Treatment of iron overload syndrome: a general review

SUMMARY INTRODUCTION Iron overload is a broad syndrome with a large spectrum of causative etiologies that lead to iron deposition. When iron exceeds defenses, it causes oxidative damage and tissular disfunction. Treatment may prevent organ dysfunction, leading to greater life expectancy. METHODS Literature from the last five years was reviewed through the use of the PubMed database in search of treatment strategies. DISCUSSION Different pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies are available for the treatment of iron overload and must be used according to etiology and patient compliance. Therapeutic phlebotomy is the basis for the treatment of hereditary hemochromatosis. Transfusional overload patients and those who cannot tolerate phlebotomy need iron chelators. CONCLUSION Advances in the understanding of iron overload have lead to great advances in therapies and new pharmacological targets. Research has lead to better compliance with the use of oral chelators and less toxic drugs.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO A síndrome de sobrecarga de ferro engloba um grande espectro de etiologias que levam a um aumento da quantidade de ferro nos tecidos. Esse ferro excede a capacidade de proteção dos tecidos, levando a dano oxidativo e lesão tissular. Tratamento pode prevenir esse dano, levando à melhor sobrevida. METODOLOGIA A literatura dos últimos cinco anos foi revisada por meio de pesquisa na base de dados PubMed buscando identificar estratégias de tratamento. DISCUSSÃO Medidas farmacológicas e não farmacológicas estão disponíveis para o tratamento da síndrome de sobrecarga de ferro e devem ser utilizadas de acordo com a etiologia e a aceitação do paciente. A flebotomia terapêutica é base do tratamento dos pacientes com hemocromatose hereditária. Pacientes com sobrecarga transfusional ou aqueles que não toleram flebotomias devem utilizar quelantes de ferro. CONSIDERAÇÕES FINAIS Avanços no entendimento da síndrome de sobrecarga de ferro têm levado a grandes progressos na terapêutica, com promessas de abordagem de novos alvos farmacológicos. A evolução da pesquisa tem possibilitado melhor aderência com o uso de quelantes orais e com possibilidade de drogas menos tóxicas.

Práticas relacionadas ao uso do garrote durante a punção venosa periférica: uma revisão de escopo / Health professionals' practices related with tourniquet use during peripheral venipuncture: a scoping review / Prácticas relacionadas al uso del garrote durante la punción venosa periférica: una revisión de alcance

Objetivos durante a punção venosa periférica, recomenda-se o uso de um garrote acima do local da punção para potencializar a distensão venosa. Dadas as suas características e o uso em ambientes clínicos, os garrotes podem representar uma fonte de disseminação de micro-organismos. Entretanto, os resultados de estudos científicos nessa área estão dispersos na literatura. Esta revisão de escopo tem como objetivo mapear as evidências disponíveis a respeito das práticas dos profissionais de saúde no que concerne ao uso do garrote durante a punção venosa periférica e à contaminação microbiológica associada. Método revisão de escopo de acordo com a metodologia do Instituto Joanna Briggs. Dois revisores independentes analisaram a relevância dos estudos, extraíram e sintetizaram dados. Resultados quinze estudos foram incluídos na revisão. Em geral, os garrotes foram reutilizados sem processos de descontaminação recorrentes. Verificou-se que os profissionais compartilham esses dispositivos entre si e os usaram continuamente por períodos entre duas semanas e sete anos e meio. Conclusão as práticas de enfermagem relacionadas ao uso do garrote durante a punção venosa periférica não são uniformes. A reutilização de garrotes pode colocar em risco a segurança do paciente se o reprocessamento (limpeza e desinfecção/esterilização) não for adequado, dado o tipo de material do garrote e a microbiota encontrada. Novos estudos são necessários para avaliar o impacto de vários tipos de práticas de reprocessamento na descontaminação de garrotes e na segurança do paciente.

Objectives during peripheral venipuncture, health professionals are recommended to use a tourniquet above the puncture site in order to potentiate venous distension. Given its characteristics and use in clinical settings, tourniquets may represent a source of microorganism dissemination. However, the results of scientific studies in this area are scattered in the literature. This scoping review aims to map the available evidence on health professionals' practices related with tourniquet use during peripheral venipuncture and associated microbiological contamination. Methods scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Two independent reviewers analyzed the relevance of the studies, extracted and synthesized data. Results fifteen studies were included in the review. Overall, tourniquets were reused without being subject to recurring decontamination processes. It has been found that practitioners share these devices among themselves and use them successively for periods between two weeks and seven and half years. Conclusion nursing practices related to tourniquet use during peripheral venipuncture are not standard. Reuse of tourniquets may jeopardize the patient's safety if reprocessing (cleaning and disinfection/sterilization) is not adequate, given the type of tourniquet material and microbiota found. New studies are needed to assess the impact of various types of reprocessing practices on tourniquet decontamination and patient safety.

