The Green Surgical Block 4.0: Automation of the operating theatre's climate conditions through a real-time patient-flow solution.

The energy consumed by surgery units constitutes a staggering part of the overall healthcare carbon footprint. Partly due to the demanding climate conditions necessitated by operating theatres (OTs), energy is also wasted because of poorly managed heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems (HVACs) that consume up to 57% of the total energy used in a hospital. With their goal of optimising OTs' performance and reducing patient waiting lists, heads of surgery units worldwide do not dare to risk cancelling scheduled surgery because of problems with the OT environment conditions (ie temperature, humidity, pressure). Current solutions are monolithic, complex and completely disconnected from healthcare logic, failing to take into account the idiosyncrasy of hospitals. This article presents an innovation that uses real-time patient flow data to automate and optimise the OT's climate conditions.

Relationship Between Epileptic Activity and Developmental Outcome in KCNQ2-Related Epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: We aim to describe a cohort of patients with KCNQ2-related epilepsy and evaluate the relationship between epileptic activity and developmental outcome. This topic is relevant for the selection of clinical end points in future clinical trials, since cessation of seizures may or may not be the most important outcome. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study of children with self-limited (familial) neonatal epilepsy and developmental and epileptic encephalopathy due to pathogenic variants in KCNQ2 was conducted between 2019 and 2021. We collected clinical, therapeutic, and genetic information. Available electroencephalographic recordings were reviewed by a neurophysiologist. Gross motor function was determined using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Composite standard score (ABC SS) was used to measure adaptive functioning. RESULTS: Among 44 children (mean age 8.1 ± 4.0 years, 45.5% were male), 15 of 44 had S(F)NE, and 29 of 44 had DEE. Delayed seizure freedom was more frequent in DEE than in S(F)NE (P = 0.025), but no correlation was observed between age at seizure freedom and developmental outcome in patients with DEE. Multifocal interictal epileptiform abnormalities at epilepsy onset were more frequent in DEE than in S(F)NE (P = 0.014), and were associated with higher GMFCS (P = 0.027) and lower ABC SS (P = 0.048) in patients with DEE. Disorganized background activity at follow-up was more frequent in DEE than in S(F)NE (P = 0.001), and was associated with higher GMFCS levels (P = 0.009) and lower ABC SS (P = 0.005) in patients with DEE. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a partial correlation between epileptic activity and developmental outcome in KCNQ2-related epilepsy.

Surgical block 4.0: a digital intervention based on a real-time location patient-flow solution to support the automation of surgical pathways.

As internet of things (IoT) technologies are increasingly adopted by healthcare and hospitals, new opportunities are emerging to transform patient pathways and achieve efficient delivery of care. This implemented project follows the drivers and requirements of industry 4.0, based on surgical process analysis and optimisation using IoT technology, with the goal of creating '4.0 hospitals'. Our study presents the implementation of a novel IoT application, aiming to give support to multidisciplinary surgical teams through the optimisation of patient pathways to facilitate the surgical process. The implemented solution is based on real-time location systems (RTLS) technology, a subgroup within IoT, and it originated through the hospital needing to address the sudden surge of surgical elective care demand. The solution also enhances patient safety, facilitates quality of care by increasing communication and reduces costs. This IoT tool has facilitated the increase of theatre utilisation from 70.02% to 82.5% in 2 years, which has translated into an increase of surgical activity capacity, with an impact on reducing the waiting list.

Consejo sanitario previo a inmigrantes que viajan para visitar a familiares y amigos / Prior health advice to immigrants who travel to visit family and friends

OBJETIVO: Los inmigrantes que realizan o proyectan viajes para visitar a sus familiares en sus países de origen (inmigrantes-visiting friends and relatives [I-VFR]) tienen un riesgo superior a adquirir enfermedades relacionadas con el viaje que otros viajeros. El objetivo principal de este estudio es analizar los conocimientos de la población inmigrante sobre la necesidad de recibir consejo sanitario (CS) antes de realizar viajes internacionales en general y, específicamente, antes de viajar a sus países de origen. DISEÑO: Estudio observacional y multicéntrico. Emplazamiento: Participaron 10 médicos de familia de 10 Centros de Salud de Cataluña y Aragón. Participantes: Quinientos cincuenta y cinco inmigrantes ≥ 15 años de edad, que consultaron a su médico de familia y accedieron a responder un cuestionario. Se realizó un muestreo oportunista. RESULTADOS: Consideraban necesario recibir CS antes de realizar un viaje internacional 389 (70,1%) personas; 406 (73,2%) eran I-VFR y 145 (35,7%) habían solicitado CS previamente al viaje, con mayor frecuencia a su médico de familia (n = 60; 41,1%).No habían solicitado CS 261 (65,2%) sujetos, siendo el motivo más frecuente por considerarlo innecesario 173 (42,6%). CONCLUSIONES: Los I-VFR no suelen solicitar CS previo a viajar, fundamentalmente por considerarlo innecesario. Cuando lo solicitan, con gran frecuencia se dirigen en primera instancia a su médico de familia

OBJECTIVE: Immigrants who make or plan journeys to visit their families in their countries of origin (immigrants -visiting friends and relatives, I-VFR) have a higher risk of acquiring travel associated diseases than other travellers. The main aim of this study is to analyse the knowledge of the immigrant population on the need to receive health advice (HA) before making international journeys in general and in particular before travelling to their country of origin. DESIGN: Observational, multicentre study. Setting: Ten Family Doctors from 10 Health Centres in Catalonia and Aragon participated. Participants: A total of 555 immigrants ≥15 years of age, who consulted their Family Doctor and agreed to answer a questionnaire. Opportunity sampling was used. RESULTS: A total of 389 (70.1%) of those surveyed considered it necessary to receive HA before making an international journey, 406 (73.2%) were I-VFR and 145 (35.7%) had requested HA prior to the journey, mostly from their Family Doctor (n=60; 41.1%).Almost two-thirds (261, 65.2%) of the subjects did not seek HA, with the most common reason being that they did not consider it necessary (173, 42.6%). CONCLUSIONS: I-VFR do not usually request HA prior to travelling, basic due to considering it unnecessary. When they do request it, they are very often initially directed to their Family Doctor

[Prior health advice to immigrants who travel to visit family and friends]. / Consejo sanitario previo a inmigrantes que viajan para visitar a familiares y amigos.

OBJECTIVE: Immigrants who make or plan journeys to visit their families in their countries of origin (immigrants -visiting friends and relatives, I-VFR) have a higher risk of acquiring travel-associated diseases than other travellers. The main aim of this study is to analyse the knowledge of the immigrant population on the need to receive health advice (HA) before making international journeys in general and in particular before travelling to their country of origin. DESIGN: Observational, multicentre study. SETTING: Ten Family Doctors from 10 Health Centres in Catalonia and Aragon participated PARTICIPANTS: A total of 555 immigrants ≥ 15 years of age, who consulted their Family Doctor and agreed to answer a questionnaire. Opportunity sampling was used. RESULTS: A total of 389 (70.1%) of those surveyed considered it necessary to receive HA before making an international journey, 406 (73.2%) were I-VFR and 145 (35.7%) had requested HA prior to the journey, mostly from their Family Doctor (n=60; 41.1%). Almost two-thirds (261, 65.2%) of the subjects did not seek HA, with the most common reason being that they did not consider it necessary (173, 42.6%). CONCLUSIONS: I-VFR do not usually request HA prior to travelling, basic due to considering it unnecessary. When they do request it, they are very often initially directed to their Family Doctor.