Citations

Context.— Complexity of ordering and transfusing blood is particularly evident in the pediatric population. Simplification, clarification, and standardization of blood orders can decrease complexity and improve patient safety. Objective.— To improve patient safety by optimizing electronic ordering of blood components in pediatrics through a collaborative process improvement initiative. Design.— A multidisciplinary working group, formed as part of a value stream analysis to improve transfusion safety at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (Atlanta, Georgia), focused on decreasing variability and providing clarity when ordering, preparing, and transfusing blood using the electronic health record. Through benchmarking with other pediatric institutions and a collaborative design process with multiple local stakeholders, an extensive redesign in the existing orders and order sets occurred. Metrics were collected to determine if a change was an improvement. Results.— Nurse and laboratory informaticists, a pathology informaticist, and a transfusion medicine specialist built the new orders based on the design. The new orders focused on the following changes: standardization, introduction of logic, naming conventions, clarifying definitions, adding calculations, improving transparency of history and laboratory data, removing aliquots, clarifying communication, and implementing additional modules to inform the provider of necessary information about the patient. Metrics included a decrease in the number of orders changed within an hour, decreased calls from the blood bank to the provider to clarify the order, and an absence of overtransfusions and transfusion-related serious safety events for a year following implementation. Conclusions.— This collaborative initiative, using standard process improvement tools, resulted in standardized blood orders improving transfusion safety.

ABSTRACTBackgroundIntercellular IgG4 deposition is variably present on DIF in patients with pemphigus. Whether this feature has clinical, serologic, or histopathologic correlates was unknown.MethodsWe identified 34 patients with pemphigus who had 55 DIF specimens reported to show intercellular IgG, IgG4, and/or C3 deposition (8/22/2017–11/30/2023). Patients and biopsies were stratified by intercellular IgG4 status. Clinical and serologic data were extracted from electronic records, and corresponding biopsy slides were reviewed for histopathologic findings.ResultsAmong the 34 patients with pemphigus, patients with positive IgG4 were significantly more likely to have detectable serum anti‐desmoglein 1/3 antibodies by ELISA (p = 0.014 and p = 0.030, respectively). Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) was more frequent in the IgG4‐negative group (p = 0.037), particularly among patients with ocular involvement. Of 55 DIF biopsy specimens meeting inclusion criteria, 52 (94.5%) had intercellular IgG deposition and 42 (76.4%) had intercellular IgG4 on DIF. Compared to IgG4‐negative specimens, IgG4‐positive specimens were significantly more likely to represent a vesiculobullous lesion (p = 0.024), to be derived from the trunk (p = 0.047), to show histologic acantholysis (p = 0.019) and to lack lichenoid inflammation (p = 0.0004).ConclusionFor pemphigus, DIF IgG4 status correlated with ocular involvement, the clinical morphology selected for biopsy, the likelihood of detecting circulating desmoglein antibodies, the presence of specific histopathologic features such as acantholysis and lichenoid inflammation, and the likelihood of having a final diagnosis of PNP. Further studies are needed to determine whether the presence of tissue‐bound intercellular IgG4 antibodies correlates with particular disease variants or lesion‐specific characteristics.

The interscalene brachial plexus block is a well-described and widely used peripheral nerve block effective for regional anesthesia and analgesia in orthopedic surgical procedures of the shoulder, upper arm, and clavicle. Conventionally, an in-plane ultrasound-guided approach has been the technique of choice, while the out-of-plane approach, though less described, has been gaining anecdotal momentum among a growing number of proceduralists. This pro-con discussion highlights the out-of-plane approach’s goal of avoiding needle injuries to nerves that course through the middle scalene muscle and the in-plane approach’s benefit of whole-shaft needle visualization and increased distance away from the plexus on entry. We aim to provide a comprehensive comparison to guide proceduralists in their clinical decision-making.

Background The Midclavicle Block achieves balanced methylene blue spread across both anterosuperior and posteroinferior periosteal surfaces in cadavers with intact clavicles. Objective To evaluate the anatomical distribution pattern of the Midclavicle Block in cadaveric specimens with midshaft clavicle fractures, with a focus on periosteal coverage and involvement of the fracture site. Methods An anatomical study was conducted on 10 cadavers (20 clavicular regions). A midshaft clavicle fracture model was created, and the Midclavicle Block technique was applied under ultrasound guidance. A methylene blue solution was injected, and dissections were performed to evaluate dye spread primarily in the deep muscular and the clavicular plane, including the fracture site. Probabilistic maps of dye distribution were generated. Results The anatomical dissection in the deep muscular plane revealed consistent staining of the fracture site in all specimens, along with the subclavius muscle and the clavipectoral fascia, while the pectoralis minor muscle remained unaffected in every case. As the dissection progressed toward the infraclavicular brachial plexus plane, no staining of the plexus was observed, with dye spread restricted to the subclavius muscle and adjacent clavipectoral fascia. The mean staining of the anterosuperior and posteroinferior periosteal surfaces was 55.5% (95% CI: 50.6% to 60.4%) and 53.8% (95% CI: 49.5% to 58.1%), respectively. The highest dye concentration was observed in the middle third of the clavicle, corresponding to the fracture zone. Conclusion The Midclavicle Block resulted in effective periosteal coverage and targeted fracture site staining. Clinical studies are needed to confirm its in vivo efficacy, given the limitations inherent to cadaveric specimens.

History A 25-year-old female patient presented to the emergency department with worsening abdominal discomfort over the past 2–3 months. The patient had not experienced fever, chills, or dysuria. Past medical history was notable for two completed pregnancies; otherwise, there was no pertinent medical history or family history. At physical examination, the patient was uncomfortable but not in acute distress. There was tenderness to palpation in the right upper quadrant and epigastric region, but no rebound tenderness or guarding. Vital signs were blood pressure of 141/85 mm Hg, pulse rate of 91/min, and temperature of 37.2 °C. The serum β–human chorionic gonadotropin test result was negative for pregnancy, and urinalysis showed no leukocyte esterase or nitrites. Routine blood investigations, including white blood cell count, were within normal limits. Initial evaluation with contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen and pelvis was performed, followed by MRI of the abdomen without and with intravenous contrast material.