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Mishra P, Mohanty PK, Som TK, Sahoo T, Devi U, Purkait S, Sable MN, Mishra P, Ayyanar P. Neonatal autopsy-is it relevant in today's era? J Trop Pediatr 2024; 70:fmae018. [PMID: 39122655 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmae018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Autopsy of infants can provide vital information about the cause of death and contributes to the detection of diagnostic errors, especially in a low- or middle-income country. To observe the clinicopathological agreement in neonatal deaths in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and comment on the additional information retrieved by autopsy. A retrospective observational study was conducted in the NICU from January 2020 to December 2022. Neonatal deaths were analyzed, and clinical details and autopsy findings were collected. Both clinical and pathological diagnoses were classified according to the Goldman classification. Twenty-two newborn infants were enrolled. The mean gestational age was 33.5 (±4.38) weeks, and the median birth weight was 1510 (1005-2100) g. There was complete concordance between clinical and pathological diagnosis in 11 (50%) cases. Major diagnostic errors occurred in 41% of cases. Respiratory system disorders (lung infections, airway anomalies) accounted for six (54%) cases of missed diagnosis. Our study showed that the diagnosis was revised after autopsy in about one-third of cases, and newer findings were identified in one-fifth of cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purbasha Mishra
- Department of Neonatology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar Mohanty
- Department of Neonatology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Tapas Kumar Som
- Department of Neonatology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Tanushree Sahoo
- Department of Neonatology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Usha Devi
- Department of Neonatology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Suvendu Purkait
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Mukund Namdev Sable
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Pritinanda Mishra
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Pavithra Ayyanar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
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2
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Cifra CL, Custer JW, Smith CM, Smith KA, Bagdure DN, Bloxham J, Goldhar E, Gorga SM, Hoppe EM, Miller CD, Pizzo M, Ramesh S, Riffe J, Robb K, Simone SL, Stoll HD, Tumulty JA, Wall SE, Wolfe KK, Wendt L, Eyck PT, Landrigan CP, Dawson JD, Reisinger HS, Singh H, Herwaldt LA. Prevalence and Characteristics of Diagnostic Error in Pediatric Critical Care: A Multicenter Study. Crit Care Med 2023; 51:1492-1501. [PMID: 37246919 PMCID: PMC10615661 DOI: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000005942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Effective interventions to prevent diagnostic error among critically ill children should be informed by diagnostic error prevalence and etiologies. We aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of diagnostic errors and identify factors associated with error in patients admitted to the PICU. DESIGN Multicenter retrospective cohort study using structured medical record review by trained clinicians using the Revised Safer Dx instrument to identify diagnostic error (defined as missed opportunities in diagnosis). Cases with potential errors were further reviewed by four pediatric intensivists who made final consensus determinations of diagnostic error occurrence. Demographic, clinical, clinician, and encounter data were also collected. SETTING Four academic tertiary-referral PICUs. PATIENTS Eight hundred eighty-two randomly selected patients 0-18 years old who were nonelectively admitted to participating PICUs. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Of 882 patient admissions, 13 (1.5%) had a diagnostic error up to 7 days after PICU admission. Infections (46%) and respiratory conditions (23%) were the most common missed diagnoses. One diagnostic error caused harm with a prolonged hospital stay. Common missed diagnostic opportunities included failure to consider the diagnosis despite a suggestive history (69%) and failure to broaden diagnostic testing (69%). Unadjusted analysis identified more diagnostic errors in patients with atypical presentations (23.1% vs 3.6%, p = 0.011), neurologic chief complaints (46.2% vs 18.8%, p = 0.024), admitting intensivists greater than or equal to 45 years old (92.3% vs 65.1%, p = 0.042), admitting intensivists with more service weeks/year (mean 12.8 vs 10.9 wk, p = 0.031), and diagnostic uncertainty on admission (77% vs 25.1%, p < 0.001). Generalized linear mixed models determined that atypical presentation (odds ratio [OR] 4.58; 95% CI, 0.94-17.1) and diagnostic uncertainty on admission (OR 9.67; 95% CI, 2.86-44.0) were significantly associated with diagnostic error. CONCLUSIONS Among critically ill children, 1.5% had a diagnostic error up to 7 days after PICU admission. Diagnostic errors were associated with atypical presentations and diagnostic uncertainty on admission, suggesting possible targets for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L. Cifra
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
- Division of Medical Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jason W. Custer
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Craig M. Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kristen A. Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Dayanand N. Bagdure
- Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport School of Medicine, Shreveport, Louisiana
| | - Jodi Bloxham
- University of Iowa College of Nursing, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Emily Goldhar
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Stephen M. Gorga
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Elizabeth M. Hoppe
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Christina D. Miller
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Critical Care, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Max Pizzo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Sonali Ramesh
- Department of Pediatrics, BronxCare Health System, New York, New York
| | - Joseph Riffe
- Department of Pediatrics, Family First Health, York, Pennsylvania
| | - Katharine Robb
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Shari L. Simone
- University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Jamie Ann Tumulty
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, University of Maryland Children’s Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Stephanie E. Wall
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Katie K. Wolfe
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Linder Wendt
- University of Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Patrick Ten Eyck
- University of Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Christopher P. Landrigan
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jeffrey D. Dawson
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Heather Schacht Reisinger
- University of Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Hardeep Singh
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Loreen A. Herwaldt
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa
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Xu Y, Cheng C, Zheng F, Saiyin H, Zhang P, Zeng W, Liu X, Liu G. An audit of autopsy-confirmed diagnostic errors in perinatal deaths: What are the most common major missed diagnoses. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19984. [PMID: 37809936 PMCID: PMC10559671 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Perinatal autopsies are essential to establish the cause of stillbirth or neonatal death and improve clinical practice. Limited studies have provided detailed major missed diagnoses of perinatal deaths in current clinical practice. In this retrospective audit of 177 perinatal autopsies including 99 stillbirths and 78 neonatal deaths with complete pathologic evaluation, 66 cases (21 Class I and 45 Class II diagnostic errors) were revealed as major discrepancies (37.3%), with complete agreements in 80 cases (45.2%). The difference in major discrepancies between stillbirth and neonatal death groups was significant (P < 0.001), with neonatal deaths being more prone to Class I errors. Various respiratory diseases (25/66, 37.9%) and congenital malformations (16/66, 24.2%) accounted for the majority of missed diagnoses (41/66, 62.1%). More importantly, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) was the most common type I missed diagnosis (7/8, 87.5%), markedly higher than the average 11.9% of all Class I errors. Our findings suggest that there are high disparities between clinical diagnoses and autopsy findings in perinatal deaths, and that various respiratory diseases are mostly inclined to cause major diagnostic errors. We first demonstrated that NRDS is the most common type I missed diagnosis in perinatal deaths, which clinicians should pay special attention to in practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinwen Xu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenchen Cheng
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fengyun Zheng
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hexige Saiyin
- The State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Pingzhao Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjiao Zeng
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiuping Liu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoyuan Liu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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4
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Congdon M, Rauch B, Carroll B, Costello A, Chua WD, Fairchild V, Fatemi Y, Greenfield ME, Herchline D, Howard A, Khan A, Lamberton CE, McAndrew L, Hart J, Shaw KN, Rasooly IR. Opportunities for Diagnostic Improvement Among Pediatric Hospital Readmissions. Hosp Pediatr 2023; 13:563-571. [PMID: 37271791 PMCID: PMC10330757 DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2023-007157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Diagnostic errors, termed "missed opportunities for improving diagnosis" (MOIDs), are known sources of harm in children but have not been well characterized in pediatric hospital medicine. Our objectives were to systematically identify and describe MOIDs among general pediatric patients who experienced hospital readmission, outline improvement opportunities, and explore factors associated with increased risk of MOID. PATIENTS AND METHODS Our retrospective cohort study included unplanned readmissions within 15 days of discharge from a freestanding children's hospital (October 2018-September 2020). Health records from index admissions and readmissions were independently reviewed and discussed by practicing inpatient physicians to identify MOIDs using an established instrument, SaferDx. MOIDs were evaluated using a diagnostic-specific tool to identify improvement opportunities within the diagnostic process. RESULTS MOIDs were identified in 22 (6.3%) of 348 readmissions. Opportunities for improvement included: delay in considering the correct diagnosis (n = 11, 50%) and failure to order needed test(s) (n = 10, 45%). Patients with MOIDs were older (median age: 3.8 [interquartile range 1.5-11.2] vs 1.0 [0.3-4.9] years) than patients without MOIDs but similar in sex, primary language, race, ethnicity, and insurance type. We did not identify conditions associated with higher risk of MOID. Lower respiratory tract infections accounted for 26% of admission diagnoses but only 1 (4.5%) case of MOID. CONCLUSIONS Standardized review of pediatric readmissions identified MOIDs and opportunities for improvement within the diagnostic process, particularly in clinician decision-making. We identified conditions with low incidence of MOID. Further work is needed to better understand pediatric populations at highest risk for MOID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Congdon
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104 USA
| | - Bridget Rauch
- Center for Healthcare Quality and Analytics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
| | - Bryn Carroll
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104 USA
| | - Anna Costello
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104 USA
| | - Winona D. Chua
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104 USA
| | - Victoria Fairchild
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
| | - Yasaman Fatemi
