Conservative Therapy In Patients Research Articles

Trends in Patient Reported Outcomes of Conservative and Surgical Treatment of Primary Chronic Venous Disease Contradict Current Practices

To analyze patient-reported quality of life (QOL) and symptoms in a prospective cohort of CVD patients who was managed within the framework of existing policies. Prospective cohort study of 150 patients with C2-C4 clinical class of primary chronic venous disease (CVD). Management consisted of initial conservative measures, following which, the patients were given a choice of continuing conservative therapy, or surgical treatment. Patients completed Specific Quality of Life and Outcome Response--Venous (SQOR-V) tool before initial visit, after completion of conservative treatment, and at 1 and 12 month follow up visits after surgical treatment. Management consisted of initial conservative measures. QOL score and symptom score (SS) part of this instrument was analyzed separately. Conservative treatment resulted in improvement of symptom score in 85(57%) patients, and the QOL in 111(74%) patients. Despite this improvement, the majority of patients (121) chose surgical option. At the 1-month follow up after surgical treatment 97 (80%) patients reported significant improvement of their symptoms and 114 (94%) in the QOL compare to their status after conservative therapy. The QOL improvement was due mainly to improvement in symptom score. Patients who improved after conservative therapy were more than 15 times more likely to have symptoms relief at 1 month (RR = 15.6, 95% CI 4.3-56.5), and 21 times higher at 1 year after surgery (RR = 21.3, 95% CI 4.7-96.9) compared with those who did not change the SS. Surgical treatment resulted in a better relief of symptoms compare to conservative therapy. The relief of symptoms after conservative therapy predicts better outcomes of surgical treatment. These findings suggest that success of conservative therapy should be considered as an indication, and the failure of conservative therapy should not be an indication to surgical treatment.

Comparing Clinical Outcomes Following Percutaneous Vertebroplasty with Conservative Therapy for Acute Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

To compare the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) with conservative therapy for patients with acute vertebral compression fractures. Prospective, nonrandomized, comparison study. The efficacy of PV has not been well established because there have been few comparative studies with conservatively treated control groups. Fifty-five consecutive patients (8 men and 47 women, age 47-94) with osteoporosis and symptomatic acute vertebral compression fractures were enrolled. thirty-two patients received pv, whereas 23 received conservative therapy. Changes in pain intensity, physical functioning, and pain medication requirement were evaluated. Both PV and conservative therapy provided pain reduction (P < 0.001), improvements in physical functioning (P < 0.001), and decreased medication (P < 0.001). Reductions in visual analogue pain scores were more significant in the vertebroplasty group at 1 (P < 0.001) and 4 weeks (P < 0.001) but not at 12 months. Improvements in physical functioning were significant at 1 (P < 0.001) and 4 weeks (P < 0.001). Medication requirements were lower in the vertebroplasty group at all three time points. Pain relief, physical functioning improvement, and medication requirement after vertebroplasty are immediately and significantly better when compared with conservative therapy.

Abstract No. 11: Percutaneous vertebroplasty versus conservative therapy in patients with an acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. Vertos II: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract No. 11: Percutaneous vertebroplasty versus conservative therapy in patients with an acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. Vertos II: A randomized controlled trial

A First Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial Evaluating Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for the Treatment of Peyronie's Disease

BackgroundExtracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a conservative therapy for patients with Peyronie's disease (PD). ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of ESWT in patients with PD. Design, setting, and participantsOne hundred patients with a history of PD not >12 mo who had not had previous PD-related treatments were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients were randomly allocated to either ESWT (n=50) or placebo (n=50). Erectile function (EF), pain during erection, plaque size, penile curvature, and quality of life (QoL) were assessed at baseline, at 12 wk, and at 24 wk follow-up. InterventionFour weekly treatment sessions were administered. Each ESWT session consisted of 2000 focused shock waves. For the placebo group, a nonfunctioning transducer was employed. MeasurementsEF was evaluated with the shortened version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), pain was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS; 0–10), plaque size was measured in cm2, and penile curvature was measured in degrees. Results and limitationsAfter 12 wk, mean VAS score, mean IIEF-5 score, and mean QoL score ameliorated significantly in patients receiving ESWT. Mean plaque size and mean curvature degree were unchanged in the ESWT group, while a slight increase was reported in the placebo group (p-value not significant vs baseline). After 24 wk, mean IIEF-5 score and mean QoL score were stable in the ESWT group, while mean VAS score was significantly lower when compared with baseline in both groups. Interestingly, after 24 wk, mean plaque size and mean curvature degree were significantly higher in the placebo group when compared with both baseline and ESWT values. The main limitations were that the QoL questionnaire was not validated, ED was not etiologically characterized, and inclusion criteria were restricted. ConclusionsIn patients with PD, ESWT leads to pain resolution and ameliorates both EF and QoL.

