Objective: Evaluation of surgical quality ensures consistency of care and facilitates improvements in the quality of care delivered. Methods: An overview of surgical quality measurement is presented. A system for monitoring thoracic morbidity and mortality (TM&M) at the Ottawa Hospital is introduced and evaluated. Results of a needs assessment survey on the involvement in thoracic surgical research and quality improvement initiatives are presented. Results: Structure, process, and outcomes reflect different viewpoints on how to evaluate surgical quality. The feasibility of the TM&M system is evaluated using descriptive and univariate statistics, while its inter-rater reliability is assessed amongst the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons. Conclusions: Outcomes have been fundamental in the evaluation of surgical quality. TM&M classification system advocates for a practice of continuous quality improvement and provides standardized and reliable feedback on surgical outcomes. Results of the needs assessment have built a strong foundation of knowledge on prospective ways to enhance the monitoring of surgical quality.

Objective: Evaluation of surgical quality ensures consistency of care and facilitates improvements in the quality of care delivered. Methods: An overview of surgical quality measurement is presented. A system for monitoring thoracic morbidity and mortality (TM&M) at the Ottawa Hospital is introduced and evaluated. Results of a needs assessment survey on the involvement in thoracic surgical research and quality improvement initiatives are presented. Results: Structure, process, and outcomes reflect different viewpoints on how to evaluate surgical quality. The feasibility of the TM&M system is evaluated using descriptive and univariate statistics, while its inter-rater reliability is assessed amongst the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons. Conclusions: Outcomes have been fundamental in the evaluation of surgical quality. TM&M classification system advocates for a practice of continuous quality improvement and provides standardized and reliable feedback on surgical outcomes. Results of the needs assessment have built a strong foundation of knowledge on prospective ways to enhance the monitoring of surgical quality.

Objective: Evaluation of surgical quality ensures consistency of care and facilitates improvements in the quality of care delivered. Methods: An overview of surgical quality measurement is presented. A system for monitoring thoracic morbidity and mortality (TM&M) at the Ottawa Hospital is introduced and evaluated. Results of a needs assessment survey on the involvement in thoracic surgical research and quality improvement initiatives are presented. Results: Structure, process, and outcomes reflect different viewpoints on how to evaluate surgical quality. The feasibility of the TM&M system is evaluated using descriptive and univariate statistics, while its inter-rater reliability is assessed amongst the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons. Conclusions: Outcomes have been fundamental in the evaluation of surgical quality. TM&M classification system advocates for a practice of continuous quality improvement and provides standardized and reliable feedback on surgical outcomes. Results of the needs assessment have built a strong foundation of knowledge on prospective ways to enhance the monitoring of surgical quality.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2006. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Nursing)--Mahidol University, 1979. / Financial support by China Medical Board of New York Inc.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1980. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-84).

Sabe-se que o sistema imune, através de um fenômeno denominado imunossenescência, gradativamente diminui a sua capacidade de resposta durante a vida. Este fato pode tornar o indivíduo mais suscetível a infecções e outras patologias. Neste contexto, seria útil procurar por fatores que alterassem esta evolução natural, principalmente os capazes de acelerar este processo. Por esta razão, nós procuramos por diferenças nos parâmetros imunológicos entre o antes e o depois da cirurgia de valva cardíaca em idosos com mais de 65 anos. Nossos resultados não apontaram, no pós-operatório, para uma diminuição da capacidade imune, uma vez que os testes cutâneos de hipersensibilidade para o PPD, tricofitina e candidina não se alteraram. Quando a resposta linfoproliferativa foi avaliada in vitro, também não apresentou diferença. Por outro lado, nós observamos um aumento na porcentagem de células T CD3 +, T CD4 + e monócitos no sangue periférico, quando comparamos os períodos. Sendo que os marcadores de ativação cellular CD25 +, CD69 + e o CD95 também se apresentaram elevados. Quanto a secreção de citocinas, nossos