| 1. |
- Bromfalk, Åsa, 1967-
(author)
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Intervention for prevention : easing children’s preoperative anxiety
- 2024
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Preoperative anxiety in children is associated with several adverse outcomes and consequences that can have a negative impact on the perioperative outcome and delay recovery. Anxiety can cause stress-induced cardiorespiratory instability, increased postoperative pain, nausea, emergence delirium, and long-term behavior changes. The ideal premedication for children is still debated. Only a few studies have examined the use of premedication in relation to total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), and there is also a lack of studies exploring staff’s experiences of premedication. The aim of this thesis was to compare midazolam (a benzodiazepine), clonidine, and dexmedetomidine (a2-agonists) given as premedication to preschool children, regarding anxiety, cardiorespiratory response to sedation, time to postoperative recovery, posthospital negative behavior changes (NBCs), and staff’s experiences of the interventions.Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, 90 children aged 2–6 years, scheduled for TIVA and ear, nose, and throat surgery, were randomized to one of three groups, receiving midazolam 0.5 mg/kg, clonidine 4 mg/kg, or dexmedetomidine 2 mg/kg. The children were included at a 200-bed county hospital in northern Sweden and observed with validated tools from the day of surgery until two weeks postoperatively (Studies I–IV). To explore the clinical aspects, we conducted focus group interviews to elicit perioperative staff’s experiences of the studied interventions and analyzed the data with qualitative content analysis (Study V). Results: Midazolam reduced preoperative anxiety and provided perioperative cardiorespiratory stability. Clonidine and dexmedetomidine provided deeper sedation along with a minor decrease in heart rate. Some children, mainly from the clonidine group, awoke during the preoperative preparation, triggering anxiety, while the midazolam group remained conscious, calm, and cooperative. Postoperatively, the midazolam group emerged earlier from anesthesia compared to the two a2-agonist groups. However, the midazolam group had more episodes of postoperative anxiety, delirium, and pain compared to both groups receiving a2-agonists, and the overall recovery and discharge time from the post-anesthesia care unit was thus the same for all groups. The posthospital study showed at least one NBC in half of the children during the first two weeks after surgery. The staff’s experiences of premedication could be summarized in three themes: a matter of time, covering the efforts of building trust along with timing the administration and onset; don’t wake the sleeping bear, covering the challenge of maintaining sleep in the sleeping child in order to avoid a backlash if woken; and on responsive tiptoes, covering safety precautions and ethical perspectives on the interventions.Conclusion: The different premedications varied in their ability to reduce anxiety and to induce sleep, and this manifested itself throughout the perioperative process. Short-acting midazolam reduced preoperative anxiety but did not provide adequate sleep, and early postoperative emergence occasionally caused a rise in adverse symptom intensification. The long-lasting and sleep-inducing a2-agonists showed an unsatisfactory anxiolytic effect in comparison to midazolam. The sleep was superficial, and an awakening risked triggering anxiety. The staff strove to keep the sedated child asleep, and the recovery time was better and more peaceful when the children slept for a long time postoperatively. However, despite a calm perioperative process, one in two children presented with posthospital NBC. At the doses used in this study, all these premedications seem to be safe in cardiorespiratory terms, and the decision of which one to use should be tailored by individual and time.