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
| | - Morgan E. Greenfield
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104 USA
| | - Daniel Herchline
- Division of General Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
| | - Alexandra Howard
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104 USA
| | - Amina Khan
- Center for Healthcare Quality and Analytics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Department of Biomedical & Health Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 US
| | - Courtney E. Lamberton
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Presbyterian Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
| | - Lisa McAndrew
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104 USA
| | - Jessica Hart
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104 USA
| | - Kathy N. Shaw
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104 USA
| | - Irit R. Rasooly
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104 USA
- Department of Biomedical & Health Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 US
- Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness & PolicyLab, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, 2716 South Street, 10th floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19146 USA
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5
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Ribeiro MP, Duarte-Neto AN, Dolhnikoff M, Lindoso L, Lourenço B, Marques HH, Pereira MFB, Cristofani LM, Odone-Filho V, Campos LMA, Sallum AME, Carneiro-Sampaio M, Delgado AF, Carvalho WB, Mauad T, Silva CA. Major discrepancy between clinical diagnosis of death and anatomopathological findings in adolescents with chronic diseases during 18-years. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2023; 78:100184. [PMID: 36972631 PMCID: PMC10091384 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2023.100184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the inconsistency between clinical diagnosis of death and autopsy findings in adolescents with chronic diseases. METHODS A cross-sectional study including a sample of adolescents' autopsies who died in a pediatric and adolescent tertiary hospital over 18 consecutive years. During this period, there were n = 2912 deaths, and n = 581/2912(20%) occurred in adolescents. Of these, n = 85/581(15%) underwent autopsies and were analyzed. Further results were divided into two groups: Goldman classes I or II (high disagreement between main clinical diagnosis of death and anatomopathological findings, n = 26) and Goldman classes III, IV or V (low or no disagreement between these two parameters, n = 59). RESULTS Median age at death (13.5 [10‒19] vs. 13 [10‒19] years, p = 0.495) and disease duration (22 [0‒164] vs. 20 [0‒200] months, p = 0.931), and frequencies for males (58% vs. 44%, p = 0.247) were similar between class I/II vs. class III/IV/V. The frequency of pneumonia (73% vs. 48%, p = 0.029), pulmonary abscess (12% vs. 0%, p = 0.026), as well as isolation of yeast (27% vs. 5%, p = 0.008), and virus (15% vs. 2%, p = 0.029) identified in the autopsy, were significantly higher in adolescents with Goldman class I/II compared to those with Goldman class III/IV/V. In contrast, cerebral edema was significantly lower in adolescents of the first group (4% vs. 25%, p = 0.018). CONCLUSION This study showed that 30% of the adolescents with chronic diseases had major discrepancies between clinical diagnosis of death and autopsy findings. Pneumonia, pulmonary abscess, as well as isolation of yeast and virus were more frequently identified at autopsy findings in the groups with major discrepancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maira P Ribeiro
- Child and Adolescent Institute, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Amaro N Duarte-Neto
- Patology Department, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marisa Dolhnikoff
- Patology Department, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Livia Lindoso
- Child and Adolescent Institute, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Benito Lourenço
- Child and Adolescent Institute, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Heloisa H Marques
- Child and Adolescent Institute, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria F B Pereira
- Child and Adolescent Institute, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Lilian M Cristofani
- Child and Adolescent Institute, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Vicente Odone-Filho
- Child and Adolescent Institute, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Lucia M A Campos
- Child and Adolescent Institute, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriana M E Sallum
- Child and Adolescent Institute, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Magda Carneiro-Sampaio
- Child and Adolescent Institute, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Artur F Delgado
- Child and Adolescent Institute, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Werther B Carvalho
- Child and Adolescent Institute, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Thais Mauad
- Patology Department, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Clovis A Silva
- Child and Adolescent Institute, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Frequency of diagnostic errors in the neonatal intensive care unit: a retrospective cohort study. J Perinatol 2022; 42:1312-1318. [PMID: 35246625 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-022-01359-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency and etiology of diagnostic errors during the first 7 days of admission for inborn neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 600 consecutive inborn admissions. A physician used the "Safer Dx NICU Instrument" to review the electronic health record for the first 7 days of admission, and categorized cases as "yes," "unclear," or "no" for diagnostic error. A secondary reviewer evaluated all "yes" charts plus a random sample of charts in the other categories. Subsequently, all secondary reviewers reviewed records with discordance between primary and secondary review to arrive at consensus. RESULTS We identified 37 diagnostic errors (6.2% of study patients) with "substantial agreement" between reviewers (κ = 0.66). The most common diagnostic process breakdown was missed maternal history (51%). CONCLUSION The frequency of diagnostic error in inborn NICU patients during the first 7 days of admission is 6.2%.
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7
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Stockwell DC, Sharek P. Diagnosing diagnostic errors: it's time to evolve the patient safety research paradigm. BMJ Qual Saf 2022; 31:701-703. [PMID: 35508375 DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2021-014517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David C Stockwell
- Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA .,Chief Medical Officer, Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Paul Sharek
- General Pediatrics and Hospital Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Vice President, Chief Quality and Safety Officer, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
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8
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Bordini BJ. Undiagnosed and Rare Diseases in Critical Care. Crit Care Clin 2022; 38:159-171. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2021.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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9
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Diagnostic Time-Outs to Improve Diagnosis. Crit Care Clin 2022; 38:185-194. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2021.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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10
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Marshall TL, Rinke ML, Olson APJ, Brady PW. Diagnostic Error in Pediatrics: A Narrative Review. Pediatrics 2022; 149:184823. [PMID: 35230434 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2020-045948d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A priority topic for patient safety research is diagnostic errors. However, despite the significant growth in awareness of their unacceptably high incidence and associated harm, a relative paucity of large, high-quality studies of diagnostic error in pediatrics exists. In this narrative review, we present what is known about the incidence and epidemiology of diagnostic error in pediatrics as well as the established research methods for identifying, evaluating, and reducing diagnostic errors, including their strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, we highlight that pediatric diagnostic error remains an area in need of both innovative research and quality improvement efforts to apply learnings from a rapidly growing evidence base. We propose several key research questions aimed at addressing persistent gaps in the pediatric diagnostic error literature that focus on the foundational knowledge needed to inform effective interventions to reduce the incidence of diagnostic errors and their associated harm. Additional research is needed to better establish the epidemiology of diagnostic error in pediatrics, including identifying high-risk clinical scenarios, patient populations, and groups of diagnoses. A critical need exists for validated measures of both diagnostic errors and diagnostic processes that can be adapted for different clinical settings and standardized for use across varying institutions. Pediatric researchers will need to work collaboratively on large-scale, high-quality studies to accomplish the ultimate goal of reducing diagnostic errors and their associated harm in children by addressing these fundamental gaps in knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trisha L Marshall
- Division of Hospital Medicine.,James M. Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Michael L Rinke
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
| | - Andrew P J Olson
- Departments of Medicine.,Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Patrick W Brady
- Division of Hospital Medicine.,James M. Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
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11
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Cifra CL, Custer JW, Fackler JC. A Research Agenda for Diagnostic Excellence in Critical Care Medicine. Crit Care Clin 2022; 38:141-157. [PMID: 34794628 PMCID: PMC8963385 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2021.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Diagnosing critically ill patients in the intensive care unit is difficult. As a result, diagnostic errors in the intensive care unit are common and have been shown to cause harm. Research to improve diagnosis in critical care medicine has accelerated in past years. However, much work remains to fully elucidate the diagnostic process in critical care. To achieve diagnostic excellence, interdisciplinary research is needed, adopting a balanced strategy of continued biomedical discovery while addressing the complex care delivery systems underpinning the diagnosis of critical illness.
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12
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Inter-center variation in autopsy practices among regional neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). J Perinatol 2021; 41:2820-2825. [PMID: 34983934 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-021-01286-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize infants who underwent autopsy in regional neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and examine inter-center variability in autopsy completion. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study of infants who died between 2010 and 2016 from 32 participating hospitals in the Children's Hospital Neonatal Database (CHND). Maternal/infant demographics and hospital stay data were collected, along with autopsy rates by center, year, and region. Data analysis utilized bivariate and multivariable statistics. RESULT Of 6299 deaths, 1742 (27.7%) completed autopsy. Infants who underwent autopsy had higher median birth weight (2 124 g vs. 1 655 g) and gestational age (34 vs. 32 weeks). No differences were seen in sex, length of stay, or primary cause of death. Marked inter-center variability was observed, with 17-fold adjusted difference (p < 0.001) in autopsy rates. CONCLUSION Patient characteristics do not account for variability in autopsy practices across regional NICUs. Factors such as provider practices and parental preferences should be investigated.
