniques. Eight of the nine patients had dual AV nodal physiology, and one had single AV nodal echo beats. The slow AV nodal pathway was empirically ablated, by applying RF lesions in the right inferoseptal AV groove, achieving catheter tip temperature of 50 degrees C. The appearance of an accelerated junctional rhythm during RF application was deemed to denote a successful application site. AV conduction during RF application was confirmed by incremental atrial pacing. The catheter position, and its relation to the compact AV node was constantly monitored using the LocaLisa navigation system. The end-point was absence of dual AVN physiology, and/or AV nodal echo beats. RESULTS: Successful slow pathway ablation was achieved in all patients. One patient appeared to have two separate slow pathways with different locations and two AH-jumps, which were both successfully ablated. None of the patients had evidence of temporary or permanent AV block at follow-up (median duration 9 months, range 4 to 36 months); none has had recurrence of symptoms or documented tachyarrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS: In children with structurally normal hearts, a previously documented SVT, absence of an accessory pathway and noninducibility of SVT during EP study, empirical slow pathway ablation appears to be justified.

Adolescent↗

[MIDOS--validation of a minimal documentation system for palliative medicine].

INTRODUCTION: Repeated assessment of pain and other symptoms is required for quality assurance in palliative care. However, physical and cognitive impairment of the patients may impede the use of standardized questionnaires and documentation systems in palliative care setting. We developed a minimal documentation system (MIDOS) for the specific requirements in this setting. METHODS: The German versions of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and the quality of life questionnaire SF-12 were completed for all patients admitted to the palliative care unit. Cognitive impairment was assessed with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). With admission as well as on subsequent consultations patients self-assessed average and maximum pain intensity on numeric rating scales and the intensity of drowsiness, nausea, constipation, dyspnea, weakness, anxiety and well-being on verbal categorical scales. RESULTS: From August 1998 to June 1999 128 patients were documented consecutively. Fifty-nine percent of these patients were treated with WHO-step 3 opioids. Cognitive impairment (MMSE<24) was present in 37% of the patients. Self-assessment with MIDOS was possible for 114 patients at the time of admission, and for 108 patients at the end of therapy. Pain, drowsiness and weakness were documented by most patients, whereas the other symptoms were reported less frequently. DISCUSSION: Factor analysis showed one factor for pain and two factors for the other symptoms. The pain sum score of MIDOS correlated with the factors of the BPI, the symptom sum score of MIDOS correlated with the factors of the BPI and the mental sum score of the SF-12, though on a lower level. MIDOS sum scores showed good pain relief and symptom control for patients discharged home or to other services, whereas the symptom sum score gave an indication of the deterioration in the terminal phase for those patients who died during in-patient treatment. Test-retest stability was good for a subgroup of patients with stable opioid doses. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that MIDOS is a valid instrument for self-assessment of the patient's symptoms and may be used to monitor the efficacy of symptom management.

English Abstract↗

Surgical wound infections documented after hospital discharge.

Shorter lengths of hospitalization may result in more surgical wound infections being documented after hospital discharge. The current investigation analyzed 1644 surgical procedures performed over a 3-month period, and documented surgical wound infections both before and for 1 month after hospital discharge. Physician and patient questionnaires were used. One hundred eight infections were noted, of which 50 (46%) were seen after hospital discharge by either the patient or the surgeon. Rates of infection were 5.2%, 7.5%, and 7.5% for clean, clean-contaminated, and contaminated-dirty categories, respectively. Had postdischarge surveillance not been used, rates would have appeared to be 2.5%, 6.5%, and 6.8% for the same surgical classes. Infections following clean and clean-contaminated procedures were more likely to be noticed after hospital discharge. Excluding those that were patient-documented, wound infection rates would have been 4.2% (clean), 6.3% (clean-contaminated) and 6.8% (contaminated-dirty). Postdischarge surveillance is imperative to meaningfully document true rates of surgical wound infection, inasmuch as increasing numbers are likely to occur only after patients leave the hospital.

Follow-Up Studies↗

Documentation of ovoid cap size.

The need for precise documentation in radiation oncology is paramount; assurance of the quality of therapy delivered is the responsibility of everyone engaged in the treatment of cancer patients. Although all aspects of quality assurance require meticulous attention to detail, the documentation of brachytherapy procedures, both written dose prescription and film verification, is particularly important as no single method of dose reporting is universally accepted and used. The size of ovoid caps used in brachytherapy applications for gynecologic malignancies cannot be verified on treatment planning films, as the caps are not radio-opaque. If the cap size is improperly reported by the physician, resulting surface dose calculations used to determine source loading and implant duration could cause over- or underdosing. In an effort to improve and refine gynecologic brachytherapy record-keeping, we have devised a method to verify and document cap size. Narrow stainless steel bands have been embedded into grooves cut circumferentially on the surface of the ovoid caps. These bands are readily visible on localization films, producing documentation of the cap diameter, reducing the risk of error in dose reporting, and providing a permanent record of ovoid size. We will review the nature of possible dose errors affecting clinical decisions.

