A cirurgia micrográfica de Mohs (CMM) é realizada em fases sucessivas de retirada tumoral. Cada fase demora de uma a duas horas, dependendo do tamanho da lesão; portanto, é muito importante conseguir predizer o número de fases da cirurgia a fim de poder programar melhor o tempo de uso da sala cirúrgica e da equipe cirúrgica, o uso de anestésicos, os custos da cirurgia, melhor orientar o paciente e assegurar a remoção completa do tumor. Com o intuito de encontrar fatores preditivos do número de fases da CMM no tratamento do carcinoma espinocelular da cabeça, realizou-se o levantamento dos prontuários de 44 pacientes submetidos a 51 CMM no ambulatório de cirurgia dermatológica da Divisão de Dermatologia do HC-FMUSP/SP, de 1994 a 2003. Foram constituídos três grupos quanto ao número de fases da CMM: uma fase, duas fases e três ou mais fases. Os grupos foram comparados em relação às variáveis: duração da lesão até a cirurgia, morfologia, tamanho e limites da lesão, tumor primário ou recidivado, grau de diferenciação histológica do tumor e localização anatômica do tumor. Identificou-se um único fator significante na análise univariada: a distribuição dos tumores recidivados segundo o número de fases da cirurgia e que diferiu da distribuição dos tumores primários (p=0,081, teste exato de Fisher), sendo maior o número de fases para os tumores recidivados. Na análise multivariada, não houve fatores estatisticamente significantes que pudessem estar associados ao número de fases da cirurgia. Na análise da razão de chances, observou-se maior chance de apresentar maior número de fases para as variáveis: limites clínicos imprecisos, tumor ulcerado, tumor recidivado, tumor mais agressivo histologicamente e tumor maior que 1 cm. / Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is proceeded in successive stages of cancer removal. Each stage lasts from 1 to 2 hours, depending on the tumor size. So it is very important to predict the number of phases of the surgery so that one can plan better the time of the surgical room use, the time of the surgeon and his team, the use of anaesthetics, the surgical costs, to give the patient better orientations about his surgery and to ensure complete tumor erradication. With the intention to find predictive factors of the number of stages of MMS in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma, we reviewed the record of 44 patients on a total of 51 surgeries proceeded in the dermatologic surgical clinic of the Dermatological Division of HC-FMUSP/SP from 1994 to 2003. For the number of stages in the MMS we established 3 groups: 1 stage, 2 stages and 3 or more stages. These groups were compared with regard to this variables: continuance of the lesion until the surgery, morphology and size of the lesion, lesion limits, primary or recurrent cancer, histological grade (Broders) and anatomic localization. In the univariated analysis one single factor was significant: the distribution of the recurrent cancers related to the number of stages of the surgery that was different from the distribution of the primary ones (p=0.081, Fisher\'s exact test), been higher the number of stages for the recurrent cancers. In the multivariated analysis, there were no statistically significant factors associated with higher number of stages of the surgery. In the analysis of the odss ratio, we noted a higher chance of a higher number of stages for the variables: inaccurate clinical limits, ulcerated lesions, recurrent cancer, higher aggressive histology and tumor bigger than 1 cm.

PURPOSE: To determine the influence of race/ethnicity on outcomes in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of CCSS adult survivors in the United States, 443 (4.9%) were black, 503 (5.6%) were Hispanic and 7,821 (86.6%) were white. Mean age at interview, 26.9 years (range, 18 to 48 years); mean follow-up, 17.2 years (range, 8.7 to 28.4 years). Late mortality, second malignancy (SMN) rates, health care utilization, and health status and behaviors were assessed for blacks and Hispanics and compared with white survivors. RESULTS: Late mortality rate (6.5%) and 15-year cumulative incidence of SMN (3.5%) were similar across racial/ethnic groups. Minority survivors were more likely to have lower socioeconomic status (SES); final models were adjusted for income, education, and health insurance. Although overall health status was similar, black survivors were less likely to report adverse mental health (females: odds ratio [OR], 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4 to 0.9; males: OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3 to 0.8). Differences in health care utilization and behaviors noted: Hispanic survivors were more likely to report a cancer center visit (females: OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.0; males: OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.3); black females were more likely (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.4), and Hispanic females less likely to have a recent Pap smear (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5 to 1.0); black and Hispanic survivors were less likely to report smoking; black survivors were less likely to report problem drinking. CONCLUSION: Adjusted for SES, adverse outcomes in CCSS were not associated with minority status. Importantly, black survivors reported less risky behaviors and better preventive practices. Hispanic survivors had equitable access to cancer related care.

