Prediction of in-hospital bleeding in acutely ill medical patients: External validation of the IMPROVE bleeding risk score.

INTRODUCTION Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis slightly increases bleeding risk. The only risk assessment model to predict bleeding in medical inpatients, the IMPROVE bleeding risk score, has never been validated using prospectively collected outcome data. METHODS We validated the IMPROVE bleeding risk score in a prospective multicenter cohort of medical inpatients. Primary outcome was in-hospital clinically relevant bleeding (CRB) within 14 days of admission, a secondary outcome was major bleeding (MB). We classified patients according to the score in high or low bleeding risk. We assessed the score's predictive performance by calculating subhazard ratios (sHRs) adjusted for thromboprophylaxis use, positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV), and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). RESULTS Of 1155 patients, 8 % were classified as high bleeding risk. CRB and MB within 14 days occurred in 0.94 % and 0.47 % of low-risk and in 5.6 % and 3.4 % of high-risk patients, respectively. Adjusted for thromboprophylaxis, classification in the high-risk group was associated with an increased risk of 14-day CRB (sHR 4.7, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.5-14.5) and MB (sHR 4.9, 95%CI 1.0-23.4). PPV was 5.6 % and 3.4 %, while NPV was 99.1 % and 99.5 % for CRB and MB, respectively. The AUC was 0.68 (95%CI 0.66-0.71) for CRB and 0.73 (95%CI 0.71-0.76) for MB. CONCLUSION The IMPROVE bleeding risk score showed moderate to good discriminatory power to predict bleeding in medical inpatients. The score may help identify patients at high risk of in-hospital bleeding, in whom careful assessment of the risk-benefit ratio of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis is warranted

Risk Assessment Models for Venous Thromboembolism in Medical Inpatients.

IMPORTANCE Thromboprophylaxis is recommended for medical inpatients at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Risk assessment models (RAMs) have been developed to stratify VTE risk, but a prospective head-to-head comparison of validated RAMs is lacking. OBJECTIVES To prospectively validate an easy-to-use RAM, the simplified Geneva score, and compare its prognostic performance with previously validated RAMs. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This prospective cohort study was conducted from June 18, 2020, to January 4, 2022, with a 90-day follow-up. A total of 4205 consecutive adults admitted to the general internal medicine departments of 3 Swiss university hospitals for hospitalization for more than 24 hours due to acute illness were screened for eligibility; 1352 without therapeutic anticoagulation were included. EXPOSURES At admission, items of 4 RAMs (ie, the simplified and original Geneva score, the Padua score, and the IMPROVE [International Medical Prevention Registry on Venous Thromboembolism] score) were collected. Patients were stratified into high and low VTE risk groups according to each RAM. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Symptomatic VTE within 90 days. RESULTS Of 1352 medical inpatients (median age, 67 years [IQR, 54-77 years]; 762 men [55.4%]), 28 (2.1%) experienced VTE. Based on the simplified Geneva score, 854 patients (63.2%) were classified as high risk, with a 90-day VTE risk of 2.6% (n = 22; 95% CI, 1.7%-3.9%), and 498 patients (36.8%) were classified as low risk, with a 90-day VTE risk of 1.2% (n = 6; 95% CI, 0.6%-2.6%). Sensitivity of the simplified Geneva score was 78.6% (95% CI, 60.5%-89.8%) and specificity was 37.2% (95% CI, 34.6%-39.8%); the positive likelihood ratio of the simplified Geneva score was 1.25 (95% CI, 1.03-1.52) and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.58 (95% CI, 0.28-1.18). In head-to-head comparisons, sensitivity was highest for the original Geneva score (82.1%; 95% CI, 64.4%-92.1%), while specificity was highest for the IMPROVE score (70.4%; 95% CI, 67.9%-72.8%). After adjusting the VTE risk for thromboprophylaxis use and site, there was no significant difference between the high-risk and low-risk groups based on the simplified Geneva score (subhazard ratio, 2.04 [95% CI, 0.83-5.05]; P = .12) and other RAMs. Discriminative performance was poor for all RAMs, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ranging from 53.8% (95% CI, 51.1%-56.5%) for the original Geneva score to 58.1% (95% CI, 55.4%-60.7%) for the simplified Geneva score. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This head-to-head comparison of validated RAMs found suboptimal accuracy and prognostic performance of the simplified Geneva score and other RAMs to predict hospital-acquired VTE in medical inpatients. Clinical usefulness of existing RAMs is questionable, highlighting the need for more accurate VTE prediction strategies

Overuse and underuse of thromboprophylaxis in medical inpatients.