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| 2. |
- Juto, Hans, 1975-
(author)
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Studies of ankle fractures : classification, epidemiology, complications and results
- 2022
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The ankle fracture is one of the most common fractures in adult patients and is a heterogeneous group of fractures. From the fully stable fracture on the most distal part of thefibula to severely unstable and even dislocated ankles. Patients with ankle fractures often report a good result after treatment, but a small group have persistent problems.The purpose of the dissertation is to investigate classification, epidemiology, complications, and results in order to improve knowledge and management of ankle fractures.This dissertation is mainly based on data from the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR).In Study I the accuracy of the AO/OTA classification, version 2007, of ankle fractures in the SFR was examined. Entry of data into the SFR is mainly performed by the attending doctors at the accident and emergency departments, often with varying experience of fracture classification. Classification of fractures can in some cases bedifficult even for experienced orthopaedic surgeons. This is because the fractures to be categorized can be seen being on a spectrum and there will always be cases which is on the border between different categories. We created a reference group that classified several randomly selected ankle fractures from the SFR based on X-rays from treatingorthopedic departments. The assessment that was then agreed upon was considered to be the gold standard classification and could in turn be compared to the classification found in the SFR. The agreement between the classification in the SFR and the classification of the reference group was 88% for AO/OTA type level and 74% for AO/OTAgroup level. This corresponded to a kappa value of 0.77 and 0.66 respectively. The findings were equivalent to or higher than in previous studies.In study II the aim was to examine the incidence of ankle fractures in Norrbotten county, as well as the relationship between AO/OTA-classes of ankle fractures with age, gender and low-energy trauma. Ankle fractures are increasing in an ageing population but are not generally seen as a fragility fracture. All ankle fractures treated at a hospital in the county were retrospectively identified, X-rays were inspected and classified, and the medical record reviewed. The study found 1,756 ankle fractures corresponding to an incidence of 179 per 100,000 person-years. Females had an increasing incidence with age while among males the incidence was more evenly distributed. The type B fractures showed a slightly higher proportion of low-energy trauma and increased substantially with age. In contrast were the A21-subgroup and type C ankle fractures which had a lower mean age and proportion of women.Study III investigated the association between the incidence of venous thromboembolic event (VTE) and the use of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) prophylaxis following an ankle fracture, as well as factors affecting the risk of VTE. VTE is a well-known complication after ankle fracture and especially after ankle fracture surgery. The use of LMWH prophylaxis is debated. Data on ankle fracture treatment from the Swedish Fracture Register was linked to data for VTE diagnosis and LMWH prescription from the Swedish National Patient Register and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. Cases of diagnosed VTE were identified among 222 of 14,954 ankle fractures. Orthopaedic departments with higher-than-average use of LMWH prophylaxis among non-operatively treated ankle fractures had a lower incidence of VTE (OR 0.60, 95% CI, 0.39-0.92). Among patients treated operatively at departments with guidelines for routine use of LMWH prophylaxis there was an incidence of VTE of 1.6%, compared to 2,7% at departments without routine use of LMWH prophylaxis (OR 0.56, 95% CI, 0.37-0.86). During the first two weeks following injury, there was only one case of VTE in 5,332 patients with prescribed LMWH, compared to 39 cases of VTE among 9,622 patients without prescription.Study IV examined the variations in the length of sick leave in ankle fracture patients. Even though most patients with an ankle fracture report a satisfactory outcome there are still a number of patients with persistent pain and functional impairment. The aim of the study was to analyse how treatment, different types of ankle fracture and patients-related factors were associated with the length of sick leave by combining data from the SFR and Swedish Social Insurance Agency (SSIA). Fifty-three per cent of patients registered with an ankle fracture in the SFR had a period of paid sick leave from the SSIA. There was an association between the length of the sick leave and the severity of the fracture. A correlation was also seen between the length of the sick leave and a worse patient-reported outcome.
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| 3. |
- Tydén, Jonas, 1973-
(author)
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Heparin-binding protein and organ failure in critical illness
- 2019
