Impact of different syringe pumps on red cells during paediatric simulated transfusion

Background: Critically ill patients frequently need blood transfusions. For safety, blood must be delivered via syringe infusion pumps, yet this can cause red cell damage and increase the rate of haemolysis. Aims and objectives: To evaluate biochemical and haemolytic markers of red blood cells transfused in three different, common type of syringe infusion pumps with two different infusion rates (10 and 100 ml/h). Methods: A lab-based study using aliquots of 16 red blood cells bags was undertaken. Haemolysis markers (total haemoglobin(g/dl), haematocrit(%), free haemoglobin(g/dl), potassium(mmol/L), lactate dehydrogenase(U/L), osmolality(mOsm/kg), pH, degree of haemolysis(%)) were measured before and after red blood cells infusion and exposure. Three different syringe infusion pumps brands (A, B and C) were compared with two different infusion rates (10 and 100 ml/h). Results: The total haemoglobin fell significantly in all red blood cells units during manipulation (Pre-infusion: 26.44±5.74; Post-exposure: 22.62±4.00; p=0.026). The degree of haemolysis significantly increased by 40% after manipulation of the red blood cells. Syringe infusion pump A caused a threefold increase in potassium levels (3.78±6.10) when compared to B (-0.14±1.46) and C (1.63± 1.98) (p=0.015). This pump also produced the worst changes, with an increase in free haemoglobin (0.05±0.05; p=0.038) and more haemolysis (0.08±0.07; p=0.033). There were significant differences and an increase in the degree of haemolysis (p=0.004) in the infusion rate of 100 mL/h. Conclusions: Syringe infusion pumps may cause significant red blood cell damage during infusion, with increases in free haemoglobin, potassium and the degree of haemolysis. Some pumps types, with a cassette mechanism, caused more damage. Relevance to clinical practice: In many ICUs, bedside nurses are able to consider infusion pump choice and understanding the impact of different pump types on RBC during a transfusion provides the nurses with more information to enhance decision-making and improve the quality of the transfusion

Quasimolecular JtetJ_{\rm tet}=3/2 moments in the cluster Mott insulator GaTa4_4Se8_8

Quasimolecular orbitals in cluster Mott insulators provide a route to tailor exchange interactions, which may yield novel quantum phases of matter. We demonstrate the cluster Mott character of the lacunar spinel GaTa$_4$Se$_8$ using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) at the Ta $L_3$ edge. Electrons are fully delocalized over Ta$_4$ tetrahedra, forming quasimolecular $J_{\rm tet}$=3/2 moments. The modulation of the RIXS intensity as function of the transferred momentum q allows us to determine the cluster wavefunction, which depends on competing intracluster hopping terms that mix states with different character. This mixed wavefunction is decisive for the macroscopic properties since it affects intercluster hopping and exchange interactions and furthermore renormalizes the effective spin-orbit coupling constant. The versatile wavefunction, tunable via intracluster hopping, opens a new perspective on the large family of lacunar spinels and cluster Mott insulators in general.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, plus supplementary informatio

Órfãos de terapia medicamentosa: a administração de medicamentos por via intravenosa em crianças hospitalizadas