Cystectomy or conservative therapy for patients with high-risk, T1G3 bladder cancer?

Cystectomy or conservative therapy for patients with high-risk, T1G3 bladder cancer?

VERTOS II: Percutaneous vertebroplasty versus conservative therapy in patients with painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures; rationale, objectives and design of a multicenter randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe standard care in patients with a painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is conservative therapy. Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV), a minimally invasive technique, is gaining popularity as a new treatment option. Many prospective and retrospective studies have reported on the effectiveness and safety of PV, but no large randomized controlled trial (RCT) has been published.ObjectiveTo estimate cost-effectiveness of PV compared to conservative therapy in terms of: pain reduction, quality of life, complications, secondary fractures and mortality.Materials and methodsThe VERTOS II study is designed as a prospective, multicenter RCT. Patients with a painful VCF with bone edema on MR imaging, local back pain for 6 weeks or less, osteopenia and aged 50 years or older, after obtaining informed consent are included and randomized for PV or conservative therapy. In total 200 patients will be enrolled. Follow-up is at regular intervals during a 1-year period with standard questionnaires, addressing: clinical symptoms, pain medication, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, quality of life and cost-effectiveness. Secondary fractures, necessary additional therapies and complications are recorded.ConclusionThe VERTOS II study is the first methodologically sound RCT designed to assess the cost-effectiveness of PV compared to conservative therapy in patients with an acute osteoporotic VCF.Trial registration, NCT00232466

Acupuncture and Knee Osteoarthritis: A Three-Armed Randomized Trial

Despite the popularity of acupuncture, evidence of its efficacy for reducing pain remains equivocal. To assess the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) compared with sham acupuncture (needling at defined nonacupuncture points) and conservative therapy in patients with chronic pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee. Randomized, controlled trial. Setting: 315 primary care practices staffed by 320 practitioners with at least 2 years’ experience in acupuncture. 1007 patients who had had chronic pain for at least 6 months due to osteoarthritis of the knee (American College of Rheumatology [ACR] criteria and Kellgren–Lawrence score of 2 or 3). Up to 6 physiotherapy sessions and as-needed anti-inflammatory drugs plus 10 sessions of TCA, 10 sessions of sham acupuncture, or 10 physician visits within 6 weeks. Patients could request up to 5 additional sessions or visits if the initial treatment was viewed as being partially successful. Success rate, as defined by at least 36% improvement in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score at 26 weeks. Additional end points were WOMAC score and global patient assessment. Success rates were 53.1 % for TCA, 51.0 % for sham acupuncture, and 29.1 % for conservative therapy. Acupuncture groups had higher success rates than conservative therapy groups (relative risk for TCA compared with conservative therapy, 1.75 [95 % CI, 1.43 to 2.13]; relative risk for sham acupuncture compared with conservative therapy, 1.73 [CI, 1.42 to 2.11]). There was no difference between TCA and sham acupuncture (relative risk, 1.01 [CI, 0.87 to 1.17]). There was no blinding between acupuncture and traditional therapy and no monitoring of acupuncture compliance with study protocol. In general, practitioner–patient contacts were less intense in the conservative therapy group than in the TCA and sham acupuncture groups. Compared with physiotherapy and as-needed anti-inflammatory drugs, addition of either TCA or sham acupuncture led to greater improvement in WOMAC score at 26 weeks. No statistically significant difference was observed between TCA and sham acupuncture, suggesting that the observed differences could be due to placebo effects, differences in intensity of provider contact, or a physiologic effect of needling regardless of whether it is done according to TCA principles.

A randomized controlled trial of early intervention with intraarticular corticosteroids followed by sulfasalazine versus conservative treatment in early oligoarthritis

