Unlocking Continuous Improvement in Heart Failure Remote Monitoring: A Participatory Approach to Unveil Value Dimensions and Performance Indicators.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) constitutes a public health concern affecting quality of life, survival, and costs. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) can enhance HF management, involving patients actively and improving follow-up. While current HF RPM assessments emphasise cost-effectiveness analysis, there is a need to consider wider RPM impacts and integrate stakeholders' perspectives into assessments for better comprehensiveness. Methods: We developed a four-stage participatory approach to select value dimensions and indicators for continuous HF RPM assessment: Stage 1 involved building a literature-informed initial list; Stage 2 utilized expert interviews for validation and list expansion; Stage 3 involved a web-Delphi process with Portuguese stakeholders and experts for agreement assessment; and Stage 4 included a conclusive expert interview. Results: A literature review identified fourteen studies on telehealth, RPM, and HF, informing an initial list of four value dimensions (Access, Clinical aspects, Acceptability, and Costs) and 22 indicators. Seven semistructured interviews validated and further adjusted the list to 38 indicators. Subsequently, the web-Delphi process engaged 29 stakeholders, giving their opinions regarding assessment aspects' relevance and proposing additional elements - 1 dimension and 12 indicators. Five value dimensions and 38 indicators (76.0%) reached group agreement for selection, while 12 did not reach an agreement. Upon expert appreciation, 5 dimensions, 43 indicators, and 6 case-mix parameters were considered relevant. Discussion: This comprehensive social approach captured diverse stakeholder perspectives, achieving agreement on pertinent HF RPM monitoring and evaluation indicators. Findings can inform visualization and management tool development, aiding day-to-day RPM evaluation and identification of improvement opportunities.

Tapia's Syndrome: A Comprehensive Analysis of a Rare Intensive Care-Associated Complication.

Tapia's syndrome is a rare complication of airway manipulation, involving the simultaneous paralysis of the hypoglossal nerve and the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The etiological mechanism is commonly attributed to compression or stretching during airway manipulation. An efficient recognition of this condition is pivotal for a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach and optimized recovery time. The presence of persistent dysphagia and dysphonia, coupled with observable deviation or restriction of tongue movement, not only after oral endotracheal intubation for surgical interventions with general anesthesia but also after a prolonged orotracheal intubation period in the intensive care, should heighten the suspicion of this syndrome. This report details a case of Tapia's syndrome emerging as a complication of airway manipulation and prolonged intubation in the intensive care unit.