The Potential for Information Sharing Between an Electronic Medical Record System and the Moroccan Transplantation and Dialysis Registry: Examining Semantic Interoperability

Background and aim In 2005, the Moroccan Ministry of Health established Magredial, a registry to track and monitor patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), with the aim of improving healthcare outcomes. After achieving initial success, Magredial's activity decreased, leading to its inactivity by 2015. Currently, efforts are underway to revive Magredial's use. The main goal of this study is to investigate the feasibility of data transfer between the electronic medical records (EMRs) of Hassan II Hospital of Fes, Morocco, and the registry by achieving semantic interoperability between the two systems Materials and methods The initial phase of this study involved a detailed review of existing literature, highlighting the importance of registries, especially in nephrology. This part of the study also aims to emphasize the role of semantic interoperability in facilitating the sharing of data between EMRs and registries. Following that, the study's second phase, which centered on the case study, conducted a detailed analysis of the data architectures in both Magredial and the EMR of the nephrology department to pinpoint areas of alignment and discrepancy. This step required cooperative efforts between the nephrology and IT departments of Hassan II Hospital. Results Our findings indicate a significant interoperability gap between the two systems, stemming from differences in their data architectures and semantic frameworks. Such discrepancies severely impede the effective exchange of information between the systems. To address this challenge, a comprehensive restructuring of the EMR is proposed. This strategy is designed to align disparate systems and ensure compliance with the interoperability standards the Health Level 7 Clinical Document Architecture (HL7-CDA) set forth. Implementing the proposed medical record approach is complex and time-consuming, necessitating healthcare professional commitment, and adherence to ethical standards for patient consent and data privacy. Conclusions Implementing this strategy is expected to facilitate the seamless automation of data transfer between the EMR and Magredial. It introduces a framework that could be a foundational model for establishing a robust interoperability framework within nephrology information systems in line with international standards. Ultimately, this initiative could lead to creating a nephrologist-shared health record across the country, enhancing patient care and data management within the specialty.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis of Hemodialysis Electronic Health Record Implementation

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The Nephrology Department of Hassan II Hospital in Fez, Morocco, has implemented an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system for managing patients undergoing acute hemodialysis. This initiative aims to digitize patient monitoring and enhance the management of acute dialysis within the department. Conducting strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis - assessing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats - was crucial to identifying and understanding the internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as the external opportunities and threats. This article outlines the SWOT analysis findings that may impact the project's success and shape decision-making. It also discusses strategies that could be implemented to allocate resources, mitigate risks, and capitalize on potential advantages.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study involved a multidisciplinary team, including professors, nephrologists, nephrology residents, and a healthcare information system engineer. Brainstorming sessions were held during the specification drafting phase to pinpoint both internal and external factors affecting the project. User feedback during testing further refined these factors, ensuring the project's alignment with real-world needs and challenges.

RESULTS

The study identifies the project's strengths as providing safe and immediate access to information, along with strong communication between the department (application users) and the project manager. The significant EMR weakness is the lack of logistical resources and the absence of a long-term maintenance plan for the application. The opportunity presented by this EMR implementation is its functionality's potential to evolve, enabling the solution to be deployed in other dialysis centers across the region. The project's threat is the potential abandonment of EMR use by future practitioners.

CONCLUSION

These SWOT analysis findings enable the development and implementation of strategies to reduce the current deployment's vulnerabilities and ensure the success of future HIS implementations in the nephrology network of the Fez-Meknes region, Morocco.

From transfer to transition: review and proposition of the SFNDT dialysis Commission

Over the course of their disease, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) will be treated by several kidney replacement therapy (KRT) modalities. The transitions between KRT modalities can be experienced as traumatic by patients, and are associated with an increased morbidity and mortality, notably when they are not anticipated. Planning these transition phases could reduce the psychological trauma induced by the transfer, as well as reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality. However, the lack of a clear definition of a transfer, and the lack of criteria enabling the identification of patients at risk of transfer, prevents the anticipation of these transition phases at high risk for patients. We here discuss the various possible causes and risk factors of transfer from peritoneal dialysis (PD) to hemodialysis as well as transfer from hemodialysis to PD. The dialysis Commission of the Société francophone de néphrologie, dialyse et transplantation (SFNDT) makes some proposals to improve transition phases, such as the identification of patients at risk, specific PD programs for unplanned PD start, transition unit and hybrid therapy.