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: For patients severely ill enough to require care in an intensive care unit (ICU), both the disease itself (e.g. bacteria in the blood in sepsis or fractures after trauma) and effects of the immune system can cause circulatory, pulmonary, or renal dysfunction. Leukocytes play a dominant role in the immune system. When activated they release a range of small proteins with different properties Heparin-binding protein (HBP) being one of these proteins, has many functions, including to increase vascular permeability. Heparin-binding protein causes plasma leakage from blood vessels into surrounding tissue (oedema), which can lead to organ dysfunction depending on the site and degree of oedema formation. Increased concentration of HBP in plasma is associated with failing circulation and lung function in subgroups of critically ill patients.Aims: We investigated the possibility of using concentration of HBP in plasma for predicting circulatory, respiratory or renal failure in an ICU population with mixed diagnosis. We assessed concentration of HBP in alveoli in ventilator induced lung injury (VILI), and finally assessed elimination of HBP in urine and effluent fluid from continuous dialysis.Methods: In Papers I and II, HBP concentration in plasma was measured in 278 patients on admission to ICU. Sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores and acute kidney injury (AKI) stage were recorded daily. In Paper III HBP concentration in bronco-alveolar fluid was measured in a pig model of ventilatory induced lung injury, in 16 healthy volunteers and in 10 intubated ICU patients. In Paper IV plasma and urine concentration of HBP was measured in 8 healthy volunteers and 20 burn ICU patients. In addition, HBP was sampled in plasma and effluent fluid in 32 ICU patients on continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).Results: In Paper I, patients developing circulatory failure (circulatory sub-score of SOFA = 4) had higher plasma concentration of HBP compared to those who did not (median(IQR)ng/ml) (63.5(32–105) vs 36.4(24–59)) p<0.01), and patients developing respiratory failure (P:F ratio < 27) had higher HBP concentration than those who did not (44.4(30-109) vs 35.2(23-57) p<0.01). Discriminatory capacity was (ROC AUC (95%CI)) (0.65 (0.54–0.76)) for circulatory failure and (0.61(0.54–0.69)) for respiratory failure. In Paper II, patients developing renal failure (AKI stage 2-3) had higher plasma concentration of HBP compared to those who did not (72.1 (13.0–131.2) vs 34.5 (19.7–49.3) p<0.01). Discriminatory capacity for AKI stage 3 was 0.68(0.54-0.83) (ROC AUC (95%CI)). In the subgroup with severe sepsis, it was 0.93 (0.85–1.00). In Paper III, HBP concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage was higher in pigs subjected to injurious ventilation over 6 hours ventilation compared to controls (1144(359–1636) vs 89(33–191) p=0.02) (median(IQR)ng/ml). The median HBP concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage from healthy volunteers was 0.90(0.79– 1.01) compared to 1959(612–3306) from intubated ICU patients (p < 0.01).In Paper IV, renal clearance of HBP was 0.19 (0.08-0.33) in healthy individuals and 0.30 (0.01-1.04) (median, IQR, ml/min) in burn ICU patients. Clearance of HBP was higher in burn patients with increased cystatin C (0.45(0.15-2.81) vs. 0.28(0.14-0.55) p=0.04). Starting CRRT did not alter plasma concentration of HBP (p=0.14). Median HBP concentration in effluent fluid on CRRT was 9.1 ng/ml (7.8-14.4).Conclusions: Papers I and II:There is an association between high concentration of HBP in plasma on ICU admission and circulatory, respiratory and renal failure. For the individual patient, the predictive value of a high HBP concentration is low, with the possible exception of renal failure in septic patients. Paper III:HBP concentration in alveoli increases in pigs subjected to injurious ventilation. HBP concentration in alveoli of intubated ICU patients ventilated protectively is elevated to similar levels, a factor of approximately 1000 times higher than the concentration seen in healthy controls. Paper IV:In healthy study participants, renal clearance of HBP is low. In critically ill burn patients with impaired renal function, clearance of HBP is increased. Starting CRRT in critically ill patients does not alter plasma concentration of HBP. Still, HBP is found in the CRRT effluent fluid, and concentration does not appear to be dependent on plasma concentration.
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| 4. |
- Jonsson, Karin, 1970-
(author)
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Knowing what’s going on : situation awareness and team performance in interprofessional teams
- 2021
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background Within critical care, it is necessary to have an awareness ofwhat is going on in order to be able to make the right decision at the right time.Situation awareness (SA) is a non-technical skill (NTS) that is important instressful, complex environments such as the intensive care unit (ICU).Deficiencies in NTS are well known to impact performance and thereby causeadverse events. More knowledge about how background factors are associatedto team performance and explore critical care team members experiencesteamwork are of importance to develop models for improving teamwork. Aneducational intervention aiming to improve SA during critical events might bevaluable to improve the performance of interprofessional teams. For this,instruments for assessment of SA and NTS are needed.Aim The aim of this thesis was to test different instruments for measuringSA, team performance and task performance for feasibility and reliability; to investigate the relationship between team background characteristics, teamperformance and task performance; to evaluate an educational programme inSA for intensive care teams; and to explore team members’ experience ofteamwork.Methods This thesis was based on data from 69 different video-recordedteam training sessions with a simulator as a patient (studies I–III) and ninefocus group interviews (Study IV). In Study I, the participants were 55 medicalstudents, and the sessions took place at a clinical training centre. Theparticipants in Study II (n=105) and III (n=75) were ICU staff members fromtwo different hospitals, and the sessions took place in situ at the respectiveICUs. In Study III, the participants were