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SARS surveillance during emergency public health response, United States, March-July 2003.

In response to the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the United States established national surveillance using a sensitive case definition incorporating clinical, epidemiologic, and laboratory criteria. Of 1,460 unexplained respiratory illnesses reported by state and local health departments to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from March 17 to July 30, 2003, a total of 398 (27%) met clinical and epidemiologic SARS case criteria. Of these, 72 (18%) were probable cases with radiographic evidence of pneumonia. Eight (2%) were laboratory-confirmed SARS-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infections, 206 (52%) were SARS-CoV negative, and 184 (46%) had undetermined SARS-CoV status because of missing convalescent-phase serum specimens. Thirty-one percent (124/398) of case-patients were hospitalized; none died. Travel was the most common epidemiologic link (329/398, 83%), and mainland China was the affected area most commonly visited. One case of possible household transmission was reported, and no laboratory-confirmed infections occurred among healthcare workers. Successes and limitations of this emergency surveillance can guide preparations for future outbreaks of SARS or respiratory diseases of unknown etiology.

Adolescent↗

Classic versus endoscopic perforating vein surgery: a retrospective study.

PURPOSE AND METHODS: In this retrospective non-randomized study the results of the FELDER technique (n = 29) were compared to two endoscopic techniques for ligation of incompetent perforating veins: using a mediastinoscope (n = 19) and laparoscopic instruments (n = 57). The indication was a venous ulcer in nine, five and thirteen patients respectively, lipodermatosclerosis in thirteen, five and twenty-four, and simple varicose veins in the remaining patients (NS). RESULTS: The mean number of interrupted perforating veins was 4.2, 2.4 and 3.8 (p < 0.05). The mean hospital stay was 3.5, 1.9 and 1.6 days (p < 0.0001). The mean period of convalescence was 8.7, 4.1 and 3.7 weeks (NS). The number of complications was 9 (suralis lesion 4, pain/swelling 4, wound problem 1), 6 (saphenous lesion 3, pain/swelling 3) and 15 (pain/swelling 14, deep venous thrombosis 1) (NS). Ten patients were lost to follow-up (five, two and three). Respectively 19, 12 and 45 patients were satisfied with the end-result. The condition had worsened in one, two and three patients (NS). During the short follow-up period all ulcers healed and there was no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The endoscopic techniques produce results comparable to the FELDER procedure, with smaller scars and a tendency towards a faster recovery.

Adult↗

Transvenous cardioverter defibrillators: cost implications of a less invasive approach.

To assess the economic impact of a transvenous lead system for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), we evaluated the hospital charges for two groups of patients: group I patients (n = 23) underwent implantation of an ICD generator with an epicardial lead system via a thoracotomy and group II patients (n = 25) underwent implantation of the same generator using transvenous leads. There was no difference in demographics between the two groups. There was a 15% decrease in total charges for the transvenous group compared to the thoracotomy group ($54,142 vs $63,359, P < 0.05). Evaluation of the component charges revealed that the decline could be attributed to a reduction in implant ($27,328 vs $29,285, P < 0.02) and convalescent charges ($7,703 vs $15,179, P < 0.01) for the transvenous group. There was a corresponding decrease in length of stay for the transvenous group (22 vs 29 days, P < 0.05) largely secondary to a 38% reduction in convalescent length of stay (8 vs 13 days, P < 0.05). We conclude that the use of transvenous lead systems for the ICD results in a significant reduction in hospital charges as well as hospital length of stay.

Aged↗

Early pre-convalescent care after major gynaecological surgery.

Over an 11 1/2 year period it has been demonstrated that some patients having major gynaecological surgery can be safely moved a few days after their operation to nursing homes or general practitioner community hospitals. More efficient use of the available beds in the major unit can then take place.

Convalescence↗

Cardiac arrhythmias 48 hours before, during, and 48 hours after discharge from hospital following acute myocardial infarction.

The cardiac rate and rhythm were studied by 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recording in 44 patients before, during, and after being discharged from hospital following an acute myocardial infarction. The first recordings were started 48 hours before discharge, the second on the morning of the day of discharge, and the third 48 hours after discharge (at home). While in hospital and after returning home the heart rate fell during sleep but there was no diurnal variation in the frequency of ventricular extrasystoles. Daytime heart rate and both the frequency and grade (severity) of ventricular arrhythmias were significantly raised 48 hours after discharge. The frequency of ventricular extrasystoles during sleep was also increased in the 48 hours post-discharge recording. Rises in heart rate and frequency and severity of ventricular extrasystoles were observed on the morning of the day of discharge, increasing up to the time of leaving hospital, but during the journey home they all diminished. No relation was found between ventricular arrythmias during early convalescence and (i) ventricular arrhythmias during the acute phase of acute myocardial infarction (including ventricular fibrillation); (ii) peak aspartate aminotransferase; (iii) the level of anxiety; or (iv) the personality type. Six patients taking beta-blocking drugs behaved similarly. Five patients taking anxiolytic drugs has significantly raised frequency of ventricular extrasystoles during each 24-hour electrocardiogram. In spite of the above findings, at the time of leaving hospital after acute myocardial infarction there does not appear to be a serious risk from the development of major cardiac arrhythmias.