Brachytherapy↗

Application of 3D documentation and geometric reconstruction methods in traffic accident analysis: with high resolution surface scanning, radiological MSCT/MRI scanning and real data based animation.

The examination of traffic accidents is daily routine in forensic medicine. An important question in the analysis of the victims of traffic accidents, for example in collisions between motor vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists, is the situation of the impact. Apart from forensic medical examinations (external examination and autopsy), three-dimensional technologies and methods are gaining importance in forensic investigations. Besides the post-mortem multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the documentation and analysis of internal findings, highly precise 3D surface scanning is employed for the documentation of the external body findings and of injury-inflicting instruments. The correlation of injuries of the body to the injury-inflicting object and the accident mechanism are of great importance. The applied methods include documentation of the external and internal body and the involved vehicles and inflicting tools as well as the analysis of the acquired data. The body surface and the accident vehicles with their damages were digitized by 3D surface scanning. For the internal findings of the body, post-mortem MSCT and MRI were used. The analysis included the processing of the obtained data to 3D models, determination of the driving direction of the vehicle, correlation of injuries to the vehicle damages, geometric determination of the impact situation and evaluation of further findings of the accident. In the following article, the benefits of the 3D documentation and computer-assisted, drawn-to-scale 3D comparisons of the relevant injuries with the damages to the vehicle in the analysis of the course of accidents, especially with regard to the impact situation, are shown on two examined cases.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Leveraging systems thinking to design patient-centered clinical documentation systems.

A hospital is a type of system, yet healthcare information technology (IT) has largely failed to view it as such. The failure to view the hospital as a system has contributed to the practice of inefficient and ineffective clinical documentation. This paper seeks to address how current clinical documentation practices reflect and reinforce inefficiency and poor patient care. It also addresses how rethinking clinical documentation and IT together may improve the entire healthcare process by promoting a more integrated and patient-centered healthcare information paradigm. Rethinking IT in support of clinical documentation from a system-oriented perspective may help improve patient care and provider communication.

Efficiency, Organizational↗

Microbiologically documented nosocomial infections after coronary artery bypass surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the frequency, characteristics, and risk factors of microbiologically documented nosocomial infections after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed at Henry Dunant Hospital, Athens, Greece. It included all adult patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with no valve surgery and without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass during a period of 3 years. Case patients were those with development of microbiologically documented nosocomial infections. Various variables were examined as possible risk factors for nosocomial infections. RESULTS: Twenty-one of 782 studied patients (2.7%) acquired 26 microbiologically documented nosocomial infections after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Eight of 782 studied patients had pneumonia (1.02%), 7 of 782 (0.90%) had bacteremia, 4 of 782 (0.51%) had superficial wound infection at the sternotomy site, 4 of 782 (0.51%) had urinary tract infection, 2 of 782 (0.26%) had mediastinitis, and 1 of 782 (0.13%) had pressure sore infection. Twenty-one infections were monomicrobial, whereas 5 were polymicrobial. All polymicrobial infections were wound infections. There was a statistically significant difference in mortality between patients with and without nosocomial infection (23.8% vs 1.2%, P < .001). Clinical response of the infection to the treatment administered was observed in 21 of 26 episodes (80.8%) in 21 patients. A backward stepwise multivariable logistic regression model showed that independent risk factors (P < .05) associated with development of microbiologically documented nosocomial infection were arterial hypertension, previous vascular surgery, urgent operation, postoperative atrial fibrillation, number of inotropes used during and after operation, transfusion of fresh-frozen plasma during the intensive care unit stay, and intensive care unit stay until development of infection. CONCLUSION: Nosocomial infection after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication. The identification of independent risk factors, including arterial hypertension, associated with development of postoperative infection may help in the development of clinical strategies for the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of these infections.

