Median Duration Of Hospitalization Research Articles

Upfront appendectomy vs interval appendectomy in acute appendicitis with mass formation in pediatric age group: Little difference in major outcome

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare Conservative treatment followed by Interval Appendicectomy, versus Emergency Appendicectomy for the management of appendicular masses in children. Methods: Retrospective review of all appendicectomy performed in Tallaght university hospital, in Paediatric Surgery Department between January 2013 and June 2016. We included 397 procedures of Appendicectomy, among those, 16% (n=64) were diagnosed as appendicular masses. Cases were classified into two groups. Group I included those who were managed conservatively and then underwent Interval Appendicectomy after 6 to 8 weeks, (n=20) 31.3%. Group II included those who were managed with Emergency Appendicectomy, (n=44) 68.8%. The outcomes in the two groups were compared based on three parameters; the duration of hospital stay, the duration of Intravenous Antibiotics and post-operative morbidities. Results: We found that the median duration of hospitalization in group I was significantly longer than in group II (10 days vs 5 days, P<0.0001). The mean duration of antibiotic therapy in group I was also significantly longer than in group II (10.4±3.17 days) vs (5.19±2.53 days), P<0.0001). Nevertheless, the overall complication rate in Group I was similar to that of group II (38.1% vs 25.6%, P=0.304). Conclusion: No major difference in outcomes between the conservative and emergency operative approaches in managing appendicular mass in children. However, operative management is more cost-effective with less duration of hospital stay, as compared to the conservative approach.

Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Major Surgery for Cancer with COVID-19 in the Postoperative Period.

The aim of our study was to report about the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent major surgery for cancer and developed COVID-19 in the postoperative period. A retrospective and observational study was done in the Surgical Oncology Division of a tertiary care cancer hospital in North-East India. The study period was from 1st April 2020 to 31st December 2021. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of cancer who underwent a major surgery and developed COVID-19 in the postoperative period, within the same hospital stay were included in the study. Data was obtained from a prospectively maintained database and case records. Descriptive statistics were used to state the results in median values, range and percentages. A total of 22 patients developed COVID-19 in the postoperative period during the study period out of a total of 1402 patients operated during that time period (1.57%). The have been followed up for a median period of 16months (range 2 to 18months). The median age at presentation was 50years (range 25 to 74years). The incidence of co-morbidities was 27.3%. The median duration of ICU stay was 3days (range 0 to 9days) and median duration of hospital stay was 22days (range 9 to 55days).. The postoperative mortality rate was 18.2%. COVID-19 in the postoperative period in patients undergoing major abdominal and thoracic surgeries for cancer caused high postoperative mortality and prolonged hospital stay.

Evaluation of false lumen occluders implanted in the abdominal aorta false lumen

ObjectiveManagement of postdissection thoracoabdominal aneurysms with a fenestrated and/or branched endograft (F/BEVAR) is associated with favorable outcomes. Treatment should include both true lumen endografting and false lumen occlusion (FLO). Favorable results have recently been reported for FLO in the false lumen of the thoracic aorta. The purpose of this study is to analyze the results of FLO of the abdominal aorta in patients treated for post dissection thoracoabdominal aneurysm. MethodsA multicenter retrospective analysis of prospective data of consecutive patients managed for post dissection thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm from April 2019 to December 2022 with F/BEVAR associated with FLO in the abdominal false lumen was conducted. The STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) was followed. Baseline demographics, operative details, and early outcomes (mortality, length of stay) were recorded. Primary endpoints were technical and clinical success. FLO technical success was defined as complete occlusion of false lumen backflow above the FLO on completion angiogram. ResultsDuring the 3-year study, 23 patients were treated for post dissection thoracoabdominal aneurysm with F/BEVAR and the use of abdominal FLO. Twenty-one patients (91.3%) had received prior endovascular treatment. The technical and clinical success was 95.7%. The abdominal FLO had a technical success rate of 78.3%. The median diameter of the FLO was 34 mm. No patient died during the perioperative period, and one patient had spinal cord ischemia (4.3%) with partial recovery. Six patients (26.1%) required early reintervention. The median duration of hospitalization in the intensive care unit and overall was 1 day (interquartile range, 0-3 days) and 7.5 days (interquartile range, 2-22 days), respectively. During the mean follow-up of 9.9 ± 9.0 months, no patient died. False lumen occlusion was complete or partial in nine (39.1%) and nine (39.1%) patients, respectively. No aortic rupture occurred during follow-up. Maximum aortic diameter decreased in 48% and remained stable in 39% of cases. ConclusionsAbdominal aorta FLO during endovascular treatment of post dissection thoracic abdominal aortic aneurysm is associated with favorable outcomes. It offers an additional staging therapeutic option before extensive aorto-bi-iliac coverage, associated with low spinal cord ischemia rates. FLO also provides high rates of false lumen occlusion and false lumen remodeling during follow-up. Longer follow-up and larger cohorts are required to confirm these very promising early findings.

