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Background: In accordance with the focus on patient safety and quality in healthcare, continuing professional development (CPD) has received increasing levels of attention as a means to ensure physicians maintain their clinical competencies and are fit to practice. There is some evidence of a beneficial effect of CPD, though few studies have evaluated its effect within anesthesia. The primary aim of this systematic review was to establish which CPD activities anesthetists are engaged in and their effectiveness. The secondary aim was to explore which methods are employed to evaluate anesthetists’ clinical performance. Methods: Databases searched: Medline, Embase and Web of Science, in May 2023. Additional papers were identified through searching the references of included studies. Eligible studies included anesthetists, either exclusively or combined with other healthcare professionals, who underwent a learning activity or assessment method as part of a formalized CPD program or a stand-alone activity. Non-English language studies, non-peer reviewed studies and studies published prior to 2000 were excluded. Eligible studies were quality assessed and narratively synthesized, with results presented as descriptive summaries. Results: A total of 2112 studies were identified, of which 63 were eligible for inclusion, encompassing more than 137,518 participants. Studies were primarily of quantitative design and medium quality. Forty-one studies reported outcomes of single learning activities, whilst 12 studies investigated different roles of assessment methods in CPD and ten studies evaluated CPD programs or combined CPD activities. A 36 of the 41 studies reported positive effects of single learning activities. Investigations of assessment methods revealed evidence of inadequate performance amongst anesthetists and a mixed effect of feedback. Positive attitudes and high levels of engagement were identified for CPD programs, with some evidence of a positive impact on pati

Background The clinical benefit of Early Warning Scores (EWSs) is undocumented. Nursing staff's clinical assessment might improve the prediction of outcome and allow more efficient use of resources. We aimed to investigate whether the combination of clinical assessment and EWS would reduce the number of routine measurements without increasing mortality.Methods We did a cluster-randomised, crossover, non-inferiority study at eight hospitals in Denmark. Patients aged 18 years or older, admitted for more than 24 h were included. Admissions to paediatric or obstetric wards were excluded. The participating hospitals were randomly assigned 1:1 to start as either intervention or control with subsequent crossover. Primary outcomes were 30-day all-cause mortality (non-inferiority margin=0. 5%) and average number of EWS per day per patient. The intervention was implementation of the Individual EWS (I-EWS), in which nursing staff can adjust the calculated score on the basis of their dinical assessment of the patient. I-EWS was compared with the National Early Warning Score (NEWS). The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03690128 and is complete.Findings Unique admissions longer than 24 h were included from Oct 15, 2018 to Sept 30, 2019. Of 90 964 patients assessed, n=46 470 were assigned to the I-EWS group and n=14494 to the NEWS group. Mortality within 30 days was 4. 6% for the I-EWS group, and 4.3% for the NEWS group (adjusted odds ratio 1.05 [95% CI 0.99-1.12], p=0.12). In subgroup analyses I-EWS showed increased 30-day mortality for hospitals that did I-EWS in fall-winter, which was probably due to seasonality, and within patients admitted in a surgical specialty. Overall risk difference was 0.22% (95% CI -0.04 to 0.48) meaning that the non-inferiority criteria were met. The average number of scorings per patient per day was reduced from 3.14 to 3.10 (ie, a relative reduction of 0.64% [95% CI -0.16 to -1.11], p=0.0084) in the I-EWS group.I

Introduction Track and trigger systems (TTSs) based on vital signs are implemented in hospitals worldwide to identify patients with clinical deterioration. TTSs may provide prognostic information but do not actively include clinical assessment, and their impact on severe adverse events remain uncertain. The demand for prospective, multicentre studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of TTSs has grown the last decade. Individual Early Warning Score (I-EWS) is a newly developed TTS with an aggregated score based on vital signs that can be adjusted according to the clinical assessment of the patient. The objective is to compare I-EWS with the existing National Early Warning Score (NEWS) algorithm regarding clinical outcomes and use of resources. Method and analysis In a prospective, multicentre, cluster-randomised, crossover, non-inferiority study. Eight hospitals are randomised to use either NEWS in combination with the Capital Region of Denmark NEWS Override System (CROS) or implement I-EWS for 6.5 months, followed by a crossover. Based on their clinical assessment, the nursing staff can adjust the aggregated score with a maximum of-4 or +6 points. We expect to include 150 000 unique patients. The primary endpoint is all-cause mortality at 30 days. Coprimary endpoint is the average number of times per day a patient is NEWS/I-EWS-scored, and secondary outcomes are all-cause mortality at 48 hours and at 7 days as well as length of stay. Ethics and dissemination The study was presented for the Regional Ethics committee who decided that no formal approval was needed according to Danish law (J.no. 1701733). The I-EWS study is a large prospective, randomised multicentre study that investigates the effect of integrating a clinical assessment performed by the nursing staff in a TTS, in a head-to-head comparison with the internationally used NEWS with the opportunity to use CROS.

