ORCID Profile
0000-0002-2345-6313
Current Organisation
University of Tasmania
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-09-2012
DOI: 10.1111/J.1445-2197.2012.06203.X
Abstract: To identify enablers and barriers to thromboprophylaxis prescribing following hip and knee arthroplasty, from the perspective of orthopaedic surgeons. An invitation to participate in an online survey was distributed electronically to Arthroplasty Society of Australia members (n = 103). The survey collected demographic details, thromboprophylaxis attitudes and clinical practice of the orthopaedic surgeons, and explored their familiarity with contemporary national and international guidelines. Twenty-five surgeons (24%) completed the survey, all male with a median of 20 years of practice as orthopaedic surgeons (range: 8-27 years). Most surgeons (92%) practised predominantly in the private sector, and conducted both hip and knee arthroplasties each month. While all surgeons prescribed chemoprophylaxis following arthroplasty, most surgeons (64%) were uncertain to what extent it would prevent fatal pulmonary embolism (PE). The pharmacological agents of choice were low molecular weight heparin (48%) and aspirin (44%). One-third of surgeons were not familiar with the National Health and Medical Research Council recommendations for thromboprophylaxis in hip and knee arthroplasty patients. After reviewing a summary of the recommendations, most surgeons (80%) indicated they were inappropriate, commonly citing that they were grounded on an insufficient evidence base and should include aspirin as a sole chemoprophylaxis option. There are clearly strong barriers to the translation of current thromboprophylaxis guidelines into practice. Many surgeons doubt the effectiveness of chemoprophylaxis to prevent fatal PE, perceive the risk of venous thromboembolism following surgery to be low, are unfamiliar with current national guidelines or believe the guidelines are grounded on inappropriate evidence.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 11-2019
Abstract: Class III obese (body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m 2 ) patients, now regularly encountered clinically, have increased perioperative risks, including potentially from suboptimal drug dosing. However, current dosing guidelines are based on low-level evidence and may not be widely accepted. This study aimed to investigate anaesthetists’ dosing practices for class III obese surgical patients, explore if they had experienced an increased incidence of adverse events potentially related to drug dosing with these patients and assess which resources they consulted for dosing advice in this population. An electronic survey was emailed to 1000 randomly selected members of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. Data were summarised and the Pearson’s χ 2 test was used to compare respondents’ genders, geographic locations and seniority designations with the greater Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists’ membership. There were 230 completed responses (response rate 23%). A large proportion (46%–76%) of respondents indicated they dose class III obese patients in keeping with current recommendations however, substantial heterogeneity in dosing practices was found. Lean body weight was the most frequently used regimen for dosing propofol, non-depolarising muscle relaxants, sugammadex and opioids, whereas total body weight was most frequently used for suxamethonium. Nearly 70% of respondents reported using at least one resource to assist their dosing practices in obesity. Importantly, increased incidences of adverse events in class III obese patients related to drug dosing were commonly experienced by respondents. Until higher-level evidence is available for dosing class III obese patients, anaesthetists should consider current recommendations and exercise increased attention to dosing. Further clinician education may assist in optimising dosing in this patient group.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-02-2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-09-2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-11-2011
DOI: 10.1007/S12603-011-0348-2
Abstract: To determine the prevalence of undiagnosed vitamin B12 deficiency among residential aged care facility residents in southern Tasmania, Australia, and to identify associated risk factors. Cross-sectional study of residents from five southern Tasmanian residential aged care facilities. Two hundred and fifty-nine residents without a prior diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency or recorded serum B12 level within the past 6 months were approached to have their serum B12 level tested. One hundred and sixty (61%) residents consented and their doctors were contacted for further consent. A total of 130 (50%) residents completed the study. Clinical and demographic characteristics, and serum B12 level. Of the 130 residents tested, 18 residents (14%) were considered vitamin B12 deficient (serum level 250 pmol/L). There was a weak negative correlation between age and serum B12 level in those residents not taking a multivitamin (n=120, r=-0.19, p<0.05). The use of a multivitamin or antipsychotic drug were associated with altered mean serum B12 levels (+137 pmol/L, p<0.001 and -70 pmol/L, p<0.001 respectively). As vitamin B12 deficiency can manifest in a range of symptoms that are frequently misdiagnosed, the finding of undetected deficiency in 14% of residents is a cause for concern. Oral multivitamin supplementation may help prevent deficiency, and potentially treat existing deficiencies in older institutionalised people.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 05-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-2018
DOI: 10.1007/S40261-018-0662-0