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Sawicki JG, Nystrom D, Purtell R, Good B, Chaulk D. Diagnostic error in the pediatric hospital: a narrative review. Hosp Pract (1995) 2021; 49:437-444. [PMID: 34743667 DOI: 10.1080/21548331.2021.2004040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Diagnostic error is a prevalent type of medical error that is associated with considerable patient harm and increased medical costs. The majority of literature guiding the current understanding of diagnostic error in the hospital setting is from adult studies. However, there is research to suggest this type of error is also prevalent in the pediatric specialty. OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this study was to define the current understanding of diagnostic error in the pediatric hospital through a structured literature review. METHODS We searched PubMed and identified studies focusing on three aspects of diagnostic error in pediatric hospitals: the incidence or prevalence, contributing factors, and related interventions. We used a tiered review, and a standardized electronic form to extract data from included articles. RESULTS Fifty-nine abstracts were screened and 23 full-text studies were included in the final review. Seventeen of the 23 studies focused on the incidence or prevalence, with only 3 studies investigating the utility of interventions. Most studies took place in an intensive care unit or emergency department with very few studies including only patients on the general wards. Overall, the prevalence of diagnostic error in pediatric hospitals varied greatly and depended on the measurement technique and specific hospital setting. Both healthcare system factors and individual cognitive factors were found to contribute to diagnostic error, with there being limited evidence to guide how best to mitigate the influence of these factors on the diagnostic process. CONCLUSION The general knowledge of diagnostic error in pediatric hospital settings is limited. Future work should incorporate structured frameworks to measure diagnostic errors and examine clinicians' diagnostic processes in real-time to help guide effective hospital-wide interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan G Sawicki
- Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Daniel Nystrom
- Clinical Risk Management, Intermountain Healthcare, Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Rebecca Purtell
- Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Brian Good
- Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - David Chaulk
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Abstract
Epidemiologic studies of diagnostic error in the intensive care unit (ICU) consist mostly of descriptive autopsy series. In these studies, rates of diagnostic errors are approximately 5% to 10%. Recently validated methods for retrospectively measuring error have expanded our understanding of the scope of the problem. These alternative measurement strategies have yielded similar estimates for the frequency of diagnostic error in the ICU. Although there is a fair understanding of the frequency of errors, further research is needed to better define the risk factors for diagnostic error in the ICU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Bergl
- Department of Critical Care, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, 1900 South Avenue, Mail Stop LM3-001, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Geisinger Medical Center, 100 N Academy Avenue, Danville, PA 17822, USA; Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES To summarize the literature on prevalence, impact, and contributing factors related to diagnostic error in the PICU. DATA SOURCES Search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library up to December 2019. STUDY SELECTION Studies on diagnostic error and the diagnostic process in pediatric critical care were included. Non-English studies with no translation, case reports/series, studies providing no information on diagnostic error, studies focused on non-PICU populations, and studies focused on a single condition/disease or a single diagnostic test/tool were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION Data on research design, objectives, study sample, and results pertaining to the prevalence, impact, and factors associated with diagnostic error were abstracted from each study. DATA SYNTHESIS Using independent tiered review, 396 abstracts were screened, and 17 studies (14 full-text, 3 abstracts) were ultimately included. Fifteen of 17 studies (88%) had an observational research design. Autopsy studies (autopsy rates were 20-47%) showed a 10-23% rate of missed major diagnoses; 5-16% of autopsy-discovered diagnostic errors had a potential adverse impact on survival and would have changed management. Retrospective record reviews reported varying rates of diagnostic error from 8% in a general PICU population to 12% among unexpected critical admissions and 21-25% of patients discussed at PICU morbidity and mortality conferences. Cardiovascular, infectious, congenital, and neurologic conditions were most commonly misdiagnosed. Systems factors (40-67%), cognitive factors (20-3%), and both systems and cognitive factors (40%) were associated with diagnostic error. Limited information was available on the impact of misdiagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Knowledge of diagnostic errors in the PICU is limited. Future work to understand diagnostic errors should involve a balanced focus between studying the diagnosis of individual diseases and uncovering common system- and process-related determinants of diagnostic error.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L. Cifra
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Jason W. Custer
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Hardeep Singh
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - James C. Fackler
- Division of Pediatric Anesthesia and Critical Care, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Cifra CL, Dukes KC, Ayres BS, Calomino KA, Herwaldt LA, Singh H, Reisinger HS. Referral communication for pediatric intensive care unit admission and the diagnosis of critically ill children: A pilot ethnography. J Crit Care 2021; 63:246-249. [PMID: 32980235 PMCID: PMC7969466 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2020.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The effect of communication between referring and accepting clinicians during patient transitions to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) on diagnostic quality is largely unknown. This pilot study aims to determine the feasibility of using focused ethnography to understand the relationship between referral communication and the diagnostic process for critically ill children. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted focused ethnography in an academic tertiary referral PICU by directly observing the referral and admission of 3 non-electively admitted children 0-17 years old. We also conducted 21 semi-structured interviews of their parents and admitting PICU staff (intensivists, fellows/residents, medical students, nurses, and respiratory therapists) and reviewed their medical records post-discharge. RESULTS Performing focused ethnography in a busy PICU is feasible. We identified three areas for additional exploration: (1) how information transfer affects the PICU diagnostic process; (2) how uncertainty in patient assessment affects the decision to transfer to the PICU; and (3) how the PICU team's expectations are influenced by referral communication. CONCLUSIONS Focused ethnography in the PICU is feasible to investigate relationships between clinician referral communication and the diagnostic process for critically ill children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L Cifra
- Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Dr 8600-M JCP, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Kimberly C Dukes
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of Iowa 200 Hawkins Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 601 US-6 W Suite 42-1 VAMC, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA.
| | - Brennan S Ayres
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Iowa College of Engineering 3100 Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (present address), 230 W 125(th) St, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Kelsey A Calomino
- University of Iowa College of Nursing, 50 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Loreen A Herwaldt
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine 200 Hawkins Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health 145 N Riverside Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Hardeep Singh
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey eterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, 2002 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Heather Schacht Reisinger
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of Iowa 200 Hawkins Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine 200 Hawkins Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 601 US-6 W Suite 42-1 VAMC, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA.
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Rodrigues FS, Oliveira ICD, Cat MNL, Mattos MCL, Silva GA. AGREEMENT BETWEEN CLINICAL AND ANATOMOPATHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSES IN PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 39:e2019263. [PMID: 33729321 PMCID: PMC7962522 DOI: 10.1590/1984-0462/2021/39/2019263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Although autopsy is deemed the gold standard for diagnosis, its performance has been decreasing while adverse events have been increasing, of which 17% consist in diagnostic errors. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of diagnostic errors based on anatomopathological diagnosis in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Methods: This is a cross-sectional, retrospective study on 31 patients who died between 2004 and 2014. Diagnoses were compared in order to assess whether there was agreement between clinical major diagnosis (CMD) and the cause of death as described in the autopsy record (CDAR), which were classified according to the Goldman Criteria. Results: Of 3,117 patients, 263 died (8.4%). Autopsy was conducted in 38 cases (14.4%), and 31 were included in the study. There was a 67% decrease in the number of autopsies over the last 10 years. Absolute agreement between the diagnoses (class V) was observed in 18 cases (58.0%), and disagreement (class I), in 11 (35.4%). There was greater difficulty in diagnosing acute diseases and diseases of rapid fatal evolution such as myocarditis. Seven patients were admitted in critical health conditions and died within the first 24 hours of hospitalization. Conclusions: Autopsy not only enables to identify diagnostic errors, but also provides the opportunity to learn from mistakes. The results emphasize the relevance of the autopsy examination for diagnostic elucidation and the creation of an information database concerning the main diagnoses of patients who rapidly progress to death in PICU, increasing the index of clinical suspicion of the team working at this unit.
