'Gender affirming healthcare' is not what the family physician needs to know.

No abstract available.

How value perspectives influence decision-making in the South African private healthcare sector: A cross-sectional comparative study.

Background: Every healthcare clinical event aims to create value at a certain cost. This value has been defined as the outcome achieved (the degree to which a care event achieved a clinical goal) divided by the cost incurred (determined by the combined price charged by the care provides) to generate the outcome. Subsequently, patient experience has been included as a third factor contributing to value of care, but its value and relationship relative to clinical outcome and event cost is not well understood.

Machine Learning Models for the Early Real-Time Prediction of Deterioration in Intensive Care Units-A Novel Approach to the Early Identification of High-Risk Patients.

Predictive machine learning models have made use of a variety of scoring systems to identify clinical deterioration in ICU patients. However, most of these scores include variables that are dependent on medical staff examining the patient. We present the development of a real-time prediction model using clinical variables that are digital and automatically generated for the early detection of patients at risk of deterioration.

Changes in patient-reported outcomes during admission to a South African psychiatric facility.

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are used as part of clinical practice to determine the impact of the condition and treatment interventions on a patient's health and quality of life. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a self-administered diagnostic tool that has been widely adopted for the detection and monitoring of depression.

Aim: This analysis reports the change in PHQ-9 scores from admission to discharge in patients admitted for depression to a South African acute psychiatric facility and aims to quantify the treatment effect of the admission using the PHQ-9 as the measurement tool.

Unique Gene Expression Profiles within South Africa Are Associated with Varied Chemotherapeutic Responses in Conventional Osteosarcoma.

Background: We determined the predictive gene expression profiles associated with chemo-response in conventional osteosarcomas (COS) within South Africa.

Materials And Methods: In 28 patients, we performed an RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and quantitative analysis using the RT-PCR 2 method to determine the fold change in gene expression alongside GAPDH (housekeeping gene).

Results: We observed a significant downregulation in the mRNA expression profiles of ( = 0.

A review of the role of testosterone in the care of the critically ill patient.

Background: Testosterone is an anabolic and androgenic steroid hormone therapeutically used to produce male sex characteristics. It has also been shown to have a modulating effect on proinflammatory biomarkers. Critical illness is characterised by a proinflammatory and catabolic state and is accompanied by altered testosterone production, which may persist into the recovery phase.

Method of Anesthesia and Perioperative Risk Factors, Maternal Anesthesia Complications, and Neonatal Mortality Following Cesarean Delivery in Africa: A Substudy of a 7-Day Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

Background: The African Surgical Outcomes Study (ASOS) found that maternal mortality following cesarean delivery in Africa is 50 times higher than in high-income countries, and associated with obstetric hemorrhage and anesthesia complications. Mothers who died were more likely to receive general anesthesia (GA). The associations between GA versus spinal anesthesia (SA) and preoperative risk factors, maternal anesthesia complications, and neonatal outcomes following cesarean delivery in Africa are unknown.

Analysis of a 5-year, evidenced-based, rational blood utilisation project in a South African regional hospital.

Background: Blood products are a lifesaving but limited resource, particularly in resource-limited settings. Evidence-based transfusion criteria tailored to local hospitals have shown great promise in reducing costs, minimising shortages, and ameliorating the morbidity and mortality associated with liberal blood product usage. We implemented the "Saving Blood, Saving Lives" project to: promote responsible blood product use and reduce blood product ordering inefficiencies and expenditure.

The pathophysiological impact of intra-abdominal hypertension in pigs.

Background: Intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome are common with clinically significant consequences. We investigated the pathophysiological effects of raised IAP as part of a more extensive exploratory animal study. The study design included both pneumoperitoneum and mechanical intestinal obstruction models.

Readmission and inhospital death 1 year after COVID-19 hospitalization in South Africa.

Background: Acute SARS-COVID-19 infection may increase readmission risk compared to other respiratory infections. We assessed the 1-year readmission and inhospital death rates of hospitalized SARS-COVID-19 patients compared to patients hospitalized with other types of pneumonia.

Methods: We determined the 1-year readmission and inhospital death rate of adult patients initially hospitalized with a positive SARS-COVID-19 result, and subsequently discharged, between March 2020 and August 2021, at a Netcare private hospital in South Africa, and compared this to all hospitalized adult pneumonia patients in the 3 years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (2017-2019).

High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I Thresholds to Identify Myocardial Injury After Noncardiac Surgery: A Cohort Study.

Background: Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) is common and associated with short- and long-term major cardiovascular events. Diagnostic criteria for MINS using Abbott high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) are unknown.

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of adults who had in-patient noncardiac surgery and measured hs-cTnI (Abbott Laboratories) on postoperative serum samples collected up to postoperative day 3.

A critical analysis of Discovery Health's claims-based risk adjustment of mortality rates in South African private sector hospitals.

