scholarly journals Ultrasound for the Detection of Pleural Effusions and Guidance of the Thoracentesis Procedure

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamila Sikora ◽  
Phillips Perera ◽  
Thomas Mailhot ◽  
Diku Mandavia
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Pleural Effusion ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Respiratory Distress ◽  
Ultrasound Guidance ◽  
Adverse Outcome ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Pleural Effusions ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Improve Patient

Objective. To review the use of ultrasound for the detection of pleural effusions and guidance of the thoracentesis procedure. Methods. Two clinical cases will be presented in which ultrasound proved beneficial in guiding the diagnosis and management of patients with pleural effusions and respiratory distress. The ultrasound techniques for the evaluation of pleural effusions and performance of the thoracentesis procedure are discussed. A review of the most current literature follows to present the known diagnostic and safety benefits of ultrasound guidance for thoracentesis. Conclusions. Ultrasound improves the diagnostic accuracy for the detection of pleural effusions over standard chest radiographs. Ultrasound can also diagnose a complicated pleural effusion that may be at higher risk for an adverse outcome during a thoracentesis. Optimally, thoracentesis should be performed under direct ultrasound guidance to decrease the complication rate and improve patient safety.

Does external evaluation of laboratories improve patient safety?

2007 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Noble
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Quality Assessment ◽  
External Quality Assessment ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
External Evaluation ◽  
Laboratory Performance ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Improve Patient

AbstractLaboratory accreditation and External Quality Assessment (also called proficiency testing) are mainstays of laboratory quality assessment and performance. Both practices are associated with examples of improved laboratory performance. The relationship between laboratory performance and improved patient safety is more difficult to assess because of the many variables that are involved with patient outcome. Despite this difficulty, the argument to continue external evaluation of laboratories is too compelling to consider the alternative.Clin Chem Lab Med 2007;45:753–5.

Diagnostic efficacy and suitability of trans-thoracic ultrasonography for pleural fluid detection – The future non-invasive gold-standard?

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 184-190
Author(s):  
Muhammad Irfan ◽  
Abdul Rasheed Qureshi ◽  
Zeeshan Ashraf ◽  
Muhammad Amjad Ramzan ◽  
Tehmina Naeem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pleural Effusion ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Pleural Fluid ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Pleural Effusions ◽  
Diagnostic Efficacy ◽  
Chest Sonography ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Fluid Detection

ABSTRACT Background: Conventionally Pleural effusions are suspected by history of pleuritis, evaluated by physical signs and multiple view radiography. Trans-thoracic pleural aspiration is done and aspirated pleural fluid is considered the gold-standard for pleural effusion. Chest sonography has the advantage of having high diagnostic efficacy over radiography for the detection of pleural effusion. Furthermore, ultrasonography is free from radiation hazards, inexpensive, readily available  and feasible for use in ICU, pregnant and pediatric patients. This study aims to explore the diagnostic accuracy of trans-thoracic ultrasonography for pleural fluid detection, which is free of such disadvantages. The objective is to determine the diagnostic efficacy of trans-thoracic ultrasound for detecting pleural effusion and also to assess its suitability for being a non-invasive gold-standard.   Subject and Methods: This retrospective study of 4597 cases was conducted at pulmonology  OPD-Gulab Devi Teaching Hospital, Lahore from November 2016 to July 2018. Adult patients with clinical features suggesting pleural effusions were included while those where no suspicion of pleural effusion, patients < 14 years and pregnant ladies were excluded. Patients were subjected to chest x-ray PA and Lateral views and chest ultrasonography was done by a senior qualified radiologist in OPD. Ultrasound-guided pleural aspiration was done in OPD & fluid was sent for analysis. At least 10ml aspirated fluid was considered as diagnostic for pleural effusion. Patient files containing history, physical examination, x-ray reports, ultrasound reports, pleural aspiration notes and informed consent were retrieved, reviewed and findings were recorded in the preformed proforma. Results were tabulated and conclusion was drawn by statistical analysis. Results: Out of 4597 cases, 4498 pleural effusion were manifested on CXR and only 2547(56.62%) pleural effusions were proved by ultrasound while 2050 (45.57%) cases were reported as no Pleural effusion. Chest sonography demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and diagnostic accuracy 100 % each. Conclusions: Trans-thoracic ultrasonography revealed an excellent efficacy that is why it can be considered as non-invasive gold standard for the detection of pleural effusion.

scholarly journals Writing’s on the wall: improving the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e001086
Author(s):  
Claire Cushley ◽  
Tom Knight ◽  
Helen Murray ◽  
Lawrence Kidd
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Surgical Safety Checklist ◽  
Surgical Safety ◽  
Time Out ◽  
Mandatory Requirement ◽  
Who Checklist ◽  
Improve Patient ◽  
Theatre Team

Background and problemThe WHO Surgical Safety Checklist has been shown to improve patient safety as well as improving teamwork and communication in theatres. In 2009, it was made a mandatory requirement for all NHS hospitals in England and Wales. The WHO checklist is intended to be adapted to suit local settings and was modified for use in Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. In 2018, it was decided to review the use of the adapted WHO checklist and determine whether improvements in compliance and engagement could be achieved.AimThe aim was to achieve 90% compliance and engagement with the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist by April 2019.MethodsIn April 2018, a prospective observational audit and online survey took place. The results showed compliance for the ‘Sign In’ section of the checklist was 55% and for the ‘Time Out’ section was 91%. Engagement by the entire theatre team was measured at 58%. It was proposed to move from a paper checklist to a wall-mounted checklist, to review and refine the items in the checklist and to change the timing of ‘Time Out’ to ensure it was done immediately prior to knife-to-skin.ResultsFollowing its introduction in September 2018, the new wall-mounted checklist was reaudited. Compliance improved to 91% for ‘Sign In’ and to 94% for ‘Time Out’. Engagement by the entire theatre team was achieved 100% of the time. Feedback was collected, adjustments made and the new checklist was rolled out in stages across all theatres. A reaudit in December 2018 showed compliance improved further, to 99% with ‘Sign In’ and to 100% with ‘Time Out’. Engagement was maintained at 100%.ConclusionsThe aim of the project was met and exceeded. Since April 2019, the new checklist is being used across all theatres in the Trust.

scholarly journals Understanding safety in healthcare: the system evolution, erosion and enhancement model

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Carthey
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Complex Systems ◽  
Human Error ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
New Model ◽  
System Evolution ◽  
Accident Causation ◽  
System Migration ◽  
Improve Patient

The paper summarises previous theories of accident causation, human error, foresight, resilience and system migration. Five lessons from these theories are used as the foundation for a new model which describes how patient safety emerges in complex systems like healthcare: the System Evolution Erosion and Enhancement model. It is concluded that to improve patient safety, healthcare organisations need to understand how system evolution both enhances and erodes patient safety.

Atmung – Standardisierte Checkliste macht Intubation von Neugeborenen sicherer

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (03) ◽  
pp. 124-125
Author(s):  
Maria Weiß
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Improve Patient

Hatch LD. et al. Intervention To Improve Patient Safety During Intubation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Pediatrics 2016; 138: e20160069 Kinder auf der Neugeborenen-Intensivstation sind besonders durch Komplikationen während des Krankenhausaufenthaltes gefährdet. Dies gilt auch für die Intubation, die relativ häufig mit unerwünschten Ereignissen einhergeht. US-amerikanische Neonatologen haben jetzt untersucht, durch welche Maßnahmen sich die Komplikationsrate bei Intubationen in ihrem Perinatal- Zentrum senken lässt.

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