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O’Rahelly M, McDermott M, Healy M. Autopsy and pre-mortem diagnostic discrepancy review in an Irish tertiary PICU. Eur J Pediatr 2021; 180:3519-3524. [PMID: 34137920 PMCID: PMC8210522 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-021-04155-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Our study had two objectives: (1) to review ante- and post-mortem diagnoses and assign a Goldman error classification and (2) establish autopsy rates within our centre. We performed a retrospective analysis of autopsies performed on patients who died in our paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between November 13, 2012, and October 31, 2018. Medical and autopsy data of all patients was reviewed, and Goldman classification of discrepancy between ante- and post-mortem diagnoses was assigned. Our centre is a tertiary PICU, and we included all patients that died in PICU within the designated timeframe. Our results were as follows: 396 deaths occurred in PICU from 8329 (4.75%) admissions. Ninety-nine (25%) had an autopsy, 75 required by the coroner. All were included in the study. Fifty-three were male and 46 females. Fifty-three patients were transferred from external hospitals, 46 from our centre. Forty-one were neonates, 32 were < 1 year of age, and 26 were > 1 year of age. The median length of stay was 3 days. Eighteen were post-cardiac surgery, and three post-cardiac catheter procedure. Major diagnostic errors (class I/II) were identified in 14 (14.1%), 2 (2%) class I, and 12 (12.1%) were class II errors. Class III and IV errors occurred in 28 (28.2%) patients. Complete concordance (class V) occurred in 57 (57.5%) cases.Conclusion: We conclude that the autopsy rate and the diagnostic discrepancy rate within our PICU are comparable to those previously reported. Our findings show the continuing value of autopsy in determining the cause of death and providing greater diagnostic clarity. Given their value, post-mortem examinations, where indicated, should be considered part of a physician's duty of care to families and future patients. What is Known: • Major diagnostic discrepancies (class I/II) in PICU have been reported at 20.2%. (10) • PICU autopsy rates have varied from 36 to 67% since 1994 with most recently reported rates in 2018 being 36%. (6-9) What is New: • We report an Irish PICU major diagnostic discrepancy (class I/II) rates of 14.1% contributing further to reported discrepancy rates in PICU literature to date. • This study contributes the Irish PICU post-mortem rate in a tertiary centre which was 25% over an almost 6-year period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark O’Rahelly
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael McDermott
- Department of Pathology, Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Martina Healy
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
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19
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Rugge M, Sacchi D, Cesaro S, Sbaraglia M, Locatelli F. Ethics in clinical autopsy. J Clin Pathol 2020; 74:jclinpath-2020-206793. [PMID: 33293353 DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2020-206793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
This manuscript concerns the ethical aspects of the clinical autopsy procedure. Much of the literature on this topic addresses some of the multifaceted issues potentially involved: religious beliefs and/or cultural traditions coming to bear on the management of autopsies, relations between families and healthcare personnel (physicians and technicians) involved in conducting an autopsy, ethical implications of regulations to follow and procedures for obtaining biological samples for further diagnostics or research. All these issues have ethical implications, particularly in today's globalised cultural domain. To preserve for future generations the teaching and scientific value of the clinical autopsy, scientific societies and academic institutions should endorse educational efforts to promote the ethical management of autopsy procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Rugge
- Department of Medicine, Pathology and Cytopathology Unit, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Veneto, Italy
- Department of Medicine DIMED, Universita degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Veneto, Italy
| | - Diana Sacchi
- Department of Medicine DIMED, Universita degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Veneto, Italy
| | - Sonia Cesaro
- Department of Medicine DIMED, Universita degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Veneto, Italy
| | - Marta Sbaraglia
- Department of Medicine DIMED, Universita degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Veneto, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Hemato-oncology, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Lazio, Italy
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20
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Avesar M, Erez A, Essakow J, Young C, Cooper B, Akan D, Klein MJ, Chang TP, Rake A. The effects of rudeness, experience, and perspective-taking on challenging premature closure after pediatric ICU physicians receive hand-off with the wrong diagnosis: a randomized controlled simulation trial. Diagnosis (Berl) 2020; 8:358-367. [PMID: 33185570 DOI: 10.1515/dx-2020-0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Rudeness exposure has been shown to inhibit diagnostic performance. The effects of rudeness on challenging a handed-off diagnostic error has not been studied. METHODS This was a randomized controlled study of attending, fellow, and resident physicians in a tertiary care pediatric ICU. Participants underwent a standardized simulation that started with the wrong diagnosis in hand-off. The hand-off was randomized to neutral vs. rude. Participants were not informed of the randomization nor diagnostic error prior to the simulation. Perspective taking questionnaires were administrated for each participant. Primary outcome was challenging diagnostic error post-simulation. Secondary outcomes included rate and frequency of diagnostic error challenge during simulation. RESULTS Among 41 simulations (16 residents, 14 fellows, and 11 attendings), the neutral group challenged the diagnostic error more than the rude group (neutral: 71%, rude: 55%, p=0.28). The magnitude of this trend was larger among resident physicians only, although not statistically significant (neutral: 50%, rude: 12.5%, p=0.11). Experience was associated with a higher percentage of challenging diagnostic error (residents: 31%, fellows: 86%, attendings: 82%, p=0.003). Experienced physicians were faster to challenge diagnostic error (p<0.0003), and experience was associated with a greater frequency of diagnostic error challenges (p<0.0001). High perspective taking scores were also associated with 1.63 times more diagnostic error challenges (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS Experience was strongly associated with likelihood to challenge diagnostic error. Rudeness may disproportionally hinder diagnostic performance among less experienced physicians. Perspective taking merits further research in possibly reducing diagnostic error momentum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Avesar
- Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Loma Linda CA, USA
| | - Amir Erez
- University of Florida, Gainesville, Fl, USA
| | - Jenna Essakow
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Denizhan Akan
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Todd P Chang
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alyssa Rake
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Papadogiannakis N. How can we ensure that placental pathology plays a greater role in treating neonatal morbidity? Acta Paediatr 2020; 109:1514-1515. [PMID: 32187396 DOI: 10.1111/apa.15243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nikos Papadogiannakis
- Department of Pathology Karolinska University Hospital Stockholm Sweden
- Division of Pathology Department of Laboratory Medicine Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
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Frequency, Risk Factors, Causes, and Consequences of Diagnostic Errors in Critically Ill Medical Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Crit Care Med 2020; 47:e902-e910. [PMID: 31524644 DOI: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000003976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Diagnostic errors are a source of significant morbidity and mortality but understudied in the critically ill. We sought to characterize the frequency, causes, consequences, and risk factors of diagnostic errors among unplanned ICU admissions. DESIGN We conducted a retrospective cohort study of randomly selected nonsurgical ICU admissions between July 2015 and June 2016. SETTING Medical ICU at a tertiary academic medical center. SUBJECTS Critically ill adults with unplanned admission to the medical ICU. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The primary investigator reviewed patient records using a modified version of the Safer Dx instrument, a validated instrument for detecting diagnostic error. Two intensivists performed secondary reviews of possible errors, and reviewers met periodically to adjudicate errors by consensus. For each confirmed error, we judged harm on a 1-6 rating scale. We also collected detailed demographic and clinical data for each patient. We analyzed 256 unplanned ICU admissions and identified 18 diagnostic errors (7% of admissions). All errors were associated with harm, and only six errors (33%) were recognized by the ICU team within the first 24 hours. More women than men experienced a diagnostic error (11.7% vs 2.7%; p = 0.015, χ test). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, female sex remained independently associated with risk of diagnostic error both at admission (odds ratio, 5.18; 95% CI, 1.34-20.08) and at 24 hours (odds ratio, 11.6; 95% CI, 1.37-98.6). Similarly, Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score greater than or equal to 2 at admission was independently associated with diagnostic error (odds ratio, 5.73; 95% CI, 1.72-19.01). CONCLUSIONS Diagnostic errors may be an underappreciated source of ICU-related harm. Women and higher acuity patients appear to be at increased risk for such errors. Further research is merited to define the scope of error-associated harm and to clarify risk factors for diagnostic errors among the critically ill.
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Newman-Toker DE, Wang Z, Zhu Y, Nassery N, Saber Tehrani AS, Schaffer AC, Yu-Moe CW, Clemens GD, Fanai M, Siegal D. Rate of diagnostic errors and serious misdiagnosis-related harms for major vascular events, infections, and cancers: toward a national incidence estimate using the “Big Three”. Diagnosis (Berl) 2020; 8:67-84. [DOI: 10.1515/dx-2019-0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Missed vascular events, infections, and cancers account for ~75% of serious harms from diagnostic errors. Just 15 diseases from these “Big Three” categories account for nearly half of all serious misdiagnosis-related harms in malpractice claims. As part of a larger project estimating total US burden of serious misdiagnosis-related harms, we performed a focused literature review to measure diagnostic error and harm rates for these 15 conditions.
Methods
We searched PubMed, Google, and cited references. For errors, we selected high-quality, modern, US-based studies, if available, and best available evidence otherwise. For harms, we used literature-based estimates of the generic (disease-agnostic) rate of serious harms (morbidity/mortality) per diagnostic error and applied claims-based severity weights to construct disease-specific rates. Results were validated via expert review and comparison to prior literature that used different methods. We used Monte Carlo analysis to construct probabilistic plausible ranges (PPRs) around estimates.
Results
Rates for the 15 diseases were drawn from 28 published studies representing 91,755 patients. Diagnostic error (false negative) rates ranged from 2.2% (myocardial infarction) to 62.1% (spinal abscess), with a median of 13.6% [interquartile range (IQR) 9.2–24.7] and an aggregate mean of 9.7% (PPR 8.2–12.3). Serious misdiagnosis-related harm rates per incident disease case ranged from 1.2% (myocardial infarction) to 35.6% (spinal abscess), with a median of 5.5% (IQR 4.6–13.6) and an aggregate mean of 5.2% (PPR 4.5–6.7). Rates were considered face valid by domain experts and consistent with prior literature reports.