Sparse information is available concerning use of emergency departments (EDs) by the elderly in rural areas. We reviewed records of all patients seeking care at EDs of three rural hospitals during 7 days in October 1991. We found that elderly people did not use EDs in proportion to their numbers in the community (15.2% versus 19.3%). Compared with younger ED patients, more elderly patients required an ambulance (40.8% versus 10.7%), more needed hospitalization (38.4% versus 11.9%), and their ED stays were longer (140 minutes versus 89 minutes). Falls/injuries (18.7%) and cardiac illness (18.1%) were the most frequent reasons for ED visits by the elderly, and relatively few (2.8%) had confusion. More elderly patients arrived during daytime hours than during the night, and more on weekends than weekdays. Also, we found no difference between patients in the 65- to 74-year-old age group and those aged 75 years and older.

Objetivos: Estimar a concordância entre as práticas e as evidências disponíveis em uma unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de todos os pacientes internados durante 2001. As práticas foram classificadas em adequadas ou não-adequadas de acordo com recomendações. Esperava-se para as práticas recomendadas 90% de concordância, para as contra-indicadas, discordância de até 10% e para aquelas onde havia incertezas, 50%. Resultados: Foram selecionadas 114 publicações e avaliadas 253/275 internações (92%). O uso foi considerado apropriado para albumina em 47,6% (IC 95% 39% – 55%); dopamina <3mg/kg/min 87,9% (83% – 92%); sedação e analgesia 88,6% (87% – 90%); transfusões de concentrado de hemácias 95,2% (92% – 97%); profiliaxia de úlcera de estresse 89,7% (88% – 91%). / Objectives: Estimate the concordance between the practices and the evidence available in a pediatric intensive care unit. Methods: Retrospective study of all admitted patients during 2001. The practices were classified as adequate or non-adequate according to recommendations. It was expected 90% concordance for the recommended practices, while for non-adequate practices, discordance until 10% and for those where there was doubt, 50%. Results: 114 publications were selected and 253/275 admissions (92%) were evaluated. Use was considered appropriate for albumin in 47.6% (IC 95% 39% – 55%); dopamine <3mg/kg/min 87.9% (83% – 92%); sedation and analgesia 88.6% (87% – 90%); red blood cell transfusions 95.2% (92% – 97%); stress ulcer prophylaxis 89.7% (88% – 91%).

Objetivos: Estimar a concordância entre as práticas e as evidências disponíveis em uma unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de todos os pacientes internados durante 2001. As práticas foram classificadas em adequadas ou não-adequadas de acordo com recomendações. Esperava-se para as práticas recomendadas 90% de concordância, para as contra-indicadas, discordância de até 10% e para aquelas onde havia incertezas, 50%. Resultados: Foram selecionadas 114 publicações e avaliadas 253/275 internações (92%). O uso foi considerado apropriado para albumina em 47,6% (IC 95% 39% – 55%); dopamina <3mg/kg/min 87,9% (83% – 92%); sedação e analgesia 88,6% (87% – 90%); transfusões de concentrado de hemácias 95,2% (92% – 97%); profiliaxia de úlcera de estresse 89,7% (88% – 91%). / Objectives: Estimate the concordance between the practices and the evidence available in a pediatric intensive care unit. Methods: Retrospective study of all admitted patients during 2001. The practices were classified as adequate or non-adequate according to recommendations. It was expected 90% concordance for the recommended practices, while for non-adequate practices, discordance until 10% and for those where there was doubt, 50%. Results: 114 publications were selected and 253/275 admissions (92%) were evaluated. Use was considered appropriate for albumin in 47.6% (IC 95% 39% – 55%); dopamine <3mg/kg/min 87.9% (83% – 92%); sedation and analgesia 88.6% (87% – 90%); red blood cell transfusions 95.2% (92% – 97%); stress ulcer prophylaxis 89.7% (88% – 91%).