Aged↗

[Thoracic high resolution CT findings of 100 SARS patients in convalescent period].

OBJECTIVE: To study thoracic high resolution CT findings of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients in convalescent period and the relationship between the features with laboratory and pulmonary function results. METHODS: All the 100 SARS patients who had been discharged from hospital for about 2 months underwent thoracic high resolution CT examinations. Among them, 65 also had laboratory results and 91 underwent examinations of pulmonary function. RESULTS: Forty-nine SARS patients (49.0%, 49/100) in convalescent period still had abnormal findings in CT examination. And ground-glass opacification (95.9%, 47/49) and reticular opacification (59.2%, 29/49) were common. There was no significant difference in the level of lymphocytes and CD4 cells among groups divided according to severity of CT findings (P > 0.01). Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco%) of level 2 and 3 were statistically lower than that of level 0 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The features of CT findings of SARS patients in convalescent period are not the same as those of patients in period of apparent manifestation. The high resolution CT can reflect pulmonary diffusing function to some degree.

Adolescent↗

Incidence of community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization. Results of a population-based active surveillance Study in Ohio. The Community-Based Pneumonia Incidence Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is the leading cause of death due to infectious diseases in the United States; however, the incidence of most infections causing community-acquired pneumonia in adults is not well defined. METHODS: We evaluated all adults, residing in 2 counties in Ohio, who were hospitalized in 1991 because of community-acquired pneumonia. Information about risk factors, symptoms, and outcome was collected through interview and medical chart review. Serum samples were collected from consenting individuals during the acute and convalescent phases, and specific etiologic diagnoses were assigned based on results of bacteriologic and immunologic tests. RESULTS: The incidence of community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization in the study counties in 1991 was 266.8 per 100,000 population; the overall case-fatality rate was 8.8%. Pneumonia incidence was higher among blacks than whites (337.7/100,000 vs 253.9/ 100,000; P < .001), was higher among males than females (291.4 vs 244.8; P < .001), and increased with age (91.6/100,000 for persons aged < 45 years, 277.2/ 100,000 for persons aged 45-64 years, and 1012.3/ 100,000 for persons aged > or = 65 years; P < .001). Extrapolation from study incidence data showed the projected annual number of cases of community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization in the United States to be 485,000. These data provide previously unavailable estimates of the annual number of cases that are due to Legionella species (8000-18,000), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (18,700-108,000), and Chlamydia pneumoniae (5890-49,700). CONCLUSIONS: These data provide information about the importance of community-acquired pneumonia and the relative and overall impact of specific causes of pneumonia. The study provides a basis for choosing optimal empiric pneumonia therapy, and allows interventions for prevention of pneumonia to be targeted at groups at greatest risk for serious illness and death.

Adult↗

A rapid radioimmunoassay using 125I-labeled staphylococcal protein A for antibody to varicella-zoster virus.

A sensitive radioimmunoassay for serum antibody to varicella-zoster virus is described; it uses 125I-labeled staphylococcal protein A and a specially designed immunofiltration apparatus. The assay accurately distinguishes between individuals who are susceptible and those who are immune to infection with varicella-zoster virus. In addition, it can detect passive antibody in recipients of varicella-zoster immune globulin. This radioimmunoassay also detects the heterologous antibody responses that occasionally occur in patients infected with herpes simplex virus, which also have been detected by other antibody assays. The particular advantages of this assay are the use of noninfectious reagents, the speed of execution (less than 3 hr), the requirement for only small quantities of serum (30 microliters), the objectivity of end-point determination, and the capability of screening large numbers of sera. Consequently, this radioimmunoassay is especially useful for the rapid identification of susceptible individuals, which is essential for the appropriate management of patients and hospital personnel after exposure to varicella.

Acute Disease↗

Hypnosis with conscious sedation instead of general anaesthesia? Applications in cervical endocrine surgery.

Between April 1994 and June 1997, 197 thyroidectomies and 21 cervical explorations for hyperparathyroidism were performed under hypnosedation (HYP) and compared to the operative data and postoperative courses of a closely-matched population (n = 121) of patients operated on under general anaesthesia (GA). Conversion from hypnosis to GA was needed in two cases (1%). All surgeons reported better operating conditions for cervicotomy using HYP. All patients having HYP reported a very pleasant experience and had significantly less postoperative pain while analgesic use was significantly reduced in this group. Hospital stay was also significantly shorter, providing a substantial reduction of the medical care costs. The postoperative convalescence was significantly improved after HYP and full return to social or professional activity was significantly shortened. We conclude that HYP is a very efficient technique providing physiological, psychological and economic benefits to the patient.

Acetaminophen↗

Provision of postoperative care in UK hospitals.