Conclusions
Diagnostic improvement initiatives should focus on dangerous conditions with higher diagnostic error and misdiagnosis-related harm rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E. Newman-Toker
- Department of Neurology , The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, MD , USA
- Director, Armstrong Institute Center for Diagnostic Excellence , The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, MD , USA
- Professor, Department of Epidemiology , The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore, MD , USA
| | - Zheyu Wang
- Department of Oncology , The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, MD , USA
- Department of Biostatistics, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore, MD , USA
| | - Yuxin Zhu
- Department of Oncology , The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, MD , USA
- Department of Biostatistics, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore, MD , USA
| | - Najlla Nassery
- Department of Medicine , The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, MD , USA
| | - Ali S. Saber Tehrani
- Department of Neurology , The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, MD , USA
| | - Adam C. Schaffer
- Department of Patient Safety, CRICO , Boston, MA , USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
| | | | - Gwendolyn D. Clemens
- Department of Biostatistics, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore, MD , USA
| | - Mehdi Fanai
- Department of Neurology , The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, MD , USA
| | - Dana Siegal
- Director of Patient Safety, CRICO Strategies , Boston, MA , USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Diagnostic errors can harm critically ill children. However, we know little about their prevalence in PICUs and factors associated with error. The objective of this pilot study was to determine feasibility of record review to identify patient, provider, and work system factors associated with diagnostic errors during the first 12 hours after PICU admission. DESIGN Pilot retrospective cohort study with structured record review using a structured tool (Safer Dx instrument) to identify diagnostic error. SETTING Academic tertiary referral PICU. PATIENTS Patients 0-17 years old admitted nonelectively to the PICU. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Four of 50 patients (8%) had diagnostic errors in the first 12 hours after admission. The Safer Dx instrument helped identify delayed diagnoses of chronic ear infection, increased intracranial pressure (two cases), and Bartonella encephalitis. We calculated that 610 PICU admissions are needed to achieve 80% power (α = 0.05) to detect significant associations with error. CONCLUSIONS Our pilot study found four patients with diagnostic error out of 50 children admitted nonelectively to a PICU. Retrospective record review using a structured tool to identify diagnostic errors is feasible in this population. Pilot data are being used to inform a larger and more definitive multicenter study.
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Bordini BJ, Kliegman RM, Basel D, Nocton JJ. Undiagnosed and Rare Diseases in Perinatal Medicine: Lessons in Context and Cognitive Diagnostic Error. Clin Perinatol 2020; 47:1-14. [PMID: 32000918 DOI: 10.1016/j.clp.2019.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Critically ill neonates experience high rates of morbidity and mortality. Major diagnostic errors are identified in up to 20% of autopsied neonatal intensive care unit deaths. Neonates with undiagnosed or rare congenital disorders may mimic critically ill neonates with more common acquired conditions. The context of the diagnostic evaluation can introduce unique biases that increase the likelihood of diagnostic error. Herein is presented a framework for understanding diagnostic errors in perinatal medicine, and individual, team, and systems-based solutions for improving diagnosis learned through the implementation and administration of an undiagnosed and rare disease program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett J Bordini
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hospital Medicine, Nelson Service for Undiagnosed and Rare Diseases, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, 999 North 92nd Street, Suite C560, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
| | - Robert M Kliegman
- Department of Pediatrics, Nelson Service for Undiagnosed and Rare Diseases, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, 999 North 92nd Street, Suite C560, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Donald Basel
- Department of Pediatrics, Nelson Service for Undiagnosed and Rare Diseases, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, 999 North 92nd Street, Suite C560, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - James J Nocton
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Rheumatology, Nelson Service for Undiagnosed and Rare Diseases, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, 999 North 92nd Street, Suite C465, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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Bordini BJ, Kliegman RM. Undiagnosed and Rare Diseases in Perinatal Medicine: Uncommon Manifestations or Mimics of Neonatal Disorders. Clin Perinatol 2020; 47:xxi-xxii. [PMID: 32000934 DOI: 10.1016/j.clp.2019.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brett J Bordini
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Children's Corporate Center, 999 North 92nd Street-Suite C560, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
| | - Robert M Kliegman
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Children's Corporate Center, 999 North 92nd Street-Suite C450, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
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Shafer G, Singh H, Suresh G. Diagnostic errors in the neonatal intensive care unit: State of the science and new directions. Semin Perinatol 2019; 43:151175. [PMID: 31488330 DOI: 10.1053/j.semperi.2019.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Diagnostic errors remain understudied in neonatology. The limited available evidence, however, suggests that diagnostic errors in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) result in significant and long-term consequences. In this narrative review, we discuss how the concept of diagnostic errors framed as missed opportunities can be applied to the non-linear nature of diagnosis in a critical care environment such as the NICU. We then explore how the etiology of an error in diagnosis can be related to both individual cognitive factors as well as organizational and systemic factors - all of which often contribute to the error. This multifactorial causation has limited the development of methodology to measure diagnostic errors as well as strategies to mitigate and prevent their adverse effects. We recommend research focused on the frequency and etiology of diagnostic error in the NICU as well as potential mitigation strategies to advance this important field in neonatal intensive care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant Shafer
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fanning Street, Suite W6104, Houston, TX 77020, United States.
| | - Hardeep Singh
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Gautham Suresh
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States
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Diagnostic Error in the Critically III: Defining the Problem and Exploring Next Steps to Advance Intensive Care Unit Safety. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2019; 15:903-907. [PMID: 29742359 DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.201801-068ps] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Jayaprakash N, Chae J, Sabov M, Samavedam S, Gajic O, Pickering BW. Improving Diagnostic Fidelity: An Approach to Standardizing the Process in Patients With Emerging Critical Illness. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes 2019; 3:327-334. [PMID: 31485571 PMCID: PMC6713917 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To reliably improve diagnostic fidelity and identify delays using a standardized approach applied to the electronic medical records of patients with emerging critical illness. PATIENTS AND METHODS This retrospective observational study at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, conducted June 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017, used a standard operating procedure applied to electronic medical records to identify variations in diagnostic fidelity and/or delay in adult patients with a rapid response team evaluation, at risk for critical illness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified predictors and compared outcomes for those with and without varying diagnostic fidelity and/or delay. RESULTS The sample included 130 patients. Median age was 65 years (interquartile range, 56-76 years), and 47.0% (52 of 130) were women. Clinically significant diagnostic error or delay was agreed in 23 (17.7%) patients (κ=0.57; 95% CI, 0.40-0.74). Median age was 65.4 years (interquartile range, 60.3-74.8) and 9 of the 23 (30.1%) were female. Of those with diagnostic error or delay, 60.9% (14 of 23) died in the hospital compared with 19.6% (21 of 107) without; P<.001. Diagnostic error or delay was associated with higher Charlson comorbidity index score, cardiac arrest triage score, and do not intubate/do not resuscitate status. Adjusting for age, do not intubate/do not resuscitate status, and Charlson comorbidity index score, diagnostic error or delay was associated with increased mortality; odds ratio, 5.7; 95% CI, 2.0-17.8. CONCLUSION Diagnostic errors or delays can be reliably identified and are associated with higher comorbidity burden and increased mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namita Jayaprakash
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
| | - Junemee Chae
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Moldovan Sabov
- Department of Internal Medicine, Canton Medical Education Foundation, Canton, OH
| | | | - Ognjen Gajic
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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Newman-Toker DE, Schaffer AC, Yu-Moe CW, Nassery N, Saber Tehrani AS, Clemens GD, Wang Z, Zhu Y, Fanai M, Siegal D. Serious misdiagnosis-related harms in malpractice claims: The “Big Three” – vascular events, infections, and cancers. Diagnosis (Berl) 2019; 6:227-240. [DOI: 10.1515/dx-2019-0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Diagnostic errors cause substantial preventable harm, but national estimates vary widely from 40,000 to 4 million annually. This cross-sectional analysis of a large medical malpractice claims database was the first phase of a three-phase project to estimate the US burden of serious misdiagnosis-related harms.
Methods
We sought to identify diseases accounting for the majority of serious misdiagnosis-related harms (morbidity/mortality). Diagnostic error cases were identified from Controlled Risk Insurance Company (CRICO)’s Comparative Benchmarking System (CBS) database (2006–2015), representing 28.7% of all US malpractice claims. Diseases were grouped according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Clinical Classifications Software (CCS) that aggregates the International Classification of Diseases diagnostic codes into clinically sensible groupings. We analyzed vascular events, infections, and cancers (the “Big Three”), including frequency, severity, and settings. High-severity (serious) harms were defined by scores of 6–9 (serious, permanent disability, or death) on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Severity of Injury Scale.
Results
From 55,377 closed claims, we analyzed 11,592 diagnostic error cases [median age 49, interquartile range (IQR) 36–60; 51.7% female]. These included 7379 with high-severity harms (53.0% death). The Big Three diseases accounted for 74.1% of high-severity cases (vascular events 22.8%, infections 13.5%, and cancers 37.8%). In aggregate, the top five from each category (n = 15 diseases) accounted for 47.1% of high-severity cases. The most frequent disease in each category, respectively, was stroke, sepsis, and lung cancer. Causes were disproportionately clinical judgment factors (85.7%) across categories (range 82.0–88.8%).
Conclusions
The Big Three diseases account for about three-fourths of serious misdiagnosis-related harms. Initial efforts to improve diagnosis should focus on vascular events, infections, and cancers.