randomized into control orintervention group, where the intervention group received an educationalintervention comprising lectures and reflective discussions. The control grouponly performed team training without lectures and reflective discussions. Thetraining sessions were analysed with a focus on team and task performanceusing the TEAM instrument and the ABCDE checklist, respectively. Inaddition, a questionnaire (SAGAT) was used to assess individuals’ SA (StudyI and III). The data in Study I–III were quantitatively analysed. In Study IV,focus group interviews with staff members (n= 31) from the ICUs wereanalysed using qualitative content analysis.Results The findings in Study I showed that SAGAT was feasible to use andthat the inter-rater reliability for the ABCDE checklist and the TEAMinstrument indicated sufficient stability. In Study II, higher age wasassociated with several aspects of good team performance such as teamwork,task management, team overall and total team. Prior team training withoutvideo was associated with better task performance, while prior education incommunication was negatively associated with leadership. In Study III, theresults demonstrated that the educational intervention improved theperformance of the intervention group in the TEAM subscales of leadershipand task management, as well as in the total score. In Study IV, the mainfinding presented as a theme was balancing knowledge and behaviour inteamwork. The interviews revealed three categories of aspects that facilitatevor act as barriers to teamwork: (1) having potential for excellence while copingwith members who do not act as team players; (2) creating a safe atmospherewhile working in an unknown environment and struggling to maintain one’spositions; and (3) being in a workflow without becoming overwhelmed.Conclusions By implementing an educational programme focusing on SA,different parts of interprofessional team performance could be improved. Foroptimal interprofessional teamwork in the ICU, both knowledge andbehaviours were essential components. For the studies in this thesis, thedifferent instruments used were both feasible and reliable. High age wasrelated to good team and task performance, indicating that generic factors thatis associated with age might influence team and task performance.This thesis will probably contribute to a safer care of seriously ill patients at ICU.
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| 5. |
- Karlsson, Sofia, 1991-
(author)
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Saving lives during major underground mining incidents : becoming prepared for a collaborative response
- 2020
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Major incidents in underground mines are uncommon, but they can have severe consequences. In Sweden, the municipal rescue service and the regional emergency medical service (EMS) are dispatched to mining incidents, and together with the privately owned/state owned mineral and metalliferous mining company they perform a rescue operation. The major fire incident of 2013 in a Swedish underground mine led to the realization that there was a general lack of preparedness for managing these underground emergencies.Aim: The overall aim was to analyze the preparedness for response to major incidents in Swedish underground mines among personnel from mining companies, the rescue service, and emergency medical service.Methods: In Study I, questionnaires (n=741) assessing Swedish underground mining company personnel’s self-assessed preparedness for emergencies were analyzed by descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and multiple logistic regression. In Study II, individual interviews with EMS personnel (n=13) were analyzed with qualitative content analysis to identify the latent content. In Study III, six focus group interviews with personnel from mining companies (n=15), the rescue service (n=9), and EMS (n=4) were analyzed with qualitative content analysis and complemented with information from ten individual interviews with EMS personnel. In Study IV, documents (n=144) from collaboration meetings and full-scale exercises were analyzed deductively using the theory of expansive learning.Results: Most of the Swedish underground mining company personnel considered themselves prepared to act in case of major incidents, and about two thirds of the mining company personnel considered themselves moderately confident that they know how to take care of a seriously injured peer. Their self-perceived preparedness was associated with their familiarity with rescue procedures, their risk perception, and their experience of using self-protective and first aid equipment (Study I). Study II showed that EMS personnel trusted the rescue service and mining company personnel to perform the rescue operation and considered themselves as having a supportive role. In Study III, the mining company, rescue service, and EMS personnel considered that because of the unfamiliar underground mining environment, they have to prepare their organizations for major underground incidents in collaboration with each other. In Study IV, a tentative model was created for the development of an expansive learning process for the organizations’ exercise organizers during a set of collaboration meetings and full-scale exercises.Conclusion: The preparedness of the mining company, rescue service, and EMS personnel was analyzed through experiences from both real events and full-scale exercises. A holistic perspective of organizational preparedness for major incidents in underground mines has been generated. All organizations have their perspective of rescue operation response, but the shared objective is to save lives and care for the injured mining company personnel by performing an effective rescue operation in collaboration.
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