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Percutaneous nephrostolithotomy: a means of managing urinary calculi.

Percutaneous nephrostolithotomy is a minimal invasive procedure designed to identify and remove kidney and ureteral stones using a percutaneous tract. Although a radiologist establishes the tract, the preoperative preparation and setup by the circulating nurse and surgical technician establishes appropriate equipment, a safe surgical environment for skin preparation, positioning, draping, and for performing the surgical procedure with a positive patient outcome.

Humans↗

Designing a program for ophthalmic registered nurse first assistants.

Insurance companies eliminated payment for physician first assistants in cataract surgery. Community hospitals are responding to this situation by utilizing perioperative nurses and certified surgical technicians. The credentialing process is largely relegated to each hospital. The ophthalmic nurse is now quite pivotal in writing the policies and procedures. Also inherent in this expanded role is the development of preceptor training, job description and performance appraisals. This serves as a primer to specifically address these problems in a community hospital operating room.

Certification↗

Traumatic cardiac arrest: scope of paramedic services.

The challenge of the 1960s to ambulance care provision was the stimulus for the emergence of prehospital advanced life support (ALS) being provided by paramedic personnel. While services for cardiac disease have been accepted, paramedic activities for the trauma victim continue to be a concern for many trauma surgeons. The capability and success rate of treatment, and the time spent at the scene and during transport to the hospital have raised questions about the overall need for paramedic services. Our study period was from January 1, 1981, to December 31, 1982, and it covered 95 clinically dead trauma victims who were first seen and subsequently treated by paramedics working in a medically controlled emergency medical services system. Endotracheal intubation was successful in 81 of the patients (85%). Esophageal obturator airway use was viewed as unsuccessful intubation. Intravenous (IV) access utilizing 16-gauge angiocaths was placed successfully by a peripheral or jugular vein in 70 patients (74%). Thirty-three patients averaged 860 mL volume infusion (30 to 3,000 mL). Average scene time was 22 minutes. Scene time of patients with unsuccessful IV and endotracheal intubation was 14 minutes (P = .07). Fourteen patients (14.7%) were admitted to the operating room or intensive care unit. Only three of the study group (3.2%) survived.

Adolescent↗

[My Kumamoto life of 19 years].

In this paper titled "My Kumamoto Life of 19 Years; The Travel for Times", the memorial lecture on my retirement from Kumamoto National University Corporation Integrated Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Biomedical Informatics (Chairman) is summarized. As they say "Time flies", time extends from seconds to years. The lecture includes a summary of my short term research and long term studies, such as age-dependant and gene-related changes in ageing over 5 or more years in the healthy elderly. Short-term study mostly involved of newly evaluated assay methods for important substances such as the second level in the cell life span in the variation of lipid metabolite of cardiovascular diseases based on atherosclerosis, Alzheimer disease, and their evaluation by homogeneous assay of HDL-C, LDL-C, enzymatic assay for choline relating metabolites, and lipoperoxide as the results of free radical reactions. The intermediate-term studies were mainly on the development of total laboratory automation (TLA) for the management of the laboratory of the university hospital. The hospital has various degrees of sophistication in its laboratory services. Technicians were allowed to transport specimens immediately by using an air-shooter system after drawing blood, from the emergency room to the central laboratory. Routine specimens could be measured within 30 min and the results could be automatically sent to the physician's office. It greatly minimized reporting errors, decreased the exposure to biohazards, reduced labor expense, improved operation efficiency, and shortened turnaround time. Moreover, for the outpatients and emergency laboratories, we constructed a robotic measuring system which was assembled into a sequential method for the analysis of chemistry, hematology and urinalysis specimens by using a polyarticular robot. The robot arm extends to a bar-coded tube, picking up and placing test tubes on a turn table of autoanalyzers for analysis without manpower. This is the first known effective unmanned procedure for assay in the world of laboratory medicine. Also, our research on pathological informatics was begun. Our laboratory had 7 themes; the study of the reference intervals in the elderly as one of strategy of standardization on laboratory data (Drs. Uji Y, Sugiuchi H), the study of the activation mechanism of ribosomal proteins by the functions of blood cells (Drs. Shibuya Y, Senba U), the evaluation of diagnostic methods in latent ailments by gene analysis (Dr. Ando Y), the evaluation of a highly sensitive method for disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (Okajima K), the study of the neogenesis of blood vessels by physical invasion (Uchiba M), the study of the deposition mechanism of amyloid proteins and evaluation of the diagnostic methods in the autonomic system(Drs. Ando Y, Nakamura M), and the study of the function of blood stem cells in blood transfusion services (Drs. Yamaguchi K, Yonemura M, Tsunemi M). Finally, my long term work also included research into the early diagnosis and prediction of latent ailments and the variation of serum proteins levels in the healthy aged. The conclusion was that the reference value of healthy populations and individuals (intra-personal) who had no combined ailments, in follow-up for 5 years, categorized by age, sex, and social conditions, gave a narrower range of variation than did large mixed populations (inter-personal), in laboratory tests and activity of daily living (ADL). Concerning the early diagnosis and prediction studies for the latent ailments in the aged, variations of serum protein levels in the healthy aged were classified into 3 types: serum proteins levels increased with advancing age (alphaAT, mainly acute phase reactant proteins), those that decreased with advancing age (albumin mainly transporting proteins) and proteins with no significant variation. The higher increase of the alpha1AT/beta2 III ratio in the healthy aged over 60 years old is suspected to create symptoms in the near future. The papers presented concerning ageing studies were presented at the APCCC Symposium (India, 2002) and the IFCC Symposium (Kyoto, 2002), and the TLA study was also presented at the Symposium of XX World Congress of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (San Paulo Brazil 1999).

