Browsing by Author "Van Hoving, Daniel J."
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- ItemAbdominal ultrasound for diagnosing abdominal tuberculosis or disseminated tuberculosis with abdominal involvement in HIV-positive adults(John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Cochrane Collaboration, 2017) Van Hoving, Daniel J.; Meintjes, Graeme; Takwoingi, Yemisi; Griesel, Rulan; Maartens, Gary; Ochodo, Eleanor A.This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Diagnostic test accuracy). The objectives are as follows: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of abdominal ultrasound as a standalone test for detecting abdominal TB or disseminated TB with abdominal involvement in HIV-positive adults. • To determine the diagnostic accuracy of combinations of abdominal ultrasound and existing tests (chest radiograph, full blood count) for detecting abdominal TB or disseminated TB with abdominal involvement in HIV-positive adults. • To investigate potential sources of heterogeneity in test accuracy, including clinical setting, ultrasound training level, and type of reference standard.
- ItemAbdominal ultrasound for diagnosing abdominal tuberculosis or disseminated tuberculosis with abdominal involvement in HIV-positive individuals(John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Cochrane Collaboration, 2019) Van Hoving, Daniel J.; Griesel, Rulan; Meintjes, Graeme; Takwoingi, Yemisi; Maartens, Gary; Ochodo, Eleanor A.Background: Accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis in people living with HIV is difficult. HIV‐positive individuals have higher rates of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and the diagnosis of tuberculosis is often limited to imaging results. Ultrasound is such an imaging test that is widely used as a diagnostic tool (including point‐of‐care) in people suspected of having abdominal tuberculosis or disseminated tuberculosis with abdominal involvement. Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of abdominal ultrasound for detecting abdominal tuberculosis or disseminated tuberculosis with abdominal involvement in HIV‐positive individuals. To investigate potential sources of heterogeneity in test accuracy, including clinical setting, ultrasound training level, and type of reference standard. Search methods: We searched for publications in any language up to 4 April 2019 in the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, BIOSIS, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI‐EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Conference Proceedings Citation Index‐ Science (CPCI‐S), and also ClinicalTrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform to identify ongoing trials. Selection criteria: We included cross‐sectional, cohort, and diagnostic case‐control studies (prospective and retrospective) that compared the result of the index test (abdominal ultrasound) with one of the reference standards. We only included studies that allowed for extraction of numbers of true positives (TPs), true negatives (TNs), false positives (FPs), and false negatives (FNs). Participants were HIV‐positive individuals aged 15 years and older. A higher‐quality reference standard was the bacteriological confirmation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from any clinical specimen, and a lower‐quality reference standard was a clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis without microbiological confirmation. We excluded genitourinary tuberculosis. Data collection and analysis: For each study, two review authors independently extracted data using a standardized form. We assessed the quality of studies using a tailored Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies‐2 (QUADAS‐2) tool. We used the bivariate model to estimate pooled sensitivity and specificity. When studies were few we simplified the bivariate model to separate univariate random‐effects logistic regression models for sensitivity and specificity. We explored the influence of the type of reference standard on the accuracy estimates by conducting separate analyses for each type of reference standard. We assessed the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach. Main results: We included 11 studies. The risks of bias and concern about applicability were often high or unclear in all domains. We included six studies in the main analyses of any abnormal finding on abdominal ultrasound; five studies reported only individual lesions. The