Adult↗

Reduced survival following resuscitation in patients with documented clinically abnormal observations prior to in-hospital cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Patients suffering in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) often have abnormal clinical observations documented prior to the arrest. This study assesses whether these patients have a less favourable outcome following IHCA. METHODS: A multiple logistic regression analysis of retrospectively collected hospital chart data and prospectively collected Utstein style resuscitation data. Patients were defined as having abnormal clinical observations if they had one of the following documented 8 h before the arrest: systolic arterial blood pressure below 90 or over 200, pulse rate below 40 or over 140 beats per min or oxygen saturation below 90% with or without supplemental oxygen. Pre-arrest variables included were: age, sex and functional status, co-morbidities, reason for hospital admission, days in the hospital before the arrest, witnessed or un-witnessed arrest, arrest occurring outside regular working hours, monitored or non-monitored ward, whether basic life support was performed before the arrival of the resuscitation team, delay to arrival of resuscitation team and initial rhythm. RESULTS: Survival to hospital discharge of patients with clinically abnormal observations was 9% and among those without 18% (p=0.037). Independent pre-arrest predictors of survival were: un-witnessed arrest (odds ratio [OR] 0.1, confidence interval (CI) 0.01-0.8), initial rhythm other than ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia (OR 0.13, CI 0.05-0.3), delay to arrival of the resuscitation team exceeding 2 min (median) (OR 0.4, CI 0.15-0.9) and the presence of documented clinical abnormal observations prior to the arrest (OR 0.3, CI 0.09-0.95). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with documented clinically abnormal observations before IHCA have a worse outcome than those without, despite prompt resuscitation. Efforts should be made to identify these patients in time, thereby possibly avoiding the arrest. This can also be used when assessing the prognosis in IHCA.

Aged↗

[Indications for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: consensus document by the Spanish Society of ORL and the Spanish Society of Pediatrics].

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are probably the commonest surgeries performed in the ENT field as well as the most controversial ones. There are very few consensus documents available for these two surgeries. In 1997 a document written by the two mentioned Societies was published, in order to update such document regarding tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy procedures we have met this year representatives from both scientific societies and a new document has been elaborated. We describe the diagnostic criteria of pharyngo-tonsillitis and adenoiditis as well as of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, with the aim of a better comprehension of these processes when a decision needs to be made regarding surgery. Indications and contraindications of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are here described.

Adenoidectomy↗

Automating clinical dietetics documentation.

A review of commonly used charting formats discussed in the dietetics literature revealed that the subjective, objective assessment and planning (SOAP) approach is most frequently used by dietitians. Formats reported in the nursing literature were charting by exception (CBE); problem, intervention, evaluation (PIE); and focus/data, action, response (Focus/DAR). The strengths and weaknesses of the charting styles as they apply to the needs of clinical dietetic specialists were reviewed. We then decided to test in house the Focus/DAR format by assessing chart entries for adherence to style, brevity, and physician response. Dietitians pilot tested all the methods, but found them time consuming to use. The consensus was that SOAP could be adapted to the documentation needs of the individual situation and required little additional staff training. Often because of time limitations, a narrative summary was most appropriate. Chart entry length was reduced as much as 200% when staff were given brief clinical communication as a goal, and a further reduction when line limits were imposed. The physician response was positive, with recommendations followed in 50% of charts, compared with 34% in a previous audit. A nutrition documentation system was developed by the researchers by reviewing medical chart structure, documentation standards, methods of risk identification, and terminology for clinical documentation style. The resulting system affected the decision making of physicians, who could now scan notes more quickly and implement nutrition recommendations in a more timely fashion.

Diet Records↗

Reducing the risk after coronary artery bypass surgery: documentation of risk factors and communication between hospital and general practice.

A retrospective descriptive study of patients who had had coronary artery bypass surgery was carried out to assess the completeness of recording of risk factors in case notes in hospital and in general practice, and to determine the prevalence of documented risk factors in patients who have had coronary artery bypass surgery. Data from reviews of hospital case notes and questionnaires to general practitioners were used to describe the frequency of documenting coronary risk factors and preventative advice in case notes and in correspondence between general practitioners and hospital doctors. Documentation of risk in hospital records revealed that all 102 patients had been assessed for family history, hypertension and current smoking, but 9 (9%) had no record of serum cholesterol, 35 (34%) patients did not have a record of their blood glucose, and in 83 (81%) patients there was no evidence that obesity had been assessed. Documentation of risk factors in general practice records identified that out of 77 patients, all had their blood pressure and smoking status recorded but 29 (38%) had not been assessed for hypercholesterolaemia. From the hospital records, the prevalence of risk factors in the sample population was 41% for hypertension or raised blood pressure, 49% for hypercholesterolaemia, 12% for current smoking and 8% for diabetes mellitus. In conclusion, patients who have had coronary artery bypass surgery have substantial needs for secondary prevention. A more structured approach to risk factor assessment and preventative care should begin as soon as the diagnosis of coronary heart disease is made, and should not be postponed until the patient has deteriorated to the point of needing bypass surgery.