Clinical Laboratory Information Systems↗

Anesthesiology Point of Care project.

We are developing a dynamic prototype visual communication system for the operating room environs. This has classically been viewed as an isolated and impenetrable workplace. All medical experiences and all teaching remain in a one to one closed loop with no recall or subsequent sharing for the training and education of other colleagues. The "Anesthesia Point of Care" (APOC) concept embraces the sharing of, recording of, and presentation of various physiological and pharmacological events so that real time memory can be shared at a later time for the edification of other colleagues who were not present at the time of the primary learning event. In addition it also provides a remarkably rapid tool for fellow faculty to respond to obvious stress and crisis events that can be broadcast instantly at the time of happening. Finally, it also serves as an efficient and effective means of paging and general communication throughout the daily routines among various healthcare providers in anesthesiology who work as a team unit; these include the staff, residents, CRNAs, physician assistants, and technicians. This system offers a unique opportunity to eventually develop future advanced ideas that can include training exercises, presurgical evaluations, surgical scheduling and improvements in efficiency based upon earlier than expected case completion or conversely later than expected case completion and even as a unique window to development of improved billing itemization and coordination.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Safe Self-contained Carbon Dioxide-Hydrogen Anaerobic System.

An anaerobic system is described which allows the microbiologist or hospital technician ease of operation not previously possible with other systems. Gas cylinders, vacuum pumps, valves, and gauges have been eliminated. A new anaerobic lid was developed that is fitted only with a snap-in rubber gasket, a double stainless-steel gauze flash arrestor, and a catalyst holder. The holder contains a palladium pellet catalyst which is active at room temperature and requires no heat for activation. This system was made specifically for use with a disposable hydrogen-carbon dioxide generator and a disposable methylene blue anaerobic indicator. In addition to ease of operation, this jar incorporates unique safety features which eliminate the possibility of a laboratory explosion. An oxygen-free atmosphere composed primarily of nitrogen and carbon dioxide was quickly achieved within the jar to insure maximal growth.

Journal Article↗

Effect of varied training techniques on field endotracheal intubation success rates.