six studies of any abnormal finding were cross‐sectional or cohort studies. Five of these (83%) were conducted in low‐ or middle‐income countries, and one in a high‐income country. The proportion of participants on antiretroviral therapy was none (1 study), fewer then 50% (4 studies), more than 50% (1 study), and not reported (5 studies). The first main analysis, studies using a higher‐quality reference standard (bacteriological confirmation), had a pooled sensitivity of 63% (95% confidence interval (CI) 43% to 79%; 5 studies, 368 participants; very low‐certainty evidence) and a pooled specificity of 68% (95% CI 42% to 87%; 5 studies, 511 participants; very low‐certainty evidence). If the results were to be applied to a hypothetical cohort of 1000 people with HIV where 200 (20%) have tuberculosis then: ‐ About 382 individuals would have an ultrasound result indicating tuberculosis; of these, 256 (67%) would be incorrectly classified as having tuberculosis (false positives). ‐ Of the 618 individuals with a result indicating that tuberculosis is not present, 74 (12%) would be incorrectly classified as not having tuberculosis (false negatives). In the second main analysis involving studies using a lower‐quality reference standard (clinical diagnosis), the pooled sensitivity was 68% (95% CI 45% to 85%; 4 studies, 195 participants; very low‐certainty evidence) and the pooled specificity was 73% (95% CI 41% to 91%; 4 studies, 202 participants; very low‐certainty evidence). Authors' conclusions: In HIV‐positive individuals thought to have abdominal tuberculosis or disseminated tuberculosis with abdominal involvement, abdominal ultrasound appears to have 63% sensitivity and 68% specificity when tuberculosis was bacteriologically confirmed. These estimates are based on data that is limited, varied, and low‐certainty. The low sensitivity of abdominal ultrasound means clinicians should not use a negative test result to rule out the disease, but rather consider the result in combination with other diagnostic strategies (including clinical signs, chest x‐ray, lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay (LF‐LAM), and Xpert MTB/RIF). Research incorporating the test into tuberculosis diagnostic algorithms will help in delineating more precisely its value in diagnosing abdominal tuberculosis or disseminated tuberculosis with abdominal involvement.
- ItemAssessment of documented adherence to critical actions in paediatric emergency care at a district-level public hospital in South Africa(Elsevier, 2021) Berends, Esmee A.; Erasmus, Elaine; Van Veenendaal, Nicole R.; Mukonkole, Suzan N.; Lahri, Saad; Van Hoving, Daniel J.Introduction: The provision of high-quality care is vital to improve child health and survival rates. A simple, practice-based tool was recently developed to evaluate the quality of paediatric emergency care in resource-limited settings in Africa. This study used the practice-based tool to describe the documented adherence to critical actions in paediatric emergency care at an urban district-level hospital in South Africa and assess its relation to clinical outcomes. Methods: This study is a retrospective observational study covering a 19-month period (September 2017 to March 2019). Patients <13 years old, presenting to the emergency centre with one of six sentinel presentations (seizure, altered mental status, diarrhoea, fever, respiratory distress and polytrauma) were eligible for inclusion. In the patients' files, critical actions specific for each presentation were checked for completion. Post-hoc, a seventh group ‘multiple diagnoses’ was created for patients with more than one sentinel disease. The action completion rate was tested for association with clinical outcomes. Results: In total, 388 patients were included (median age 1.1 years, IQR 0.3–3.6). The action completion rate varied from 63% (polytrauma) to 90% (respiratory distress). Participants with ≥75% action completion rate were younger (p < 0.001), presented with high acuity (p < 0.001), were more likely to be admitted (adjusted OR 2.2, 95%CI: 1.2–4.1), and had a hospital stay ≥4 days (adjusted OR 3.4, 95%CI: 1.5–7.9). Conclusion: A high completion rate was associated with young age, a high patient acuity, hospital admission, length of hospital stay ≥4 days, and the specific sentinel presentation. Future research should determine whether or not documented care corresponds with the quality of delivered care and the predictive value regarding clinical outcome.