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de Sévaux JLH, Nikkels PGJ, Lequin MH, Groenendaal F. The Value of Autopsy in Neonates in the 21st Century. Neonatology 2019; 115:89-93. [PMID: 30352441 PMCID: PMC6425852 DOI: 10.1159/000493003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autopsy rates in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients who died are declining worldwide. Postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is suggested as adjunct to or substitute for autopsy. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper was to determine the additional diagnostic value of autopsy in NICU patients and whether autopsy findings were potentially detectable using postmortem MRI. METHODS From 2008 to 2015, 298 infants died during admission to our NICU. Permission for unrestricted, nonforensic autopsy was obtained in 100 (33.6%) of these 298 infants. Retrospectively, autopsy reports and medical records of NICU patients were compared. Additional autopsy findings were graded according to the Goldman system, grading the clinical relevance of additional findings. In addition, the potential detectability of these additional findings on postmortem MRI was assessed. RESULTS Additional findings obtained by autopsy were found in 48% of the cases, divided into major (Goldman I/II, 24%) and minor (Goldman III/IV, 24%) additional findings. Major additional findings were significantly more often found in patients with a lower gestational age, and minor additional findings in patients with a higher postnatal age at death. Of all patients with additional findings determined by autopsy, 56.3% would most likely not have been detected using postmortem MRI. CONCLUSIONS Our results emphasize the still very important role of autopsy in the NICU setting and show that conventional autopsy could probably not be completely substituted by postmortem MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joline L H de Sévaux
- Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Peter G J Nikkels
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten H Lequin
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Floris Groenendaal
- Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The
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Shafer GJ, Suresh G. Diagnostic Errors in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Case Series. AJP Rep 2018; 8:e379-e383. [PMID: 30591844 PMCID: PMC6306275 DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1676619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Diagnostic errors remain understudied in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The few available studies are primarily autopsy-based, and do not evaluate diagnostic errors that did not result in the patient's death. This case series presents 10 examples of nonlethal diagnostic errors in the NICU-classified according to the component of the diagnostic process which led to the error. These cases demonstrate the presence of diagnostic error in the NICU and highlight the need for further research on this important topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant J Shafer
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Neonatology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | - Gautham Suresh
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Neonatology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
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Bhat PN, Costello JM, Aiyagari R, Sharek PJ, Algaze CA, Mazwi ML, Roth SJ, Shin AY. Diagnostic errors in paediatric cardiac intensive care. Cardiol Young 2018; 28:675-682. [PMID: 29409553 PMCID: PMC7271069 DOI: 10.1017/s1047951117002906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
IntroductionDiagnostic errors cause significant patient harm and increase costs. Data characterising such errors in the paediatric cardiac intensive care population are limited. We sought to understand the perceived frequency and types of diagnostic errors in the paediatric cardiac ICU. METHODS Paediatric cardiac ICU practitioners including attending and trainee physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and registered nurses at three North American tertiary cardiac centres were surveyed between October 2014 and January 2015. RESULTS The response rate was 46% (N=200). Most respondents (81%) perceived that diagnostic errors harm patients more than five times per year. More than half (65%) reported that errors permanently harm patients, and up to 18% perceived that diagnostic errors contributed to death or severe permanent harm more than five times per year. Medication side effects and psychiatric conditions were thought to be most commonly misdiagnosed. Physician groups also ranked pulmonary overcirculation and viral illness to be commonly misdiagnosed as bacterial illness. Inadequate care coordination, data assessment, and high clinician workload were cited as contributory factors. Delayed diagnostic studies and interventions related to the severity of the patient's condition were thought to be the most commonly reported process breakdowns. All surveyed groups ranked improving teamwork and feedback pathways as strategies to explore for preventing future diagnostic errors. CONCLUSIONS Paediatric cardiac intensive care practitioners perceive that diagnostic errors causing permanent harm are common and associated more with systematic and process breakdowns than with cognitive limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya N Bhat
- 1Department of Pediatrics,Divisions of Pediatric Cardiology and Critical Care Medicine,Washington University School of Medicine,St. Louis,Missouri,USA
| | - John M Costello
- 2Department of Pediatrics,Divisions of Pediatric Cardiology and Critical Care Medicine,Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,Chicago,Illinois,USA
| | - Ranjit Aiyagari
- 3Department of Pediatrics,Division of Pediatric Cardiology,University of Michigan School of Medicine,Ann Arbor,Michigan,USA
| | - Paul J Sharek
- 4Department of Pediatrics,Division of Hospitalist Medicine,Stanford University School of Medicine,Palo Alto,California,USA
| | - Claudia A Algaze
- 5Department of Pediatrics,Division of Pediatric Cardiology,Stanford University School of Medicine,Palo Alto,California,USA
| | - Mjaye L Mazwi
- 2Department of Pediatrics,Divisions of Pediatric Cardiology and Critical Care Medicine,Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,Chicago,Illinois,USA
| | - Stephen J Roth
- 5Department of Pediatrics,Division of Pediatric Cardiology,Stanford University School of Medicine,Palo Alto,California,USA
| | - Andrew Y Shin
- 4Department of Pediatrics,Division of Hospitalist Medicine,Stanford University School of Medicine,Palo Alto,California,USA
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Liberman AL, Newman-Toker DE. Symptom-Disease Pair Analysis of Diagnostic Error (SPADE): a conceptual framework and methodological approach for unearthing misdiagnosis-related harms using big data. BMJ Qual Saf 2018; 27:557-566. [PMID: 29358313 DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2017-007032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The public health burden associated with diagnostic errors is likely enormous, with some estimates suggesting millions of individuals are harmed each year in the USA, and presumably many more worldwide. According to the US National Academy of Medicine, improving diagnosis in healthcare is now considered 'a moral, professional, and public health imperative.' Unfortunately, well-established, valid and readily available operational measures of diagnostic performance and misdiagnosis-related harms are lacking, hampering progress. Existing methods often rely on judging errors through labour-intensive human reviews of medical records that are constrained by poor clinical documentation, low reliability and hindsight bias. METHODS Key gaps in operational measurement might be filled via thoughtful statistical analysis of existing large clinical, billing, administrative claims or similar data sets. In this manuscript, we describe a method to quantify and monitor diagnostic errors using an approach we call 'Symptom-Disease Pair Analysis of Diagnostic Error' (SPADE). RESULTS We first offer a conceptual framework for establishing valid symptom-disease pairs illustrated using the well-known diagnostic error dyad of dizziness-stroke. We then describe analytical methods for both look-back (case-control) and look-forward (cohort) measures of diagnostic error and misdiagnosis-related harms using 'big data'. After discussing the strengths and limitations of the SPADE approach by comparing it to other strategies for detecting diagnostic errors, we identify the sources of validity and reliability that undergird our approach. CONCLUSION SPADE-derived metrics could eventually be used for operational diagnostic performance dashboards and national benchmarking. This approach has the potential to transform diagnostic quality and safety across a broad range of clinical problems and settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava L Liberman
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - David E Newman-Toker
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Departments of Epidemiology and Health Policy and Management, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Dutch guideline for clinical foetal-neonatal and paediatric post-mortem radiology, including a review of literature. Eur J Pediatr 2018; 177:791-803. [PMID: 29675642 PMCID: PMC5958158 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-018-3135-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Clinical post-mortem radiology is a relatively new field of expertise and not common practice in most hospitals yet. With the declining numbers of autopsies and increasing demand for quality control of clinical care, post-mortem radiology can offer a solution, or at least be complementary. A working group consisting of radiologists, pathologists and other clinical medical specialists reviewed and evaluated the literature on the diagnostic value of post-mortem conventional radiography (CR), ultrasonography, computed tomography (PMCT), magnetic resonance imaging (PMMRI), and minimally invasive autopsy (MIA). Evidence tables were built and subsequently a Dutch national evidence-based guideline for post-mortem radiology was developed. We present this evaluation of the radiological modalities in a clinical post-mortem setting, including MIA, as well as the recently published Dutch guidelines for post-mortem radiology in foetuses, neonates, and children. In general, for post-mortem radiology modalities, PMMRI is the modality of choice in foetuses, neonates, and infants, whereas PMCT is advised in older children. There is a limited role for post-mortem CR and ultrasonography. In most cases, conventional autopsy will remain the diagnostic method of choice. CONCLUSION Based on a literature review and clinical expertise, an evidence-based guideline was developed for post-mortem radiology of foetal, neonatal, and paediatric patients. What is Known: • Post-mortem investigations serve as a quality check for the provided health care and are important for reliable epidemiological registration. • Post-mortem radiology, sometimes combined with minimally invasive techniques, is considered as an adjunct or alternative to autopsy. What is New: • We present the Dutch guidelines for post-mortem radiology in foetuses, neonates and children. • Autopsy remains the reference standard, however minimal invasive autopsy with a skeletal survey, post-mortem computed tomography, or post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging can be complementary thereof.