Descriptive study, developed at a general university hospital that aimed at verifying the number and types of IV drugs administered to children, the adequacy of their pharmacological presentation for pediatric use and the estimated costs of some drugs administration. In a period of 30 days, 8,245 drug doses were administered, with an average of 274.83 doses a day, and a yearly estimation of 98.940. The most used drugs were methylprednisolone, vancomycin, furosemide, ranitidine, penicillin, amikacin, midazolam, fentanyl, ceftriaxone, cephalothin, oxacillin, ampicillin and metronidazole. None of the 41 different drugs had a pediatric presentation, what caused, in some cases, more manipulation during the preparation, increasing the contamination risks and the loss of stability. Authors observed that the lack of pediatric presentation generated an increase in care costs; as an example, considering the prescription of a child in the period after surgery, with an estimated time of hospitalization of 5 days, the daily therapy costs were of U$6.71, and U$39.52 of drugs were thrown away as they exceeded the children therapeutic needs.Estudio descriptivo realizado en un hospital de enseñanza donde se verificó la cantidad y el tipo de medicamentos administrados por vía intravenosa en niños, además de la adecuación de la presentación farmacológica para el uso en pediatría. En treinta días fueron administradas 8.245 dosis de medicamentos, con un promedio diario de 274,83 dosis y una proyección anual de 98.940. Los medicamentos más utilizados fueron metilpredinosolona, vancomicina, furosemida, ranitidina, penicilina, amicacina, midazolan, fentanil y ceftriaxone y cefalotina. Ninguno de los 41 medicamentos poseía presentación pediátrica, acarreando en una mayor manipulación, riesgo de contaminación y pérdida de estabilidad. Se observó que la falta de presentación pediátrica generó aumento en los costos de atención; en la prescripción de un niño en postoperatorio, con un tiempo de internación estimado de cinco días, la terapia administrada diaria fue de U$6.71 y U$ 39.52 de medicamentos que tuvieron de ser descartados por exceder las necesidades terapéuticas de los niños.Estudo descritivo, realizado em um hospital universitário, que verificou quantidade e tipo de medicamentos administrados por via intravenosa em crianças, além da adequação da apresentação farmacológica para uso em pediatria e custo estimado de administração de algumas drogas. Em trinta dias, foram administradas 8.245 doses de medicamentos, com média diária de 274,83 doses, e projeção anual de 98.940. Os principais medicamentos utilizados foram metilpredinosolona, vancomicina, furosemida, ranitidina, penicilina, amicacina, midazolan, fentanil, ceftriaxone e cefalotina. Nenhum dos 41 medicamentos identificados possuía apresentação pediátrica, acarretando, em alguns casos, maior manipulação durante o preparo, risco de contaminação e perda da estabilidade. Observou-se que a falta de apresentação pediátrica gerou aumento dos custos de atendimento; na prescrição de uma criança em pós-operatório, com tempo de internação estimado de cinco dias, a terapia administrada diária foi de US$6.71, e US$ 39.52 de medicamentos tiveram que ser desprezados, por excederem as necessidades terapêuticas da criança

Surgical Safety in Pediatrics: practical application of the Pediatric Surgical Safety Checklist

Objectives: to assess the practical application of the Pediatric Surgical Safety Checklist on the preoperative period and to verify family satisfaction regarding the use of the material. Method: exploratory study that aimed to analyze the use of the checklist by children who underwent surgical interventions. The sample was constituted by 60 children (from preschoolers to teens) and 60 family members. The variables related to demographic characterization, filling out the checklist, and family satisfaction, being evaluated through inferential and descriptive statistical analysis. Results: most children (71.7%) were male, with a median age of 7.5 years. We identified the achievement of 65.3% of the checklist items, 30.0% were not filled due to non-performance of the team and 4.7% for children and family reasons. In the association analysis, we found that the removal of accessories item (p = 0.008) was the most checked by older children. Regarding satisfaction, the family members evaluated the material as great (63.3%) and good (36.7%) and believed that there was a reduction of the child's anxiety (83.3%). Conclusion: the use of the checklist in clinical practice can change health services regarding safety culture and promote customer satisfaction.Objetivos: avaliar a aplicação na prática do Checklist Pediátrico para Cirurgia Segura no período pré-operatório e verificar a satisfação da família quanto ao uso do material. Método: estudo exploratório, no qual se visou analisar o uso dochecklist por crianças que seriam submetidas a intervenções cirúrgicas, sendo a amostra constituída por 60 crianças pré-escolares a adolescentes e 60 familiares. As variáveis relacionaram-se à caracterização demográfica, preenchimento do checklist e satisfação dos familiares, sendo avaliadas por meio da análise estatística descritiva e inferencial. Resultados: a maioria (71,7%) das crianças era do sexo masculino, com mediana de idade de 7,5 anos. Identificou-se consecução do checklist em 65,3% dos itens, 30,0% não foram preenchidos devido à não execução da equipe e 4,7% por motivos das crianças e familiares. Na análise de associação, verificou-se que o item da retirada de adornos (p=0,008) foi mais checado por crianças com maior média de idade. Quanto à satisfação, os familiares avaliaram o material como ótimo (63,3%) e bom (36,7%) e acreditaram que houve redução de ansiedade na criança (83,3%). Conclusão: o uso do checklist na prática clínica pode colaborar para mudanças nos serviços de saúde com relação à cultura de segurança e promover satisfação dos clientes.Objetivos : evaluar la aplicación en la práctica del ChecklistPediátrico para la Cirugía Segura en el periodo preoperatorio y verificar la satisfacción de la familia con respecto al uso del material. Método : estudio exploratorio, cuyo objetivo fue analizar el uso delchecklist por niños que serían sometidos a intervenciones quirúrgicas, siendo la muestra compuesta por 60 niños en edad preescolar a adolescentes y 60 familiares. Las variables se relacionaron con la caracterización demográfica, llenado del checklist y satisfacción de los familiares, siendo evaluadas por medio del análisis estadístico descriptivo e inferencial. Resultados : la mayoría (71,7%) de los niños eran varones, con una edad media de 7,5 años. Se identificó el cumplimiento del checklist en el 65,3% de los ítems, el 30,0% no ha sido rellenado debido a la falta de ejecución por parte del equipo y el 4,7% por causa de los niños y familiares. En el análisis de asociación, se constató que el ítem de retirada de joyas (p =0,008) fue el más marcado por los niños con una edad media más alta. En cuanto a la satisfacción, los familiares evaluaron el material como óptimo (63,3%) y bueno (36,7%) y acreditaron que hubo una reducción de la ansiedad en los niños (83,3%). Conclusión : el uso del checklist en la práctica clínica puede contribuir a cambios en los servicios de salud con respecto a la cultura de seguridad y promover la satisfacción de los clientes

