Abstract: Objective To introduce a new technique: transthoracic closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) under transesophageal echocardiography (TEE）guidance, and summarize the clinical experiences and midterm followup results. Methods A total of 136 patients with perimembranous VSD, 3 months to 15 years averaging 1.8 years, underwent transthoracic device closure. The weight of these patients ranged from 4.0 to 26.0 kg with an average weight of 12.7 kg. The diameter of their VSD ranged from 3 to 12 mm averaging 5.1 mm. A small transthoracic incision (34 cm incision by inferior sternotomy or 23 cm transverse incision in the third intercostal space) was made and the best location for right ventricular puncture was chosen and the delivery pathway was established under TEE guidance. Proper devices were delivered and then deployed to close the defect. Patients were followed up closely with a standard protocol, arranged for echocardiography, electrocardiogram and chest Xray film. Results In all the cases, 131 cases of VSD (96.3%) were successfully closed. The procedure time was less than 90 minutes and the implanting time was 5.42 minutes (16.3±5.7 min). Symmetrical devices were implanted into 89(67.9%) of the 131 patients and the other 42 patients (32.1%) were closed with asymmetrical ones. The result of TEE soon after operation showed that 3 patients had tiny residual shunt, 4 had new trivial and mild tricuspid regurgitation (TR). However, no TR worsening, aortic regurgitation (AR), complete atrioventricular heart block, or left or right outflow tract obstruction was detected in all patients. One patient 〖CM(159mm〗with transient atrioventricular block restored to sinus rhythm after 3 days of medical treatment. Five cases (3.7%) were converted to conventional open heart repair during the operation. Followup was done to all the patients for a period ranged from 6 months to 30 months (18.3±6.6 months). Tiny residual shunt in the 3 cases mentioned above vanished during the followup period. No new TR, AR, hemolysis, thrombosis, dislocation of the devices, or outflow stenosis was detected postoperatively. The tiny incision caused less psychologic depression. Conclusion Minimally invasive transthoracic device closure of VSD without CPB is a simple, effective and safe intervention under guidance of TEE for most of perimembranous VSD patients. The short and midterm clinical outcomes are promising. Longterm followup is indispensable.
Objective To learn the current status, publication standards, formats, and contents of medical advertisements published in journals in China, and to discuss the possibility of evidence-based evaluation and standards for advertisement publication. Methods We handsearched Issue One, 2008 of 222 core medical journals indexed by A Guide to the Core Journals of China (2004 version) and the most important databases to index top 20% academic journals to identify basic journal information and the content of their advertisements. The general and trade name of the drugs, and the advertisements and production license number of the drugs and devices were collected. We used EXCEL software for data input and SPSS 13.0 for statistical analyses. Results Two-hundred and eighteen journals were handsearched and evaluated. The other 4 journals were excluded because the print version could not be found. A total of 1,201 advertisements were published in 159 (72.9%) of the journals, with the average of 5.5 (range of 1-37) for each journal. Of the advertisements, 910 (75.8%) were related to medical drugs or devices, including 598 (49.8%) drug and 312 (26.0%) medical device advertisements. Most of them were published in clinical and special medical journals. There were 518 (86.6%) drug advertisements which had both advertisement license and production license number, but only 116 (36.1%) medical device advertisements stated the advertisement license and production license number. Conclusion The medical drug advertisements published in core medical journals in China lack sufficient publication standards, and medical device advertisements are even worse. We cannot conclude the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of advertisement production according to the current limited, unclear, and highly-commercialized advertisements.
ObjectiveTo investigate the incidence of nosocomial infection and device-related infection in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), analyze its related risk factors, and search for effective measures to prevent and control nosocomial infection. MethodsBy prospective objective monitoring method, we surveyed 294 patients hospitalized in the ICU for at least 48 hours between January and December 2012. The doctor in charge filled in relevant information of the patients to complete the questionnaires, and hospital infection management staff was responsible for tracking, judging, and statistical analysis. ResultsIn the 294 patients, 61 had hospital infections, and there were 78 cases. The hospital infection rate was 20.75%, and the case infection rate was 26.53%. The day incidence of patient infection was 16.01‰, and day infection rate was 20.47‰ for infection cases. After average severity of illness score adjustment, the day case infection rate was 7.48%, ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) infection rate was 27.27‰, central venous catheter associated bloodstream infection rate was 6.58‰, and catheter associated urinary tract infection rate was 3.15‰. ConclusionICU has a high risk of hospital infection. In the device related infections, VAP infection rate is the highest. Continuous improvement can be achieved through monitoring and discovering problems, strengthening hospital infection management training for the medical personnel of the hospital, close communication between doctors and hospital infection management staff, and strict implementation of hospital infection management measures.
Integrating medical instruments with medical information systems becomes more and more important in healthcare industry. To make medical instruments without standard communication interface possess the capability of interoperating and sharing information with medical information systems, we developed a medical instrument integration gateway based on Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise Patient Care Device (IHE PCD) integration profiles in this research. The core component is an integration engine which is implemented according to integration profiles and Health Level Seven (HL7) messages defined in IHE PCD. Working with instrument specific Javascripts, the engine transforms medical instrument data into HL7 ORU message. This research enables medical instruments to interoperate and exchange medical data with information systems in a standardized way, and is valuable for medical instrument integration, especially for traditional instruments.
In recent years, the widespread use of medical devices has led to the increasing frequency of device related pressure injuries (DRPI), which seriously affects the quality of life of patients and increases the burden on the healthcare system. The management model of DRPI has become an effective means of coping. This article reviews the application status of the care bundles model, SSKIN clinical management model, SECURE clinical management model in the prevention of DRPI. According to the characteristics of different management models, the key steps of implementation are given, aiming to provide a reference for exploring the prevention and management model of DRPI suitable for China’s national conditions.