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Management of asymptomatic neonates born in the setting of chorioamnionitis: a safety comparison of the well-baby and intensive care setting. J Perinatol 2017; 37:1236-1241. [PMID: 28880259 DOI: 10.1038/jp.2017.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evaluate the safety of a change in care setting for asymptomatic neonates born to mothers with chorioamnionitis from the neonatal intensive care unit to the well baby nursery.Local problem:The neonatal intensive care unit evaluation and management of babies born to mothers with chorioamionitis often involves separation of the mother-baby dyad and more invasive interventions. METHODS A single-center pre/post-intervention study of neonates born from January 2011 to November 2016, comparing safety outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit (pre-intervention) and well baby nursery (post-intervention), following initiation of a triage protocol. INTERVENTIONS A protocolized, systematic change was done in the practice location. RESULTS Groups were similar for time to first antibiotic administration, sepsis symptom development and positive blood cultures. Length of stay (median 73.5 vs 64.4 h, P=0.0192) and % of neonates with intravenous fluid exposure (50.4% vs 7.6%, P<0.0001) were lower in the post-intervention group. Exclusive breastfeeding rates improved (pre-7.3% vs post-46.1%, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Asymptomatic neonates born to mothers with chorioamnionitis were safely treated in a well baby nursery under the guidance of a protocol for triage, thereby reducing NICU exposure for these neonates.
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Rodewald AK, Bode P, Cathomas G, Moch H. Klinische Obduktionen in der Schweiz. DER PATHOLOGE 2017; 38:416-421. [DOI: 10.1007/s00292-017-0323-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Liu D, Gan R, Zhang W, Wang W, Saiyin H, Zeng W, Liu G. Autopsy interrogation of emergency medicine dispute cases: how often are clinical diagnoses incorrect? J Clin Pathol 2017; 71:67-71. [PMID: 28735302 DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2017-204484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Revised: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Emergency medicine is a 'high risk' specialty. Some diseases develop suddenly and progress rapidly, and sudden unexpected deaths in the emergency department (ED) may cause medical disputes. We aimed to assess discrepancies between antemortem clinical diagnoses and postmortem autopsy findings concerning emergency medicine dispute cases and to figure out the most common major missed diagnoses. METHODS Clinical files and autopsy reports were retrospectively analysed and interpreted. Discrepancies between clinical diagnoses and autopsy diagnoses were evaluated using modified Goldman classification as major and minor discrepancy. The difference between diagnosis groups was compared with Pearson χ2 test. RESULTS Of the 117 cases included in this study, 71 of cases (58 class I and 13 class II diagnostic errors) were revealed as major discrepancies (60.7%). The most common major diagnoses were cardiovascular diseases (54 cases), followed by pulmonary diseases, infectious diseases and so on. The difference of major discrepancy between the diagnoses groups was significant (p<0.001). Aortic dissection and myocardial infarction were the most common cause of death (15 cases for each disease) and the most common missed class I diagnoses (80% and 66.7% for each), higher than the average 49.6% of all class I errors of the study patients. CONCLUSIONS High major disparities between clinical diagnoses and postmortem examinations exist in emergency medical disputes cases; acute aortic dissection and myocardial infarction are the most frequently major missed diagnoses that ED clinicians should pay special attention to in practice. This study reaffirmed the necessity and usefulness of autopsy in auditing death in EDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyang Liu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Rongchang Gan
- Judicial Authentication Institution of Shanghai Minhang District Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Weidi Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hexige Saiyin
- The State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjiao Zeng
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoyuan Liu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Bordini BJ, Stephany A, Kliegman R. Overcoming Diagnostic Errors in Medical Practice. J Pediatr 2017; 185:19-25.e1. [PMID: 28336147 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.02.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brett J Bordini
- Section of Hospital Medicine, Nelson Service for Undiagnosed and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.
| | - Alyssa Stephany
- Section of Hospital Medicine, Nelson Service for Undiagnosed and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Robert Kliegman
- Section of Hospital Medicine, Nelson Service for Undiagnosed and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
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Zimmerman JJ, Sullivan E, Yager TD, Cheng C, Permut L, Cermelli S, McHugh L, Sampson D, Seldon T, Brandon RB, Brandon RA. Diagnostic Accuracy of a Host Gene Expression Signature That Discriminates Clinical Severe Sepsis Syndrome and Infection-Negative Systemic Inflammation Among Critically Ill Children. Crit Care Med 2017; 45:e418-e425. [PMID: 27655322 DOI: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000002100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES SeptiCyte Lab (Immunexpress, Seattle, WA), a molecular signature measuring the relative expression levels of four host messenger RNAs, was developed to discriminate critically ill adults with infection-positive versus infection-negative systemic inflammation. The objective was to assess the performance of Septicyte Lab in critically ill pediatric patients. DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING Pediatric and Cardiac ICUs, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA. PATIENTS A cohort of 40 children with clinically overt severe sepsis syndrome and 30 children immediately postcardiopulmonary bypass surgery was recruited. The clinically overt severe sepsis syndrome children had confirmed or highly suspected infection (microbial culture orders, antimicrobial prescription), two or more systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria (including temperature and leukocyte criteria), and at least cardiovascular ± pulmonary organ dysfunction. INTERVENTIONS None (observational study only). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Next-generation RNA sequencing was conducted on PAXgene blood RNA samples, successfully for 35 of 40 (87.5%) of the clinically overt severe sepsis syndrome patients and 29 of 30 (96.7%) of the postcardiopulmonary bypass patients. Forty patient samples (~ 60% of cohort) were reanalyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, to check for concordance with next-generation sequencing results. Postcardiopulmonary bypass versus clinically overt severe sepsis syndrome descriptors included the following: age, 7.3 ± 5.5 versus 9.0 ± 6.6 years; gender, 41% versus 49% male; Pediatric Risk of Mortality, version III, 7.0 ± 4.6 versus 8.7 ± 6.4; Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction, version II, 5.1 ± 2.2 versus 4.8 ± 2.8. SeptiCyte Lab strongly differentiated postcardiopulmonary bypass and clinically overt severe sepsis syndrome patients by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, with an area-under-curve value of 0.99 (95% CI, 0.96-1.00). Equivalent performance was found using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. There was no significant correlation between the score produced by the SeptiCyte Lab test and measures of illness severity, immune compromise, or microbial culture status. CONCLUSIONS SeptiCyte Lab is able to discriminate clearly between clinically well-defined and homogeneous postcardiopulmonary bypass and clinically overt severe sepsis syndrome groups in children. A broader investigation among children with more heterogeneous inflammation-associated diagnoses and care settings is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry J Zimmerman
- 1Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA.2Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA.3Immunexpress, Seattle, WA.4Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA.5Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine whether the Safer Dx Instrument, a structured tool for finding diagnostic errors in primary care, can be used to reliably detect diagnostic errors in patients admitted to a PICU. DESIGN AND SETTING The Safer Dx Instrument consists of 11 questions to evaluate the diagnostic process and a final question to determine if diagnostic error occurred. We used the instrument to analyze four "high-risk" patient cohorts admitted to the PICU between June 2013 and December 2013. PATIENTS High-risk cohorts were defined as cohort 1: patients who were autopsied; cohort 2: patients seen as outpatients within 2 weeks prior to PICU admission; cohort 3: patients transferred to PICU unexpectedly from an acute care floor after a rapid response and requiring vasoactive medications and/or endotracheal intubation due to decompensation within 24 hours; and cohort 4: patients transferred to PICU unexpectedly from an acute care floor after a rapid response without subsequent decompensation in 24 hours. INTERVENTIONS Two clinicians used the instrument to independently review records in each cohort for diagnostic errors, defined as missed opportunities to make a correct or timely diagnosis. Errors were confirmed by senior expert clinicians. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Diagnostic errors were present in 26 of 214 high-risk patient records (12.1%; 95% CI, 8.2-17.5%) with the following frequency distribution: cohort 1: two of 16 (12.5%); cohort 2: one of 41 (2.4%); cohort 3: 13 of 44 (29.5%); and cohort 4: 10 of 113 (8.8%). Overall initial reviewer agreement was 93.6% (κ, 0.72). Infections and neurologic conditions were the most commonly missed diagnoses across all high-risk cohorts (16/26). CONCLUSIONS The Safer Dx Instrument has high reliability and validity for diagnostic error detection when used in high-risk pediatric care settings. With further validation in additional clinical settings, it could be useful to enhance learning and feedback about diagnostic safety in children.
