Biomedical subjects

Helen Currier

Publications and source records attributed to Helen Currier.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Noninvasive interventions to decrease hospitalization and associated costs for pediatric patients receiving hemodialysis.

Minimal pediatric data describe hospitalization causes and associated costs for children who receive maintenance hemodialysis, and no data exist to evaluate methods to decrease hospitalization. In 1999, two common causes of hemodialysis patient hospitalization at Texas Children's Hospital were fluid overload/hypertension (FO/HTN) and vascular access thrombosis (VAT). Evaluated is the effect of two noninvasive monitoring programs, monitoring of hematocrit-guided ultrafiltration algorithm and vascular access flow using ultrasound dilution vascular access flow technology, on FO/HTN and VAT in the pediatric maintenance hemodialysis population. This prospective observational study reviewed all hospitalization data for all 51 patients who received maintenance hemodialysis from January 1999 through December 2001 obtained from unit monthly performance improvement meeting records. Hospitalization rates and related costs for FO/HTN and VAT were tracked before and after institution of the noninvasive monitoring programs. Application of the noninvasive monitoring of hematocrit-guided ultrafiltration algorithm since January 2000 significantly decreased hospitalization for FO/HTN (64 total days in 1999, 4 total days in 2000 and 2001 combined) while maintaining acceptable patient BP control and minimizing antihypertensive medication requirements. The vascular access monitoring program using ultrasound dilution vascular access flow technology to direct referral for angioplasty instituted in January 2001 led to a significant decrease in hospitalization for VAT (45 d in 2000 and 21 d in 2001). It is suggested that application of noninvasive technologies to assess patient target dry weight and access flow can significantly decrease pediatric maintenance dialysis patient morbidity and health care cost.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Staff nurses' perceptions of the work environment in freestanding hemodialysis facilities.

While one suggested cause of the current nursing shortage is nurses' negative perceptions of the work environment, little is known of nephrology nurses' perceptions of the dialysis work environment. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which staff nurses who work in freestanding hemodialysis facilities rate the presence of organizational characteristics common to magnet hospitals in their current job. Study findings indicate that staff nurses in hemodialysis units identify several notable features of magnet hospitals in their work settings. However, a majority of nurses disagreed that many attributes of magnet hospitals are present in hemodialysis work environments. This study provides a preliminary description of some of the factors that affect nurses' perceptions of the work environment in freestanding dialysis facilities. Further work is needed in this area.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2002

nPCR assessment and IDPN treatment of malnutrition in pediatric hemodialysis patients.

Very few pediatric studies have monitored nutritional status using normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) or treating protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) with intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN). The current study compares nPCR with serum albumin as a marker for nutritional status and examines the effectiveness of IDPN treatment in three malnourished adolescent patients receiving chronic hemodialysis in a pediatric dialysis unit. All patients demonstrated reversal of weight loss and initiation of weight gain within 6 weeks of IDPN initiation. Mean values of monthly percentage weight and percentage body mass index (BMI) change were significantly lower in the pre-IDPN era (-0.61+/-2.70 and -1.3+/-2.7) versus the IDPN treatment period (1.8+/-2.1 and 1.3+/-2.1) ( P<0.02). Two patients attained ideal body weight and IDPN was discontinued after 5 months. Patients required 150% recommended daily allowance to achieve weight and BMI gain. While mean monthly nPCR was significantly lower in the pre-IDPN period versus the IDPN period (1.05+/-0.36 versus 1.35+/-0.37, P<0.05), monthly serum albumin levels were no different before and after IDPN was initiated (3.7+/-0.8 versus 3.8+/-0.6). The current study demonstrates IDPN to be effective therapy for adolescent hemodialysis patients with PEM not correctable by enteral supplementation. nPCR was superior to serum albumin as a nutritional status marker in these malnourished pediatric patients receiving hemodialysis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Proactive monitoring of pediatric hemodialysis vascular access: effects of ultrasound dilution on thrombosis rates.

BACKGROUND: Hemodialysis vascular access thrombosis (VAT) is a significant cause of morbidity for hemodialysis patients and results, in part, from decreased access flow potentially caused by venous outflow stenosis. We have previously shown ultrasound dilution (UD) to be a practical and reliable predictor of venous outflow in children receiving hemodialysis. METHODS: The current study is the first to our knowledge to assess the impact of a proactive UD monitoring program upon VAT in pediatric patients. Nine patients experienced 18 VAT over the two-year study. Mean values for variables potentially associated with VAT were compared to values from a size-matched seven patient group without VAT during the study period. VAT rates were compared between the year-before (pre-UD era) and year-after (UD era) UD was initiated. During the latter half of the UD era (rapid referral period), patients with VA flow rate (QAcorr) <650 mL/min/1.73 m2 were referred for balloon angioplasty within 48 hours. RESULTS: Mean QAcorr was lower for patients with subsequent VAT (562 +/- 290 mL/min/1.73 m2) versus patients without VAT (1005 +/- 372 mL/min/1.73 m2; P = 0.02). The VAT rate was significantly lower in the UD era (4.1 VAT/100 patient-months) versus the pre-UD era (11.0 VAT/100 patient-months; P = 0.03). The decrease in VAT rates was caused predominantly in the rapid referral period, where the VAT rate dropped to 0.96 VAT/100 patient-months (P < 0.001). Cost of vascular access management was 65% higher ($1264 vs. $765/patient-month) in the pre-UD era, reflecting the increased cost for treatment of VAT. CONCLUSIONS: Monthly QAcorr <650 mL/min/1.73 m2 is predictive of imminent VAT in children receiving hemodialysis. Prompt referral for angioplasty of VA with QAcorr <650 mL/min/1.73 m2 leads to decreased VAT rates in children.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