To determine the outcome after 52 weeks of early intervention with intraarticular corticosteroid injections followed by sulfasalazine versus conservative therapy in patients with recent-onset oligoarthritis in a randomized controlled trial. Patients with <or=4 joints with clinical synovitis (disease duration <or=12 months) were randomized to early intervention (EI) with intraarticular methylprednisolone into all synovitic joints or to conservative treatment (CT) with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs alone. Sulfasalazine was administered in both groups for persistent disease or disease that evolved into a polyarthritis. Primary outcome was complete response (CR) defined as the absence of synovitis at 52 weeks. Secondary outcomes included CR at weeks 4 and 12, function (Health Assessment Questionnaire), pain (0-100-mm visual analog scale), and work status. Fifty-nine patients (34 men, 25 women; mean age 32.9 years; median early morning stiffness 30 minutes) were randomized. At baseline, two-thirds reported that they were work impaired. At 52 weeks, 81% of patients in the EI group achieved CR compared with 57% in the CT group (chi(2) = 3.833, 1 df, P = 0.05). In addition, 45% of patients in the EI group received sulfasalazine as opposed to 14% in the CT group (chi(2) = 5.156, 1 df, P = 0.019). There were no differences in physical disability or work impairment between the treatment groups. Oligoarthritis has a significant impact on function and work ability. Patients treated with EI using intraarticular corticosteroids followed by sulfasalazine therapy if resistant demonstrated reduced synovitis 12 months after treatment compared with those initially treated with more conservative therapy.

Acupuncture and Knee Osteoarthritis

Despite the popularity of acupuncture, evidence of its efficacy for reducing pain remains equivocal. To assess the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) compared with sham acupuncture (needling at defined nonacupuncture points) and conservative therapy in patients with chronic pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee. Randomized, controlled trial. 315 primary care practices staffed by 320 practitioners with at least 2 years' experience in acupuncture. 1007 patients who had had chronic pain for at least 6 months due to osteoarthritis of the knee (American College of Rheumatology [ACR] criteria and Kellgren-Lawrence score of 2 or 3). Up to 6 physiotherapy sessions and as-needed anti-inflammatory drugs plus 10 sessions of TCA, 10 sessions of sham acupuncture, or 10 physician visits within 6 weeks. Patients could request up to 5 additional sessions or visits if the initial treatment was viewed as being partially successful. Success rate, as defined by at least 36% improvement in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score at 26 weeks. Additional end points were WOMAC score and global patient assessment. Success rates were 53.1% for TCA, 51.0% for sham acupuncture, and 29.1% for conservative therapy. Acupuncture groups had higher success rates than conservative therapy groups (relative risk for TCA compared with conservative therapy, 1.75 [95% CI, 1.43 to 2.13]; relative risk for sham acupuncture compared with conservative therapy, 1.73 [CI, 1.42 to 2.11]). There was no difference between TCA and sham acupuncture (relative risk, 1.01 [CI, 0.87 to 1.17]). There was no blinding between acupuncture and traditional therapy and no monitoring of acupuncture compliance with study protocol. In general, practitioner-patient contacts were less intense in the conservative therapy group than in the TCA and sham acupuncture groups. Compared with physiotherapy and as-needed anti-inflammatory drugs, addition of either TCA or sham acupuncture led to greater improvement in WOMAC score at 26 weeks. No statistically significant difference was observed between TCA and sham acupuncture, suggesting that the observed differences could be due to placebo effects, differences in intensity of provider contact, or a physiologic effect of needling regardless of whether it is done according to TCA principles.

Outcome of Conservative Therapy of Patients With Severe Intermittent Claudication

Outcome of Conservative Therapy of Patients With Severe Intermittent Claudication

77 Impact of high-dose-rate brachytherapy as a method of boost in breast conservative therapy for patients with close to positive margins

77 Impact of high-dose-rate brachytherapy as a method of boost in breast conservative therapy for patients with close to positive margins

Conservative Therapy in Patients With Anterior Disc Displacement Without Reduction Using 2 Common Splints: A Randomized Clinical Trial

We performed a comparative evaluation of different types of splint therapy for anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDWR) of the temporomandibular joint. Seventy-four patients agreed to participate (65 females and 9 males). All patients were examined using a clinical temporomandibular joint disorder examination protocol, including muscle palpation, mandibular range-of-motion measurement, and joint sound detection. Additionally, the patients marked their pain (during chewing, mandibular movements, and rest position) and limitation levels on a visual analog scale. Bilateral magnetic resonance images were acquired, confirming ADDWR in at least one joint. After clinical examination and imaging, randomized splint therapy was provided: 38 patients received a centric splint, while 36 received a distraction splint. After 1, 3, and 6 months of therapy, outcome was evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed rank test for matched pairs. Success after 6 months was defined as improvement in active mouth opening of greater than 20% and pain reduction (on chewing) of at least 50%. Success was statistically verified using logistic regression test. The improvements in mouth opening were significant in both groups. The improvements in pain on chewing, pain during other functions, pain at rest, functional limitation on chewing, and other functions were also comparable in both groups. However, the logistic regression test suggested that patients using centric splints were treated more successfully than the others (confidence interval, 1.014 to 8.741, odds ratio = 2.785). Centric splints seem to be more effective than distraction splints. Therefore, before the surgical treatment of ADDWR, centric splints should be used instead of distraction splints.

