Echocardiographic findings and pregnancy outcomes for fetuses with complete closure of the ductus arteriosus.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze the echocardiographic characteristics and pregnancy outcomes for fetuses with premature complete closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for eight cases of premature ductus arteriosus closure diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography in the Hunan Maternal and Child Health Hospital from July 2019 to August 2022, and the characteristics of fetal echocardiography and pregnancy outcomes of the eight cases were analyzed and summarized. RESULTS: In all cases, the intima of the ductus arteriosus was thickened and occluded, the ductus arteriosus could be seen with slightly hyperechogenic, and no blood flow signal was found in the ductus arteriosus by Doppler ultrasonography. The right heart was enlarged in seven cases, and the whole heart was enlarged in one case. Tricuspid valve regurgitation was observed to different degrees, of which seven cases were severe and one case was moderate. The pulmonary arteries of eight patients had varying degrees of widening. All eight cases were delivered by cesarean section, and one newborn died after follow-up. The prognosis of the other newborns was good. CONCLUSION: The parameters of prenatal echocardiography are helpful for the prognosis of fetuses with premature closure of the ductus arteriosus. Early prenatal detection, close observation, and clinical guidance can be used to select the right time of delivery.

Overconfidence, Time-on-Task, and Medical Errors: Is There a Relationship?

Background: Literature suggest that physicians' high level of confidence has a negative impact on medical decisions, and this may lead to medical errors. Experimental research is lacking; however, this study investigated the effects of high confidence on diagnostic accuracy. Methods: Forty internal medicine residents from different hospitals in Saudi Arabia were divided randomly into two groups: A high-confidence group as an experimental and a low-confidence group acting as a control. Both groups solved each of eight written complex clinical vignettes. Before diagnosing these cases, the high-confidence group was led to believe that the task was easy, while the low-confidence group was presented with information from which it could deduce that the diagnostic task was difficult. Level of confidence, response time, and diagnostic accuracy were recorded. Results: The participants in the high-confidence group had a significantly higher confidence level than those in the control group: 0.75 compared to 0.61 (maximum 1.00). However, neither time on task nor diagnostic accuracy significantly differed between the two groups. Conclusion: In the literature, high confidence as one of common cognitive biases has a strong association with medical error. Even though the high-confidence group spent somewhat less time on the cases, suggesting potential premature decision-making, we failed to find differences in diagnostic accuracy. It is suggested that overconfidence should be studied as a personality trait rather than as a malleable characteristic.

Cognitive bias in pathology, as exemplified in dermatopathology.

Cognitive bias refers to human thinking patterns, as well as pitfalls, that are reproducible. Importantly, cognitive bias is not intentionally discriminatory and is necessary to properly interpret the world around us, including microscopic slides. Thus, it is a useful exercise to examine cognitive bias in pathology, as exemplified in dermatopathology.