Adult↗

The effect of in-service education on emergency nurses' documentation of physical assessment.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a staff education program on the documentation skills of registered nurses in the emergency department. DESIGN: A quasiexperimental posttest design was used in this project. METHODS: We conducted classes based on the Emergency Nurses Association's (ENA) Core Curriculum and focused on documentation of neurologic, abdominal, pulmonary, and cardiac assessments. Twenty emergency nurses attended the classes. ED charts were reviewed according to ENA assessment priorities criteria 3 months after the class. Two hundred ED charts completed by registered nurses who attended the classes were compared with 200 ED charts completed by a comparison group of 20 registered nurses who did not attend the classes. RESULTS: Treatment group registered nurses documented significantly more of the ENA criteria in each system area than did the registered nurses in the comparison group. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study support the importance of continued staff education in the improvement of emergency nurses' documentation of patient assessment.

Adult↗

Documenting the value of pharmacist interventions.

The objectives of this study were to measure the incidence and types of pharmacist interventions performed in a community setting in two rural Texas counties; to assign some type of economic value to their services; and to compare these results with those of a previous study of interventions documented by pharmacy student externs and their preceptors. Pharmacists at four pharmacies in two Texas counties agreed to document their interventions on the next 1,500 new prescription orders brought to each pharmacy. The pharmacists first viewed a videotape training program and were instructed on the use of the Pharmacist Intervention Report. Each documented intervention was evaluated independently by a physician and a clinical pharmacist. The dollar value assigned to each of the pharmacists' interventions was the estimated direct cost of medical care avoided through the pharmacist's intervention to correct a prescribing problem. There were 47 interventions documented, representing 0.78% of the 6,000 prescription orders reviewed. The estimated value added by the interventions totaled about $20,000, or about $3.50 per prescription processed.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗

Cost-effective gel documentation using a web-cam.

In search for a cost effective gel documentation system applicable for different fields of molecular biology, we analyzed the capabilities of a cheap CCD-camera originally designed to capture images for transmission through the internet (web-cam) with regard to gel documentation. The camera was connected to a personal computer by universal serial bus (USB) and used for the documentation of DNA separated on agarose gels and stained by ethidium-bromide using the software provided with the camera. The web-cam provided digital images of sufficient quality for routine documentation and combined the low set-up costs of a Polaroid system with the low running costs of video capture systems, hence is ideal as a start-up system and as augmentation to existing equipment.

Computers↗

A framework for diabetes documentation and quality management in Germany: 10 years of experience with DPV.

The DPV approach for quality management and documentation of diabetes in Germany consists of three basic modules: the diabetes documentation software DPV, semi-annual benchmarking for diabetes units (QC-DPV), and a data pool for diabetes research (DPV-SCIENT). The documentation system is available for general practices as well as for hospitals, and it supports the daily routine work of the diabetes team. The system covers a superset for all important data sets of quality initiatives in Germany. Longitudinal analyses of quality indicators related to diabetes are integrated. Twice a year, nation-wide benchmarking for pediatric diabetic units are performed, evaluating the outcome of their diabetes therapy. An improvement in completeness of control examinations could be observed during the last years in QC-DPV. The DPV-SCIENT data pool contains about 251000 single examinations of 21000 patients with diabetes. At least 53% of all patients with Type 1 diabetes in Germany who are less than 20 years of age are documented in DPV-SCIENT.

Benchmarking↗

Bite mark documentation and analysis: the forensic 3D/CAD supported photogrammetry approach.

Bite mark identification is based on the individuality of a dentition, which is used to match a bite mark to a suspected perpetrator. This matching is based on a tooth-by-tooth and arch-to-arch comparison utilising parameters of size, shape and alignment. The most common method used to analyse bite mark are carried out in 2D space. That means that the 3D information is preserved only two dimensionally with distortions. This paper presents a new 3D documentation, analysis and visualisation approach based on forensic 3D/CAD supported photogrammetry (FPHG) and the use of a 3D surface scanner. Our photogrammetric approach and the used visualisation method is, to the best to our knowledge, the first 3D approach for bite mark analysis in an actual case. The documentation has no distortion artifacts as can be found with standard photography. All the data are documented with a metric 3D measurement, orientation and subsequent analysis in 3D space. Beside the metrical analysis between bite mark and cast, it is possible using our method to utilise the topographical 3D feature of each individual tooth. This means that the 3D features of the biting surfaces and edges of each teeth are respected which is--as shown in our case--very important especially in the front teeth which have the first contact to the skin. Based upon the 3D detailed representation of the cast with the 3D topographic characteristics of the teeth, the interaction with the 3D documented skin can be visualised and analysed on the computer screen.

Bites, Human↗