Background Thromboprophylaxis (TPX) prescription is recommended in medical inpatients categorized as high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) by validated risk assessment models (RAMs), but how various RAMs differ in categorizing patients in risk groups, and whether the choice of RAM influences estimates of appropriate TPX use is unknown. Objectives To determine the proportion of medical inpatients categorized as high or low risk according to validated RAMs, and to investigate the appropriateness of TPX prescription. Methods This is a prospective cohort study of acutely ill medical inpatients from three Swiss university hospitals. Participants were categorized as high or low risk of VTE by validated RAMs (i.e., the Padua, IMPROVE, simplified, and original Geneva score). We assessed prescription of any TPX at baseline. We considered TPX prescription in high-risk and no TPX prescription in low-risk patients as appropriate. Results Among 1352 medical inpatients, the proportion categorized as high risk ranged from 29.8% with the IMPROVE to 66.1% with the original Geneva score. Overall, 24.6% were consistently categorized as high risk, and 26.3% as low risk by all four RAMs. Depending on the RAM used, TPX prescription was appropriate in 58.7-63.3% of high-risk (i.e., 36.7-41.3% underuse) and 52.4-62.8% of low-risk patients (i.e., 37.2-47.6% overuse). Conclusion The proportion of medical inpatients considered as high or low VTE risk varied widely according to different RAMs. Only half of patients were consistently categorized in the same risk group by all RAMs. While TPX remains underused in high-risk patients, overuse in low-risk patients is even more pronounced

Atraumatic (pencil-point) versus conventional needles for lumbar puncture:a clinical practice guideline

Is the needle tip configuration important when performing a lumbar puncture for any indication? A systematic review published in the Lancet in December 2017 suggests that it is. The review found that using atraumatic (pencil-point) lumbar puncture needles instead of conventional lumbar puncture needles reduced the risk of post-dural-puncture headache and of return to hospital for additional pain control.1 This guideline recommendation aims to promptly and transparently translate this evidence to a clinical recommendation, following standards for GRADE methodology and trustworthy guidelines.2 The BMJ Rapid Recommendations panel makes a strong recommendation for the use of atraumatic needles for lumbar puncture in all patients regardless of age (adults and children) or indication instead of conventional needles.3 4 Box 1 shows the article and evidence linked to this Rapid Recommendation. The main infographic provides an overview of the absolute benefits and harms (although none were present here) of atraumatic needles. Table 1 below shows any evidence that has emerged since the publication of this guideline.publishedVersio

Hydrothorax hépatique: présentation de cas et revue de la littérature

L’hydrothorax hépatique est une complication rare de la cirrhose terminale due à la migration d’ascite vers l’espace pleural. Les conséquences de cette affection sur les systèmes en font une pathologie internistique par excellence, dont la prise en charge complexe se situe au carrefour de diverses spécialités. Ce travail de thèse, inspiré par une situation vécue, a pour but de revoir et synthétiser l’évidence actuelle afin d’orienter la démarche clinique, d’améliorer notre jugement clinique et les soins prodigués à nos patients

Place des probiotiques dans la prévention d’un épisode inaugural d’infection à Clostridium difficile

