Project description:BackgroundThe use of cholecystostomy (c-tube) in acute cholecystitis (AC) has increased yet there is limited evidence to guide surgical decision-making after placement. As a result, there is variability in the use and timing of cholecystectomy after c-tube. We aimed to describe patient characteristics, outcomes, and biliary-related utilization in those who did and did not have cholecystectomy after c-tube.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study (2007-2017) using the MarketScan® claims database of patients (18-63 years) with at least 3 months of follow-up (or death). ICD-9/10 and CPT codes were used to identify AC, c-tube placement, cholecystectomy and determine Elixhauser comorbidity index.ResultsA total of 2386 patients (47.5% female, mean age 52.5 [SD 9.9] years) with AC underwent c-tube with an 11.2% 90-day mortality. Among survivors, by three months 57% underwent cholecystectomy (mean 34.8 days [95% CI: 33.3-36.3]). Cholecystectomy after c-tube was more common in those with fewer comorbid conditions (mean 2.41 [95% CI: 2.26-2.56] vs 4.56 [95%CI: 4.36-4.76]). Biliary episodes prior to cholecystectomy occurred in 12.5% and were associated with eventual cholecystectomy (HR 1.49 [1.32-1.68]). Biliary-specific hospital and ICU days were similar between groups. Biliary-specific ED visits were more common among patients with cholecystectomy (mean 1.39 [95% CI: 1.29-1.48] vs 0.94 [95% CI: 0.85-1.03]).ConclusionMore than half of patients treated with c-tube underwent cholecystectomy by three months-most within five weeks of AC diagnosis. The high frequency of use and short time to cholecystectomy after c-tube raises questions about potential overuse of c-tube in the initial period. Future work should aim to understand how patient experience and indication for c-tube influence the likelihood and timing of subsequent cholecystectomy.
Project description:Objectives:(1) To evaluate safety, tolerability, and technical success of lidocaine iontophoresis and a tympanostomy tube placement system for adults in an office setting and (2) to meet regulatory evidence requirements for new drugs and devices. Study Design:Prospective, multicenter, single arm. Setting:Patients were recruited in 8 community-based practices in the United States between June and September 2017. Subjects and Methods:This study evaluated tympanic membrane anesthesia and tube placement in 30 adults. Anesthesia was achieved via iontophoresis of a lidocaine/epinephrine solution. Tube placement was conducted using an integrated myringotomy and tube delivery system. Tolerability of tube placement was measured using a patient-reported visual analog scale from 0 mm (no pain) to 100 mm (worst possible pain). Mean pain score was compared to a performance goal of 45 mm, where statistical superiority represents mild pain or less. Technical success and safety through 3 weeks postprocedure were evaluated. Results:Twenty-nine (29/30, 96.7%) patients had tube(s) successfully placed in all indicated ears. One patient demonstrated inadequate tympanic membrane anesthesia, and no tube placement was attempted. The mean (SD) pain score of 9.4 (15.7) mm was statistically superior to the performance goal. There were no serious adverse events. Seven nonserious events were related to device, procedure, or drug: inadequate anesthesia (1), vertigo (1), and dizziness (1) at the time of procedure and ear discomfort (1), tube occlusion (2), and medial tube migration (1) postprocedure. Conclusion:Lidocaine iontophoresis provides acceptable tympanic membrane anesthesia for safe, tolerable, and successful in-office tube placement using an integrated myringotomy and tube delivery system.
