Prospective Descriptive Study (prospective + descriptive_study)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Incidence of postoperative nausea and vomitingin paediatric ambulatory surgery

PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA, Issue 8 2002
I. Villeret
SummaryBackground: We performed a prospective descriptive study over a 5-month period to determine the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) during the first 24 h following elective ambulatory paediatric surgery, excluding head and neck procedures. Methods: Four hundred and seven patients, aged 15 days to 16 years, were analysed prospectively. Results: The incidence of PONV was 9.4%, occurring most frequently during the first 3 h after anaesthesia and in hospital but rarely during the journey home. It was associated with age, previous history of PONV, tracheal intubation or use of the laryngeal mask airway (LMAÔ), controlled or manual ventilation, opioids and absence of oral intake of liquids or solids. Conversely, type of surgery, premedication, induction mode, association of regional anaesthesia, inhaled nitrous oxide, duration of anaesthesia, stay in the postanaesthesia care unit and duration of journey after discharge were not significantly associated with PONV. Conclusions: PONV never induced complications or delayed patient discharge and curative treatment was rapidly effective. [source]


The St. George Homebirth Program: An evaluation of the first 100 booked women

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 6 2009
Jane McMURTRIE
Background:, The St. George Homebirth Program was the first publicly funded homebirth model of care set up in New South Wales. This program provides access to selected women at low obstetric risk the option of having their babies at home. There are only four other publicly funded homebirth programs operating in Australia. Aims:, To report the outcomes of the first 100 women booked at the St. George Homebirth Program. Methods:, A prospective descriptive study was undertaken. Data were collected on the first 100 women who gave birth between November 2005 and March 2009. Two databases were accessed and missing data were followed up by review of the relevant charts. Results:, Of the first 100 booked women, 63 achieved a homebirth, 30 were transferred to hospital or independent midwifery care in the antenatal period and seven were transferred intrapartum. Two women were transferred to hospital in the early postnatal period, one for a postpartum haemorrhage and one for hypotension. One baby suffered mild respiratory distress, was treated in the emergency department and was discharged home within four hours. Conclusion:, The St. George Hospital homebirth program has provided reassuring outcomes for the first 100 women it has cared for over the past four years. Wider availability of this service could be achieved provided there is the appropriate close collaboration between providers and effective processes for consultation, referral and transfer. The outcomes of women and babies in publicly funded homebirth programs deserve further study, and the development of a national prospective database of all planned homebirths would contribute to this knowledge. [source]


Postpartum intrauterine pressure studies of the uterotonic effect of oral misoprostol and intramuscular syntometrine

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 1 2001
Y.S. Chong
Objectives To investigate the effect of oral misoprostol in dosages varying from 200 ,g to 800 ,g on postpartum uterine contractility and to establish their side effects. Design A prospective descriptive study. Participants Fifty-seven women who delivered vaginally after spontaneous labours not requiring augmentation. Methods Within 5 minutes of delivery of the placenta, a calibrated Gaeltec catheter with an intrauterine pressure transducer at its tip was inserted transcervically into the uterine cavity. Cumulative uterine activity was recorded for 30 minutes in each woman before administering the oral misoprostol tablets and continued for a further 90 minutes after its administration. Thus each woman acted as her own control regarding changes in uterine contractility. Uterine activity was recorded on a Sonicaid Meridian fetal monitor, which measures active contraction area automatically. The incidence of side effects was also recorded. Results There was no statistical difference (P=0.887) in the adjusted mean difference in cumulative uterine activity following all the doses of oral misoprostol, compared with intramuscular syntometrine, the largest difference being seen in oral misoprostol 200 ,g (adjusted mean difference ,2282 kPas s, 95% CI ,7954 to 3390 kPas s). The mean onset of action of oral misoprostol (6.1, SD 2.1 min) was significantly slower than that of intramuscular syntometrine (3.2, SD 1.5 min; P=0.002), but their durations of action were similar (P=0.637). In the misoprostol group the commonest side effects were shivering (36%) and a rise in body temperature above 38°C (40%). In the syntometrine group, the most commonly observed side effect was moderate uterine pain (nine out of ten women) and a rise in diastolic blood pressure of 20 mmHg (two out of ten women). Conclusion The results of this study show that oral misoprostol has a definite uterotonic effect on the postpartum uterus. At doses of 200 ,g to 400 ,g, oral misoprostol has a similar uterotonic effect to intramuscular syntometrine. Higher doses of oral misoprostol are associated with significantly more side effects. [source]


The Anatomic Relationship of Femoral Vein to Femoral Artery in Euvolemic Pediatric Patients by Ultrasonography: Implications for Pediatric Femoral Central Venous Access

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 5 2008
Fred H. Warkentine MD
Abstract Background:, Knowledge of the femoral vein (FV) anatomy in pediatric patients is important in the selection of appropriate size central line catheters as well as the approach to central venous access. This knowledge may avoid potential complications during central line access. Objectives:, To describe the relationship of the FV to the femoral artery (FA). To measure FV diameter and FV depth using ultrasonography (US) in newborns, infants, and children up to 9 years of age. Methods:, This study was a prospective descriptive study at a tertiary care children's hospital. A convenience sample of euvolemic children was enrolled aged 0,9 years presenting to an urban pediatric emergency department. All patients underwent a standardized US evaluation using a Sonosite Titan bedside machine by a single emergency physician. The FA and FV were identified by four criteria: relative positions, FV compressibility, FV enlargement by Valsalva maneuver, and absence of FV pulsatility. The position of the FV relative to the FA was described as being completely overlapped by the FA, having partial (<50%) overlap by the FA, and having no overlap by the FA. The FV depth was measured from the skin to the superior border of the vein using the US machine's caliper function. Results:, A total of 84 patients were studied. The FV was found to be completely overlapped by the FA in 8% of subjects and partially overlapped by the FA in 4% of subjects. The mean FV diameter ranged from 4.5 mm in young infants to 10.8 mm in patients 9 years of age. The mean FV depth ranged from 6.5 mm in neonates to 11.2 mm in patients 9 years of age. Conclusions:, External landmarks were not always predictive of internal anatomy. The FV was completely or partially overlapped by the FA in 12% of cases. Thus, visualization of femoral vessels should be recommended prior to attempting pediatric femoral central venous access. [source]