- ItemThe association between hospital arrival time, transport method, prehospital time intervals, and in-hospital mortality in trauma patients presenting to Khayelitsha Hospital, Cape Town(Elsevier, 2018) Moller, Anders; Hunter, Luke; Kurland, Lisa; Lahri, Sa'ad; Van Hoving, Daniel J.Introduction: Trauma is a leading cause of unnatural death and disability in South Africa. The aim of the study was to determine whether method of transport, hospital arrival time or prehospital transport time intervals were associated with in-hospital mortality among trauma patients presenting to Khayelitsha Hospital, a district-level hospital on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: The Khayelitsha Hospital Emergency Centre database was retrospectively analysed for trauma-related patients presenting to the resuscitation area between 1 November 2014 and 30 April 2015. Missing data and additional variables were collected by means of a chart review. Eligible patients’ folders were scrutinised for hospital arrival time, transport time intervals, transport method and in-hospital mortality. Descriptive statistics were presented for all variables. Categorical data were analysed using the Fisher’s Exact test and Chi-square, continuous data by logistic regression and the Mann Whitney test. A confidence interval of 95% was used to describe variance and a p-value of <0.05 was deemed significant. Results: The majority of patients were 19–44 year old males (n=427, 80.3%) and penetrating trauma the most frequent mechanism of injury (n=343, 64.5%). In total, 258 (48.5%) patients arrived with their own transport, 254 (47.7%) by ambulance and 20 (3.8%) by the police service. The arrival of trauma patients peaked during the weekend, and was especially noticeable between midnight and six a.m. In-hospital mortality (n=18, 3.4%) was not significantly affected by transport method (p=0.26), hospital arrival time (p=0.22) or prehospital transport time intervals (all p-values >0.09). Discussion: Method of transport, hospital arrival time and prehospital transport time intervals did not have a substantially measurable effect on in-hospital mortality. More studies with larger samples are suggested due to the small event rate.
- ItemThe availability of alternative devices for the management of the difficult airway in public emergency centres in the Western Cape(Elsevier, 2015-01) Jooste, Willem J.L.; Van Hoving, Daniel J.Introduction: The failed or difficult airway is a rare, but life-threatening situation. Alternative airway devices to direct laryngoscopy are essential aids to manage these scenarios successfully. The aim of this study was to determine which alternative airway devices are currently available in public emergency centres in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in 15 emergency centres. Data regarding the availability of different classes of alternative airway devices were documented on a standardised data collection sheet by a single investigator via direct observation. Incomplete or non-functional equipment was classified as unavailable. Summary statistics were used to describe the data. Results: Twenty-six different types of alternative airway devices were documented. Three centres (20%) had no alternative airway device. Five centres (33.3%) stocked only one device, three centres (20%) had two devices and four centres (26.7%) had more than two devices. Most centres (n = 12, 80%) stocked supraglottic airways (only one centre (6.7%) had paediatric sizes). Tracheal tube introducers were available in five centres (33.3%). Four centres (26.7%) had video-laryngoscopes, but none had optical laryngoscopes. Retroglottic devices and needle cricothyroidotomy equipment were available in two centres (13.3%). Although surgical cricothyroidotomy equipment was available, the equipment was widely dispersed and only three centres (20%) had pre-packed sets available. None of the specialised paediatric centres had needle cricothyroidotomy equipment readily available. Discussion: The study demonstrated that Western Cape public emergency centres are currently inadequately stocked with regard to alternative airway devices. A guideline regarding the procurement and implementation of these devices is needed.
- ItemThe burden of HIV and tuberculosis on the resuscitation area of an urban district-level hospital in Cape Town(Elsevier, 2021) Swarts, Lynne; Lahri, Saad; Van Hoving, Daniel J.Introduction: Many patients present to emergency centres with HIV and tuberculosis related emergencies. Little is known about the influence of HIV and tuberculosis on the resuscitation areas of district-level hospitals. The primary objective was to determine the burden of non-trauma patients with HIV and/or tuberculosis presenting to the resuscitation area of Khayelitsha Hospital, Cape Town. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on a prospectively collected observational database. A randomly selected 12-week sample of data from the resuscitation area was used. Trauma and paediatric (<13 years) cases were excluded. Patient demographics, HIV and tuberculosis status, disease category, investigations and pro- cedures undertaken, disposition and in-hospital mortality were assessed. HIV and tuberculosis status were determined by laboratory confirmation or from clinical records. Descriptive statistics are presented and com- parisons were done using the χ2-test or independent t-test. Results: A total of 370 patients were included. HIV prevalence was 38.4% (n = 142; unknown n = 78, 21.1%), tuberculosis prevalence 13.5% (n = 50; unknown n = 233, 63%), and HIV/tuberculosis co-infection 10.8% (n = 40). HIV and tuberculosis were more likely in younger patients (both p < 0.01) and more females were HIV- positive (p < 0.01). Patients with tuberculosis spend 93 min longer in the resuscitation area than those without (p = 0.02). The acuity of patients did not differ by HIV or tuberculosis status. Infectious-related diseases and diseases of the digestive system occurred significantly more in the HIV-positive group, and endocrine-related diseases and diseases of the nervous system in HIV-negative patients. HIV-positive patients received more abdominal ultrasound examinations (p < 0.01), blood cultures (p < 0.01) and intravenous antibiotics (p < 0.01). In-hospital mortality was 17% and was not influenced by HIV status (p = 0.36) or tuberculosis status (p = 0.29). tuberculosis on the resuscitation area of a district level nor tuberculosis status were associated with in-hospital mortality.
