Risk stratification by pre-operative cardiopulmonary exercise testing improves outcomes following elective abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery : a cohort study

Background: In 2009, the NHS evidence adoption center and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a review of the use of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). They recommended the development of a risk-assessment tool to help identify AAA patients with greater or lesser risk of operative mortality and to contribute to mortality prediction. A low anaerobic threshold (AT), which is a reliable, objective measure of pre-operative cardiorespiratory fitness, as determined by pre-operative cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is associated with poor surgical outcomes for major abdominal surgery. We aimed to assess the impact of a CPET-based risk-stratification strategy upon perioperative mortality, length of stay and non-operative costs for elective (open and endovascular) infra-renal AAA patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken. Pre-operative CPET-based selection for elective surgical intervention was introduced in 2007. An anonymized cohort of 230 consecutive infra-renal AAA patients (2007 to 2011) was studied. A historical control group of 128 consecutive infra-renal AAA patients (2003 to 2007) was identified for comparison. Comparative analysis of demographic and outcome data for CPET-pass (AT ≥ 11 ml/kg/min), CPET-fail (AT < 11 ml/kg/min) and CPET-submaximal (no AT generated) subgroups with control subjects was performed. Primary outcomes included 30-day mortality, survival and length of stay (LOS); secondary outcomes were non-operative inpatient costs. Results: Of 230 subjects, 188 underwent CPET: CPET-pass n = 131, CPET-fail n = 35 and CPET-submaximal n = 22. When compared to the controls, CPET-pass patients exhibited reduced median total LOS (10 vs 13 days for open surgery, n = 74, P < 0.01 and 4 vs 6 days for EVAR, n = 29, P < 0.05), intensive therapy unit requirement (3 vs 4 days for open repair only, P < 0.001), non-operative costs (£5,387 vs £9,634 for open repair, P < 0.001) and perioperative mortality (2.7% vs 12.6% (odds ratio: 0.19) for open repair only, P < 0.05). CPET-stratified (open/endovascular) patients exhibited a mid-term survival benefit (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In this retrospective cohort study, a pre-operative AT > 11 ml/kg/min was associated with reduced perioperative mortality (open cases only), LOS, survival and inpatient costs (open and endovascular repair) for elective infra-renal AAA surgery

Identification of coherent flood regions across Europe by using the longest streamflow records

This study compiles a new dataset, consisting of the longest available flow series from across Europe, and uses it to study the spatial and temporal clustering of flood events across the continent. Hydrological series at 102 gauging stations were collected from 25 European countries. Five geographically distinct large-scale homogeneous regions are identified: (i) an Atlantic region, (ii) a Continental region, (iii) a Scandinavian region, (iv) an Alpine region, and (v) a Mediterranean region. The months with a higher likelihood of flooding were identified in each region. The analysis of the clustering of annual counts of floods revealed an over-dispersion in the Atlantic and Continental regions, forming flood-rich and flood-poor periods, as well as an under-dispersion in the Scandinavian region that points to a regular pattern of flood occurrences at the inter-annual scale. The detection of trends in flood series is attempted by basing it on the identified regions, interpreting the results at a regional scale and for various time periods: 1900-1999; 1920-1999; 1939-1998 and 1956-1995. The results indicate that a decreasing trend in the magnitude of floods was observed mainly in the Continental region in the period 1920-1999 with 22% of the catchments revealing such a trend, as well as a decreasing trend in the timing of floods in the Alpine region in the period 1900-1999 with 75% of the catchments revealing this trend. A mixed pattern of changes in the frequency of floods over a threshold and few significant changes in the timing of floods were detected

Política e poder na enfermagem gerontológica no Brasil

O presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar as atividades políticas implementadas pela enfermagem gerontológica no Brasil, para sua consolidação como especialidade no atendimento ao idoso, no período de 1970 a 1996. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo-qualitativo, com abordagem histórica, que utiliza a história oral temática e que se realizou com catorze enfermeiras pioneiras na área. As categorias encontradas foram: 1. Organização política da área; e 2. Relação da área com o Estado. Os resultados identificam como exemplos de atividades políticas: a realização das jornadas brasileiras, com objetivo de agregar pesquisadores interessados na temática; criação do Departamento Científico de Enfermagem Gerontológica; e a participação efetiva da enfermagem na elaboração de políticas públicas no país. A especialidade tem consciência da relevância política para sua construção e vem empreendendo esforços para alcançar reconhecimento como área do conhecimento na equipe multidisciplinar de atendimento ao idoso

Cenário das pesquisas na pós-graduação na área de enfermagem e gerenciamento no Brasil

Trata-se de um estudo documental, descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa, com o objetivo de caracterizar a produção da pós-graduação brasileira na área da enfermagem no triênio 2007-2009, com ênfase na temática gerenciamento em enfermagem. As informações foram obtidas no banco de dados da CAPES, que disponibiliza resumos de dissertações e teses. O material foi analisado e categorizado segundo as áreas/campos e respectivas linhas de pesquisa, definidas pela área de Enfermagem. A análise da produção em geral foi descritiva e analítica/crítica no campo organizacional, especificamente, na temática do gerenciamento. Os resultados mostraram algumas mudanças na produção no triênio, quando comparada aos estudos anteriores, destacando-se o crescimento da área/campo assistencial, manutenção da organizacional e queda na área/campo profissional. Na temática de gerenciamento houve o predomínio de estudos sobre avaliação em saúde, concepções/percepções sobre planejamento/organização, do trabalho-serviços e educação permanente