Project description:Objectives/hypothesisEvaluate technical success, tolerability, and safety of lidocaine iontophoresis and tympanostomy tube placement for children in an office setting.Study designProspective individual cohort study.MethodsThis prospective multicenter study evaluated in-office tube placement in children ages 6 months through 12 years of age. Anesthesia was achieved via lidocaine/epinephrine iontophoresis. Tube placement was conducted using an integrated and automated myringotomy and tube delivery system. Anxiolytics, sedation, and papoose board were not used. Technical success and safety were evaluated. Patients 5 to 12 years old self-reported tube placement pain using the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) instrument, which ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (very much pain).ResultsChildren were enrolled into three cohorts with 68, 47, and 222 children in the Operating Room (OR) Lead-In, Office Lead-In, and Pivotal cohorts, respectively. In the Pivotal cohort, there were 120 and 102 children in the <5 and 5- to 12-year-old age groups, respectively, with a mean age of 2.3 and 7.6 years, respectively. Bilateral tube placement was indicated for 94.2% of children <5 and 88.2% of children 5 to 12 years old. Tubes were successfully placed in all indicated ears in 85.8% (103/120) of children <5 and 89.2% (91/102) of children 5 to 12 years old. Mean FPS-R score was 3.30 (standard deviation [SD] = 3.39) for tube placement and 1.69 (SD = 2.43) at 5 minutes postprocedure. There were no serious adverse events. Nonserious adverse events occurred at rates similar to standard tympanostomy procedures.ConclusionsIn-office tube placement in selected patients can be successfully achieved without requiring sedatives, anxiolytics, or papoose restraints via lidocaine iontophoresis local anesthesia and an automated myringotomy and tube delivery system.Level of evidence2b Laryngoscope, 130:S1-S9, 2020.
Project description:BackgroundA nasogastric tube (NGT) is commonly inserted into patients undergoing abdominal surgery to decompress the stomach during or after surgery. However, for anatomic reasons, the insertion of NGTs into anesthetized and intubated patients may be challenging. We hypothesized that the use of a tube exchanger for NGT insertion could increase the success rate and reduce complications.MethodsOne hundred adult patients, aged 20-70 years, who were scheduled for gastrointestinal surgeries with general anesthesia and NGT insertion were enrolled in our study. The patients were randomly allocated to the tube-exchanger group or the control group. The number of attempts, the time required for successful NGT insertion, and the complications were noted for each patient.ResultsIn the tube-exchanger group, the success rate of NGT insertion on the first attempt was 92%, which is significantly higher than 68%, the rate in the control group (P = 0.007). The time required for successful NGT insertion in the tube-exchanger group was 18.5 ± 8.2 seconds, which is significantly shorter than the control group, 75.1 ± 9.8 seconds (P < 0.001). Complications such as laryngeal bleeding and the kinking and knotting of the NGT occurred less often in the tube-exchanger group.ConclusionsThere were many advantages in using a tube-exchanger as a guide to inserting NGTs in anesthetized and intubated patients. Compared to the conventional technique, the use of a tube-exchanger resulted in a higher the success rate of insertion on the first attempt, a shorter procedure time, and fewer complications.
Project description:Inadvertent injury to interposing organs during percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement is a feared complication of this common and generally safe procedure. Transhepatic PEG insertion is likely an underrepresented complication which may be identified incidentally on imaging or present with life-threatening conditions such as sepsis or massive bleeding. Use of ultrasound in patients with known hepatomegaly may possibly help avoid this complication. We hereby report a case of transhepatic PEG insertion, one of 16 only other cases published in the literature, and review the characteristics of the previous reported cases.
Project description:BackgroundSmall-bore chest tube (SBCT) placement via modified Seldinger technique is a commonly performed invasive procedure for treatment of pleural effusion and pneumothorax. When performed suboptimally, it may lead to serious complications. Validated checklists are central to teaching and assessing procedural skills and may result in improved health care quality. In this paper, we describe the development and content validation of a SBCT placement checklist.MethodsA literature review across multiple medical databases and seminal textbooks was performed to identify all publications describing procedural steps involved in SBCT placement. No studies were identified that involved systematic development of a checklist for this purpose. After the first iteration of a comprehensive checklist (CAPS) based on literature review was developed, the modified Delphi technique involving a panel of nine multidisciplinary experts was used to modify it and establish its content validity.ResultsAfter four Delphi rounds, the mean expert-rated Likert score across all checklist items was 6.85 ± 0.68 (out of 7). The final, 31-item checklist had a high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.846) with 95% of the responses (by nine experts across 31 checklist items) being a numerical score of 6 or 7.ConclusionsThis study reports the development and content validity of a comprehensive checklist for teaching and assessing SBCT placement. For purposes of demonstrating construct validity, this checklist should next be studied in the simulation and clinical setting.