- ItemThe burden of intentional self-poisoning on a district-level public hospital in Cape Town, South Africa(Elsevier, 2018) Van Hoving, Daniel J.; Hunter, Luke D.; Gerber, Rachel (Elre) J.; Lategan, Hendrick J.; Marks, Carine J.Introduction: Intentional self-poisoning is a significant part of the toxicological burden experienced by emergency centres. The aim of this study was to describe all adults presenting with intentional self-poisoning over a six-month period to the resuscitation unit of Khayelitsha Hospital, Cape Town. Methods: Adult patients with a diagnosis of intentional self-poisoning between 1 November 2014 and 30 April 2015 were retrospectively analysed after eligible patients were obtained from the Khayelitsha Hospital Emergency Centre database. Missing data and variables not initially captured in the database were retrospectively collected by means of a chart review. Summary statistics were used to describe all variables. Results: A total of 192 patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 27.3 years with the majority being female (n=132, 68.8%). HIV-infection was a comorbidity in 39 (20.3%) patients, while 13 (6.8%) previously attempted suicide. Presentations per day of the week were almost equally distributed while most patients presented after conventional office hours (n=152, 79.2%), were transported from home (n=124, 64.6%) and arrived by ambulance (n=126, 65.6%). Patients spend a median time of 3h37m in the resuscitation unit (interquartile range 1 h 45m–7 h 00 m; maximum 65 h 49 m). Patient acuity on admission was mostly low according to both the Triage Early Warning Score (non-urgent n=100, 52.1%) and the Poison Severity Score (minor severity n=107, 55.7%). Pharmaceuticals were the most common type of toxin ingested (261/343, 76.1%), with paracetamol the most frequently ingested toxin (n=48, 25.0%). Eleven patients (5.7%) were intubated, 27 (14.1%) received N-acetylcysteine, and 18 (9.4%) received benzodiazepines. Fourteen (7.3%) patients were transferred to a higher level of care and four deaths (2%) were reported. Discussion: Intentional self-poisoning patients place a significant burden on emergency centres. The high percentage of low-grade acuity patients managed in a high-acuity area is of concern and should be investigated further.
- ItemEstimated injury-associated blood loss versus availability of emergency blood products at a district-level public hospital in Cape Town, South Africa(Elsevier, 2018) Weeber, Heinrich; Hunter, Luke D.; Van Hoving, Daniel J.; Lategan, Hendrick; Bruijns, Stevan R.Introduction: International guidance suggests that injury-associated haemorrhagic shock should be resuscitated using blood products. However, in low- and middle-income countries resuscitation emphasises the use of crystalloids – mainly due to poor access to blood products. This study aimed to estimate the amount of blood loss from serious injury in relation to available emergency blood products at a secondary-level, public Cape Town hospital. Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study included all injured patients cared for in the resuscitation area of Khayelitsha Hospital’s emergency centre over a fourteen-week period. Injuries were coded using the Abbreviated Injury Scale, which was then used to estimate blood loss for each patient using an algorithm from the Trauma Audit Research Network. Descriptive statistics were used to describe blood volume lost and blood units required to replace losses greater than 15% circulating blood volume. Four units of emergency blood are stored in a dedicated blood fridge in the emergency centre. Platelets and fresh plasma are not available. Results: A total of 389 injury events were enrolled of which 93 were excluded due to absent clinic data. The mean age was 29 (±10) years. We estimated a median of one unit of blood requirement per week or weekend, up to a maximum of eight or six units, respectively. Most patients (n=275, 94%) did not have sufficient injury to warrant transfusion. Overall, one person would require a transfusion for every 15 persons with a moderate to serious injury. Conclusion: The volume of available emergency blood appears inadequate for injury care, and doesn’t consider the need for other causes of acute haemorrhage (e.g. gastric, gynaecological, etc.). Furthermore, lack of other blood components (i.e. plasma and platelets) presents a challenge in this low-resourced setting. Further research is required to determine the appropriate management of injury-associated haemorrhage from a resource and budget perspective.
