[Thromboembolic vein disease (TVD): antithrombotic therapy choice in ASL TO3.] / Malattia tromboembolica venosa: scelta della terapia antitrombotica nei pazienti della ASL TO3.

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolic vein disease (TVD) comprises of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Standard therapy consists of the administration of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) imbricated with antivitamin K agonists (AVK). Recently a new series of oral anticoagulants known as the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has been introduced. CHEST 2016 guidelines recommend the use of DOACs rather then AVKs for the treatment of TVD. AIM: The aim of this study was to analise the choice of antithrombotic treatment and to see if CHEST 2016 guidelines were used in the ASL TO3 district for TVD therapy. METHODS: Data obtained from the SISR archives was used to perform a cohort retrospective study. Patients who had been recovered for TEVD were selected 6 months after dismissal. Based on Chest guidelines, the period that ranged from 01/01/2014 to 30/06/2017 was divided into two parts. The cohort was classified according to antithrombotic therapy administered to these patients. RESULTS: 475 patients that had been dismissed after recovery for TVD were identified and enrolled into this study. 1st period: from 275 patients, 247 had a prescription: 132 TAO, 73 DOACs, 42 eparine, 0 ASA. 2nd period: from 200 patients, 185 had a prescription: 55 TAO, 95 DOACs, 34 eparine, 1 ASA. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis shows a significant difference between the choice of antithrombotic therapy during both periods, this difference is greater among males. We can conclude that antithrombotic prescriptions carried out in the ASL TO3 area have been adherent to Chest guidelines.

[Implementation of an operating room safety chart in Turin (Italy)]. / Adozione di una cartella di sala per la sicurezza in sala operatoria.

To ensure the safety of surgical procedures, a local health authority in Turin (Piedmont Region, Italy) adopted an operating room chart as a standard procedure that contextualizes the Ministerial surgical checklist and fills the surgical safety requirements of the regional health authority. Three characteristics make the adopted operating room chart especially useful and innovative: (i) it is completed by surgical nurses; (ii) it is completed during the surgical procedure itself; (iii) the greater number and type of checks required in addition to those specified in the ministerial checklist.

Integrated audit as a means to implement unit protocols: a randomized and controlled study.

RATIONALE: Great emphasis is placed on the need to base assistance activities on efficacy evidence. Nevertheless, it is demonstrated that the mere knowledge of scientific recommendations is not sufficient to determine changes in practice. Many elements can influence the operators' behaviour, so that comprehensive strategies are needed to change wrong or not evidence-based practices. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to compare the efficacy of two protocol implementation strategies: clinical-organizational integrated audits with feedback and presence of facilitators in the departments versus standard observation. METHODS: Cluster-randomized, controlled and open trial methods were used. Implementation was investigated for protocols regarding the prevention of pressure lesions and the management of peripheral and central venous catheters. For both protocols, a checklist with the indicators needed for the evaluation was created. The study was divided into five time points. For the initial and final investigation, evaluators filled-in the checklists for both study groups; for the three intermediate investigations, the checklists were self-filled by the operators of the control group, while the operators of the experimental group received the intervention. RESULTS: For almost all indicators, the data show an increment in the adoption of correct practices. Nevertheless, the last investigation shows a significant (P < 0.05) difference between the two groups in favour of the experimental group: 12 process indicators versus one for catheter management protocol and seven versus one for protocol on pressure lesions. CONCLUSIONS: The main strong point of the study lies in carrying out an intervention aimed at improving the operators' adoption of two protocols as a whole, rather than of single procedures. The audit intervention allowed to highlight some more subjective criticalities important in determining the success or failure of the implementation of effective practices.