Chemiluminescent Measurement of Hydrogen Peroxide in the Exhaled Breath Condensate of Healthy and Asthmatic Adults.

Reactive oxygen species are centrally involved in the pathophysiology of airway diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This study reports the development of a chemiluminescence assay and a device for measuring hydrogen peroxide in the exhaled breath condensate of asthma patients and healthy participants. A stand-alone photon detection device was constructed for use with an optimized chemiluminescence assay. Calibrations using a catalase control to scavenge residual hydrogen peroxide in calibrant solutions provided analytically sensitive and specific measurements. We evaluated exhaled breath condensate hydrogen peroxide in 60 patients (ages 20-83; 30 healthy patients and 30 asthma patients) recruited from the John Peter Smith Hospital Network. The exhaled breath condensate hydrogen peroxide concentrations trended toward higher values in asthma patients compared to healthy participants (mean 142.5 vs 115.5 nM; p = 0.32). Asthma patients who had not used an albuterol rescue inhaler in the past week were compared to those who had and showed a trend toward higher hydrogen peroxide levels (mean 172.8 vs 115.9 nM; p = 0.25), and these patients also trended toward higher hydrogen peroxide than healthy participants (mean 172.8 vs 115.5 nM; p = 0.14). This pilot study demonstrates the ability of the newly developed assay and device to measure exhaled breath condensate hydrogen peroxide in asthma patients and healthy participants. The trends observed in this study are in agreement with previous literature and warrant further investigation of using this system to measure exhaled breath condensate hydrogen peroxide for monitoring oxidative stress in asthma.

Unrecognized failed airway management using a supraglottic airway device.

BACKGROUND: 911 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems utilize supraglottic devices for either primary advanced airway management, or for airway rescue following failed attempts at direct laryngoscopy endotracheal intubation. There is, however, limited data on objective confirmation of supraglottic airway placement in the prehospital environment. Furthermore, the ability of EMS field providers to recognize a misplaced airway is unknown. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients who underwent airway management using the King LTS-D supraglottic airway in a large urban EMS system, between 3/1/15-9/30/2015. Subjective success was defined as documentation of successful airway placement by the EMS provider. Objective success was confirmed by review of waveform capnography, with the presence of a 4-phase waveform greater than 5mmHg. Sensitivity and specificity of the field provider's assessment of success were then calculated. RESULTS: A total of 344 supraglottic airway attempts were reviewed. No patients met obvious death criteria. 269 attempts (85.1%) met criteria for both subjective and objective success. 19 attempts (5.6%) were recognized failures by the EMS provider. 47 (13.8%) airways were misplaced but unrecognized by the EMS provider. 4 attempts (1.2%) were correctly placed but misidentified as failures, leading to the unnecessary removal and replacement of the airway. Sensitivity of the provider's assessment was 98.5%; specificity was 28.7%. CONCLUSION: The use of supraglottic airway devices results in unrecognized failed placement. Appropriate utilization and review of waveform capnography may remedy a potential blind-spot in patient safety, and systemic monitoring/feedback processes may therefore be used to prevent unrecognized misplaced airways.

Effect of a community-wide asthma intervention on appropriate use of inhaled corticosteroids.

Individuals with asthma living in the inner city experience increased asthma morbidity and mortality compared to the US average. The Controlling Asthma in America's Cities Project's Chicago site used a multifaceted approach to improve asthma care. The diverse scope of this project's interventions necessitated the use of novel methods to assess the effect of these interventions on the entire study area. Asthma-related medication-dispensing data were obtained from a large pharmacy chain for prescriptions filled in calendar years 2004-2006 for all individuals aged 5-17 years living in Chicago who filled at least four asthma-related medications within a 12-month period. Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use was considered inadequate if an individual had four or more dispensings of a short-acting beta-agonist without at least four dispensings of an ICS agent. Logistic regression was used to compare adequate ICS use in individuals within the intervention area with ICS use in the remainder of the city, after controlling for gender, insurance status, race, and poverty. A significant difference in adequate ICS use was found in years 2 (2005) and 3 (2006) of the project for individuals aged 5-9 in the intervention area (odds ratios for adequate ICS use-year 2, 1.26; CI, 1.04-1.53, p = 0.04; year 3, 1.30; CI, 1.08-1.55, p = 0.008) compared to individuals aged 5-9 in the remainder of the city. There was no similar significant difference in the 10-17 age group. These findings suggest an effect of a large multifaceted asthma intervention in improving medication use in the targeted age group. This methodology might also prove useful in the future for assessing the effect of similar interventions.

An umbrella review: corticosteroid therapy for adults with acute asthma.

The objective of this "umbrella" review is to synthesize the evidence and provide clinicians a single report that summarizes the state of knowledge regarding the use of corticosteroids in adults with acute asthma. Systematic reviews in the Cochrane Library and additional clinical trials published in English from 1966 to 2007 in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane CENTRAL, and references from bibliographies of pertinent articles were reviewed. Results indicate that the evidence base is frequently limited to small, single-center studies. Findings suggest that therapy with systemic corticosteroids accelerates the resolution of acute asthma and reduces the risk of relapse. There is no evidence that corticosteroid doses greater than standard doses (prednisone 50-100 mg equivalent) are beneficial. Oral and intravenous corticosteroids, as well as intramuscular and oral corticosteroid regimens, seem to be similarly effective. A nontapered 5- to 10-day course of corticosteroid therapy seems to be sufficient for most discharged patients. Combinations of oral and inhaled corticosteroids on emergency department/hospital discharge might minimize the risk of relapse.