The Role of Nephrologists in the Management of Methanol Poisoning

Acute methanol poisoning is a rare but serious condition that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Toxic metabolites produced by methanol, primarily formaldehyde, can cause high anion gap metabolic acidosis, with the severity of clinical presentation ranging from mild symptoms to multi-organ failure. Nine people died and four patients needed treatment at our university hospital following a collective intoxication caused by the consumption of homemade alcoholic beverages in the central region of Morocco. The four patients presented to the emergency department with varying clinical symptoms, such as decreased visual acuity, severe agitation, and dyspnea. The laboratory tests confirmed high anion gap metabolic acidosis and a subsequent toxicology screen revealed that they had consumed methanol-tainted alcohol. The treatment regimen involved inhibiting the formation of toxic metabolites using an antidote (ethanol or fomepizole), correcting metabolic acidosis, enhancing the elimination of toxic metabolites through prolonged hemodialysis, and administering adjunctive therapies. While two patients had favorable outcomes, the other two died from multi-organ failure. These findings highlight the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment in cases of methanol poisoning.

A Spontaneous Bilateral Quadriceps Tendon Rupture in a Patient Undergoing Long-Term Hemodialysis

Spontaneous quadriceps tendon rupture is very rare. Its occurrence is usually linked to an underlying disease that weakens the tendons causing them to rupture. Here, we report the case of a 44-year-old patient undergoing long-term hemodialysis who had spontaneous bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture. We present the clinical presentation and the management of this injury.

Is the Use of Dialysis Associated With an Increased Risk of Death in COVID-19-Related Acute Kidney Injury?

INTRODUCTION

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently reported in the setting of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) infection. The aim of our work is to evaluate the impact of acute dialysis use on mortality in patients with AKI during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study conducted in the Hassan II University Hospital of Fez, Morocco. From July 2020 to December 2021, we included all patients admitted to a COVID-19 unit with acute kidney injury defined according to Kidney Disease Improvement Global Outcomes 2012 (KDIGO 2012) criteria. Our patients were older than 18 years, and SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by a positive RT-PCR test or thoracic CT scan imaging. Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and pregnant women were excluded from our study.

RESULTS

The total number of patients hospitalized in the COVID-19 unit during the study period was 2560, including 206 in an intensive care setting. We included 61 patients with AKI, with an incidence in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting of 15.5%. Eighty percent of patients had respiratory distress on admission, which was the main reason for consultation. Stage 1 AKI was found in 1.6% of patients, 25.8% had stage II AKI, and 72.6% had KDIGO stage 3 AKI. The main etiology of AKI was acute tubular necrosis. Lung involvement secondary to infection was severe in 18 patients; 21 had moderate involvement. In our study, twenty-one of our patients (34.4%) were hospitalized in an ICU. Thirteen of our patients were intubated (21.1%). Twenty-one (34.4%) patients were hemodynamically unstable and were put on vasoactive drugs. Twenty-three (37.7%) of our patients received at least one session of conventional acute hemodialysis with an average duration of 2.1 hours ± 0.9 (1-3.5). The indication was overload (27%), severe metabolic acidosis (1.6%), threatening hyperkalemia (1.6%), and symptomatic hyperuremia (62%). The evolution was marked by a return to baseline renal function in two patients, partial improvement in 35 of them at discharge, and no improvement in 24 patients. We recorded a death rate of 34.4% (n=21). In a univariate analysis, we compared the demographic, clinical, paraclinical, and dialytic characteristics of the dialysis and non-dialysis groups. There was a significant difference between unstable, intubated patients and those hospitalized in the ICU in the dialysis group, with respective p-values of p=0.0001, p=0.0001, and p=0.01. We noticed there were more deaths in the dialysis group than in the non-dialysis group; this difference was statistically significant with a p-value of 0.005. In multivariate analysis, a logistic regression model was performed to test the relationship between dialysis and COVID-19 mortality while adjusting for other co-factors. The final model did not show a significant association between dialysis and mortality (p = 0.150, OR: 2.578 [0.710-9.364]). The only factor that remained independently significant was admission to the intensive care unit (p = 0.004, OR: 6.732 [1.847-24.540]).