The Fallacy of a Single Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic reasoning requires clinicians to think through complex uncertainties. We tested the possibility of a bias toward an available single diagnosis in uncertain cases. DESIGN: We developed 5 different surveys providing a succinct description of a hypothetical individual patient scenaric. Each scenario was formulated in 2 versions randomized to participants, with the versions differing only in whether an alternative diagnosis was present or absent. The 5 scenarios were designed as separate tests of robustness using diverse cases, including a cautious scenario, a risky scenario, a sophisticated scenario, a validation scenario, and a comparative scenario (each survey containing only 1 version of 1 scenario). Participants included community members (n = 1104) and health care professionals (n = 200) who judged the chances of COVID infection in an individual patient. RESULTS: The first scenario described a cautious patient and found a 47% reduction in the estimated odds of COVID when a flu diagnosis was present compared with absent (odds ratio = 0.53, 95% confidence interval 0.30 to 0.94, P = 0.003). The second scenario described a less cautious patient and found a 70% reduction in the estimated odds of COVID in the presence of a flu diagnosis (odds ratio = 0.30, 95% confidence interval 0.13 to 0.70, P < 0.001). The third was a more sophisticated scenario presented to medical professionals and found a 73% reduction in the estimated odds of COVID in the presence of a mononucleosis diagnosis (odds ratio = 0.27, 95% confidence interval 0.10 to 0.75, P < 0.001). Two further scenarios-avoiding mention of population norms-replicated the results. LIMITATIONS: Brief hypothetical scenarios may overestimate the extent of bias in more complicated medical situations. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that an available simple diagnosis can lead individuals toward premature closure and a failure to fully consider additional severe diseases. HIGHLIGHTS: Occum's razor has been debated for centuries yet rarely subjected to experimental testing for evidence-based medicine.This article offers direct evidence that people favor an available simple diagnosis, thereby neglecting to consider additional serious diseases.The bias can lead individuals to mistakenly lower their judged likelihood of COVID or another disease when an alternate diagnosis is present.This misconception over the laws of probability appears in judgments by community members and by health care workers.The pitfall in reasoning extends to high-risk cases and is not easily attributed to information, incentives, or random chance.

Perinatal management of stenosis or premature closure of ductus arteriosus in three fetuses / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective:To summarize the features of stenosis or premature closure of fetal ductus arteriosus and to investigate the perinatal management strategies.Methods:Three cases diagnosed with stenosis or premature closure of fetal ductus arteriosus in Peking University First Hospital between January 2022 and June 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical features and perinatal management strategies were summarized.Results:Fetal cardiac abnormalities (right heart enlargement and tricuspid regurgitation) were detected in the three cases by routine prenatal ultrasound at the gestational weeks of 24, 30 and 23, respectively. Fetal echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis of stenosis or premature closure of fetal ductus arteriosus and no other structural anomalies were detected. All three pregnant women denied taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Case 1 and case 2 underwent emergency cesarean section due to suspected fetal cardiac dysfunction with a cardiovascular profile score of 6 and 5. The two neonates were transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit and discharged with good prognosis (normal cardiac function) on the 56th and 42nd day after birth. During a close monitoring, the stenosis of fetal ductus arteriosus improved in case 3 and a full-term neonate was delivered at 38 weeks by elective cesarean section because of a history of cesarean section.Conclusions:In the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, attention should be drawn to the fetal ductus arteriosus during ultrasound imaging, especially when right heart enlargement and tricuspid regurgitation were detected. For fetuses with suspected ductus arteriosus stenosis, a close monitor of the ductus arteriosus and the ultrasound findings indicating cardiac dysfunction is needed and the cardiovascular profile score should also be involved. Fetuses with premature closure of the ductus arteriosus should be delivered promptly and the postnatal cardiac outcomes are good.

Not Like the Textbook: An Atypical Case of Ectopic Pregnancy.

Ectopic pregnancy is a potentially life-threatening outcome of pregnancy that occurs with the implantation of an embryo outside of the endometrial cavity. Classically considered a "must not miss" diagnosis, ectopic pregnancy is a common emergency department presentation, associated with a symptom triad of amenorrhea, vaginal bleeding, and abdominal pain. However, varied presentations of ectopic pregnancy or lack of typical risk factors can complicate the evaluation and diagnosis of this condition. This case report describes an atypical presentation of ectopic pregnancy after a reported spontaneous abortion, in which the patient was initially discharged with a diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease. This case provides an illustration of ectopic pregnancy that presented without classically associated symptoms, and also highlights how anchoring bias and pre-emptive closure, among other cognitive biases, contributed to a missed diagnosis.

Pursuit of "endpoint diagnoses" as a cognitive forcing strategy to avoid premature diagnostic closure.