Project description:Aims(1) To model the process of use and usability of pH strips (2) to identify, through simulation studies, the likelihood of misreading pH strips, and to assess professional's acceptance, trust and perceived usability of pH strips.MethodsThis study was undertaken in four phases and used a mixed method approach (an audit, a semi-structured interview, a survey and simulation study). The three months audit was of 24 patients, the semi-structured interview was performed with 19 health professionals and informed the process of use of pH strips. A survey of 134 professionals and novices explored the likelihood of misinterpreting pH strips. Standardised questionnaires were used to assess professionals perceived usability, trust and acceptance of pH strip use in a simulated study.ResultsThe audit found that in 45.7% of the cases aspiration could not be achieved, and that 54% of the NG-tube insertions required x-ray confirmation. None of those interviewed had received formal training on pH strips use. In the simulated study, participants made up to 11.15% errors in reading the strips with important implications for decision making regarding NG tube placement. No difference was identified between professionals and novices in their likelihood of misinterpreting the pH value of the strips. Whilst the overall experience of usage is poor (47.3%), health professionals gave a positive level of trust in both the interview (62.6%) and the survey (68.7%) and acceptance (interview group 65.1%, survey group 74.7%). They also reported anxiety in the use of strips (interview group 29.7%, survey group 49.7%).ConclusionsSignificant errors occur when using pH strips in a simulated study. Manufacturers should consider developing new pH strips, specifically designed for bedside use, that are more usable and less likely to be misread.
Project description:BackgroundThe emergence of ChatGPT, a state-of-the-art language model developed by OpenAI, has introduced a novel avenue for patients to seek medically related information. This technology holds significant promise in terms of accessibility and convenience. However, the use of ChatGPT as a source of accurate information enhancing patient education and engagement requires careful consideration. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy and reliability of ChatGPT in providing information on the indications and management of complications post-tympanostomy, the most common pediatric procedure in otolaryngology.MethodsWe prompted ChatGPT-3.5 with questions and compared its generated responses with the recommendations provided by the latest American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) "Clinical Practice Guideline: Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (Update)".ResultsA total of 23 responses were generated by ChatGPT against the AAO-HNSF guidelines. Following a thorough review, it was determined that 22/23 (95.7%) responses exhibited a high level of reliability and accuracy, closely aligning with the gold standard.ConclusionOur research study indicates that ChatGPT may be of assistance to parents in search of information regarding tympanostomy tube insertion and its clinical implications.
Project description:Background Endotracheal tube (ETT) malposition is common in neonatal intubation. Recommendations for ETT insertion depths predominantly address orotracheal intubation. The aim of this study was to develop gestational age-, weight-, and length-based curve charts and tables for nasotracheal ETT insertion depth recommendations in neonates. Method In this retrospective single-center study, the individual optimal ETT insertion depths in neonates were determined by evaluating postintubation radiographic images. Gestational age-, weight-, and length-based best-fit curves and tables were generated using regression analysis to calculate related ETT insertion depths. The insertion depths predicted by the models were compared with previously published recommendations. Results We analyzed intubations of 178 neonates (gestational age range at intubation: 23.7–43.0 weeks). Applying sigmoidal logistic regression models, curves, and tables revealed R2 values between 0.766 and 0.837. The insertion depths predicted by the models revealed certain deviations when compared with four previously published recommendations for nasotracheal ETT depth estimation in neonates. Conclusion The charts and tables developed in this study enable a fast and accurate determination of recommended nasotracheal ETT insertion depths in neonates.