CONCLUSION

AKI is a frequently encountered complication in patients with COVID-19, especially those hospitalized in the ICU. In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, the use of at least one dialysis session seems to represent an excess risk of mortality related to AKI.

Early and Late Patient Outcomes in Urgent-Start Peritoneal Dialysis: A Prospective Study of Unplanned Initiation of Chronic Dialysis

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has become a well-established complementary alternative to hemodialysis (HD) as the first-line renal replacement modality. Unlike the temporary catheter for hemodialysis that can be used immediately after implementation, the PD catheter usage period remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the short- and long-term outcomes in patients under peritoneal dialysis according to the delay of starting the dialysis after catheter placement.

Methods: This observational prospective study was conducted over an eight-year and four-month period (from April 2014 to August 2021), including all patients treated with peritoneal dialysis for 18 months (from April 2014 to October 2015). The patients were divided into two groups according to whether the catheter was used during the first 15 days (PD-E) or 15 days after (PD-L) catheter placement. The primary outcomes were early complications (mechanical and infectious) within 90 days. Secondary outcomes included technique survival.

Results: Among the 36 patients included in the study, 14 started PD early (38.8%), while 22 started it 15 days after catheter placement (61.2%). The mean age between the two groups was not significantly different (41 ± 17 years vs 35 ± 16 years, p: not significant). There were no significant differences in the Charlson comorbidity index or the degree of autonomy. The incidence of infections was not significantly different between the two groups (13.6% in PD-L vs 21.4% in PD-E, p: not significant). The total number of mechanical complications was not significantly higher in the PD-E group compared to the PD-L group (42.8% vs 27.3%, respectively, p: not significant). Kaplan-Meier estimates of technique survival were comparable between the groups (log Rank: 1.908, p: 0.67).

Conclusions: Our study showed no increase in the risk of complications associated with early use of the PD catheter and no difference in technique survival. PD can be used as first-line renal replacement therapy in the unplanned initiation of chronic dialysis.

Epiploic Appendagitis in a Renal Transplant: A Case Report

Appendagitis is an inflammation of the epiploic fringes, generally unrecognized by the clinician. It is responsible for abdominal pain and may mimic other causes of acute abdomen. It can be primary or secondary. In this article, we describe the first case of primary epiploic appendagitis in a renal transplant patient who consulted for left inguinoscrotal pain, which was diagnosed as primary epiploic appendagitis.

Tunneled catheters in hemodialysis: Indications and complications

OBJECTIVE

Tunneled central venous catheters (TCVC) are a good alternative in case that an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) cannot be made, awaiting maturation or during unscheduled hemodialysis. We report the experience in placing these catheters by nephrologists and establish the various indications and complications in hemodialysis patients. We also relate the lifespan of tunneled catheters in our series.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our study is a retrospective, descriptive and analytical, study carried out in nephrology department, including all the patients who benefited from a TCVC between June 2018 to June 2020. We included a total of 138 patients, Glomerular nephropathy was the main cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD) (34.6%). In total, 116 patients previously had an AVF. The average duration of use of TCVC was 140.62 days±106.104 [10-548 days]. The most frequent indication for placement of the tunneled catheter was pending for AVF to be made. We identified 64 (46%) cases who presented with complications per procedure (mechanical and hemorrhagic), the delayed complications were present in 12.3% of patients with 56.5% who presented with infectious complications in our series, and 43.5% of them experienced thrombotic complications. Two deaths in our series were related to a septic shock and a hemothorax. Mechanical and thrombotic complications occurred more frequently in women (P=0.032, P=0.018, respectively). For bleeding complications, the significant risk factor during our study was thrombocytopenia (P=0.027). Infectious complications, were linked to seniority in hemodialysis (P=0.014). Thrombotic complications were related to history of heart disease and anemia<8g/dL (P=0.01; P=0.043, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The first indication of a CVC was a pending for AVF. Even if the per procedure complications were more frequent, they were benign in most cases. The delayed complications were mostly infectious and thrombotic. The lifespan of TCVC in our series was short since the main indication of the removal was the maturation of an AVF.

