Sandrine Touzet

Influence of Experience on Performance of Individual Surgeons in Thyroid Surgery: Prospective Cross Sectional Multicentre Study

Objective To determine the association between surgeons’ experience and postoperative complications in thyroid surgery. Design Prospective cross sectional multicentre study. Setting High volume referral centres in five academic hospitals in France. Participants All patients who underwent a thyroidectomy undertaken by every surgeon in these hospitals from 1 April 2008 to 31 December 2009. Main outcome measures Presence of two permanent major complications (recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy or hypoparathyroidism), six months after thyroid surgery. We used mixed effects logistic regression to determine the association between length of experience and postoperative complications. Results 28 surgeons completed 3574 thyroid procedures during a one year period. Overall rates of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and hypoparathyroidism were 2.08% (95% confidence interval 1.53% to 2.67%) and 2.69% (2.10% to 3.31%), respectively. In a multivariate analysis, 20 years or more of practice was associated with increased probability of both recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (odds ratio 3.06 (1.07 to 8.80), P=0.04) and hypoparathyroidism (7.56 (1.79 to 31.99), P=0.01). Surgeons’ performance had a concave association with their length of experience (P=0.036) and age (P=0.035); surgeons aged 35 to 50 years had better outcomes than their younger and older colleagues. Conclusions Optimum individual performance in thyroid surgery cannot be passively achieved or maintained by accumulating experience. Factors contributing to poor performance in very experienced surgeons should be explored further.

Coagulation assessment by rotation thrombelastometry in normal pregnancy

We analysed changes in coagulation during normal pregnancy with a novel point-of-care device based on thrombelastometry (ROTEM). We compared the results obtained with those of standard coagulation tests in 104 patients: 20 non-pregnant women (controls) and 84 women in the first (T1, n = 17), second (T2, n = 9) and third (T3, n = 58) trimesters of pregnancy. We measured the clotting time (CT), the maximum clot firmness (MCF), the early clot amplitude at 5 and 15 minutes (CA(5), CA(15)) and the clot lysis index (CLI(30)) with four tests containing specific reagents. (a) The INTEM test involving ellagic acid activated the intrinsic pathway and (b) the EXTEM test using tissue factor triggered the extrinsic pathway; (c) The FIBTEM test based on a platelet inhibitor (cytochalasin D) evaluated the contribution of fibrinogen to clot formation and (d) the APTEM test was similar to the EXTEM but was based on inhibition in vitro of fibrinolysis by aprotinin. CT and CLI(30) were not significantly modified during pregnancy whereas MCF, CA(5) and CA(15) (INTEM, EXTEM, FIBTEM) increased significantly between the second and third trimesters (e.g. median [interquartile range]: MCF-FIBTEM, 13 [11-16] mm vs. 19 [17-23] mm, respectively, in controls and T3, p < 0.001). EXTEM values were not significantly different from those measured with APTEM. There were significant correlations between the results obtained with ROTEM and those from standard coagulation tests. ROTEM analysis showed a marked increase in coagulability during normal pregnancy. ROTEM values may serve as the basis for future studies in pregnant women.

Multifaceted intervention to decrease the rate of severe postpartum haemorrhage: the PITHAGORE6 cluster‐randomised controlled trial

Please cite this paper as: Deneux‐Tharaux C, Dupont C, Colin C, Rabilloud M, Touzet S, Lansac J, Harvey T, Tessier V, Chauleur C, Pennehouat G, Morin X, Bouvier‐Colle M, Rudigoz R. Multifaceted intervention to decrease the rate of severe postpartum haemorrhage: the PITHAGORE6 cluster‐randomised controlled trial. BJOG 2010;117:1278–1287.

epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in seven European Union countries: a critical analysis of the literature