Surveys have been undertaken of the clinical dependency of surgical patients in eight United Kingdom acute general hospitals. The findings indicate that patients' needs are not always matched by appropriate levels of clinical care. In particular, it appears that a significant number of surgical patients need high-dependency care. Currently most of these patients are admitted to ITU beds, or are at risk on surgical wards.

Convalescence↗

Electrovaporization of the prostate in patients with benign prostatic enlargement.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and safety of transurethral electrovaporization in the treatment of benign prostatic enlargement (BPE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 91 patients (median age 65 years) with BPE (median prostate volume 61 mL). Patients were assessed with a general and urological history, the International prostate symptom score (IPSS), urinary tract and prostatic ultrasonography, uroflowmetry and biopsy of the prostate. An electrosurgical generator (cutting at 200 W and coagulating at 70 W) with grooved electrodes was used to vaporize the prostate. The variables assessed before and after treatment were the IPSS, quality-of-life score, uroflowmetry, complications, and the duration of hospitalization. RESULTS: The mean operative duration was 45 min, blood loss was negligible and the mean duration of catheterization was 24 h. Recatheterization was necessary in 5.5% of patients. The median values before and after treatment were: IPSS, 19 and 5; QOL score, 4 and 2; and maximum urinary flow rate 8.3 and 22.1 mL/s (all P < 0.001). In nearly all cases, the Siroky nomogram showed that patients became unobstructed. CONCLUSIONS: Electrovaporization of the prostate has many advantages over other techniques used in the treatment of BPE, including transurethral resection (TURP). It is cheaper than laser-assisted prostatectomy in particular and is also simpler to perform. Higher-risk patients can be treated, it uses existing electrosurgical equipment with minor modifications and only the electrodes, which are inexpensive, differ from TUR loops; the TURP resectoscope can be used and there is almost no need for blood transfusion. Intra- and post-operative morbidity is very low, recatheterization rare, the hospital stay brief and the results equal to or better than those obtained with TURP. Convalescence is generally uneventful and rapid because haematuria is rare and, when present, mild. Patients can return to work earlier than after TURP. Although a promising technique, only a longer follow-up will allow firm conclusions about its suitability.

Aged↗

Comparison of clinical outcomes of laparoscopic and conventional open adrenalectomy.

From September 1992 to November 1996, 28 patients underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy at Osaka University Medical Hospital. They were compared with 25 instances of conventional open surgery performed between May 1990 and April 1996 at the same institution. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed via either a transperitoneal or a retroperitoneal approach. The mean operative time of 375 minutes for laparoscopic adrenalectomy was significantly longer than that of 133 minutes for open surgery. The average hospital stay for laparoscopic surgery was significantly shorter than that of conventional open adrenalectomy. The convalescent period was also significantly shorter in the patients who had laparoscopic adrenalectomy. There was no statistical difference in blood loss during the operation or the number of doses of analgesics administered after operation in the two groups. We conclude that laparoscopic adrenalectomy is one of the options to be selected in surgically managing adrenal tumors. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy could become a standard operative procedure as instruments and techniques of laparoscopy improve significantly.

Adolescent↗

Contribution of airway hyperresponsiveness to lower airway obstruction after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for meconium aspiration syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether airway hyperresponsiveness contributes to the development of lower airway obstruction in infants recovering from severe meconium aspiration syndrome treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). DESIGN: Prospective comparison study of the response to bronchodilator during the acute and convalescent phase of severe meconium aspiration. SETTING: Pediatric/neonatal intensive care unit in a tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Seven neonates with severe meconium aspiration syndrome that was refractory to conventional mechanical ventilation, requiring ECMO treatment. INTERVENTIONS: Evaluation of the effect of bronchodilator treatment on the airway function at a postnatal age of 14 +/- 2.7 (SEM) days, after the patients had been off ECMO for 4.6 +/- 1.4 days, and comparison with the response the same patients had shown at a postnatal age of 2.7 +/- 0.6 days, when they had been on ECMO for 1.3 +/- 0.6 days. Lung mechanics and lower airway function were measured and compared before and after administration of aerosolized isoetharine early in the course of ECMO and again several days after ECMO. Maximum expiratory flow-volume curves produced by the deflation flow-volume curve technique were used for evaluating the lower airway function, and partial passive flow-volume curves were used for measuring respiratory system compliance and resistance. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During the first test, isoetharine produced a mild increase in maximum expiratory flows at 25% (MEF25) of forced vital capacity (FVC) (48 +/- 27% compared with baseline values), without significant change in the MEF25 to FVC ratio. During the second test approximately 2 wks later (post-ECMO), isoetharine increased MEF25 by 123 +/- 29% and increased the MEF25/FVC by 40 +/- 13% compared with baseline values. The percent change in both indices was significantly higher during the second test (p < .05) than in the first test. CONCLUSIONS: Airway obstruction in infants recovering from severe meconium aspiration syndrome is partially reversible with aerosolized isoetharine, indicating that airway hyperresponsiveness contributes to the pathogenesis of airway obstruction.

Airway Obstruction↗