Relation between dialysis dose and quality of life of patients on peritoneal dialysis

ObjectiveThe interest of our work is to identify the objective parameters that can improve the subjective parameters of the well-being of the patients and to share the experience of the care in our center. Kt / V urea and KDQOL SF 36 scale (Kidney Disease Quality of Life short form 36)were used. Material and methodsThis is a single-center cross-sectional study conducted in October 2018 among patients treated with peritoneal dialysis, followed for at least six months in the Nephrology Department of Fez University Hospital (Morocco). The quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 (short form) version of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) scale in its validated Arabic dialect version (1). We used the KDQOL-SF36 results as quantitative variables related to obtaining a Kt / V> 1.7. ResultsThis study included 17 adult patients on peritoneal dialysis of which 35.3% are on automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) and 64.7% are on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The mean age is 40.8 ± 5 years and the sex ratio is 9H / 8F. In bivariate analysis, we found a significant relationship between dialysis dose and social support. This result could be explained by better adherence in patients with better social support. ConclusionEfforts must be made to achieve the adequacy goals, without losing sight of patients’ quality of life. There is also a need for further studies that include more patients and study other parameters such as clinical evaluation, residual renal function and ultrafiltration.    .

[Renal amyloidoses in nephrology]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiological, evolutionary and clinical features of the renal amyloidosis and to identify poor prognostic factors. We conducted a retrospective study focusing on all patients hospitalized for renal amyloidosis between January 2013 and December 2014. The diagnosis was confirmed by renal puncture-biopsy or by biopsy of minor salivary glands. We collected data from 25 patients, 17 men and eight women, with an average age of 47.2 ± 18 years. Hospitalization rate and prevalence were 2.4% and 12.5 cases/year respectively. On admission, nephrotic syndrome was detected in 100% of cases and renal failure in 68% of cases. Proteinuria was ≥6g/24h in 60% of cases. Digestive symptoms (n=14), cardiac symptoms (n=10) and arterial hypotension (n=11) were the other manifestations. Infectious and inflammatory diseases were the main causes found (60%). Tuberculosis alone accounted for 20%. After a mean follow-up period of 219.5 days, chronic renal failure was found in 16 cases (64%), including 11 cases with end-stage disease (44%). Six patients died. Renal insufficiency at the time of diagnosis, the worsening of renal function and readmission were associated with a risk for chronic terminal renal failure (p: 0.03-0.04). Cardiac damage, the readmission and proteinuria ≥6g/24h were factors associated with the risk of mortality (p< 0.03). Renal failure, cardiac damage, proteinuria ≥6g/24h and readmission were the main factors for poor prognosis in this cohort.

[Improvement of tumoral calcinosis of the right hand after parathyroidectomy in a patient on chronic hemodialysis]

Les calcifications des tissus péri articulaires sont fréquentes chez les insuffisants rénaux chroniques en hémodialyse. Nous rapportons le cas d'un hémodialysé chronique depuis 10 ans qui a présenté une calcinose pseudo tumorale isolé à la main droite nettement améliorée après para thyroïdectomie. A travers cette observation, nous montrons l'impact du para thyroïdectomie sur la calcinose pseudo tumorale.

[Medical simulation in hemodialysis]

INTRODUCTION

Simulation is an innovative educational tool based on learning experience in a secure environment without fear of repercussions especially in critical situations such as in emergencies. It offers great prospects in the development of dialysis training.

METHODS

We report the results of an observational study comparing medical simulation to conventional training methods in the management of hemodialysis in emergency situations. We discuss afterwards the possibilities currently allowed by medical simulation in dialysis training.

RESULTS

The training was beneficial (significant difference between initial and final level of knowledge) for all participants. There was no significant difference between the conventional approach, simulation training and the two combined tools. However, satisfaction rate was higher in simulation training. We observed a tendency to have better results in "active players" of the simulation compared to observers.

CONCLUSION

We emphasize the importance of integrating medical simulation training in our dialysis training strategies as a complementary tool to classical teaching/learning methods.

Place de l’hémodialyse dans la prise en charge de l’intoxication aiguë au lithium

Nous rapportons le cas d'un patient âgé de 47 ans, suivi depuis vingt ans pour une psychose maniaco-dépressive sous lithium admis dans un tableau de trouble de conscience après une tentative de suicide au lithium (30 comprimés de Téralithe^® LP 400, forme galénique retard correspondant à 12 g de carbonate de lithium), bien amélioré cliniquement après trois séances d'hémodialyse. Cette observation illustre l'intérêt thérapeutique de l'hémodialyse au cours des intoxications volontaires au lithium sous sa forme retard même après une semaine de la prise et l'insuffisance thérapeutique d'une seule séance d'hémodialyse.