Factors affecting the outcomes after bidirectional Glenn shunt: two decades of experience from a tertiary referral center

BackgroundDespite the improved management of patients with a single ventricle, the long-term outcomes are not optimal. We reported the outcomes of the bidirectional Glenn procedure (BDG) and factors affecting the length of hospital stay, operative mortality, and Nakata index before Fontan completion.ResultsThis retrospective study included 259 patients who underwent BDG shunt from 2002 to 2020. The primary study outcomes were operative mortality, duration of hospital stay, and Nakata index before Fontan. Mortality occurred in 10 patients after BDG shunt (3.86%). By univariable logistic regression analysis, postoperative mortality after BDG shunt was associated with high preoperative mean pulmonary artery pressure (OR: 1.06 (95% CI 1.01–1.23); P = 0.02). The median duration of hospital stay after BDG shunt was 12 (9–19) days. Multivariable analysis indicated that Norwood palliation before BDG shunt was significantly associated with prolonged hospital stay (β: 0.53 (95% CI 0.12–0.95), P = 0.01). Fontan completion was performed in 144 patients (50.03%), and the pre-Fontan Nataka index was 173 (130.92–225.34) mm2/m2. Norwood palliation (β: − 0.61 (95% CI 62.63–20.18), P = 0.003) and preoperative saturation (β: − 2.38 (95% CI − 4.49–0.26), P = 0.03) were inversely associated with pre-Fontan Nakata index in patients who had Fontan completion.ConclusionsBDG had a low mortality rate. Pulmonary artery pressure, Norwood palliation, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and pre-BDG shunt saturation were key factors associated with post-BDG outcomes in our series.

Switch from intravenous-to-oral antibiotics in neonatal probable and proven early-onset infection: a prospective population-based real-life multicentre cohort study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the implementation of switch from intravenous-to-oral antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin in neonates with early-onset infection (EOI).Design, setting and patientsA population-based multicentre cohort study. All term-born neonates with EOI...

The Effectiveness of Bivalent mRNA Omicron Containing Booster Vaccines Among Patients With Hematological Neoplasms.

Last year was characterized by the appearance of novel SARS-CoV-2 virus variants, mainly the omicron sub-lineages BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5, which have confirmed resistance to the acquired immune response developed following first-generation mRNA vaccines. Given the ability to use mRNA technology to respond quickly to variant strains, novel bivalent vaccines against novel omicron variants were generated. In the current work, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of novel bivalent mRNA Omicron-containing booster vaccines among patients with hematological neoplasms, including both lymphoproliferative and myeloid malignancies. Cohort patients were obtained from electronic medical records of Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS), the second-largest healthcare organization in Israel. We analyzed the outcome of all patients with hematological neoplasms, between September 21, 2022, and December 31, 2022, who were identified as having SARS-CoV-2 infection based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the proportion of patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection within 30 days among recipients and non-recipients of omicron vaccine. During the study period, 472 patients were infected with Omicron. We compared the outcome of 70 patients who received the bivalent mRNA booster to 402 who did not. Fewer bivalent recipients needed COVID-19-related hospitalization [2 of 70 (2.9%)] in comparison to the non-vaccinated cohort [42 of 402 (10.4%)] (p-value=0.0304). This represents an 89% relative risk reduction in COVID-19-related hospitalization in patients with hematological neoplasms. The median duration of hospitalization was 7 days for the non-vaccinated group and 4 for the vaccinated group. A statistically significant increase in ischemic stroke rates due to bivalent mRNA Omicron-containing booster vaccine was not observed. The bivalent Omicron-containing vaccine mRNA booster has a protective effect in preventing and shortening hospitalization in patients with hematological neoplasms with an acceptable safety profile.

Septal Microsphere Embolization in Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

Alcohol septal ablation is an established treatment for selected patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOT). The safety and efficacy of septal microsphere embolization (SME) have not been studied. We conducted a retrospective analysis of SME procedures performed at our center from 2006 to 2021 using 75-µm microspheres. The primary end point was LVOT gradient reduction. Secondary outcomes included periprocedural mortality, conduction disturbances, access site complications, and duration of hospitalization. The population comprised 76 patients (median age 61years, men 43%). Dyspnea New York Heart Association ≥III was present in 65 patients (86%); ventricular tachycardia and previous syncope were described in 4% and 18%, respectively. Median duration of hospitalization was 13days, and the time to first follow-up was 4months. SME resulted in a significant reduction at rest (41 vs 12mm Hg, mean Δ PG=-71%, p <0.001) and provoked LVOT gradients (94 vs 29mm Hg, mean Δ PG=-75%, p <0.001). Periprocedural death occurred in 1 patient (1%) who underwent SME after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Complete atrioventricular block was observed in 5 patients (7%). Left bundle branch block was diagnosed in 1 case (1%) and right bundle branch block in 3 (4%). Access site complications were observed in 4 patients (5%). In conclusion, SME is a safe and effective alternative to alcohol septal ablation. The potential advantages of microspheres are still to be investigated in prospective studies.

