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ABSTRACT Objective Consequently, in this study, we aimed to evaluate 1,203 cases of referral to a quaternary vascular surgical service, in São Paulo, Brazil, over a 6-year period, to assess the appropriate need for referral; in addition to the prevalence of surgical indications. Methods In this retrospective analysis, we reviewed the institutional records of participants referred from Basic Healthcare Units to a vascular surgical service inside the Brazilian Unified Health System, between May 2015 and December 2020. Demographic and clinical data were collected. The participants were stratified, as per the reason for referral to the vascular surgical service, previous imaging studies, and surgical treatment indications. Referral appropriateness and complementary examinations were evaluated for each disease cohort. Finally, the prevalence of cases requiring surgical treatment was defined as the outcome measure. Results Of the 1,203 referrals evaluated, venous disease was the main reason for referral (53%), followed by peripheral arterial disease (19.4%). A considerable proportion of participants had been referred without complementary imaging or after a long duration of undergoing an examination. Referrals were regarded as inappropriate in 517 (43%) cases. Of these, 32 cases (6.2%) had been referred to the vascular surgical service, as the incorrect specialty. The percentage of referred participants who ultimately underwent surgical treatment was 39.92%. Carotid (18%) and peripheral arterial diseases (18.4%) were correlated with a lower prevalence of surgical treatments. Conclusion The rate of referral appropriateness to specialized vascular care from primary care settings was low. This may represent a subutilization of quaternary surgical services, with low rates of surgical treatment.
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Introducción. El transporte neonatal desde las unidades médicas hasta las unidades de tercer nivel en muchos casos es desorganizado y arriesgado, situación que compromete aún más el estado de salud del neonato enfermo. El objetivo del estudio fue analizar el impacto del programa S.T.A.B.L.E. (de las siglas en inglés: Sugar and Safe care, Temperature, Airway, Blood, Lab work, Emotional support) en la morbimortalidad de los neonatos trasladados del interior del estado de Jalisco y de la zona metropolitana de Guadalajara, a la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales Externos (UCIN-EX) del Hospital Civil de Guadalajara. Métodos. Se diseñó un estudio prospectivo de 2005 a 2009. El proceso de intervención se basó en la aplicación del programa S.T.A.B.L.E. a todo neonato que requirió ser trasladado. Esto se logró con la intervención de los médicos reguladores del Sistema de Atención Médica de Urgencias (SAMU) del estado de Jalisco. Se implementó un curso de capacitación para el personal médico y paramédico de los centros de atención que refieren pacientes a nuestra unidad, con el fin darles a conocer el programa S.T.A.B.L.E. y su forma de aplicación. Resultados. Un total de 3,277 neonatos fueron incluidos en el estudio, 384 antes de implementar el programa y 2,893 con la aplicación del programa S.T.A.B.L.E. En el grupo con intervención se observó una frecuencia mayor de pacientes con temperatura corporal normal a su ingreso a la unidad receptora [516 (87%) vs. 227 (59%) p < 0.01 ], así como cifras de glicemia en rangos normales [690 (93%) vs. 173 (45%) p < 0.001]. La mortalidad durante el periodo de hospitalización en la unidad receptora fue menor en el grupo con intervención [405 (14%) vs. 84 (22%) p < 0.05]. Después del proceso de intervención, más pacientes fueron trasladados en incubadora [2,806 (97%) vs. 200 (52%) p < 0.001]; de igual forma, en más pacientes se aplicaron métodos de monitoreo de oximetría de pulso [2,575 (89%) vs. 235 (61 %) p < 0.01 ]. En cuanto al número de transportes neonatales regulados y autorizados por el sistema SAMU, se observó un incremento a favor del grupo con intervención [2,806 (97%) vs. 234(61%) p < 0.001]. La frecuencia de defunciones durante el transporte neonatal no presentó diferencias [30 (1 %) vs. 10 (2.6%) p = NS]. Conclusiones. El traslado de neonatos enfermos al tercer nivel de atención médica en el estado de Jalisco se realizó de forma segura, con una mejoría importante en la morbilidad. El programa S.T.A.B.L.E. fue altamente eficiente y de fácil aplicación. La disminución de la mortalidad de los pacientes con intervención del programa durante el periodo de hospitalización requiere estudios especialmente diseñados para establecer posibles asociaciones.
Background. Transporting newborn infants to third-level units is often disorganized, thus entailing several risks that may further compromise the health of newborn patients. Methods. A prospective study was designed in orderto assess the impact ofthe S.T.A.B.L.E. program (Sugarand Safe Care, Temperature, Airway, Blood, Lab work, Emotional support) from 2005 to 2009 in regard to morbidity and mortality rates of newborn patients who had to be transferred from other regions within Jalisco state or within Guadalajara's metropolitan area to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ofthe Civil Hospital in Guadalajara. The intervention process was based on applying the S.T.A.B.L.E. program to all newborns who needed to be transferred and was achieved with the intervention ofthe physicians regulating the Emergency Medical Assistance System (SAMU) of the state of Jalisco. A training course, as well as an educational brochure, was given to medical and paramedical staff from the medical assistance centers referring patients to our unit in orderto provide them with information on the S.T.A.B.L.E. program and its implementation. Results. A total of 3,277 newborn infants were included in the study, 384 before the intervention program and 2,893 once the S.T.A.B.L.E. program was implemented. Within the group transferred after the program's implementation, we observed a greater incidence of patients with normal body temperature upon admission to the receiving unit [516 (87%) vs. 227 (59%); p < 0.01 ] as well as with blood glucose figures within the normal range [690 (93%) vs. 173 (45%); p < 0.001]. Mortality during the hospitalization period in the receiving unit was lower in the group treated after the program's implementation [405 (14%) vs. 84 (22%); p < 0.05]. After the intervention process, more patients were transported in incubators [2,806 (97%) vs. 200 (52%); p < 0.001] and equally, pulse oximetry monitoring methods were applied in a greater number of patients [2,575 (89%) vs. 235 (61 %); p < 0.01 ]. With regard to the number of transfers of newborns that were regulated and authorized by the SAMU system, we also observed an increase in such numbers for the group treated after the intervention program [2,806 (97%) vs. 234 (61 %); p < 0.001]. There was no difference in the incidence of death during the newborns' transport [30 (1%) vs. 10 (2.6%); p = NS]. Conclusions. Transfer of ill newborns to third-level medical care units in the state of Jalisco was safely undertaken with a significant improvement in morbidity rates. The S.T.A.B.L.E. program was highly effective and easy to implement. The decrease in mortality during the hospitalization period of patients treated after the intervention program merits further studies especially designed to establish possible associations.
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Currently, there are more than 53,000 beds in kaifukuki rehabilitation wards throughout Japan. The development of kaifukuki rehabilitation wards is proceeding smoothly in terms of quantity. It is suggested that, with this development, the activities of daily living of patients will significantly improve, leading to an increase in the likelihood of patients returning home when a large unit of daily rehabilitation training is provided via one of these kaifukuki rehabilitation wards. The tasks remaining to be completed for the optimal realization of the kaifukuki rehabilitation wards are to reduce the disparity in the number of beds among prefectures, to realize a mature team approach to the rehabilitation program, to encourage full-time ward physicians of the rehabilitation department to exercise leadership, to enhance subacute medical services, to enhance human resources such as nurses and rehabilitation specialists and to improve the education and training system for the staff. Other major tasks remaining are to strengthen the cooperation between kaifukuki rehabilitation wards and acute hospitals, by which such rehabilitation wards will become capable of actively accepting patients from an early stage, and to establish cooperation between kaifukuki rehabilitation wards and the home care system.