Biomedical subjects

Asma Razzaq

Publications and source records attributed to Asma Razzaq.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Development of measures of the quality of emergency department care for children using a structured panel process.

BACKGROUND: Performance measures are essential components of public reporting and quality improvement. To date, few such measures exist to provide a comprehensive assessment of the quality of emergency department services for children. OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to use a systematic process to develop measures of emergency department care for children (0-19 years) that are (1) based on research evidence and expert opinion, (2) representative of a range of conditions treated in most emergency departments, (3) related to links between processes and outcomes, and (4) feasible to measure. METHODS: We presented a panel of providers and managers data from emergency department use to identify common conditions across levels of patient acuity, which could be targets for quality improvement. We used a structured panel process informed by a literature review to (1) identify condition-specific links between processes of care and defined outcomes and (2) select indicators to assess these process-outcome links. We determined the feasibility of calculating these indicators using an administrative data set of emergency department visits for Ontario, Canada. RESULTS: The panel identified 18 clinical conditions for indicator development and 61 condition-specific links between processes of care and outcomes. After 2 rounds of ratings, the panel defined 68 specific clinical indicators for the following conditions: adolescent mental health problems, ankle injury, asthma, bronchiolitis, croup, diabetes, fever, gastroenteritis, minor head injury, neonatal jaundice, seizures, and urinary tract infections. Visits for these conditions account for 23% of all pediatric emergency department use. Using an administrative data set, we were able to calculate 19 indicators, covering 9 conditions, representing 20% of all emergency department visits by children. CONCLUSIONS: Using a structured panel process, data on emergency department use, and literature review, it was possible to define indicators of emergency department care for children. The feasibility of these indicators will depend on the availability of high-quality data.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Trends in deliveries, prenatal care, and obstetrical complications in women with pregestational diabetes: a population-based study in Ontario, Canada, 1996-2001.

OBJECTIVE: To describe recent trends in the proportion of deliveries in women with pregestational diabetes (PGD), their use of services, and diabetes-related obstetrical complications. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In this population-based retrospective cohort study, comprehensive administrative data were used to identify all women (with and without PGD) who gave birth in an Ontario, Canada, hospital from 1996 to 2001. Data on maternal complications and interventions were obtained from hospital discharge records; data on use of prenatal services were obtained from fee-for-service claims. RESULTS: The proportion of deliveries in women with PGD increased steadily from 0.8% in 1996 to 1.2% in 2001 (P < 0.001). In 2001, women with PGD were more likely to be diagnosed with shoulder dystocia (adjusted odds ratio 2.00 [95% CI 1.55-2.58]), hypertension (4.13 [3.44-4.96]), and preeclampsia/eclampsia (4.44 [3.43-5.73]) and have higher rates of inductions (1.69 [1.52-1.88]) and caesarean sections (1.78 [1.60-1.98]) than women without PGD. In 2001, 50% of the women with PGD had a visit to a diabetes specialist during pregnancy and only 30% of women had claims for a prenatal retinal examination. Both of these rates have decreased over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Women with PGD now account for a larger proportion of deliveries. These women continue to have higher obstetrical complication and intervention rates than women without PGD and many do not receive recommended specialty care during pregnancy.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Abdominal epilepsy.

Abdominal epilepsy (AE) is a rather uncommon clinical entity in children that might create diagnostic confusion especially when it lacks the typical manifestations of an epileptic seizure. We report the case of a young boy having apparently unexplained episodes of paroxysmal abdominal symptoms with no other suggestion of an underlying epileptic disorder. The case also explains how the clinical presentation can be misleading unless a high index of suspicion is maintained to reach the ultimate diagnosis.

Abdominal Pain↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Frequency and risk factors for wound dehiscence/burst abdomen in midline laparotomies.

BACKGROUND: Wound dehiscence/burst abdomen is a very serious postoperative complication associated with high morbidity and mortality. It has significant impact on health care cost, both for the patients and hospitals. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of wound dehiscence/burst abdomen in patients undergoing emergency and elective laparotomies through midline incisions and to identify the risk factors for wound dehiscence. METHODS: This study was carried out at department of General Surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad from 1st January 2002 to 31st December 2002. 117 consecutive patients undergoing laparotomy with midline incision were included. They were followed by wound examination from third postoperative day onwards to see their normal or otherwise healing. RESULTS: Seven out of 117 (5.9%) patients developed wound dehiscence. Five of them (4.2%) were operated in emergency and two (1.7%) were operated on elective list. CONCLUSION: It is very clear from our study that frequency of wound dehiscence/burst abdomen is still very high in our hospital. Peritonitis, wound infection and failure to close the abdominal wall properly are most important causes of wound dehiscence. Malnourishment and malignant obstructive jaundice predispose a patient to wound dehiscence by slowing the healing, and increasing rate of wound infection.

Abdomen, Acute↗