Hepatitis C is now recognized as the most common infection causing chronic liver disease in the European population. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of the antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the incidence of HCV seroconversion in the general population and the main risk groups, namely intravenous drug users, haemodialysis and transfused patients, in seven countries of the European Union, by carrying out a critical analysis of the literature. Data sources used were the Medline database and a manual search using the key words: hepatitis C, prevalence, incidence, transmission, risk factors and epidemiology. Articles published between January 1990 and March 1997 were reviewed. Articles were reviewed according to a critical analysis method regarding title, type of article, study design, period and population, tests, results and their consistency with data. The tests performed were mainly second- or third-generation serological tests. The average prevalence rate in blood donors was 1%, with a north-south gradient ranging from 0.04% to 2%. Prevalence varied from 20% to 30% in haemodialysis patients. The incidence in transfused patients was less than 1% after 1991. The prevalence in intravenous drug users was about 80%. Multicentre studies conducted in larger samples are needed to obtain more accurate and reliable results, in particular. However, the epidemiological studies available allowed us to assess the magnitude of HCV infection in Europe.Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol12:667-678

Incidence and management of postpartum haemorrhage following the dissemination of guidelines in a network of 16 maternity units in France

BACKGROUND In France obstetric haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the management of postpartum haemorrhage at individual maternity units followed guidelines established by the Aurore Network. METHODS A descriptive study was carried out in 16 maternity units of the Aurore network between October 2004 and September 2005. Cases and data were prospectively identified and collected. RESULTS Postpartum haemorrhage occurred in 1144 of 21 350 deliveries, an overall incidence of 5.4+/-0.3%. Of these, 316 cases were rated as severe. Diagnosis was clinical in 82.5% of severe cases and 77.5% of non-severe cases; the remainder were detected by postpartum laboratory tests. Uterotonic agents were given prophylactically to 46.7% of the 896 patients following vaginal delivery. In cases in which postpartum haemorrhage was due to uterine atony, 83.1% of women underwent examination of the uterine cavity and 96.3% received oxytocin, which proved therapeutic. Sulprostone was administered to 39.5% cases of persistent postpartum haemorrhage. A uterotonic was given prophylactically to 85.4% of the 247 patients at caesarean delivery. Oxytocin was therapeutic in 94.8% of cases of uterine atony. Sulprostone was administered in 84.4% of cases of persistent postpartum haemorrhage. CONCLUSION The regional guidelines issued by the Aurore network were only partially followed. More effective guideline dissemination and implementation is required to improve the prevention and management of confirmed haemorrhage.

Quality monitoring in thyroid surgery using the Shewhart control chart

A control chart can help to interpret and reduce sources of variability in patient safety by continuously monitoring indicators. The aim of this study was to monitor the outcome of thyroid surgery using control charts.

Cost of home and hospital care for patients with cystic fibrosis followed up in two reference medical centers in France

OBJECTIVES In France, new guidelines for clinical practices concerning cystic fibrosis came out in 2002, underscoring the need for early and intensive management of this disease. Because no recent health economic studies on cystic fibrosis in France were available, we conducted a cost-analysis study before the new guidelines were put into practice, with a view to a later study on the medical and economic impact of these guidelines. METHODS A cost-analysis study was performed of the inpatient and outpatient costs of patients with cystic fibrosis for the 2000-2001 period. The various direct costs were estimated on a sample of sixty-five adult and pediatric patients managed for cystic fibrosis in two reference medical centers. Data were obtained from medical records, and questionnaires were filled out by the patients. Analysis was made from the perspective of the French healthcare system. RESULTS We studied sixty-five patients, 54 percent male patients and 72 percent children under 18 years of age. The total cost of cystic fibrosis care totaled 16,189 euros per year and per patient. Outpatient costs accounted for 88 percent of the total cost versus 12 percent for inpatient costs; medication costs were the highest with 21 percent of the total cost for home intravenous antibiotic treatments and 49 percent of the total cost for chronic medications. CONCLUSIONS The results show that outpatient costs were higher than inpatient costs, which could be related to the importance granted to home health care in France, notably for intravenous antibiotic treatments given for pulmonary complications.

Value of magnetic resonance cholangiography in benign and malignant biliary stenosis: comparative study with direct cholangiography.