Quasimolecular electronic structure of the spin-liquid candidate Ba3InIr2O9

The mixed-valent iridate Ba3InIr2O9 has been discussed as a promising candidate for quantum spin-liquid behavior. The compound exhibits Ir4.5+ ions in face-sharing IrO6 octahedra forming Ir2O9 dimers with three t2g holes per dimer. Our results establish Ba3InIr2O9 as a cluster Mott insulator. Strong intradimer hopping delocalizes the three t2g holes in quasimolecular dimer states while interdimer charge fluctuations are suppressed by Coulomb repulsion. The magnetism of Ba3InIr2O9 emerges from spin-orbit entangled quasimolecular moments with yet unexplored interactions, opening up a new route to unconventional magnetic properties of 5d compounds. Using single-crystal x-ray diffraction we find the monoclinic space group C2/c already at room temperature. Dielectric spectroscopy shows insulating behavior. Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering reveals a rich excitation spectrum below 1.5 eV with a sinusoidal dynamical structure factor that unambiguously demonstrates the quasimolecular character of the electronic states. Below 0.3 eV, we observe a series of excitations. According to exact diagonalization calculations, such low-energy excitations reflect the proximity of Ba3InIr2O9 to a hopping-induced phase transition based on the condensation of a quasimolecular spin-orbit exciton. The dimer ground state roughly hosts two holes in a bonding j=12 orbital and the third hole in a bonding j=32 orbital

Errores de medicación en pediatría

Concerns regarding patient safety affect healthcare, and medication errors are the most frequent category of medical errors and linked with severe consequences. This study discusses epidemiologic characteristics of medication errors in pediatric patients and points out prevention strategies. Approximately 8% of the studies on the subject of medication errors identified in different national and international databases are distinctively related to the pediatric population. Children are vulnerable to medication errors due to intrinsic factors, such as proper anatomic and physiological characteristics; and due to extrinsic factors, with emphasis on the lack of public health politics and changes in the pharmaceutical industry to attend children's needs. The available evidences indicate, as imperative, the implementation of strategies to prevent medication errors, contributing to promote patient safety.La seguridad del paciente es un problema de salud pública y los errores con medicamentos son los más frecuentes y más graves. Este artículo describe características epidemiológicas de errores de medicación en áreas de atención pediátrica y algunas estrategias de prevención. Aproximadamente 8% de las investigaciones sobre errores de medicación identificadas en las bases de datos nacionales e internacionales se refieren específicamente a niños. Los niños tienen mayor vulnerabilidad a la ocurrencia de errores debidos a factores intrínsecos, con destaque para características anatómicas y fisiológicas, e extrínsecos, en particular con respecto a falta de políticas sanitarias y de la industria farmacéutica orientada a la atención de tales características. Evidencias muestran la necesidad de aplicar estrategias para prevenir errores de medicación, promoviendo la seguridad del paciente.A segurança do paciente constitui problema de saúde pública, e erros com medicamentos são os mais freqüentes e graves. O artigo apresenta características epidemiológicas dos erros de medicação em diferentes áreas de atendimento pediátrico, e aponta estratégias de prevenção. Aproximadamente 8% das pesquisas sobre erros de medicação identificadas em bases de dados nacionais e internacionais referem-se à população pediátrica. Crianças apresentam maior vulnerabilidade à ocorrência de erros devido a fatores intrínsecos, destacando-se características anatômicas e fisiológicas; e extrínsecos, relativos à falta de políticas de saúde e da indústria farmacêutica voltadas ao atendimento de tais especificidades. As evidências apontam para a necessidade de implementação de estratégias de prevenção de erros de medicação, contribuindo para promover a segurança do paciente.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de EnfermagemUNIFESP, Depto. de EnfermagemSciEL