Allen Hospital

Limited data suggest a subset of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome receive high-dose and prolonged opioid and sedative infusions. With prolonged use, patients may be at risk for developing iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome after discontinuation or tapering of these agents. Iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome is well described in paediatric patients; however, limited guidance exists in adult intensive care unit patients regarding risk factors and ideal management strategies. This article discusses several weaning strategies for high-risk patients to minimise withdrawal symptoms and safely reduce or discontinue opioid and sedative infusions. Ideal weaning strategies are lacking, but several options exist. These include a gradual reduction of the agent, changing the route of delivery by switching to an enteral or parenteral longer-acting agent from the same class, and substitution to an alternative agent to help mitigate potential withdrawal symptoms. This should be accomplished through a multidisciplinary approach by involving experts from relevant specialties while closely observing for withdrawal symptoms.

Retrospective cohort analysis using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors of perioperative complications and mortality in patients undergoing adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. Although ASD surgery has been associated with a relatively high complication rate, a focus on perioperative complications in a large cohort has rarely been reported. In the database of the 2011-2013 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, a cohort of patients (n=1484) above 20 years and underwent ASD surgery was established by primary and other Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision codes. The incidences of perioperative (within 30 d postsurgery) minor/major complications and mortality was investigated. Risk factors for minor/major complications and mortality were assessed using logistic regression modeling. Of 1484 patients undergoing ASD surgery, the overall complication rate was 15.8% (minor complications: 8.2%; major complications: 10.4%), and the mortality rate was 0.6% (9 patients). After multivariate analysis, dependent functional status [P=0.003; odds ratios (ORs), 4.838], anterior or anterior+posterior approaches (P=0.001; OR, 2.022), and prolonged operative time (>5 h) (P=0.004; OR, 1.821) were associated with an increased risk of minor complications. Male sex (P=0.013; OR, 1.567), osteotomy procedure (P=0.008; OR, 1.674) and prolonged operative time (>5 h) (P<0.001; OR, 2.142) were associated with an increased risk of major complications. The American Society of Anesthesiologists 4 status (P=0.009; OR, 34.697) was a strong risk factor for mortality. After ASD surgery, the rates of minor complications, major complications, and mortality was 8.2%, 10.4%, and 0.6%, respectively. While mortality depended on patient physical status represented by the American Society of Anesthesiologists 4, minor and major complications were associated with male sex, dependent functional status, and surgical factors such as osteotomy procedure, prolonged operative time (>5 h), and having an anterior surgical approach. Therefore, this information may be helpful in surgical counseling and preoperative surgical planning.

IntroductionPhysicians enter residency with varied knowledge regarding the purpose of progress notes and proficiency writing them. The objective of this study was to test whether resident knowledge, beliefs, and confidence writing inpatient progress notes improved after a 2.5-hour workshop intervention.MethodsAn educational workshop and note assessment tool was constructed by resident and faculty stakeholders based on a review of literature and institutional best practices. The Progress Note Assessment and Plan Evaluation (PNAPE) tool was designed to assess adherence to best practices in the assessment and plan section of progress notes. Thirty-four residents from a midsized pediatric residency program attended the workshop, which consisted of didactics and small-group work evaluating sample notes using the PNAPE tool. Participants completed a four-question online pre- and postworkshop survey to evaluate their knowledge of progress note components and attitudes regarding note importance. Pre-post analysis was performed with Chi-square testing for true/false questions, and Mann-Whitney testing for Likert scale questions and summative scores.ResultsA majority of pediatric residents completed the preintervention (n = 26, 76% response rate) and postintervention (n = 23, 68% response rate) surveys. Accurate response rate improved in 15 of 20 of the true/false items, with a statistically significant improvement in five items. Resident perceptions of note importance and confidence in note writing also increased.DiscussionA workshop intervention may effectively educate pediatric residents about progress note best practices. Further studies should assess the impact of the intervention on sustained knowledge and beliefs about progress notes and subsequent note quality.