Esophageal Perforation in Adults

To evaluate the outcome of aggressive conservative therapy in patients with esophageal perforation. The treatment of esophageal perforation remains controversial with a bias toward early primary repair, resection, and/or proximal diversion. This review evaluates an alternate approach with a bias toward aggressive drainage of fluid collections and frequent CT and gastographin UGI examinations to evaluate progress. From 1992 to 2004, 47 patients with esophageal perforation (10 proximal, 37 thoracic) were treated (18 patients early [<24 hours], 29 late). There were 31 male and 16 females (ages 18-90 years). The etiology was iatrogenic (25), spontaneous (14), trauma (3), dissecting thoracic aneurysm (3), and 1 each following a Stretta procedure and Blakemore tube placement. Six of 10 cervical perforations underwent surgery (3 primary repair, 3 abscess drainage). Nine of 10 perforations healed at discharge. In 37 thoracic perforations, 2 underwent primary repair (1 iatrogenic, 1 spontaneous) and 4 underwent limited thoracotomy. Thirty-4 patients (4 cervical, 28 thoracic) underwent nonoperative treatment. Thirteen of the 14 patients with spontaneous perforation (thoracic) underwent initial nonoperative care. Overall mortality was 4.2% (2 of 47 patients). These deaths represent 2 of 37 thoracic perforations (5.4%). There were no deaths in the 34 patients treated nonoperatively. Esophageal healing occurred in 43 of 45 surviving patients (96%). Subsequent operations included colon interposition in 2, esophagectomy for malignancy in 3, and esophagectomy for benign stricture in 2. Aggressive treatment of sepsis and control of esophageal leaks leak lowers mortality and morbidity, allow esophageal healing, and avoid major surgery in most patients.

127 Interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy as a method of boost in breast conservative therapy for patients with close to positive margins

127 Interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy as a method of boost in breast conservative therapy for patients with close to positive margins

Elektrophysiologische Diagnostik bei Tieftonschwerhörigkeit: Klinische und prognostische Aspekte

Low-frequency hearing impairment (LFHI) is mainly associated to endolymphatic hydrops and shows a high variety of possible outcomes. Electrophysiologic examinations are widely recommended in diagnostics of LFHI, wheras up to now no data exist about the prognostic value of these examinations in a conservative therapeutic regimen. In a quality assessment, we retrospectively evaluated the records of 90 patients, and performed an audiometric follow-up for analysis of long-time hearing data. All patients had undergone diagnostic electrocochleographic examination (ECochG) and then had been treated with rheologic infusions, followed by dehydrating infusions in patients lacking complete remission. The results of both therapeutic strategies and of long-time results were correlated to electrophysiologic findings. The prognosis of LFHI is significantly reflected by pretherapeutic electrocochleographic data. All significant parameters were associated to compound action potential (CAP) whereas parameters associated to cochlear microphonics (CM) did not include any utilizable prognostic value. In patients with a good outcome, the latency of CAP complex was significantly shorter, and the width of CAP complex significantly smaller than in patients with poor hearing outcome after rheologic and after dehydrating therapy and in long time assessment. The relation of summating potential (SP) und CAP was significantly smaller when the outcome was sufficient or good for either therapy and in long time analysis. Steep CAP-input-output-curves were associated to insufficient outcome after rheologic therapy and in long time assessment, but not for dehydrating therapy. The results indicate that ECochG is of significant prognostic value concerning hearing outcome after conservative therapy in patients suffering from LFHI. It can help the physician to counsel the patient and perform an effective management of the disease. We conclude that ECochG should be performed before the onset of therapy, including collection of SP and CAP data whereas CM parameters may be omitted.

Thermotherapy in the management of choroidal melanoma.

During the past 20 years of enucleation, which was the standard treatment for choroidal melanoma over more than a century, has largely been replaced by eye salvaging therapies such as radiotherapy or local resection. In 1995 transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) using an infrared diode laser was introduced as a new conservative therapy for patients with choroidal melanoma. TTT can be defined as a heat treatment modality, which is delivered through a dilated pupil to the tumour surface. The technique uses a wide diode laser beam diameter with a low irradiance and a long exposure time. TTT induces tumour necrosis at sub-photocoagulation levels by a direct cell destructive effect with only a few ocular complications. TTT can be performed as sole therapy or combined with plaque radiotherapy, thus permitting a lower radiation dose. For amelanotic tumours dye-enhanced TTT with indocyanine green can be used. In this paper we review the role of sole or combined TTT, related to the current other treatment modalities for choroidal melanoma.