- ItemHaiti : the South African perspective(Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG), 2010-08) Van Hoving, Daniel J.; Smith, Wayne P.; Kramer, Efraim B.; De Vries, Shaheem; Docrat, Fathima; Wallis, Lee A.Background and problem statement. The South African response to the Haitian earthquake consisted of two independent nongovernment organisations (NGOs) working separately with minimal contact. Both teams experienced problems during the deployment, mainly owing to not following the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) guidelines. Critical areas identified. To improve future South African disaster responses, three functional deployment categories were identified: urban search and rescue, triage and initial stabilisation, and definitive care. To best achieve this, four critical components need to be taken into account: rapid deployment, intelligence from the site, government facilitation, and working under the auspices of recognized organisations such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Conclusion. The proposed way forward for South African medical teams responding to disasters is to be unified under a leading academic body, to have an up-to-date volunteer database, and for volunteers to be current with the international search and rescue course currently being developed by the Medical Working Group of INSARAG. An additional consideration is that South African rescue and relief personnel have a primary responsibility to the citizens of South Africa, then the Southern African Development Community region, then the rest of the African continent and finally further afield. The commitment of government, private and military health services as well as NGOs is paramount for a unified response.
- ItemPoor adherence to Tranexamic acid guidelines for adult, injured patients presenting to a district, public, South African hospital(Elsevier, 2017-06) Wiese, Jacobus G. G.; Van Hoving, Daniel J.; Hunter, Luke; Lahri, Sa ad; Bruijns, Stevan R.Introduction: In South Africa’s high injury prevalent setting, it is imperative that injury mortality is kept to a minimum. The CRASH-2 trial showed that Tranexamic acid (TXA) in severe injury reduces mortality. Implementation of this into injury protocols has been slow despite the evidence. The 2013 Western Cape Emergency Medicine Guidelines adopted the use of TXA. This study aims to describe compliance. Methods: A retrospective study of TXA use in adult injury patients presenting to Khayelitsha Hospital was done. A sample of 301 patients was randomly selected from Khayelitsha’s resuscitation database and data were supplemented through chart review. The primary endpoint was compliance with local guidance: systolic blood pressure <90 or heart rate >110 or a significant risk of haemorrhage. Injury Severity Score (ISS) was used as a proxy for the latter. ISS >16 was interpreted as high risk of haemorrhage and ISS <8 as low risk. Linear regression and Fischer’s Exact test were used to explore assumptions. Results: Overall compliance was 58% (172 of 295). For those without an indication, this was 96% (172 of 180). Of the 115 patients who had an indication, only eight (18%) received the first dose of TXA and none received a follow-up infusion. Compliance with the protocol was significantly better if an indication for TXA did not exist, compared to when one did (p < 0.001). Increased TXA use was associated only with ISS >15 (p < 0.001). Discussion: TXA is not used in accordance with local guidelines. It was as likely not to be used when indicated than when not indicated. Reasons for this are multifactorial and likely include stock levels, lack of administration equipment, time to reach definitive care, poor documentation and hesitancy to use. Further investigation is needed to understand the barriers to administration.