In 2019, Discovery Health published a risk adjustment model to determine standardised mortality rates across South African private hospital systems, with the aim of contributing towards quality improvement in the private healthcare sector. However, the model suffers from limitations due to its design and its reliance on administrative data. The publication's aim of facilitating transparency is unfortunately undermined by shortcomings in reporting.

Compatibility and stability of an admixture of multiple anaesthetic drugs for opioid-free anaesthesia.

The ability to combine and use drugs in a single infusion device may be useful in resource-limited settings. This study examined the chemical stability of an opioid-sparing mixture of ketamine, lidocaine and magnesium sulphate when combined in a single syringe. High-performance liquid chromatography and atomic absorption spectrophotometry were performed on six syringes containing the three-drug mixture.

An Evaluation of Severe Anesthetic-Related Critical Incidents and Risks From the South African Paediatric Surgical Outcomes Study: A 14-Day Prospective, Observational Cohort Study of Pediatric Surgical Patients.

Background: Severe anesthetic-related critical incident (SARCI) monitoring is an essential component of safe, quality anesthetic care. Predominantly retrospective data from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) report higher incidence but similar types of SARCI compared to high-income countries (HIC). The aim of our study was to describe the baseline incidence of SARCI in a middle-income country (MIC) and to identify associated risk for SARCI.

Development of a Clinical Prediction Model for In-hospital Mortality from the South African Cohort of the African Surgical Outcomes Study.

Background: Data on the factors that influence mortality after surgery in South Africa are scarce, and neither these data nor data on risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality after surgery are routinely collected. Predictors related to the context or setting of surgical care delivery may also provide insight into variation in practice. Variation must be addressed when planning for improvement of risk-adjusted outcomes.

Natriuretic peptide-directed medical therapy: a systematic review.

Natriuretic peptides (NP) are strongly associated with perioperative cardiovascular events. However, in patients with raised NP, it remains unknown whether treatment to reduce NP levels prior to surgery results in better perioperative outcomes. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigate NP-directed medical therapy in non-surgical patients to provide guidance for NP-directed medical therapy in surgical patients.

Fracture-related infections in HIV infected patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the incidence of fracture-related infections (FRI) following surgical management of closed and open fractures in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, ProQuest, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library and Scopus. Our own files and reference lists of identified key articles were also searched.

An audit of paediatric pain prevalence, intensity, and treatment at a South African tertiary hospital.

Introduction: Pain in paediatric inpatients is common, underrecognised, and undertreated in resource-rich countries. Little is known about the status of paediatric pain prevention and treatment in low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives: This audit aimed to describe the prevalence and severity of pain in paediatric patients at a tertiary hospital in South Africa.

Preoperative N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and Cardiovascular Events After Noncardiac Surgery: A Cohort Study.

Background: Preliminary data suggest that preoperative N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) may improve risk prediction in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Objective: To determine whether preoperative NT-proBNP has additional predictive value beyond a clinical risk score for the composite of vascular death and myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) within 30 days after surgery.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

The role of cardiac rehabilitation using exercise to decrease natriuretic peptide levels in non-surgical patients: a systematic review.

Exercise is recommended in patients with cardiac failure. In the perioperative patient, exercise is also gaining popularity as a form of prehabilitation. In this meta-analysis, we examine if exercise is able to reduce natriuretic peptide levels.

Prophylactic phenylephrine and fluid co-administration to reduce spinal hypotension during elective caesarean section in a resource-limited setting: a prospective alternating intervention study.

Spinal hypotension is a common and clinically important problem during caesarean section. Current consensus recommendations for resource-rich settings suggest the use of a titrated phenylephrine infusion, in combination with fluid coloading, for prevention of maternal hypotension. In resource-limited settings, where syringe drivers are unavailable, these recommendations advise the addition of 500 μg phenylephrine to the first 1 l of intravenous fluid given after initiation of spinal anaesthesia, with additional vasopressor boluses as required.

A prospective observational study testing liquid crystal phase change type thermometer placed on skin against oesophageal/pharyngeal placed thermometers in participants undergoing general anesthesia.

Background: Patient outcomes are influenced by intraoperative temperature management. Oesophageal/pharyngeal temperature monitoring is the standard of care at our institute but is not well tolerated in awake patients. Many non-invasive temperature monitors have been studied.

Awareness and knowledge of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome: results of a repeat, international, cross-sectional survey.

Background: Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) are increasingly recognized as aetiologies of organ failure and mortality among a wide variety of patient populations. Since the first global survey in 2007, several surveys have been conducted. However, it remains unclear to what extent healthcare professionals in clinical practice are aware of the widely accepted definitions and recommendations proposed in the World Society of the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (WSACS) guidelines and whether these recommendations are being applied clinically.