Rationale for endoscopic management of adenoma of the papilla of Vater: options and limitations.

Several studies and our own results prove that endoscopic therapy in selected cases of benign adenomas is safe and technically feasible. In patients refusing surgery or patients with high comorbidity and poor physical health status, endoscopic resection is an excellent alternative. The decision for endoscopic or surgical excision of adenomas is determined by general health status, histology, size, location, and depth of the lesion. In carcinoma of the papilla of Vater it is important to assess the tumoral ductal infiltration correctly to determine whether endoscopic resection is a viable option. Intraductal ultrasound is essential before initiating treatment and it therefore contributes to conservative therapy in patients with tumors of the papilla of Vater. Temporary placement of a short pancreatic duct stent may protect against pancreatitis and might allow more excessive ablation of adenomatous tissue, especially around the pancreatic duct orifice. After endoscopic sphincterotomy, biliary and pancreatic endoprostheses can be inserted easily in cases of obstructed pathways or cholangitis and pancreatitis due to tumor obstruction. Argon plasma coagulation can be used to treat oozing tumor hemorrhages or to vaporize tumoral residues after endoscopic snare resection. Endoscopic surveillance is essential after surgical or endoscopic resection of adenomas of the papilla of Vater.

The results of spinal cord stimulation in critical limb ischaemia: a review.

to determine which patients with unreconstructible critical limb ischaemia (CLI) might benefit from spinal cord stimulation (SCS). literature review. limb salvage in patients with an intermediate transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcpO2) was not significantly higher with SCS (76%) than with conservative therapy (p=0.08). However, a limb salvage of 88% was achieved with SCS if the difference between the supine and sitting TcpO2 baseline values (DeltaTcpO2) was > or =15 mmHg. A rise in TcpO2 after trial stimulation of at least 15% resulted in a limb salvage of 77% at 18 months (p<0.01). randomised studies show no benefit of SCS over conservative therapy in patients with non-reconstructible CLI. However, data from experimental and non-randomised studies suggest this may be due to sub-optimal patient selection for SCS. Further trials are needed to identify subgroups who may benefit from SCS.

EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF VALRUBICIN FOR THE TREATMENT OF BACILLUS CALMETTE-GUERIN REFRACTORY CARCINOMA IN SITU OF THE BLADDER

Purpose: We assess the efficacy and safety of intravesical valrubicin for the treatment of carcinoma in situ in patients with failure or recurrence after bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and who othe...

LOW DOSE BACILLUS CALMETTE-GUERIN FOR CARCINOMA IN SITU OF THE BLADDER: LONG-TERM RESULTS

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is standard treatment for carcinoma in situ of the bladder. However, its long-term effectiveness is still debated. From January 1987 to January 1995, 70 consecutive patients with primary or secondary carcinoma in situ with or without concomitant solitary or multifocal papillary tumor were treated with weekly instillations of 75 mg. Pasteur strain BCG for 6 weeks after histological diagnosis. An additional induction course was given to patients with relapse. Tumor-free patients were given a maintenance course of monthly instillations for 12 months. At the end of induction course 1, 56 of the 70 patients (80%) were tumor-free. Of 14 patients given induction course 2, 9 had a complete response (64.2%). A total of 65 patients (92.8%) were disease-free after 1 or 2 courses and given the maintenance course. Median followup for disease-free patients was 74 months (range 17 to 134). Subsequently 50 patients (71.4%) were disease-free, 12 (17.1%) had recurrence and 8 (11.4%) had progression. Mean time was 18 months (range 6 to 69) to treatment failure and 13 months (range 7 to 53) to progression. Of the patients 1 died of disease and 10 of other causes. Crude survival was 84.2%, disease specific mortality 1.4% and nondisease specific mortality 14.2%. The risk of treatment failure was significantly greater for carcinoma in situ associated with stage T1 papillary tumor (p = 0.0001) or severe dysplasia (p = 0.0005), and the risk of disease progression was significantly greater for carcinoma in situ associated with stage T1 papillary tumor (p = 0.0001). The drug was well tolerated with few side effects. Intravesical BCG is the best available conservative therapy for patients with carcinoma in situ of the bladder. Low dose BCG is similarly effective, with a lower incidence of side effects and long lasting positive outcome.