A pool of 146 mobile intensive care unit paramedics was divided into four equal groups and trained in the technique of direct laryngoscopic endotracheal intubation of cardiac arrest or deeply comatose patients. Group 1 was selected from supervisors and crew chiefs and trained as preceptors. The remaining paramedics were assigned to three other study groups. Groups 1 and 2 were trained with a didactic presentation followed by manikin practice, an animal laboratory exercise, and operating room experience. Group 3 had no OR experience; Group 4 had only didactic/manikin training. Intubations were observed by preceptors on scene. During the study period of 27 months, 689 of 763 patients (90.3%) were successfully intubated by 122 paramedics. While results suggest variation in skill levels according to training group (Group 1, 92.4%; Group 2, 87.6%, Group 3, 83.3%; Group 4, 76.9%), statistical analysis allowing for the variables of seniority and number of intubations performed by personnel failed to reveal differences in groups attributable to training programs. Complication rates were relatively low for all groups, the most common being prolonged intubation attempts. A significant improvement in the skill was seen as the study progressed when groups are pooled and compared. The findings suggest that endotracheal intubation of deeply comatose or cardiac arrest patients is a field procedure that can be performed safely and skillfully by well-monitored paramedical personnel. Operating room or animal laboratory experience may increase initial success levels, but these factors do not appear to greatly influence eventual performance or incidence of complications of the procedure.

Allied Health Personnel↗

[Requirements for hospital emergency diagnosis in definitive treatment of injuries].

For the purpose of prompt diagnostics, next to emergency room, we have x-ray room with a possibility of chest and skeleton x-ray filming, as well as one mobile x-ray machine and ultrasound device, with a radiologist and radiographer on 24 hours shift. Subspecialists radiologists are on call, if necessary to perform special radiological procedure like angiography, CT, or MRI. We use CT like screening method for all neurological cases in emergency room. Well equipped urgent laboratory is on service 24 hours a day with a specialist biochemist and laboratory technician so all the urgent laboratory findings are available promptly and even can submit a result by phone. Blood bank has also extended department next to emergency room with full service 24 hours a day. Our experience showed that urgent diagnostic, organised in this way, provides faster definite treatment whether patient is going to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for further reanimation or to operating room for urgent surgical procedure.

Bosnia and Herzegovina↗

Needlestick injuries in a tertiary care centre in Mumbai, India.

Accidental exposure from blood/body fluid of patients is a risk to healthcare workers (HCWs). Percutaneous injury is the most common method of exposure to blood-borne pathogens. A policy was formulated at our institute, a tertiary care centre in central Mumbai, and we report a six-year (1998--2003) ongoing surveillance of needlestick injuries. Of the 380 HCWs who reported needlestick injuries, 45% were nurses, 33% were attendants, 11% were doctors and 11% were technicians. On source analysis, 23, 15 and 12 were positive for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), respectively. Immediate action following potential exposure included washing the wound with soap and water, encouraging bleeding and reporting the incident to the emergency room. Analysis of the source of injuries revealed that known sources accounted for 254 injuries, and unknown sources from garbage bags and Operating Theatre instruments accounted for 126 injuries. Most needlestick injuries occurred during intravenous line insertion (N=112), followed by blood collection (N=69), surgical blade injury (N=36) and recapping needles (N=36). Immediate postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HCWs who sustained injuries with hepatitis-B-virus-positive patients included booster hepatitis B immunization for those positive for antiHBs. A full course of immunization with hepatitis B immunoglobulin was given to those who were antiHBs negative. All staff who sustained injury with HIV were given immediate antiretroviral therapy (AZT 600 mg/day) for six weeks. Subsequent six-month follow-up showed zero seroconversion.

Accidents, Occupational↗

Rapid diagnosis of sickle cell disease at birth by microcolumn chromatography.

Accurate specific diagnosis of sickle cell disease can now be made at birth on routinely obtained cord blood samples by microcolumn chromatography. The method uses a small column of a cation ion exchange resin, CM-Sephadex, and a single developer that allows definitive rapid distinction of hemoglobin SS, AS, AC, SC, and CC, within two hours. Seventy-five samples or more per day have been analyzed by one technician in a laboratory without special precautions or equipment. In a program which has been initiated on a large, totally unpredictable obstetrical service in Los Angeles, 10,401 consecutively born infants have been studied for hemoglobin type without regard to racial origin. Three SS infants, 1 SC, 143 AS infants, and 37 AC infants as well as several with other abnormal hemoglobins have been identified without interfering with the routine operation of the delivery rooms of the obstetrical service. The diagnosis of sickle cell disease has been confirmed on subsequent examinations of the infants. The feasibility of using microcolumn chromatography as a rapid, accurate, inexpensive, and easy method for the rapid diagnosis of sickle cell disease in newborns has now been established.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

START: an advanced radiation therapy information system.

