| We are creating a new patient database for use
in future clinical research projects, including correlation
studies. All of our current pediatric neurosurgery patients
will be entered into the new system and updated as we continue
to care for them.
The database is being built by Yandong Zhou, MS using Oracle
software for a Windows platform. Information included in each
patient’s file includes demographical data, admission
dates, initial and complicating diagnoses, operative reports,
lab results, signs and symptoms, radiology reports and images,
and intracranial pressure monitoring data. The database allows
for the researcher or clinician to search for specific criteria
on all the patients entered. Search results can be downloaded
to either Microsoft Excel or a statistical analysis program
such as SAS. Our unique patient database can be used along
with a commercial patient database to enhance research capabilities.
We are presently interested in correlating shunt infection
frequency with different types of shunt hardware.
To date 238 patients have been entered into this database
by Emily Draper and Dr. Anupam Gupta, and each new admission
to the Pediatric Neurosurgery service has been recorded. Our
initial results were presented at the December 8-11, 2004
meeting of the Pediatric Section of the American Association
of Neurological Surgeons in San Francisco, CA. The graphs
below show some of our preliminary findings. |
| The main page shows demographical information,
type of hydrocephalus, and all of the admissions for a patient.
Based on a particular admission date from the main page, the
viewer can click a single button to locate admission details
such as operative reports, radiology reports and images, laboratory
results, and complications. The information at the bottom half
is automatically calculated from data entered on other pages
of the patient's file. The "details" at the bottom
of the page can be accessed by having the cursor on the admission
date of interest and then clicking on the detail of interest.
All the details are based on the admission date. |
Graphical representation of various germs causing
infections. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most prevalent
(56%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (22%), Pseudomonas
(8%) and Propionibacterium acnes (8%).
|
Graphical representation of various valve types.
Codman-Hakim-Medos program valves were the most prevalent (28%),
followed by PS Medical (25%), H/V Valves (20%) and Codman-Hakim-Medos
program+Siphoguard (14%). |