Premature closure is often described as a significant contributor to diagnostic error. Therefore, developing strategies to mitigate premature closure could reduce diagnostic errors and improve patient care. Here we propose the novel concept of pursuit of an "endpoint diagnosis" as a cognitive forcing strategy (CFS) for avoiding premature diagnostic closure. We define an "endpoint diagnosis" as an underlying causative explanation for a patient's signs, symptoms, and laboratory and radiographic data that exhausts additional relevant diagnostic evaluation. We have observed four contexts in which the error of not pursuing an endpoint diagnosis most often occurs: (1) diagnoses that appear to result in the same treatment regardless of etiology, (2) cases that are particularly complex, (3) clinical scenarios that are vulnerable to systems errors, and (4) situations in which patients' problems are attributed to uncontrolled underlying risk factors or an exacerbation of a known condition. Additionally, we address why we believe endpoint diagnoses are not universally pursued, delineate when this approach might be particularly useful, attempt to reconcile the potential conflict between accepting diagnostic ambiguity in certain instances and pursuing endpoint diagnoses, and outline possible concerns that might arise with using this CFS, including the possibility of lengthy evaluations resulting in overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Our overarching goal is for this CFS to help clinicians in their daily clinical practice as they seek to optimize their diagnostic skill and patient care.

Neurodevelopmental risk evaluation of premature closure of the anterior fontanelle.

PURPOSE: To evaluate neurological development of completely healthy children with anterior fontanelle premature closure via Denver Developmental Screening Test II and to compare the results with control group. METHOD AND RESULTS: The records of 140 patients applied to Mersin University Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic between 2011 and 2019 with the complaint of premature closure of the anterior fontanelle were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with microcephaly, craniosynostosis, infection, sequelae of hypoxia-ischemia, metabolic disorders, intracranial hemorrhage, epilepsy, endocrine problems, and dysmorphic features were excluded from the study. Sixty-six completely healthy children with anterior fontanelle premature closure were included in the study. Denver Developmental Screening Test II was performed by the same developmental specialist to the children with premature closure of the anterior fontanelle as well as to the healthy control group. For each child included in the case and the control group, 90% of the values for each development area were calculated and recorded. Then, the results were compared. Denver II Developmental Screening Test (p < 0.001) and gross motor subtest (p < 0.001) results showed statistically significant retardation in the case group compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The study was the first study in the literature on the gross motor development of children with premature closure of anterior fontanelle, and it has been found significantly undeveloped compared with the control group, and it has been concluded that similar patients should be evaluated from this view point in pediatric neurology department.

Facial Nerve Palsy: Clinical Practice and Cognitive Errors.

Facial paralysis is the most common cranial nerve paralysis and the majority of these are idiopathic. Idiopathic facial nerve paralysis, or Bell palsy, typically presents acutely, affects the entire face, may be associated with hyperacusis, a decrease in lacrimation, salivation, or dysgeusia, and typically resolves spontaneously. The diagnosis of idiopathic facial paralysis is made after a thorough history and physical examination to exclude alternative etiologies and follow-up to ensure recovery of facial function. Atypical presentation, recurrent paralysis, additional neurologic deficits, lack of facial recovery in 2-3 months, or a history of head and neck or cutaneous malignancy are concerning for alternative causes of facial paralysis requiring workup. The erroneous use of the eponym Bell palsy to refer to all causes of facial paralysis, regardless of the history and presentation, may result in cognitive errors, including premature closure, anchoring bias, and diagnosis momentum. Hence, we recommend replacing the eponym Bell palsy with idiopathic facial nerve paralysis.

A randomized experimental study to assess the effect of language on medical students' anxiety due to uncertainty.