Perception of airflow obstruction in patients hospitalized for acute asthma.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the perception of airflow obstruction in patients hospitalized for acute asthma. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate patient perception of airflow obstruction at hospital discharge and at a 2-week follow-up visit and to determine whether symptom control and/or severity of airflow obstruction identified patients at risk for acute asthma after discharge. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study of inner-city adults hospitalized for acute asthma from April 1, 2001, through October 31, 2002, symptom control (Asthma Control Questionnaire) and airflow obstruction (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] percentage predicted) were evaluated at discharge and 2 weeks after discharge. We evaluated perception of airflow obstruction (symptom control vs FEV1 percentage predicted) and perception of change in airflow obstruction (change in symptom control vs percentage change in FEV1) between the 2 visits. Acute asthma after discharge was defined as an emergency department visit or hospitalization for asthma within 90 days of discharge. RESULTS: In fifty-one participants, symptom control was not significantly associated with airflow obstruction at hospital discharge (P = .30), indicating poor perception of airflow obstruction. Among the 41 participants (80.4% of those enrolled) who completed the follow-up visit, change in symptom control was not significantly associated with change in airflow obstruction (P = .20), indicating poor perception of change in airflow obstruction. Greater airflow obstruction at follow-up (P = .02) and a smaller improvement in airflow obstruction (P = .03), but not symptom control, were associated with a higher risk of acute asthma after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Patients hospitalized for acute asthma have poor perception of airflow obstruction and change in airflow obstruction. Objective measurements of lung function should guide treatment decisions after discharge in this population.

Organ allocation in lung transplant.

Since the first successful single-lung transplant in 1983 and double-lung transplant in 1986, thousands of patients have benefited from the procedures. Until 1995, allocation of donor lungs was based purely on time on the waiting list. In 1995, a 90-day credit was given to patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, while still maintaining allocation based on waiting list time. In 2005, the lung allocation score (LAS) was implemented, dramatically changing the way lungs are allocated. This article will explore the reasons for the creation of the LAS, the design of the score, early experience with transplant results under the new system, and further changes that may be made to the system of lung allocation. As surgical techniques and medical management evolve, so to will the management of potential donors and the allocation of their organs, with the aim of benefiting patients needing lung transplantation in the United States.

Effects of work hour reduction on residents' lives: a systematic review.

CONTEXT: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education implemented mandatory work hour limitations in July 2003, partly out of concern for residents' well-being in the setting of sleep deprivation. These limitations are likely to also have an impact on other aspects of the lives of residents. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the literature regarding the effect of interventions to reduce resident work hours on residents' education and quality of life. DATA SOURCES: We searched the English-language literature about resident work hours from 1966 through April 2005 using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Current Contents, supplemented with hand-search of additional journals, reference list review, and review of abstracts from national meetings. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included that assessed a system change designed to counteract the effects of resident work hours, fatigue, or sleep deprivation; included an outcome directly related to residents; and were conducted in the United States. DATA EXTRACTION: For each included study, 2 investigators independently abstracted data related to study quality, subjects, interventions, and findings using a standard data abstraction form. DATA SYNTHESIS: Fifty-four articles met inclusion criteria. The interventions used to decrease resident work hours varied but included night and day float teams, extra cross-coverage, and physician extenders. Outcomes included measures of resident education (operative experience, test scores, satisfaction) and quality of residents' lives (amount of sleep, well-being). Interventions to reduce resident work hours resulted in mixed effects on both operative experience and on perceived educational quality but generally improved residents' quality of life. Many studies had major limitations in their design or conduct. CONCLUSIONS: Past interventions suggest that residents' quality of life may improve with work hour limitations, but interpretation of the outcomes of these studies is hampered by suboptimal study design and the use of nonvalidated instruments. The long-term impact of reducing resident work hours on education remains unknown. Current and future interventions should be evaluated with more rigorous methods and should investigate links between residents' quality of life and quality of patient care.

Systematic review: effects of resident work hours on patient safety.

BACKGROUND: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) mandated new work hours rules for all residency programs in July 2003. PURPOSE: To critically evaluate the evidence that adhering to the ACGME standards will improve patient safety. DATA SOURCES: Searches of electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PREMEDLINE, and Current Contents) and other methods to identify the English-language literature for studies on resident work hours for the years 1966 to 2004. STUDY SELECTION: Studies that assessed a system change designed to counteract the effects of work hours, fatigue, or sleep deprivation and that included an outcome related to patient safety were included. Seven studies met these criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: Two investigators abstracted data from all included studies by using a standard data abstraction form; each study was rated according to established criteria to assess study design quality. DATA SYNTHESIS: Interventions used were float systems, other cross-coverage systems, or unspecified schedule changes. Outcomes included mortality, adverse events, and medication errors. The results suggest that introducing such interventions has an unclear effect on selected patient safety indicators. Specifically, some indicators (such as mortality) may not change after interventions, while other indicators may improve or worsen. LIMITATIONS: This analysis is limited by the study designs of the included studies, the diversity of interventions in the studies, and the possibility of publication bias favoring studies that demonstrated statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Evidence on patient safety is insufficient to inform the process of reducing resident work hours.