The national early warning score (NEWS) is recommended to detect deterioration in hospitalised patients. In 2013, a NEWS-based system was introduced in a hospital service with over 250,000 annual admissions, generating large amounts of NEWS data. The quality of such data has not been described. We critically assessed NEWS data recorded over 12 months. This observational study included NEWS records from adult inpatients hospitalized in the Capital Region of Denmark during 2014. Physiological variables and the use of supplementary oxygen (NEWS variables) were recorded. We identified implausible records and assessed the distributions of NEWS variable values. Of 2,835,331 NEWS records, 271,103 (10%) were incomplete with one or more variable missing and 0.2% of records containing implausible values. Digit preferences were identified for respiratory rate, supplementation oxygen flow, pulse rate, and systolic blood pressure. There was an accumulation of pulse rate records below 91 beats per minute. Among complete NEWS records, 64% had NEWS ≥ 1; 29% had NEWS ≥ 3; and 8% had NEWS ≥ 6. In a large set of NEWS data, 10% of the records were incomplete. In a system where data were manually entered into an electronic medical record, digit preferences and the accumulation of pulse rate records below 91 beats per minute, which is the limit for NEWS point generation, showed that staff practice influenced the recorded values. This indicates a potential limitation of transferability of research results obtained in such systems to fully automated systems.

BACKGROUND: Animal models of serious infection suggest that 24 h of induced hypothermia improves circulatory and respiratory function and reduces mortality. We tested the hypothesis that a reduction of core temperature to 32-34°C attenuates organ dysfunction and reduces mortality in ventilator-dependent patients with septic shock.METHODS: In this randomised, controlled, open-label trial, we recruited patients from ten intensive care units (ICUs) in three countries in Europe and North America. Inclusion criteria for patients with severe sepsis or septic shock were a mean arterial pressure of less than 70 mm Hg, mechanical ventilation in an ICU, age at least 50 years, predicted length of stay in the ICU at least 24 h, and recruitment into the study within 6 h of fulfilling inclusion criteria. Exclusion criteria were uncontrolled bleeding, clinically important bleeding disorder, recent open surgery, pregnancy or breastfeeding, or involuntary psychiatric admission. We randomly allocated patients 1:1 (with variable block sizes ranging from four to eight; stratified by predictors of mortality, age, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, and study site) to routine thermal management or 24 h of induced hypothermia (target 32-34°C) followed by 48 h of normothermia (36-38°C). The primary endpoint was 30 day all-cause mortality in the modified intention-to-treat population (all randomly allocated patients except those for whom consent was withdrawn or who were discovered to meet an exclusion criterion after randomisation but before receiving the trial intervention). Patients and health-care professionals giving the intervention were not masked to treatment allocation, but assessors of the primary outcome were. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01455116.FINDINGS: Between Nov 1, 2011, and Nov 4, 2016, we screened 5695 patients. After recruitment of 436 of the planned 560 participants, the trial was terminated for futil

We designed a queue-based model, and investigated which parameters are of importance when predicting stroke outcome. Medical record forms have been collected for 57 ischemic stroke patients, including medical history and vital sign measurement along with neurological scores for the first twenty-four hours of admission. The importance of each parameter is identified using multiple regression combined with a circular queue to iteratively fit outcome. Out of 39 parameters, the model isolated 14 which combined could estimate outcome with a root mean square error of 1.69 on the Scandinavian Stroke Scale, where outcome for patients were 36.75 ± 10.99. The queue-based model integrating multiple linear regression shows promising results for automatic selection of significant medically relevant parameters.

BACKGROUND: The early warning score (EWS) was developed to identify deteriorating patients early. It is a track-and-trigger system based on vital signs designed to direct appropriate clinical responses based on the seriousness and nature of the underlying condition. Despite its wide dissemination, serious adverse events still occur, often due to failure among staff on general wards to follow the EWS protocol. The purpose of the study was to determine barriers and facilitating factors related to three aspects of the EWS protocol: 1) adherence to monitoring frequency, 2) call for junior doctors to patients with an elevated EWS, and 3) call for the medical emergency team.METHODS: Focus groups were conducted with nurses from medical and surgical acute care wards, and content analysis was used to identify barriers and facilitating factors in relation to the research questions.RESULTS: Adherence to monitoring frequency would frequently be set aside during busy periods for other tasks. Collaboration and communication with doctors about medical patients with elevated EWS was considered to be unrealistic due to the high number of patients with these scores. Collaboration with the medical emergency team was problematic, since many nurses found the team to have negative attitudes.CONCLUSION: EWS reduces complex clinical conditions to a single number, with the inherent risk to overlook clinical cues and subtle changes in patients' condition. The study showed that identifying and treating deteriorating patients is a collaborative task that requires diverse technical and non-technical skills for staff to perform optimally.

