A multicenter record review of in-hospital adverse drug events requiring a higher level of care

OBJECTIVE

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a worldwide concern, particularly when leading to a higher level of care. This study defines a higher level of care as an unplanned (re)admission to an intensive care unit or an intervention by a Medical Emergency Team. The objectives are to describe the incidence and preventability of ADEs leading to a higher level of care, to assess the types of drug involved, and to identify the risk factors.

METHODS

A three-stage retrospective review was performed in six Belgian hospitals. Patient records were assessed by a trained clinical team consisting of a nurse, a physician, and a clinical pharmacist. Descriptive statistics, univariate, and multiple logistic regressions were used.

RESULTS

In this study, 830 patients were detected for whom a higher level of care had been needed. In 160 (19.3%) cases, an ADE had occurred; 134 (83.8%) of these were categorized as preventable adverse drug events (pADEs). The overall incidence rate of patients transferred to a higher level of care because of a pADE was 33.9 (95% CI: 28.5-39.3) per 100,000 patient days at risk. Antibiotics and antithrombotic agents accounted both for one-fifth of all pADEs. Multivariate analysis indicated American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status score as a risk factor for pADEs.

CONCLUSIONS

The high number of pADE with patient harm shows that there is a need for structural improvement of pharmacotherapeutic care. Detection of these pADEs can be the basis for the implementation of these improvements.

Surgical anatomy of the inguinal region: implications during inguinal laparoscopic herniorrhaphy

INTRODUCTION

In laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair the inguinal region is approached and hernia repair performed from the interior side instead of the classical open external access. Exploration and placement of staplers in the internal inguinal region during laparoscopic hernia repair may sever different anatomical structures, or induce specific complications such as nerve entrapment, neuralgia, hematomas or osteitis. The incidence of these complications may be reduced by careful dissection of the preperitoneal tissues and by placing a prosthetic mesh without the use of stapling. As laparoscopic techniques evolved, different sizes of meshes have been used. An exact determination of mesh size was hitherto not investigated.

AIM

Cadaver studies of the topography of blood vessels and nerves in the preperitoneal tissue in this region were carried out in order to assess a safe position and adequate size of the prosthetic mesh.

METHODS

Dissection in 6 preserved human female cadavers was performed to define the actual surface of the internal inguinal region. A physical model was developed to formulate the ideal size of the prosthesis. Specific measurements were used to define the maximal size of the meshes, so as to place them without stapling, and without inducing neurovascular complications.

RESULTS

The designed physical formula defines the size of the mesh as a function of the maximum intra-abdominal pressure, the size of the abdominal wall defect and the abdominal wall tension.

CONCLUSION

On mathematical and physical grounds our study points out that the size of the currently used prosthetic mesh (10 x 15 cm) is large enough to be placed without stapling so that with proper placement no recurrences should occur.