START is an advanced radiation therapy information system (RTIS) which connects direct information technology present in the devices with indirect information technology for clinical, administrative, information management integrated with the hospital information system (HIS). The following objectives are pursued: to support decision making in treatment planning and functional and information integration with the rest of the hospital; to enhance organizational efficiency of a Radiation Therapy Department; to facilitate the statistical evaluation of clinical data and managerial performance assessment; to ensure the safety and confidentiality of used data. For its development a working method based on the involvement of all operators of the Radiation Therapy Department, was applied. Its introduction in the work activity was gradual, trying to reuse and integrate the existing information applications. The START information flow identifies four major phases: admission, visit of admission, planning, therapy. The system main functionalities available to the radiotherapist are: clinical history/medical report linking function; folder function; planning function; tracking function; electronic mail and banner function; statistical function; management function. Functions available to the radiotherapy technician are: the room daily list function; management function: to the nurse the following functions are available: patient directing function; management function. START is a departmental client (pc-windows)-server (unix) developed on an integrated database of all information of interest (clinical, organizational and administrative) coherent with the standard and with a modular architecture which can evolve with additional functionalities in subsequent times. For a more thorough evaluation of its impact on the daily activity of a radiation therapy facility, a prolonged clinical validation is in progress.

Medical Records Systems, Computerized↗

Monitoring waste in an intravenous admixture program.

A method for collecting and analyzing data on i.v. admixture waste is described, and examples of the use of these data to reduce waste are presented. In 1984, a pharmacy department serving 580 hospital beds projected annual expense for waste of i.v. products to be nearly $30,000. Five major changes were implemented to reduce waste. Modification of expiration dating policies for cefoxitin and tobramycin substantially reduced waste. After an operating room pharmacy satellite was opened, decreased waste of dobutamine, dopamine, nitroglycerin, and nitroprusside was estimated to save $1000 per year. Changing times of batch processing of i.v. admixtures resulted in cost savings that were not significantly different for three-month periods before and after the change. The method of identifying small-volume injections (SVIs) to be manufactured was improved, and SVIs of expensive drugs were prepared every 12, instead of 24, hours; these changes resulted in reduction of one technician full-time equivalent but little change in the percentage or cost of SVIs wasted. Decentralized pharmacists were asked to order certain items on an as-needed basis; this did not affect costs or waste. From 1984 to 1985, total costs associated with waste decreased an estimated $11,000, or 27.5%. This department's attempt to change i.v. admixture procedures based on timely data has resulted in substantial reductions in the cost of waste.

Cost Control↗

Reduction in the incidence of carbon monoxide exposures in humans undergoing general anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Carbon monoxide forms via reaction of isoflurane, enflurane, and desflurane with dried CO2 absorbents. The authors hypothesize that interventions by nonphysician support personnel to decrease absorbent drying will decrease the exposure rate of patients to carbon monoxide from anesthetic breakdown. METHODS: In the control group, all anesthetizing personnel were made aware of the factors enabling CO generation from anesthetic breakdown, and prevention techniques were left to the anesthetizing personnel. After data collection was complete, the following interventions were initiated to reduce absorbent drying: Anesthesia technicians and housekeeping personnel were instructed to turn off all anesthesia machines after the last case of the day in each room, and the CO2 absorbent was changed each morning if fresh gas was found flowing. Baralyme was used in all phases of this study. RESULTS: Five cases of intraoperative carbon monoxide exposure occurred among 1,085 (0.46%) first cases in the control group. Postintervention, patient carbon monoxide exposures decreased (P < 0.05), with one exposure among 1,961 (0.051%) first cases in the main operating room. Two exposures among 68 (2.9%) first cases occurred in remote locations (P < 0.001) versus main operating room. Predisposing factors for absorbent drying include the prolonged use of anesthesia machines for monitored anesthesia care, inappropriate drying techniques for expiratory flowmeters, understaffing of support personnel, and anesthesia in remote locations. CONCLUSIONS: These interventions reduced patient exposure to carbon monoxide. Monitoring for carbon monoxide exposures during general anesthesia may be necessary to recognize and end patient exposures that occur despite preventative measures.