To study the use and misuse (poisonings) of baclofen in the time period of 2007-2012 and to evaluate the severity and clinical symptoms of poisonings including ingested baclofen. The National Patient Register (NPR) was searched for admissions due to baclofen poisonings from 2007 to 2012. The search was conducted with ICD-10 codes for poisoning, self-harm and suicide, and coupled with the baclofen ATC code. All enquiries about baclofen to the Danish Poison Information Centre (DPIC) in the same period were evaluated. Demographic and clinical data were extracted, and the poisonings were classified according to the Poison Severity Score. The number of baclofen poisonings did not increase from 2007 to 2012. Thirty-eight admissions with baclofen poisoning were registered at the NPR; however, only one-third of the reviewed DPIC cases were registered at the NPR with the correct coding. In the group of severely poisoned patients (PSS 3), three patients had only ingested baclofen (mean 2000 mg; SD 500 mg) and eight patients had ingested baclofen together with alcohol or psychotropic drugs (mean 900 mg; SD 641 mg). All patients presented with deep coma and respiratory depression. Additionally, seizures and cardiovascular events (mild hypo- or hypertension and bradycardia) occurred. There is a substantial degree of underreporting of baclofen poisonings in Denmark. Symptoms of baclofen poisoning progress very fast, and toxicity was observed even with doses as low as 150 mg. We therefore recommend that observation and treatment of these patients should be carried out in an intermediate- or intensive care unit. The most important treatment is the maintenance of a protected airway and respiration.

AIM: To evaluate the performance of a new early warning score (EWS) system by reviewing all serious adverse events in our hospital over a 6-month time period.METHOD: All incidents of unexpected death (UD), cardiac arrest (CA) and unanticipated intensive care unit admission(UICU) of adult patients on general wards were reviewed to see if the escalation protocol that is part of the EWS system was followed in the 24h preceding the event, and if not where in the chain of events failure occurred.RESULTS: We found 77 UICU and 67 cases of the combined outcome (CO) of CA and UD. At least two full sets of EWS were recorded in 87, 94 and 75% of UICU, CA and UD. Patients were monitored according to the escalation protocol in 13, 31 and 13% of UICU, CA and UD. Nurses escalated care and contacted physicians in 64% and 60% of events of UICU and the corresponding proportions for CO were 58% and 55%. On call physicians provided adequate care in 49% of cases of UICU and 29% of cases of the CO. Senior staff was involved according to protocol in 53% and 36% of cases of UICU and CO, respectively.CONCLUSION: Poor compliance with the escalation protocol was commonly found when serious adverse events occurred but level of care provided by physicians was also a problem in a hospital with implemented early warning system. This information may prove useful in improving performance of EWS systems.

Background Controversies exist as to whether one should rely on the 'scoop and run' or 'stay and play' approach in the case of penetrating trauma in the prehospital setting. Optimal prehospital care is much debated and the extent to which advanced life support (ALS) measures should be performed remains unclear. This study aimed to report the outcome of penetrating torso trauma in relation to the on-scene time and ALS procedures performed prehospitally. It was hypothesised that a longer on-scene time could predict a higher mortality after penetrating torso trauma. Methods This was an observational cohort study of penetrating trauma patients treated by the Mobile Emergency Care Unit in Copenhagen with a 30-day follow-up. Between January 2002 and September 2009, data were prospectively registered regarding the anatomical location of the trauma, time intervals and procedures performed in the prehospital setting. Follow-up data were obtained from a national administrative database. The primary end point was 30-day survival. Results Of the 467 patients registered, 442 (94.6%) were identified at the 30-day follow-up, of whom 40 (9%) were dead. A higher mortality was found among patients treated on-scene for more than 20 min (p=0.0001), although on-scene time was not a significant predictor of 30-day mortality in the multivariate analysis; OR 3.71, 95% CI 0.66 to 20.70 (p=0.14). The number of procedures was significantly correlated to a higher mortality in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion On-scene time might be important in penetrating trauma, and ALS procedures should not delay transport to definite care at the hospital.

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization defines violence as a public health problem, affecting mainly boys and young men. Interpersonal violence with sharp objects and arms is rare in Denmark, but has been the focus of attention from the media and general population. This study describes the incidence and characteristics of penetrating trauma treated by the Medical Emergency Care Unit in Copenhagen (MECU) from 2000 to 2007. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study is a historical cohort study with 30-day follow-up. Patients treated by the MECU for penetrating trauma were included. The physician manning the MECU prospectively registered clinical data and pre-hospital treatment for later analyses. Mortality after 30 days was assessed via the Danish Civil Registry System. RESULTS: A total of 764 patients were eligible for inclusion. We were unable to identify three patients due to missing civil registration numbers. Among the remaining 761 patients, 86% were male with a median age of 32 years. A total of 12 foreigners could only be followed to hospital discharge. The annual incidence of penetrating trauma remained unchanged around 93 cases throughout the study period (p = 0.39). The percentages of trauma caused by violence, as well as 30-day mortality, were constant. CONCLUSION: The incidence of and mortality from penetrating trauma has not been rising in Copenhagen during the last eight years. Udgivelsesdato: 2009-Oct-5

The aim of medical emergency teams (MET) is to identify and treat deteriorating patients on general wards, and to avoid cardiac arrest, unplanned intensive care unit admission and death. The effectiveness of METs has yet to be proven, as the only two randomised, controlled trials on the subject show conflicting results. Despite the lack of evidence, METs are gaining popularity and are being implemented in Danish hospitals as part of Operation Life Udgivelsesdato: 2008/8/25