Purpose: Magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) is currently under investigation for imaging of biliary stenosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of MRC compared with direct cholangiography in biliary duct diseases, with the exception of biliary‐enteric anastomosis. Method: Forty‐nine patients (26 men, 23 women; median age 60 years) with clinically suspected bile duct stenosis were prospectively included. Magnetic resonance cholangiography was performed within 7 days before direct cholangiography, considered to be the gold standard. Stenosis location, extension, and type according to Bismuth classification as well as diagnostic presumed causes were determined by 2 radiologists and 1 endoscopist. Results: Magnetic resonance cholangiography correctly identified the level of biliary ductal obstruction compared with direct cholangiography findings in 96% patients. Excellent agreement between MRC and direct cholangiography was found for the stenosis location (kappa value, 0.89). Sensitivity and specificity of MRC to detect common bile duct stenosis were 88% and 100%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of MRC to detect biliary confluence stenosis were 96% and 93%, respectively. Precise location of the lesion according to Bismuth classification was correctly evaluated on MRC in 74% of patients (kappa value, 0.64). The overall interobserver concordance between radiologists for the level of stenosis was good (kappa value, 0.625). In 35 patients with intrahepatic bile ducts dilation identified on direct cholangiography, 97% of patients were identified on MRC. Moderate concordance between MRC and direct cholangiography was confirmed in the evaluation of the surgical management (kappa value, 0.55). Conclusion: Magnetic resonance cholangiography is able to replace diagnostic direct cholangiography to restrict the use of invasive procedures to cases in which therapeutic procedures are anticipated or MRC findings are equivocal, especially in biliary tract diseases.

Relationship between sleep and secretion of gonadotropin and ovarian hormones in women with normal cycles.

OBJECTIVE To monitor gonadotropin and ovarian hormone levels in relation to sleep duration in normally cycling women. DESIGN Observational and cross-sectional study. SETTING Multicentric collaborative study. PATIENT(S) One hundred six healthy and normally cycling women, aged 19 to 44 years, with cycle lengths of 24 to 34 days. INTERVENTION(S) Follow-up during one to four consecutive cycles with daily urine collection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Urine concentrations of LH, FSH, estrone-3-glucuronide (E1-3-G), and pregnanediol-3-alpha-glucuronide (Pd-3alpha-G). Ultrasound determination of day of ovulation and estimation of sleep duration. RESULT(S) We found a significant association between FSH levels and sleep duration (P=.008). Follicle-stimulating hormone levels were 20% higher in long-time sleepers than in short-time sleepers. This association persisted whatever the age or the body mass index. There was no significant association between belonging to any group and LH, E1-3-G, or Pd-3alpha-G levels. CONCLUSION(S) Our results suggest that sleep duration could be related to FSH levels, although the study design did not allow us to establish a causal relationship nor to explain the physiological basis of the observed relationship.

Decision-to-delivery interval for emergency caesareans in the Aurore perinatal network

OBJECTIVES To determine the interval between decision and delivery (DDI) for urgent and very urgent caesarean deliveries within a perinatal network, to compare the results according to maternity ward level and organisation, and to assess the impact of DDI on neonatal outcome. STUDY DESIGN Prospective observational study in the 31 maternity units of the Aurore perinatal network (17 Level I, 12 Level II, and two Level III). The obstetric team defined the degree of urgency for the caesareans, measured the DDI, and reported neonatal outcome. RESULTS The study includes 666 unplanned caesarean sections. The median DDI for emergency caesareans (n=365) was 48 min for Level I units, 40 min for Level II, and 22 min for Level III (P<0.05). For the very urgent caesareans (n=82), the median DDI was respectively 35, 24, and 13 min (P<0.05) and the percentage with a DDI<or=30 min were 45%, 62%, and 100% (P<0.05). The proportion of DDI<or=30 min was 0% in maternity units where obstetricians and anaesthetists were not always onsite, 67% when only the anaesthetist was always present (P<0.05) and 88% for units where both were always present. The neonates condition did not differ significantly according to DDI. CONCLUSIONS DDI varies very substantially according to the level and organisation of the maternity units in the Aurore network. It was not significantly correlated with neonatal outcome in our population.