Adsorption↗

Endotracheal tube placement by EMT-Basics in a rural EMS system.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of an intubation-training module and special-waiver project in which Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)-Basics were trained to perform endotracheal intubations in a rural community. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study over a four-year period (July 1998 through May 2002) of all intubation attempts by EMT-Basics in the field. The authors observed intubation data, training methods, and quality-assurance methods of a special-waiver project agreed to by the State Department of Public Health to train and allow EMT-Basics to intubate patients. Data were from documentation unique to the project. Project documentation evaluated the placement and complication(s) of endotracheal tube (ETT) placement after arrival to the emergency department. An intubation attempt was defined as direct laryngoscopy. A successful attempt was defined as an appropriately sized ETT placed and secured in the trachea below the vocal cords and above the carina. Confirmation of placement in the field included accepted clinical methods and the use of qualitative colorimetric end-tidal carbon dioxide detectors. The EMT-Basics were trained using a paramedic curriculum, including operating room intubations on live adult patients. All patients were in either cardiopulmonary or respiratory arrest. RESULTS: Thirty-two intubations were performed by EMT-Basics. Thirty attempts were successful and two were unsuccessful (94%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 80-98%). Unsuccessful ETT placements were managed with accepted basic life support airway standards. There were no unrecognized esophageal ETT placements (0%; 95% CI 0-11%). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that with an intensive training program using selected highly motivated providers and close monitoring, a program of EMT-Basic ETT placement in a rural setting can achieve acceptable success rates in patients in cardiac or respiratory arrest.

Adult↗

Provision of gastrointestinal endoscopy and related services for a district general hospital. Working Party of the Clinical Services Committee of the British Society of Gastroenterology.

(1) The number of endoscopic examinations performed is rising. Epidemiological data and the workload of well developed units show that annual requirements per head of population are approaching: Upper gastrointestinal 1 in 100 Flexible sigmoidoscopy 1 in 500 Colonoscopy 1 in 500 ERCP 1 in 2000 (2) Open access endoscopy to general practitioners is desirable and increasingly sought. For a district general hospital serving a population of 250,000, this workload entails about 3500 procedures annually, performed during 10 half day routine sessions plus emergency work. (3) High standards of training and experience are needed by all staff, who must work in purpose built accommodation designed to promote efficient and safe practice. (4) The endoscopy unit should be adjacent to day care facilities and near the x ray department. There should be easy access to wards. (5) An endoscopy unit needs at least two endoscopy rooms; a fully ventilated cleaning/disinfection area; rooms for patient reception, preparation, and recovery; and accommodation for administration, storage, and staff amenities. (6) The service should be consultant based. At least 10 clinical sessions are required, made up of six or more consultant sessions and two to four clinical assistant, hospital practitioner, or staff specialist sessions. Each consultant should be expected to commit at least two sessions weekly to endoscopy. Extra consultant sessions may be needed to provide an efficient service. (7) A specially trained nursing sister (grade G or H) and five other endoscopy nurses are needed to care for the patients; their work may be supplemented by care assistants. (8) A new post of endoscopy department assistant (analogous to an operating department assistant) is proposed to maintain and prepare instruments, and to give technical assistance during procedures. (9) A full time secretary should be employed. Records, appointments, and audit should be computer based. (10) ERCP needs the collaboration of an interventional radiologist working with high quality x ray equipment in a specially prepared radiology screening room. This facility may need to serve more than one hospital. (11) A gastrointestinal measurement laboratory can conveniently be combined with the endoscopy unit. In some hospitals one or more gastrointestinal measurement technicians may staff this laboratory. (12) An endoscopy unit is a service department analogous to a radiology department. It needs an annual budget.

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗

Care plans for the operating department.