Objetivos durante la punción venosa periférica, se recomienda el uso de un garrote arriba del sitio de la punción para potenciar la distensión venosa. Dadas sus características y uso en ambientes clínicos, los garrotes pueden representar una fuente de diseminación de microorganismos. Sin embargo, los resultados de estudios científicos en esta área están dispersos en la literatura. Esta revisión de alcance tiene como objetivo mapear las evidencias disponibles acerca de las prácticas de los profesionales de salud en lo que concierne al uso del garrote durante la punción venosa periférica y la contaminación microbiológica asociada. Método revisión de alcance de acuerdo con la metodología del Instituto Joanna Briggs. Dos revisores independientes analizaron la relevancia de los estudios, extrajeron y sintetizaron datos. Resultados quince estudios se incluyeron en la revisión. En general, los garrotes fueron reutilizados sin procesos de descontaminación recurrentes. Se verificó que los profesionales comparten estos dispositivos entre sí y los utilizaron continuamente por períodos entre dos semanas y siete años y medio. Conclusión las prácticas de enfermería relacionadas al uso del garrote durante la punción venosa periférica no son uniformes. La reutilización de garrotes puede poner en riesgo la seguridad del paciente si el reprocesamiento (limpieza y desinfección/esterilización) no es adecuado, dado el tipo de material del garrote y la microbiota encontrada. Nuevos estudios son necesarios para evaluar el impacto de varios tipos de prácticas de reprocesamiento en la descontaminación de garrotes y en la seguridad del paciente.

Hypermedia on peripheral venipuncture: effectiveness in teaching nursing students / Hipermedia sobre punción venosa periférica: la efectividad en la enseñanza de académicos de enfermería / Hipermídia sobre punção venosa periférica: efetividade no ensino de acadêmicos de enfermagem

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the effectiveness of an educational hypermedia in the knowledge of Nursing academics on peripheral venipuncture. Method: Quasi-experimental study with pre and post-test design. Results: The mean number of right answers of the 73 individuals who participated in the study, in the pre-test, was 7.7 (DP = 1.05), and 8.3 in the post-test (DP = 0.74). The comparation of pre and post hypermedia mean number of right answers showed significant difference (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Hypermedia is a strategy that increases knowledge and is feasible in the teaching-learning process, being useful as a support tool for teachers and for the development of undergraduate Nursing students.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de una hipermedia educativa en el conocimiento de académicos de enfermería acerca de la punción venosa periférica. Método: Estudio casi-experimental con diseño pre y pos prueba. Resultados: El promedio de aciertos de los 73 individuos participantes del estudio, en el pre prueba, ha sido de 7,7 (DP = 1,05), y 8,3 en el pos prueba (DP = 0,74). La comparación en los promedios de aciertos pre y pos hipermedia ha presentado diferencia significativa (p < 0,001). Conclusión: La hipermedia es una estrategia que incrementa el conocimiento y es viable en el proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje, siendo útil como herramienta de apoyo para los profesores y para el desarrollo de los estudiantes de graduación en enfermería.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a efetividade de uma hipermídia educativa no conhecimento de acadêmicos de enfermagem acerca da punção venosa periférica. Método: Estudo quase-experimental com desenho pré e pós-teste. Resultados: A média de acertos dos 73 indivíduos participantes do estudo, no pré-teste, foi de 7,7 (DP = 1,05), e 8,3 no pós-teste (DP = 0,74). A comparação nas médias de acertos pré e pós hipermídia apresentou diferença significativa (p < 0,001). Conclusão: A hipermídia é uma estratégia que aumenta o conhecimento e é viável no processo ensino-aprendizagem, sendo útil como ferramenta de apoio para os professores e para o desenvolvimento de estudantes de graduação em enfermagem.

Gestão de qualidade na fase pré-analítica parte I: análise crítica do CLSI H3-A6 / Quality management in pre analytical phase part I: critical analyze of CLSI H3-A6

A fase pré analítica, segundo dados da literatura é responsável por mais de dois terços de todos os erros atribuídos aos laboratórios de análises clínicas e há apenas alguns procedimentos de rotina para detecção de não conformidades neste domínio de atividades. Nosso objetivo foi fazer uma análise crítica do CLSI H3-A6 Procedimentos para coleta do espécime diagnóstico sanguíneo por punção venosa para ajudar flebotomista e o gestor da qualidade a garantir a segurança do paciente. Nós confrontamos os detalhes do CLSI A3-H6 com as publicações internacionais mais recentes e concluímos que os procedimentos relacionados à punção venosa necessitam de pequenas mudanças para garantir a segurança do paciente.