Abstract: Despite the increasing numbers of obese patients undergoing elective surgery, there is a lack of evidence-based dosing guidelines for peri-operative medications in obesity. The objective was to systematically review the dosing and outcomes of peri-operative medications used in obese elective surgical patients. Medical subject headings and general keywords were used to systematically search multiple databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and CINAHL). Studies of medications in obese surgical patients were included if they had a non-obese control or comparative dosing scalar group. The National Health and Medical Research Council GRADE tool was used to assess quality of evidence for each drug. Thirty-three studies of six drug classes were identified: anaesthetics (n = 6), muscle relaxants (n = 10), neuromuscular reversal agents (n = 3), analgesics (n = 2), antibiotics (n = 5) and anticoagulants (n = 7). A variety of dose scalars and/or recommendations was observed for various medications. Lean body weight was proposed as a suitable weight scalar for induction of anaesthesia with propofol whereas total body weight for maintenance of anaesthesia with propofol and depolarizing muscle relaxants. Ideal body weight was reported as an appropriate dosing scalar for non-depolarizing muscle relaxants and neuromuscular reversal agents. Both corrected body weight 40% and ideal body weight were reported as suitable weight scalars for post-operative analgesia with morphine. The standard 2-g dose of cefazolin appeared effective in the prevention of surgical site infection. Body mass index stratified dosing of enoxaparin was effective for venous thromboembolism prevention. No drug recommendation achieved an "Excellent" quality of evidence. Limited data suggest that clinicians should consider each in idual class of medication when selecting a dose for obese surgical patients. Routine use of fixed-dosing regimens is likely to under- or overdose obese patients thus predisposing them to adverse drug events or treatment failure leading to patient harm.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-2013
DOI: 10.1111/J.1445-5994.2013.02864.X
Abstract: To determine local thromboprophylaxis prescribing practices following arthroplasty. A retrospective review was performed of 300 consecutive hip and knee arthroplasty patients (150 each) over a 2-year period at Tasmania's major public hospital. The provision of thromboprophylaxis, the presence of bleeding/thrombotic risk factors and the prevalence of symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) and major bleeding occurring within 90 days postoperatively were documented. The mean age of the 300 patients (169 females, 131 males) was 68.7 years (standard deviation 10.4). Only 11.3% of knee arthroplasty and 16.7% of hip arthroplasty inpatients had mechanical thromboprophylaxis documented during their stay. All inpatients received pharmacological thromboprophylaxis, predominantly injectable anticoagulants (98.4%). Only 36.5% continued to receive pharmacological thromboprophylaxis following discharge, predominantly an antiplatelet agent (55.5%). The 90-day incidence of symptomatic VTE was 2.7% (95% confidence interval: 1.0-5.0%) 4.0% (95% confidence interval: 1.0-8.0%) for knees and 1.3% (95% confidence interval: 0-5.0%) for hips. The in-hospital and post-discharge VTE incidence was 0.7% and 2.0% respectively. All readmissions for VTE occurred within 1 month of surgery. While inpatient thromboprophylaxis was routine, it generally was not continued on discharge, potentially leaving many patients exposed to a higher risk of VTE. Most cases of symptomatic VTE occurred after discharge, with the majority requiring readmission to hospital under medical units.Within the limitations of a retrospective study, these findings suggest a need for further research and discussion regarding what constitutes appropriate thromboprophylaxis (type, agent and duration) following hip or knee arthroplasty.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-04-2013
DOI: 10.1111/ANS.12119
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 03-05-2022
Abstract: The widespread intestinal carriage of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL E. coli) among both patients and healthy in iduals is alarming. However, the global prevalence and trend of this MDR bacterium in healthcare settings remains undetermined. To address this knowledge gap, we performed a comparative meta-analysis of the prevalence in community and healthcare settings. Our systematic review included 133 articles published between 1 January 2000 and 22 April 2021 and indexed in PubMed, EMBASE or Google Scholar. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to obtain the global pooled prevalence (community and healthcare settings). Subgroup meta-analyses were performed by grouping studies using the WHO regions and 5 year intervals of the study period. We found that 21.1% (95% CI, 19.1%–23.2%) of inpatients in healthcare settings and 17.6% (95% CI, 15.3%–19.8%) of healthy in iduals worldwide carried ESBL E. coli in their intestine. The global carriage rate in healthcare settings increased 3-fold from 7% (95% CI, 3.7%–10.3%) in 2001–05 to 25.7% (95% CI, 19.5%–32.0%) in 2016–20, whereas in community settings it increased 10-fold from 2.6% (95% CI, 1.2%–4.0%) to 26.4% (95% CI, 17.0%–35.9%) over the same period. The global and regional human intestinal ESBL E. coli carriage is increasing in both community and healthcare settings. Carriage rates were generally higher in healthcare than in community settings. Key relevant health organizations should perform surveillance and implement preventive measures to address the spread of ESBL E. coli in both settings.
Start Date: 2011
End Date: 2011
Funder: Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation
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