Antibiotics are among the most prescribed medications worldwide and they may cause an imbalance of the gut microbiota. At the same time, the incidence of Clostridium difficile diarrhea is increasing, with significant morbidity and mortality. Probiotics are living microorganisms, bacteria or yeasts, claimed to provide health benefits when ingested in sufficient quantity. Restoration of the gut microbiota has been evaluated as a means of preventing Clostridium difficile infection. The purpose of this article is to review the most recent evidence regarding the use of probiotics in the prevention of a first episode of Clostridium difficile infection among adult patients

Voulez-vous être réanimé si votre cœur s’arrête ?: Discussions de réanimation cardiopulmonaire

Doctors are responsible for code status discussions with patients in the hospital setting. However, several barriers are associated with these discussions, relating to both doctors and patients. Inadequate or insufficient communication can lead to inappropriate care, contrary to patients' preferences and, subsequently, to a suboptimal use of health care resources. Ways to improve these discussions have been identified, such as doctor-targeted educational programs and inserting decisions about code status within a more general discussion of patients' goals of care. These interventions could allow a better understanding and consideration of patients' values and preferences, hence improving shared-decision making about cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Thromboprophylaxie hospitalière : doit-on adapter la dose d'énoxaparine au poids des patients ?

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common condition affecting hospitalized patients and it is associated with increased mortality, length of stay and health-care costs. Prophylaxis using low-molecular weight heparins (LMWH) is an efficient intervention preventing VTE in high-risk patients, yet some evidence suggests suboptimal prophylaxis in obese inpatients. This narrative review evaluates current evidence, both on clinical and surrogate outcomes, which can guide the adaptation of prophylactic doses of enoxaparin among obese medical inpatients

Réorganisation interprofessionnelle du travail dans les unités de soins

The University Hospitals of Geneva initiated their latest strategic plan by consulting widely with employees and patients. Nine main avenues were defined as priority projects for the institution. The project « More time for patients » aims at simplifying clinical and administrative processes using tools from Lean management and Design Thinking. Its objectives are to redefine the organization of the healthcare-related tasks in order to optimize the time spent with patients and relatives, increase patients' involvement and shared decision making, and improve both the communication with patients, as well as the interdisciplinary collaboration, with patients always at the heart of care.Les HUG ont initié leur dernier plan stratégique en consultant largement les collaborateurs et les patients. Neuf axes principaux ont été alors définis comme prioritaires pour l’avenir de l’institution, constituant les projets Vision 20/20. Le projet intitulé « Plus de temps pour les patients » vise à optimiser le temps de présence avec les patients et les proches, à augmenter l’implication du patient dans sa prise en charge et à améliorer la communication entre les soignants et les patients, ainsi que la collaboration interdisciplinaire en gardant le patient au cœur de la démarche. Ces objectifs nécessitent la redéfinition de l’organisation des tâches médico-soignantes avec une forte implication des acteurs de terrain, et la simplification des processus cliniques et administratifs

Prise en charge des infections de l’espace pleural

Pleural space infections occur in approximately 10% of patients hospitalized for pneumonia and their incidence is increasing with an aging population. Pulmonary ultrasound is a good bedside diagnostic tool able to reduce complications associated with thoracocentesis and drainage. The RAPID score is being increasingly validated as a predictor for mortality but has not yet been proven useful to guide the treatment strategy and needs incorporation into prospective studies. Awaiting studies on outcome prediction and the comparison of an early surgical strategy versus drainage with intrapleural enzyme therapy, this article presents a summary of current knowledge of this complication.Les infections de l’espace pleural surviennent chez environ 10 % des patients hospitalisés pour une pneumonie. Leur incidence est en augmentation, en parallèle du vieillissement de la population. L’échographie pleuropulmonaire est un outil diagnostique sensible, directement accessible au lit du malade et permettant de diminuer les complications du drainage grâce au guidage. Le score RAPID a été validé pour prédire la mortalité liée à l’infection de l’espace pleural mais son utilité pour sélectionner la meilleure stratégie thérapeutique reste encore à démontrer. Dans l’attente des résultats d’une étude prospective randomisée comparant une prise en charge chirurgicale précoce au drainage avec fibrinolyse, cet article présente l’état des connaissances concernant le traitement de cette affection