Hypotension artérielle intra dialytique chez un hémodialysé chronique révélatrice d’insuffisance antéhypophysaires

L'hypotension artérielle per dialytique est une complication fréquente chez l'hémodialysé chronique. Elle est occasionnée par des facteurs liés à la séance d'hémodialyse et/ou au patient. Nous rapportons le cas d'un patient âgé de 42 ans, hémodialysé chronique sur néphropathie lithiasique depuis 5 ans. Il a rapporté des céphalées chroniques atypiques, compliquées d'une baisse progressive de l'acuité visuelle, une asthénie, une hypertrophie mammaire, et une baisse de libido. Il est référé pour une hypotension artérielle per dialytique non expliquée par les causes habituelles, dont la recherche étiologique a objectivé une insuffisance anté hypophysaire et une masse hypophysaire à l'IRM. A travers cette observation, nous montrons qu'après avoir éliminé les causes classiques d'hypotension artérielle chez l'hémodialysé, une cause endocrinienne doit être recherchée.

Le syndrome des jambes sans repos : fréquence et facteurs de risque chez l’hémodialysé

Le syndrome des jambes sans repos (SJSR) ou syndrome d'impatience musculaire est un trouble moteur caractérisé par des sensations désagréables dans les jambes. Les causes sont mal connues et sa fréquence est estimée entre 25% et 75% chez les hémodialysés. Il s'agit d'une étude transversale monocentrique menée au centre d'hémodialyse du CHU Hassan II de Fès (hôpital Al Ghassani) entre décembre 2012 et janvier 2013. Nous avons défini le syndrome de jambes sans repos selon la définition de l'international restless legs study group de 2003 reposant sur 4 critères essentiels au diagnostic. L'international restless legs syndrome scale (IRLES) a été coté par un même néphrologue pour mesurer la sévérité du syndrome des jambes sans repos. 84 hémodialysés ont répondu au questionnaire avec 41,7% de cas de SJSR dont 6,6% de formes graves. Nous avons retrouvé une association entre le SJSR et la carence martiale p(0,018), la néphropathie initiale p(0,041), l'HTA p(0,026) et le sexe féminin p(0,024). Dans notre série, il ressort que la carence martiale et l'HTA sont les principaux facteurs de risque modifiables de ce syndrome chez nos patients. Les facteurs traditionnels comme le tabagisme, l’âge supérieur à 50 ans et la dialyse inadéquate ne sont pas associés à ce trouble dans notre série.

[Profile of diabetic in chronic hemodialysis: a multicenter study in Morocco]

Introduction

Le diabète représente la première cause de mortalité par insuffisance rénale au Maroc. Sa prévalence selon l'Enquête Nationale sur la Population et la Santé Familiale de 2011 est de 3,3% [1]. Le but de ce travail est de déterminer la prévalence et d’étudier le profil clinique des diabétiques en hémodialyse chronique au Maroc.

Méthodes

Il s'agit d'une étude transversale multicentrique incluant 2066 hémodialysés chroniques dans les 39 centres d'hémodialyse de quatre régions marocaines.

Résultats

La prévalence du diabète en hémodialyse est 21,6%. L’âge moyen 59±13,2 ans (26-87). Le sex-ratio est de 1,9. L'IMC moyen est de 24,5 ± 4,4 kg/m² (15-41). 42 patients sont porteurs d′une hépatite virale. La durée moyenne en HD est 39,3± 67 mois. 57% des patients gardent une diurèse résiduelle versus 43% chez les non diabétiques. Par rapport à ces derniers, nous avons noté plus d'HTA (64% versus 45%), plus de complications cardiovasculaires (23% versus 12%), un âge plus avancé à l'initiation de l'hémodialyse (55,5 versus 47 ans) et un taux de FAV proximales plus important.

Conclusion

La prévalence des diabétiques en hémodialyse est relativement élevée au Maroc sans tenir compte des patients qui ne bénéficient pas d’épuration extra-rénale pour des raisons socio-économiques. Le taux élevé de mortalité est imputable au retard et/ou à l'absence de la prise en charge néphrologique des diabétiques. Dans nos régions où le système sanitaire dispose de faible moyen, l'accent doit être mis sur le dépistage précoce de la néphropathie chez le diabétique.