#3312 EFFICACY OF TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE IMPLANTATION FOR SEVERE AORTIC VALVE STENOSIS IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Abstract Background and Aims In Japan, of the &amp;gt;340,000 chronic dialysis patients, approximately 60% have lifestyle-related diseases including diabetes and nephrosclerosis. Two-thirds of maintenance dialysis patients (age, ≥65 years) often develop aortic stenosis (AS) and other serious and complex systemic cardiovascular disease complications associated with chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). Furthermore, renal function loss and a prolonged state of renal failure are observed requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). AS in dialysis patients progresses quickly, and the frequency of hospitalized treatment for heart failure increases with the worsening condition, leading to ADL deterioration, which may subsequently cause dialysis hypotension/interruption. At our hospital, of the 420 maintenance dialysis patients who died during hospitalization in 5 years before 2020 (420/2,637 = 16%), 32 cases (8%) developed AS complications, which became their direct cause of death in 12 cases (3%), and aortic valve replacement (AVR) was performed in 5 cases (1%). Maintenance hemodialysis patients (HD) are at high risk group and have a poor prognosis for life. Previously, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was not indicated., but recently TAVI has been approved in Japan. Efficacy of TAVI for HD patients remains unclear, here we investigated several outcomes. Method A total of 123 maintenance dialysis patients with severe AS were included in 2019–2021. We examined TAVI group and AVR group for length of hospital stay, hospitalization costs, life expectancy, and rates of complications such as occurrence of arrhythmias. Results Over a 3-year period, we performed TAVI for 58 maintenance dialysis patients (mean age, 81 years); their median duration of hospitalization was 14 days for a median cost of 6,259,350 JPY. The mean age was older than that of 66 patients who underwent open-heart AVR during the same period (mean age, 73 years; 35 days for 7,192,570 JPY); therefore, the cost was less, and the rate of complications, including vital prognosis and arrhythmia, was not inferior in hospitalization period. Conclusion In conclusion, TAVI is effective for elderly maintenance dialysis patients with severe AS and has a positive health care economics, ADL maintenance.

#6045 TWO-YEAR INPATIENT ACTIVITY OF A DEDICATED ONCONEPHROLOGY DEPARTMENT

Abstract Background and Aims Onconephrology is a rapidly evolving nephrology subspecialty that focuses on the interaction between cancer and the kidney. Our aim was to describe the clinical activity of a Nephrology Department in a cancer care center, in a 2-year period. Method We retrospectively analyzed the patients observed by the Nephrology Department at our center between 2021 and 2022. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected. The statistical analysis was performed with SPSS software. Results During the 2-year period, there were 26,015 admissions, 636 of which required a Nephrology observation. Sixty-two per cent were female; the mean age was 68 years (SD ±12.4) with a median Charlson Comorbidity Index of 7. Most cancers were from gastrointestinal (24.1%, n = 153) or urologic origins (22.3%, n = 142), 37% had metastatic disease. Hematologic malignancies accounted for 12.1% of patients (n = 77). Nearly 44.5% of patients (n = 283) had chronic kidney disease (CKD), 20.8% (n = 59) of which were on hemodialysis (HD). Urinary tract obstruction (23.3%), cardiovascular risk factors (17.3%) and nephron loss (10.6%) were the most common causes of CKD. The main reasons for admission were renal dysfunction (23.7%; n = 151), infectious complications (23.3%, n = 148) and elective surgery (20.3%; n = 129). Of the patients observed, 40.7% (n = 259) had acute kidney injury (AKI), 23.3% (n = 148) acute-on-chronic kidney disease and 11.8% (n = 75) hydro-electrolytic disorders. Ten patients (1.6%) were evaluated for nephrotic syndrome (NS) or rapidly progressive renal failure (RPRF). Among AKI patients, intrinsic causes were the most prevalent (48.7% of all cases), with sepsis and ischemic and toxic acute tubular necrosis being the most frequent. Pre-renal and post-renal etiologies occurred in 29.7% and 21.6% of cases, respectively. Gynaecological and prostate tumours were the main neoplastic cause of post-renal AKI. There were 5 TMA cases in allogenic stem cell transplanted patients or treated with gemcitabine and six cases of acute interstitial nephritis, the majority immune check-point inhibitors-related. Over 54% (n = 142) of patients presented with AKI stage 3. About 13% (n = 34) needed renal replacement therapy (RRT), mainly continuous or hybrid techniques (58.8%; n = 20), and only 38% (n = 13) recovered renal function. The group of acute-on-chronic CKD patients included mostly stage 3b and 4 CKD. Most of them (54.1%; n = 80) had an intrinsic cause for kidney dysfunction. There was an equal distribution between stages of AKI severity. About 5% (n = 8) needed RRT and only two of those recovered. Hyponatremia was the most common electrolyte disturbance (56%; n = 42), followed by hypercalcemia (17.3%; n = 13). Over 40% of all cases of hyponatremia occurred in patients with metastatic lung cancer, probably related with the high prevalence of SIADH in this population. All but two patients with NS or RPRF underwent kidney biopsy. Among the patients with NS, its etiologies were: focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis secondary to pamidronate (n = 2), podocytopathy related to pazopanib (n = 1), paraneoplastic membranous nephropathy (n = 1), AL amyloidosis (n = 1) and TMA secondary to gemcitabine (n = 1). The causes of RPRF were ANCA-negative small vessel vasculitis, crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN) related to pembrolizumab and TMA. We also followed two patients with acute kidney disease, one with ATN secondary to bisphosphonates therapy and other with paraneoplastic fibrillary glomerulopathy. The median duration of hospitalization was 10 days (IQR 7.0 – 20.8), with median Nephrology follow-up time of 5.5 days (IQR 3.0 – 9.0). The overall mortality rate was 21.5%, and it was even higher on the subgroup with AKI (27.4%; p = 0.03). About 44% (n = 219) of patients were referred to outpatient Nephrology follow-up, at discharge. Conclusion Our data provides a picture of the rich inward activity developed at our cancer center by the nephrology team. The complexity of these patients highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in their management. No surprisingly, there was a high mortality rate, which was even higher in the AKI-patients subset.