resultados apontam para um amento de IL-4 e IL-8. Inversamente, concentrações reduzidas de IL-2, IL-12 e IFN- foram detectadas no sobrenadante de PBMCs quando estimuladas in vitro. Em suma, nossos dados demonstram que a cirurgia de valva cardiaca é capaz de alterar vários parâmetros da resposta immune, com um aumenrto da porcentagem de células, quanto da expressão de marcadores de ativação celular e secreção de citocinas / It is known that the immune system, through a phenomenon called immunosenescence, undergoes functional changes during life which may culminate in a diminished capacity of response, turning the subject more susceptible to infections and other pathologies. In this context, it is useful to search for factors that alter this natural evolution, mainly able to delay this process. For this reason, we assessed different immunologic parameters before and after cardiac valve surgery in 65 year-old patients. Our results did not point to a postoperative immunedeficiency-like state, once that the cutaneous tests to PPD, candidin and tricophytin remained positive for most of the subjects. When the proliferative response was assessed in vitro, there were also no differences. On the other hand, we observed a post-surgical increase in the percentage of T CD3 +, T CD4 + cells and in monocytes from peripheral blood when we compare both periods. Moreover, it is important to highlight that activation markers, such as CD25, CD69 and CD95 were also presented in higher levels. According to the cytokine secretion, our results appointed to a greater secretion of IL-4 and IL-8 postoperative. Conversely, reduced concentrations of IL-2, IL-12 and IFN- were detected in supernatant of PBMCs when stimulated in vitro. In summary, our data reveal that the cardiac valve surgery with extra corporeal procedure and anesthesia is able to alter several parameters of the immune response, with an increased percentage of the major assessed cells, as well as in the expression of activation markers and cytokine secretion

A cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio (CRVM) é um procedimento indicado para pacientes com angina pectoris não controlada com o tratamento clínico e para pacientes com elevado grau de obstrução das artérias principais. A cirurgia visa a melhorar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS) dos pacientes, aliviar os sintomas da angina e aumentar a sobrevida, sobretudo dos pacientes de maior risco. No contexto do paciente coronariopata, a depressão tem sido relacionada como um preditor de pior QVRS, enquanto o senso de coerência (SC) tem sido associado a melhor QVRS e menor depressão. Objetivos: Avaliar a QVRS, depressão e SC, antes e seis meses após a CRVM e investigar as associações entre essas variáveis. Casuística e método: Estudo observacional e prospectivo, realizado em um hospital-escola no interior do Estado de São Paulo, desenvolvido entre os meses de setembro de 2006 e abril de 2008. A amostra foi constituída por 54 pacientes que fizeram parte das duas avaliações. Foram utilizados três instrumentos de medida: para avaliação da QVRS, o Medical Outcomes Study 36 - item Short-Form (SF-36), para a depressão, o Inventário de Depressão de Beck (IDB) e para o SC, o Questionário de Senso de Coerência de Antonovsky de 29 itens (QSCA). Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas. Posteriormente, foram sumarizados por meio de estatística descritiva e analisados pelo teste de correlação de Pearson e teste t. A análise de regressão hierárquica foi realizada para verificar as associações entre a depressão, seis meses após a cirurgia, o sexo, idade, depressão préoperatória e SC, as quais se mostraram estatisticamente significantes nas análises bivariadas. O nível de significância adotado foi 0,05. Resultados: Os participantes eram, predominantemente, do sexo masculino, casados e com baixo nível de escolaridade. As médias obtidas, nos oito domínios do SF-36, foram maiores na segunda avaliação, quando comparadas ao pré-operatório, sendo as diferenças estatisticamente significantes. A medida de depressão foi maior antes do que após cirurgia (p=0,01) e não houve alteração na medida do SC (p=0,51). No préoperatório, as mulheres apresentaram menor avaliação da QVRS nos componentes do SF-36, exceto para Aspectos emocionais (p=0,68). A idade apresentou correlação moderada e positiva com o Estado geral de saúde (r=0,342, p=0,01) e com o SC (r=314, p=0,02), enquanto que moderada e negativa com a medida de depressão (r= -0,307, p=0,02). Após seis meses, os homens apresentaram melhor avaliação em todos os componentes do SF-36, sendo essa diferença estatisticamente significativa para Aspectos físicos (p=0,04), Dor (p=0,02), Estado geral de saúde (p=0,01) e Vitalidade (p=0,04). A idade demonstrou correlação positiva e forte com Estado geral de saúde (r=570, p=0,00) e moderada com Saúde mental (r=0,388, p=0,00). Para testar se a presença de depressão, seis meses após a cirurgia, associava-se com a depressão existente no pré-operatório, bem como com as variáveis sexo e idade, foi realizada regressão linear hierárquica cujo resultado mostrou que 49% da variância da medida de depressão, seis meses após a cirurgia, era explicada por essas variáveis. Com a inclusão da medida de SC no modelo constatou-se que essa variável explicou sozinha 18,7% da variância da medida de depressão, após o ajuste das demais variáveis. Conclusão: A QVRS melhora seis meses após a CRVM, assim como há diminuição da depressão, enquanto o SC não apresentou alteração, confirmando a estabilidade do constructo. Após o ajuste no modelo de regressão para as variáveis: sexo, idade e depressão no pré-operatório, o SC explica 18,7% da depressão pós-operatória, resultado importante em se tratando de uma variável psicossocial. / The myocardial revascularization surgery (MRS) is a recommended procedure for patients who suffer from angina pectoris which is not controlled under clinical treatment and for patients who have an elevated degree of obstruction of the main coronary arteries. The surgery aims at improving patients health-related quality of life, alleviating the symptoms of the angina and increasing their survival period, particularly of those at greater risk. As to the coronaropathy in patients, depression has been related to a predictor for worse HRQL, whereas the sense of coherence (SC) has been associated with a better HRQL and lower depression. Objectives: To evaluate the HRQL, depression and SC before MRS and six months after it and to investigate the associations among these variables. Casuistics and method: A prospective and observational study, which was carried out at a hospital school in the countryside of the State of São Paulo and developed between September 2006 and April 2008. The sample was constituted of 54 patients who took part in the two evaluations. Three instruments of measurement were utilized: to evaluate HRQL, the Medical Outcomes Study 36 - item Short-Form (SF-36), towards depression, the Beck Depression Inventary (BDI) and regarding SC, the Questionnaire of Sense of Coherence by Antonovsky of 29 items (QSCA). The data were collected by means of interviews. Later, they were summarized through descriptive statistics and analysed by our using the test of correlation by Peterson and the t test. The analysis of hierarchical regression was carried out to verify the associations among the depression, six months after the surgery, sex, age, pre-operatory depression and SC, which were shown to be statistically significant in the bivariate analyses. The adopted level of significance was 0,05. Results: The participants were predominantly male, married and had a low level of instruction. The averages obtained, in the eight domains of SF-36, were higher in the second evaluation when compared to the preoperatory period, being such differences statistically significant. The measurement of depression was higher before than after the surgery (p=0,01) and there was no alteration in the measurement of SC (p=0,51). In the pre-operatory period, women presented a lower evaluation of HRQL in the components of SF-36, except towards Emotional aspects (p=0,68). Age presented moderate and positive correlation towards the General state of health (r=0,342, p=0,01) and with the SC (r=314, p=0,02), whereas a moderate and negative one regarding the measurement of depression (r= -0,307, p=0,02). After six months, men showed a better evaluation in all the components of SF-36, being such a difference statistically significant towards Physical aspects (p=0,04), Pain (p=0,02), General state of health (p=0,01) and Vitality (p=0,04). Age demonstrated to have a strong and positive correlation with the General state of health (r=570, p=0,00) and a moderate one with Mental health (r=0,388, p=0,00). To test if the presence of depression, six months after the surgery, was associated with the existent pre-operatory depression, as well as with the variables sex and age, hierarchical linear regression was carried out whose result revealed that 49% of the variance of the measurement of depression, six months after the surgery, was explained by such variables. With the inclusion of SC measurement in the model, it was stated that this variable explained 18,7% of the variance of the measurement of depression by itself, after the adjustment of the other variables. Conclusion: The HRQL improves after six months of the MRS, depression diminishes, whereas the SC did not show any alteration, confirming the stability of the construct. After the adjustment in the model of regression towards the variables: sex, age and depression in the pre-operatory period, SC explains 18,7% of postoperatory depression, an important result regarding it is a psychosocial variable.