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Widmann R, Caduff R, Giudici L, Zhong Q, Vogetseder A, Arlettaz R, Frey B, Moch H, Bode PK. Value of postmortem studies in deceased neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit patients. Virchows Arch 2016; 470:217-223. [DOI: 10.1007/s00428-016-2056-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Carlotti APCP, Bachette LG, Carmona F, Manso PH, Vicente WVA, Ramalho FS. Discrepancies Between Clinical Diagnoses and Autopsy Findings in Critically Ill Children: A Prospective Study. Am J Clin Pathol 2016; 146:701-708. [PMID: 27940427 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqw187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the discrepancies between clinical and autopsy diagnoses in patients who died in the pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) of a tertiary care university hospital. METHODS A prospective study of all consecutive autopsies discussed at monthly mortality conferences over 5 years. Discrepancies between premortem and autopsy diagnoses were classified according to modified Goldman et al criteria. RESULTS From January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2015, a total of 2,679 children were admitted to the two PICUs of our hospital; 257 (9.6%) died, 150 (58.4%) underwent autopsy, and 123 were included. Complete concordance between clinical and postmortem diagnoses was observed in 86 (69.9%) patients; 20 (16.3%) had a class I discrepancy, and eight (6.5%) had a class II discrepancy. Comparing 2011 and 2015, the rate of major discrepancies decreased from 31.6% to 15%. CONCLUSIONS Our results emphasize the importance of autopsy to clarify the cause of death and its potential contribution to improvement of team performance and quality of care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Letícia G Bachette
- Division of Anesthesiology, Department of Biomechanics, Medicine, and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus
| | - Fabio Carmona
- From the Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics
| | - Paulo H Manso
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics
| | - Walter V A Vicente
- Division of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Anatomy
| | - Fernando S Ramalho
- Department of Pathology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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Perrem LM, Fanshawe TR, Sharif F, Plüddemann A, O'Neill MB. A national physician survey of diagnostic error in paediatrics. Eur J Pediatr 2016; 175:1387-92. [PMID: 27631589 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-016-2772-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED This cross-sectional survey explored paediatric physician perspectives regarding diagnostic errors. All paediatric consultants and specialist registrars in Ireland were invited to participate in this anonymous online survey. The response rate for the study was 54 % (n = 127). Respondents had a median of 9-year clinical experience (interquartile range (IQR) 4-20 years). A diagnostic error was reported at least monthly by 19 (15.0 %) respondents. Consultants reported significantly less diagnostic errors compared to trainees (p value = 0.01). Cognitive error was the top-ranked contributing factor to diagnostic error, with incomplete history and examination considered to be the principal cognitive error. Seeking a second opinion and close follow-up of patients to ensure that the diagnosis is correct were the highest-ranked, clinician-based solutions to diagnostic error. Inadequate staffing levels and excessive workload were the most highly ranked system-related and situational factors. Increased access to and availability of consultants and experts was the most highly ranked system-based solution to diagnostic error. CONCLUSION We found a low level of self-perceived diagnostic error in an experienced group of paediatricians, at variance with the literature and warranting further clarification. The results identify perceptions on the major cognitive, system-related and situational factors contributing to diagnostic error and also key preventative strategies. WHAT IS KNOWN • Diagnostic errors are an important source of preventable patient harm and have an estimated incidence of 10-15 %. • They are multifactorial in origin and include cognitive, system-related and situational factors. What is New: • We identified a low rate of self-perceived diagnostic error in contrast to the existing literature. • Incomplete history and examination, inadequate staffing levels and excessive workload are cited as the principal contributing factors to diagnostic error in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy M Perrem
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin 1, Ireland.
| | - Thomas R Fanshawe
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Farhana Sharif
- Department of Paediatrics, Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland
| | - Annette Plüddemann
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Michael B O'Neill
- Department of Paediatrics, Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, Co., Mayo, Ireland
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Singh VD, Lathrop SL. Role of the Medical Examiner in Zika Virus and Other Emerging Infections. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2016; 141:82-84. [PMID: 27608262 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2016-0327-sa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT -Medical examiners and coroners have long been an integral component of public health, often being the first to recognize and describe emerging infectious diseases. Given their experience and access, medical examiners and coroners will provide valuable contributions to better understanding Zika virus infection and its sequelae. OBJECTIVE -To review past examples of medical examiner/coroner involvement in recognition of emerging infectious diseases and describe how medical examiners and coroners will be critical in understanding the pathophysiology of Zika infections. DESIGN -Review of the existing literature on the role of medical examiners and coroners in the identification of emergent infections and the available literature on Zika virus. RESULTS -Medical examiners and coroners have played a crucial role in identifying numerous emerging infectious diseases such as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and West Nile virus, and have the expertise and experience to aid in elucidating the pathophysiologic effects of Zika virus and tracking its distribution and risk factors. CONCLUSIONS -Medical examiners and coroners will be a significant factor in the unified public health approach needed to mitigate the effects of Zika virus and other, heretofore unrecognized, infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah L Lathrop
- From the Office of the Medical Investigator (Drs Singh and Lathrop), Albuquerque, New Mexico; and the Department of Pathology (Drs Singh and Lathrop), University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque
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Friedman ML, McBride ME. Changes in cognitive function after pediatric intensive care unit rounds: a prospective study. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [PMID: 29536896 DOI: 10.1515/dx-2016-0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental fatigue is impaired cognitive function induced by engaging in cognitively demanding activities. Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) rounds are demanding and may be a cause of impaired cognitive functioning. The purpose of this study is to evaluate if PICU rounds induce poorer performance on cognitive tasks after rounds compared to before rounds and assess the feasibility of cognitive testing in the PICU. METHODS This was a prospective study of residents in the PICU. Participants were evaluated before and after rounds on a single day, consisting of two tests of cognitive function that are sensitive to mental fatigue, the cognitive estimation test (CET) and the repeatable episodic memory test (REMT). RESULTS Thirty residents participated. The mean length of rounds was 191 min (SD 33.8 min), the mean number of patients rounded on by the team was 14.9 (SD 2.3) and the median patients presented by the participant was two (range 0-6). The average number of words recalled on the REMT was significantly lower after rounds compared to before (29.6 vs. 31.2, p < 0.05). There were significantly more falsely recalled words after rounds (1.3 vs. 0.7, p=0.02). There was a correlation between worsening performance and later time of testing in the 4-week PICU rotation (r=0.42, p < 0.02). There were no differences in performance on the CET. CONCLUSIONS PICU rounds induced impairments on cognitive testing but the effect size is small and not consistent across tests. There is an increased susceptibility to impaired cognition induced by rounds over the course of a rotation, this finding merits further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L Friedman
- 1Section of Pediatric Critical Care, Riley Hospital for Children and Indiana University School of Medicine - Pediatrics, 705 Riley Hospital Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States of America
| | - Mary E McBride
- 2Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States of America
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The Morbidity and Mortality Conference in Pediatric Intensive Care as a Means for Improving Patient Safety. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2016; 17:67-72. [PMID: 26492061 DOI: 10.1097/pcc.0000000000000550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To present our experience in an interdisciplinary and interprofessional morbidity and mortality conference, with special emphasis on its usefulness in improving patient safety. DESIGN Retrospective analysis. SETTING Tertiary interdisciplinary neonatal PICU. PATIENTS Morbidity and mortality conference minutes on 48 patients (newborns to 17 yr), January 2009 to June 2014. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The authors' PICU implemented a morbidity and mortality conference guideline in 2009 using a system-based approach to identify medical errors, their contributing factors, and possible solutions. In the subsequent 5.5 years, there were 44 mortality conferences (of 181 deaths [27%] over the same period) and four morbidity conferences. The median death/morbidity event-morbidity and mortality conference interval was 90 days (range, 7 d to 1.5 yr). The median age of patients was 4 months (range, newborn to 17 years). In six cases, the primary reason for PICU admission was a treatment complication. Unsafe processes/medical errors were identified and discussed in 37 morbidity and mortality conferences (77%). In seven cases, new autopsy findings prompted the discussion of a possible error. The 48 morbidity and mortality conferences identified 50 errors, including 30 in which an interface problem was a contributing factor. Fifty-four improvements were identified in 34 morbidity and mortality conferences. Four morbidity and mortality conferences discussed specific ethical issues. CONCLUSIONS From our experience, we have found that the interdisciplinary and interprofessional morbidity and mortality conference has the potential to reveal unsafe processes/medical errors, in particular, diagnostic and communication errors and interface problems. When formatted as a nonhierarchical tool inviting contributions from all staff levels, the morbidity and mortality conference plays a key role in the system approach to medical errors.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe diagnostic errors identified among patients discussed at a PICU morbidity and mortality conference in terms of Goldman classification, medical category, severity, preventability, contributing factors, and occurrence in the diagnostic process. DESIGN Retrospective record review of morbidity and mortality conference agendas, patient charts, and autopsy reports. SETTING Single tertiary referral PICU in Baltimore, MD. PATIENTS Ninety-six patients discussed at the PICU morbidity and mortality conference from November 2011 to December 2012. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Eighty-nine of 96 patients (93%) discussed at the PICU morbidity and mortality conference had at least one identified safety event. A total of 377 safety events were identified. Twenty patients (21%) had identified misdiagnoses, comprising 5.3% of all safety events. Out of 20 total diagnostic errors identified, 35% were discovered at autopsy while 55% were reported primarily through the morbidity and mortality conference. Almost all diagnostic errors (95%) could have had an impact on patient survival or safety. Forty percent of errors did not cause actual patient harm, but 25% were severe enough to have potentially contributed to death (40% no harm vs 35% some harm vs 25% possibly contributed to death). Half of the diagnostic errors (50%) were rated as preventable. There were slightly more system-related factors (40%) solely contributing to diagnostic errors compared with cognitive factors (20%); however, 35% had both system and cognitive factors playing a role. Most errors involved vascular (35%) followed by neurologic (30%) events. CONCLUSIONS Diagnostic errors in the PICU are not uncommon and potentially cause patient harm. Most appear to be preventable by targeting both cognitive- and system-related contributing factors. Prospective studies are needed to further determine how and why diagnostic errors occur in the PICU and what interventions would likely be effective for prevention.
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