Background Communication and handoff failures are common causes of diagnostic errors in hospital. Human quest for certainty can increase the likelihood of premature closure in decision-making, the most common phenomenon in misdiagnosis. Little research exists on whether language choice in handoffs affects physicians' sense of uncertainty. Methods Medical students from a large US medical school were randomized to receive one of four language variations describing a presumed diagnosis in hypothetical handoffs from emergency department (ED) to inpatient ward. The control language arm used the word 'diagnosis'; experimental arms replaced this word with either 'hypothesis', 'probability of 60%', or 'working diagnosis' with a short differential. Outcome measures were students' anxiety due to uncertainty (range 5-30; higher scores indicating higher stress from uncertainty) and clinical uncertainty about the ED provider's presumed diagnosis. Results Mean anxiety due to uncertainty was significantly higher in subjects receiving the 'hypothesis' language arm compared to those receiving the control 'diagnosis' language [19.2 (4.6) vs. 15.5 (3.4); p<0.008]. Differences between subjects who received the probability language [17.2 (5.8) vs. 15.5 (3.4); p=0.26] and 'working diagnosis' language [16 (5) vs. 15.5 (3.4); p=0.69] were not statistically significant. There was no difference in items assessing clinical uncertainty after each scenario. Conclusions The word 'hypothesis' increased anxiety due to uncertainty compared to the word 'diagnosis', but did not change assessments of clinical uncertainty. Further research is needed to assess how use of language in clinical handoffs may influence perceptions and anxiety related to uncertainty and whether optimal language can be identified that leads to recognition of uncertainty without maladaptive stress or anxiety due to uncertainty.

Predictors of Premature Match Closure in Youth Mentoring Relationships.

Although mentoring is a popular and effective means of intervention with youth, the positive effects of mentoring can be diminished by premature match closure of relationships. Program, mentor, and mentee characteristics were examined as predictors of premature match closure. Secondary data analyses were conducted on a large national database of mentoring programs consisting of match and youth risk information from 170 mentoring programs and 6468 matches from across the U.S. Premature closure was associated with mentee age at match inception and 19 individual mentee characteristics. The set of mentee characteristics were examined as part of a cumulative risk index encompassing seven conceptually combined categories including family background characteristics, school functioning problems, engagement in risky health behaviors, self-regulation difficulties, engagement in illegal or criminal activities, and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Both the age of mentees when matched and the cumulative risk index score significantly predicted premature closure. Results are discussed in terms of directions for future research and suggestions for enhancing mentoring program practices.

Progresses of ultrasound in fetuses with restricted and premature closed foramen ovale / 中国介入影像与治疗学

The foramen ovale (FO) is an important intra-atrium communication in fetuses.FO restriction or closure in fetuses with or without congenital heart defects can cause hemodynamics abnormality in utero.Fetal echocardiography plays an irreplaceable role in diagnosis of disease about FO.Progresses of ultrasound in fetuses with restricted or premature closed FO were reviewed in this article.

La insuficiencia tricuspídea como marcador indirecto de la constricción o cierre prematuro del conducto arterioso: reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura / Tricuspid insufficiency an indirect marker of constriction or premature fetal closure of the ductus arteriosus: report of a case and review of the literature

La constricción y el cierre del conducto arterioso fetal tienen una prevalencia desconocida, debido a que la mayoría de estos casos no tiene trascendencia clínica, pero se sospecha que muchos de ellos no son detectados por falta de experiencia del ultrasonografista. Presentamos el caso de una gestante quien recibe una dosis de metamizol y a la evaluación ultrasonográfica se encuentra regurgitación tricuspídea fetal. Ante la evaluación del conducto arterioso se halla constricción del mismo. Se realiza una revisión sobre la asociación entre la insuficiencia tricuspídea y la permeabilidad del conducto arterioso. La lección de este caso es que el hallazgo de insuficiencia tricuspídea debe motivar la evaluación del conducto arterioso por una persona entrenada u optar por la referencia a un centro de mayor experiencia.

Both fetal ductus arteriosus constriction and closure have an unknown prevalence because most of these cases have no clinical significance, but there is a suspicion that many of them are not detected due to lack of training of the sonographer. We report the case of a pregnant woman who received a dose of metamizole and the fetal echocardiographic examination showed tricuspid regurgitation. We review the association between tricuspid regurgitation and ductus arteriosus patency. The lesson of this case is that the finding of tricuspid regurgitation should prompt evaluation of the ductus arteriosus by a trained person or either opts for referral to a center with more experienced professionals.