Objective: Evaluation of surgical quality ensures consistency of care and facilitates improvements in the quality of care delivered. Methods: An overview of surgical quality measurement is presented. A system for monitoring thoracic morbidity and mortality (TM&M) at the Ottawa Hospital is introduced and evaluated. Results of a needs assessment survey on the involvement in thoracic surgical research and quality improvement initiatives are presented. Results: Structure, process, and outcomes reflect different viewpoints on how to evaluate surgical quality. The feasibility of the TM&M system is evaluated using descriptive and univariate statistics, while its inter-rater reliability is assessed amongst the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons. Conclusions: Outcomes have been fundamental in the evaluation of surgical quality. TM&M classification system advocates for a practice of continuous quality improvement and provides standardized and reliable feedback on surgical outcomes. Results of the needs assessment have built a strong foundation of knowledge on prospective ways to enhance the monitoring of surgical quality.

Evaluation of quality of surgical care begins with the Donabedian triad focusing on structure, process, and outcomes. Outcomes, which are inherently patient-centered, are most easily and commonly measured, and are indeed fundamental to evaluating the quality of surgical care. Specifically, post-operative adverse events (AEs) remain the most frequently measured and reported outcomes, as they represent harm to the patient; and thus, are often used as a means for comparing institutional, as well as, individual surgeon performance. The importance of rigorous recording of clearly defined AEs, although widely recognized, is poorly performed in practice. In previous work, created in accordance to the Clavien-Dindo classification, we developed and integrated a classification of Thoracic Morbidity & Mortality (TM&M) within The Ottawa Hospital’s Division of Thoracic Surgery allowing objective and standardized assessment of all post-operative AEs following all surgeries. In this thesis, the complementary studies that were conducted surrounding the continued clinical application and critical appraisal of the TM&M classification system as a means toward quality improvement are described. Using standardized reporting of both incidence and severity of post-operative complications, we first provide an overview of the burden and distribution that the two most pervasive post-operative AEs have on the thoracic surgical patient population, including prolonged alveolar air leak and atrial fibrillation (Chapter I and II). Next, we explore the inter-system reliability of reported AEs following thoracic surgery from the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP), which is widely considered the most prominent surgical quality improvement effort, and the TM&M classification system in order to better understand to what extent the methods used to collect data may be impacting results (Chapter III). The disparity between the two systems and the duplicate participation indicates distinct value to the two quality reporting systems. An absence of evidence in the literature regarding individual surgeon outcome reporting and its impact on the quality of care prompted us to create risk-adjusted, surgeon-specific outcome reports to enable individualized performance measurement and feedback (Chapter IV). A priority for the division has been to ensure such measurement translates into reproducible improvements in surgical performance. To do so, we implemented complementary continuous quality improvement seminars to provide an additional forum for discussion regarding collective results, utilizing positive deviance, to unmask best performers as a catalyst for discussing practice measures to improve specific AEs. Lastly, an evolutionary understanding of the heterogeneity of TM&M data was considered as a critical next step to following improvements in care (Chapter V). Recognizing that software was necessary to efficiently record and review TM&M data, iterative development led to an evolution of a real-time, web-based, point-of-care Thoracic Surgery Quality monitoring, Information management, and Clinical documentation (TSQIC) software system. The TSQIC system has enabled bedside data recording and storage, and automated dynamic analysis and reporting of surgical volume and quality. We observe that measurement of TM&M data alone, while necessary, is not sufficient for quality improvement. We suggest that in addition to implementing a complementary point-of-care, interactive, web-based quality monitoring system, key factors for improving quality and patient safety include a combination of temporal analyses of AEs, effective surgeon-specific feedback mechanisms, actionable information based on best practice measures, standardization of case reviews, and a unit-based approach conducive of team-work and safety culture, led by open and collegial dialogue.