The pre analytical phase is responsible for more than two-thirds of all errors attributed to the clinical laboratory and there are only a few routine procedures for the detection of nonconformities in this field of activity. Our aim was make a critical analyze of CLSI H3-A6 Procedures for the Collection of Diagnostic Blood Specimens by Venipuncture to help the phlebotomists and quality manager guarantee the patient safety. We contrast details from CLSI H3-A6 with up to date from literature and conclude that the procedures related venipuncture needs little changes to guarantee the patient safety.

Red cell transfusion practices and the impact of phlebotomy in an adult intensive care unit in Trinidad: a prospective observational study / La práctica de la transfusión de glóbulos rojos y el impacto de la flebotomía en una unidad del cuidados intensivos para adultos en Trinidad: un estudio observacional prospectivo

OBJECTIVES: To determine the pattern of current red cell transfusion practices in an adult intensive care unit (ICU) in Trinidad and the impact of phlebotomy on transfusions. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted over a six-month period to include all patients who received transfusions in the ICU of Port-of-Spain General Hospital, Trinidad. Demographic data including age, gender and weight were recorded. Clinical data recorded were the admission APACHE II scores, daily phlebotomy volumes, haemoglobin levels, transfusions and outcome during the first thirty days following ICU admission. Patients were grouped according to diagnoses and transfusion patterns. RESULTS: Of 134 patients admitted, 40 (29.8%) were transfused packed red cells 18 (29%) of the requests were for single unit transfusion. The mean phlebotomy volume was 13.5 ± 4.3 (SD) mL day. The adjusted phlebotomy volume to body weight did not correlate with the amount of transfusions. The mean haemoglobin level for triggering blood transfusion was 6.73 g dL. The mean transfusion rate was 2.9 ± 1.8 (SD) units per patient. Ten per cent of the patients received more than 5 units. Twenty nine per cent of the units were transfused on the first day of ICU admission and 69% were transfused during the first week of ICU stay. CONCLUSIONS: Transfusion practices in the study ICU pointed towards a restrictive strategy, although there were some inappropriate transfusions. The phlebotomy volumes did not contribute towards transfusion requirements.

OBJETIVOS: Determinar el patrón de las prácticas actuales de transfusión de glóbulos rojos en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) para adultos en Trinidad y el impacto de la flebotomía en las transfusiones. MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional prospectivo por un periodo de seis meses, que incluyó a todos los pacientes que recibieron transfusiones en la UCI del Hospital General de Puerto España, Trinidad. Se registraron los datos demográficos, incluyendo edad, género y peso. Los datos clínicos recogidos fueron las puntuaciones APACHE II a la hora del ingreso, los volúmenes de flebotomía diarios, los niveles de hemoglobina, las transfusiones y el resultado durante los primeros treinta días tras el ingreso a la UCI. Los pacientes fueron agrupados según los diagnósticos y patrones de transfusión. RESULTADOS: De 134 pacientes ingresados, a un total de 40 (29.8%) se les transfundió glóbulos rojos empaquetados; 18 (29%) de las solicitudes fueron para una transfusión de una sola unidad. El volumen promedio de flebotomías fue 13.5 ± 4.3 (SD) mL/día. El volumen de flebotomía ajustado al peso del cuerpo no guardaba correlación con la cantidad de transfusiones. El nivel promedio de hemoglobina para realizar la transfusión de sangre fue 6.73 g/dL, la tasa promedio de transfusión fue 2.9 ± 1.8 (SD) unidades por paciente. El diez por ciento de los pacientes recibió más de 5 unidades. El veintinueve por ciento de las unidades fueron transfundidas en el primer día de admisión a la UCI, y el 69% se transfundió durante la primera semana de estancia en la UCI. CONCLUSIONES: Las prácticas de la transfusión en la UCI de estudio, apuntaron hacia una estrategia restrictiva, aunque hubo algunas transfusiones impropias. Los volúmenes de flebotomía no contribuyeron a los requisitos de la transfusión.