[Maternal use of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs and closure of the ductus arteriosus]. / Prise maternelle d'anti-inflammatoires non stéroïdiens et fermeture du canal artériel.

We report a case of intrauterine premature closure of the ductus arteriosus diagnosed in an anasarca fetus associated with major heart failure following mother's ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). Second trimester obstetric ultrasound allowed detection of an asymmetry of the cardiac chambers. Caesarean section was perfomed at 30 weeks of pregnancy to remove anasarca fetus with major heart failure due to prenatal closure of the ductus arteriosus. Based upon this case, we conducted a literature review to highlight potential fetal and neonatal complications resulting from early closure of the ductus arteriosus secondary to NSAID use during pregnancy.

Drug Toxicity in Kidney Disease: A Standardized Patient Case for Clerkship Students.

INTRODUCTION: A disconnect appears to exist for medical students between learning drug facts in a basic science context and applying those facts in a clinical context when they begin working with authentic patients. In patients with kidney dysfunction, dosages of medications that are renally eliminated often need to be adjusted, due to potentially toxic accumulation in the body. To gain insight into the thought processes and gaps underlying student thinking, we developed this standardized patient (SP) case featuring a patient with drug-related renal dysfunction. METHODS: This activity was conducted in a simulation center, in a setting reminiscent of an emergency department. It took place over 2 days, with all 23 third-year medical students at our regional campus. After reporting to the simulation center at their assigned time, students completed four different medication scenarios. This specific case involved two parts. The first part, an SP-student encounter, was allotted 15 minutes, followed by 1 minute to walk to a computer station. For the second part, writing a SOAP (subjective, objective, assessment, and plan) note, 15 minutes were allotted. This was followed by 3 minutes for the SP to provide student feedback and 1 minute to rotate to the next station. In total, 35 minutes were allotted for each student to complete the case. RESULTS: All third-year medical students at our regional campus completed this activity at the midpoint of their academic year. Students were well prepared to gather necessary background information from the standardized patient. However, few made the connection between the patient's symptoms and the way in which her medications were contributing. Nor did they recommend an appropriate course of action for medications that required adjustment. DISCUSSION: From this activity, we gained insight into the student thought process with regard to medication management and have been able to develop new ways of revisiting basic science concepts in clinically relevant contexts to help bridge the gap between the basic and clinical components of pharmacology education.

Diagnostic performance on briefly presented digital pathology images.

BACKGROUND: Identifying new and more robust assessments of proficiency/expertise (finding new "biomarkers of expertise") in histopathology is desirable for many reasons. Advances in digital pathology permit new and innovative tests such as flash viewing tests and eye tracking and slide navigation analyses that would not be possible with a traditional microscope. The main purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of time-restricted testing of expertise in histopathology using digital images. METHODS: 19 novices (undergraduate medical students), 18 intermediates (trainees), and 19 experts (consultants) were invited to give their opinion on 20 general histopathology cases after 1 s and 10 s viewing times. Differences in performance between groups were measured and the internal reliability of the test was calculated. RESULTS: There were highly significant differences in performance between the groups using the Fisher's least significant difference method for multiple comparisons. Differences between groups were consistently greater in the 10-s than the 1-s test. The Kuder-Richardson 20 internal reliability coefficients were very high for both tests: 0.905 for the 1-s test and 0.926 for the 10-s test. Consultants had levels of diagnostic accuracy of 72% at 1 s and 83% at 10 s. CONCLUSIONS: Time-restricted tests using digital images have the potential to be extremely reliable tests of diagnostic proficiency in histopathology. A 10-s viewing test may be more reliable than a 1-s test. Over-reliance on "at a glance" diagnoses in histopathology is a potential source of medical error due to over-confidence bias and premature closure.