Very little, if any, of the care administered by the theatre staff within operating theatres has ever been fully documented. The person 'scrubbed' for the case and the circulating person accountable for the final swab, instrument and needle checks, sign their names in a ledger within theatre. A verbal exchange relating to the patient's operation, the dressings applied, any drains or implants in situ etc. may take place between the 'scub' person and the nurse into whose care the patient is to be entrusted. It is little wonder that we in theatres appear to have lost our identity as nurses and the role envisaged by our colleagues is one of a technician or that of being the surgeon's 'hand-maiden'! As stated in a previous Journal, 'The failure to define the nurse's role in the theatre can only mean one of two things--either nursing is not clearly demonstrated by theatre nurses or nursing does not exist within operating theatres'.

Forms and Records Control↗

An organized approach to trauma care: legacy of R Adams Cowley.

The organized approach to caring for trauma patients was introduced into the civilian setting by the innovative pioneer, R Adams Cowley. His system in Maryland has the following 11 components: (1) a State Police Aviation Division that transports patients throughout the State; (2) trained paramedics at the scene of the accident as well as on the helicopter, who will stabilize the patients en route to the Shock Trauma Center; (3) one central dispatch communication center in Baltimore that coordinates information between paramedics and the Trauma Center; (4) a Shock Trauma Center with a helicopter landing zone near the building; (5) trained trauma nurses and trauma technicians to transfer the patient from the helicopter by stretcher to the resuscitation area; if there is a special complication, such as an airway problem, the anesthesiologist and or trauma surgeon may meet the helicopter on the roof as well; (6) trauma surgeons, board-certified in surgery, with a certificate of added qualification in surgical critical care, to treat the critically ill trauma patients in the resuscitation area; (7) a CT scan and portable X-ray units in the admission area that aid in the diagnosis of the injury; (8) operating rooms adjacent to the admission area for repair of trauma injuries; (9) a surgical intensive unit to care for the trauma patient; (10) a team of specialty physicians trained in a wide variety of specialties who work as a multidisciplinary unit caring for the hospitalized patient; and (11) an ambulatory outpatient unit that allows the patient to be followed in the center after discharge. Dr. R Adams Cowley incorporated each of these 11 components for an organized trauma center into Maryland. In recognition of his landmark contributions to trauma, the eight-story Shock Trauma Center was named the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. There is growing evidence that this organized system in trauma care seen in Maryland must be replicated in every state in our nation. The results of the Health Resources and Services Administration Report in 2002 show serious limitations in our nation's organized approach to emergency and trauma care. This report indicates that many Americans do not have access to well-trained pre-hospital emergency personnel. Between 10 and 15% of the US population does not have access to basic emergency medical and communication services. Moreover, the presence of key trauma system components continues to vary throughout the country, most likely because of growing economic constraints. Emergency communication systems remain fragmented, and adequate training programs and protective equipment for health personnel remains notably absent. The threat of inadequate funding for the state manifests itself in the consistent uneasiness regarding the recruitment and continued retention of trauma care providers. Federal authorities must devise national emergency medical and organized trauma programs to save the lives of injured Americans.

Disaster Planning↗

Prehospital pediatric endotracheal intubation: a survey of the United States.

INTRODUCTION: The standard of practice and teaching for prehospital pediatric endotracheal intubation (PETI) in the United States currently is unknown. The accepted practice of prehospital PETI is of interest because it has contradictory support in the medical literature. HYPOTHESIS: PETI is an accepted method of prehospital airway control in the United States. METHODS: Nationwide mail survey (June 1991 to March 1992) of each state emergency medical service (EMS) agency and all known paramedic training sites. RESULTS: The use of PETI is supported by 100% of state EMS agencies and the American Virgin Islands. Ninety-seven percent (339 of 349) of the responding (349 of 523) paramedic training sites reported that PETI was taught in their programs. The results of the survey did not identify a predominate method for instructing paramedics in PETI. Lectures, mannequins, operating room demonstration, animal models, and cadavers were used in various ways for teaching the skill. CONCLUSION: Endotracheal intubation is an accepted standard in prehospital pediatric care. This standard exists with marginal support in published literature and study of prehospital PETI is needed to define the benefits, risks, and optimal instruction methods for the procedure.

Emergency Medical Services↗