Controle da qualidade na coleta do espécime diagnóstico sanguíneo: iluminando uma fase escura de erros pré-analíticos / Quality control in the collection of diagnostic blood specimens: illuminating a dark phase of preanalytical errors

INTRODUÇÃO: A fase pré-analítica é a responsável por mais de dois terços de todos os erros atribuídos ao laboratório e contempla poucos procedimentos rotineiros para a detecção de não conformidades. Nesta fase, os procedimentos envolvendo a flebotomia, críticos para a obtenção do espécime diagnóstico, são pouco estudados no que diz respeito às principais fontes de erro, bem como aos procedimentos relacionados com o processo de controle da qualidade. OBJETIVOS: Propor uma ferramenta para averiguação de falhas na fase pré-analítica e estabelecer indicadores da qualidade, com ênfase nos procedimentos de coleta do espécime diagnóstico sanguíneo, visando monitorar potenciais fontes de erro nesta etapa. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram observados os procedimentos de flebotomia empregados em 10 laboratórios clínicos da cidade de São Paulo, todos com programa de qualidade estabelecido. Os erros que apresentaram frequência superior a 80 por cento foram selecionados para elaboração de uma lista de verificação, com a finalidade de avaliar o desempenho de flebotomistas. Normas e recomendações estabelecidas por instituições nacionais e internacionais, como Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA), Sociedade Brasileira de Patologia Clínica/Medicina Laboratorial (SBPC/ML) e Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), serviram de referência para a elaboração da lista de verificação. RESULTADOS: A lista de verificação proposta aborda cinco pontos do processo de flebotomia: tempo de aplicação do torniquete, número de flebotomistas que solicitam ao paciente execução da constrição do músculo do antebraço previamente à coleta, fricção do músculo do antebraço no processo de antissepsia, sequência correta ou não de utilização dos tubos de coleta e avaliação da homogeneização adequada ou não do espécime diagnóstico coletado. CONCLUSÃO: A avaliação do processo de flebotomia é parte essencial no planejamento da qualidade no laboratório. A lista de verificação...

BACKGROUND: The preanalytical phase is responsible for more than two thirds of all errors attributed to the clinical laboratory and it has only a few routine procedures for the detection of nonconformity. In this phase, the procedures involving phlebotomy, critical to the obtainment of diagnostic blood specimen, are poorly studied with regard to major sources of errors and procedures related to quality control process. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work is to propose a tool for finding failures in the preanalytical phase and to establish quality indicators, with emphasis on procedures for the collection of diagnostic blood specimens, in order to monitor potential sources of error in this phase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated phlebotomy procedures employed in ten clinical laboratories in São Paulo city, Brazil. All of them with established quality program. The errors that had a frequency higher than 80 percent were selected to be part of a checklist aiming to evaluate the performance of phlebotomists. Standards and recommendations established by national and international institutions, such as ANVISA, SBPC/ML and CLSI, served as reference to elaborate the checklist. RESULTS: The proposed checklist covers five points of phlebotomy procedures: tourniquet application time, number of phlebotomists that ask patients to clench forearm muscle prior to collection, friction of the forearm muscle in antisepsis process, correct or incorrect sequence of blood collecting tubes and evaluation of accurate or inaccurate homogenization of collected blood specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Phlebotomy evaluation is an essential part of the quality planning in clinical laboratories. The proposed checklist allows error detection in the preanalytical phase, establishment of quality indicators and implementation of corrective and preventive actions with cost effectiveness and improvement in process efficiency.

Can indian classical instrumental music reduce pain felt during venepuncture.

Objective. To determine comparative efficacy of local anesthetic cream, Indian classical instrumental music and placebo, in reducing pain due to venepuncture in children. Methods. Children aged 5-12yr requiring venepuncture were enrolled in a prospective randomized clinical trial conducted at a tertiary care center. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups: local anesthetic (LA), music or placebo (control) group. Eutactic mixture of local anesthetic agents (EMLA) and Indian classical instrumental music (raaga-Todi) were used in the first 2 groups, respectively. Pain was assessed independently by parent, patient, investigator and an independent observer at the time of insertion of the cannula (0 min) and at 1- and 5 min after the insertion using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Kruskal- Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to assess the difference amongst the VAS scores. Results. Fifty subjects were enrolled in each group. Significantly higher VAS scores were noted in control (placebo) group by all the categories of observers (parent, patient, investigator, independent observer) at all time points. The VAS scores obtained in LA group were lowest at all time points. However, the difference between VAS scores in LA group were significantly lower than those in music group only at some time-points and with some categories of observers (parent: 1min; investigator: 0-, 1-, 5 min and independent observer: 5 min). Conclusion. Pain experienced during venepuncture can be significantly reduced by using EMLA or Indian classical instrumental music. The difference between VAS scores with LA and music is not always significant. Hence, the choice between EMLA and music could be dictated by logistical factors.

Comparison of two blood collection techniques for measles antibody detection in children.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Though several seroprevalence and seroconversion studies have been conducted for measles using the filter paper haemagglutination inhibition (FPHAI), very few studies have compared the conventional serum HAI with the FPHAI. The present study was aimed at the evaluation of whole blood samples on filter paper as an alternative to serum specimens for detection of antibodies to measles virus. METHODS: Serum and whole blood samples soaked on filter paper were collected from 165 randomly selected healthy children in the age groups of 1-2 yr. HAI test was performed on both sets of samples and the results compared. RESULTS: Ninety samples that gave a titre of 8 or more by serum HAI also had titres of > or = 8 by FPHAI showing 100 per cent agreement between the two assays. Seventeen samples that had a serum HAI titre of 2 and 4 were missed by FPHAI due to the starting dilution of 8 of the latter. However, FPHAI gave no false positive results compared with serum HAI. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Collection of the FP samples by finger prick is more acceptable and requires less expertise than venepuncture. Thus, in spite of the small percentage of missed cases by the filter paper method, this technique of sampling was found to be a convenient and reliable alternative to venepuncture, for detection of measles virus antibody especially in large scale seroepidemiological studies.

Blind extrathoracic subclavian venipuncture for temporary pacing lead insertion: a 4 year experience in 760 patients

Seven hundred and sixty patients admitted in Cardiology Dept. Mayo Hospital, Lahore from Feb.1994 to Jan 1998 were inserted temporary pacing lead for different indications. Modification of the percutaneous technique for extrathoracic subclavian venipuncture proposed by Magney and colleagues for permanent pacing lead placement was used. Before puncturing bony landmarks were marked on the skin according to Magney's description to identify the needle entry point. Then the venipuncture was accomplished by inserting the needle through a standard infraclavicular land mark. 760 patients were approached with this technique with in a span period of four years. This technique was successful in 684 [90%] cases with first puncture, additional 35 [5%] with second attempt, while additional 14 [2%] patients required multiple attempts or the change of the site. In rest 3% the procedure was completed using other routes. Patients were followed till the removal of temporary pacing wire or implantation with permanent pacing system. In the present study the blind approach to the extrathoracic portion of the subclavian vein proved to be safe and effective for pacing lead insertion. Further observations are required to establish whether this method decreases the complication rate

Contamination of blood cultures by switch-needle and nonswitch-needle techniques in a paediatric ward.

To compare the contamination rates of blood culture between the conventional switching to a sterile needle before inoculation of blood culture bottles and the nonswitch-needle technique, we conducted a prospective crossover study in a pediatric infectious disease ward at Lampang Hospital, Thailand from November 1991 to December 1992. The total number of blood cultures was 764 in which 358 were in the switch-needle group and 406 in the nonswitch-needle group. The rates of contamination were almost identical among the two groups (6.15% v.s. 6.16%). It is concluded that careful skin preparation and good handwashing practices of the phlebotomists and assistant are more important factors than switching needles in reducing contamination during collection of blood for culture. Switching needle technique should be discontinued to reduce the risk of needlestick injury and the cost of blood culture.

Microfilarial density in blood samples of finger-prick and venipuncture a comparative study in Kuwait

The microfilarial density of Wuchereria bancrofti was compared in finger-prick and venous blood samples at the Medical Centre for Expatriate Labour Examination. Blood samples were taken from laboratory diagnosed cases of filariasis. A significant difference in the microfilarial density determined in finger-prick and venipuncture samples was noted. The number of microfilariae in finger-prick blood was three times higher than that found in venipuncture blood [p <0.025] The findings suggest that there may possibly be an obstruction to the movement of microfilariae in capillary beds with the result that the the microfilariae are retained on the arteriolar side

Flebotomíneos (Diptera: Psychodidae) no estado de Roraima, Brasil: I. espécies coletadas nas regiões sul e central / Sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the state of Roraima, Brazil: I. Species collected in the southern and central regions

Durante 1987, nas regiões sul e central do Estado de Roraima, foram realizadas coletas de flebotomineos nas bases de árvores e em armadilhas CDC colocadas a 1,5 e 10m de altura do solo. Foram obtidos 2812 espécimes, de 45 espécies: 35 na região sul e 27 na região cental; 18 espécies foram comuns as duas áreas e 21 estão sendo aqui assinaladas pela primeira vez no Estado. A presente publicação eleva a 54 o número de espécies conhecidad no Estado.