Clinical Features and Treatment Outcomes of COVID-19 Admissions in the Can Tho City Hospital of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, Vietnam: A Hospital-Based Observational Study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, is among the top global health crises. As confirmed by the Vietnam Ministry of Health on 25th January 2023, Vietnam had a cumulative total of more than 11.52 million COVID-19 patients, including 10.61 million recoveries and 43,186 deaths. This study aimed to describe the clinical and subclinical characteristics, treatment progress, and outcomes of 310 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. A total of 310 patients with medical records of SARS-CoV-2 were admitted to Can Tho City Hospital of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Can Tho city, Vietnam, between July 2021 and December 2021. Demographic and clinical data, including laboratory examinations, of all the patients were collected and analyzed. The median duration of hospital stay was 16.4 ± 5.3 days. There were 243 (78.4%) patients with clinical symptoms of COVID-19 and 67 (21.6%) patients without clinical symptoms. The common symptoms included cough (71.6% of 310 patients), fever (35.4%), shortness of breath (22.6%), sore throat (21.4%), loss of smell/taste (15.6%), and diarrhea (14.4%). Regarding treatment outcomes, 92.3% of the patients were discharged from the hospital, 1.9% of the patients suffered a more severe illness and were transferred to a higher-level hospital, and 5.8% of the patients died. The RT-PCR results were negative in 55.2% of the patients, and 37.1% of the patients had positive RT-PCR results with Ct values of >30 on the discharge/transfer day. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that comorbidity and decreased blood pH were statistically significantly related to the treatment outcomes of the patients with COVID-19 (p < 0.05). This study provides useful information (i.e., the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes) on the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam during its biggest outbreak; the information may be used for reference and for making improvements in the handling of future health crises.

Stroke patterns and outcomes during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

This is a single-centered prospective cross-sectional study carried out from May 2021 to November 2021, enrolling patients with stroke. Data collected were demographic characteristics, stroke types and their outcomes, and different types of prehospital delays. A total of 64 participants were included in the study with a mean age of 60.25±15.31 years. Ischemic stroke was more common than hemorrhagic stroke. The median time of arrival to the emergency room of our center was 24h. The most common cause of prehospital delay was found to be delays in arranging vehicles. The median duration of hospital stays [odds ratio (OR)=0.72, P<0.05] and baseline NIHSS (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale) score (OR=0.72, P<0.05) were found to be a predictor of good outcomes at 3 months follow-up on binary logistic regression. The factors that cause the delayed transfer to the hospital and onset of treatment should be addressed. Patient counseling about the likely prognosis can be done after evaluating the probable outcome based on the NIHSS score and median duration of hospital stay. Nevertheless, mechanisms should be developed to reduce the prehospital delay at the ground level as well as at the policy level.

Days alive and out of hospital and graft survival after living donor liver transplantation.

Days alive and out of hospital (DAOH) is a simple metric representing the number of days not in hospital within a defined postoperative period. In a case of mortality within the defined period, the DAOH is considered zero. DAOH has been validated in various surgical procedures, but not in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). This study aimed to demonstrate correlation between DAOH and graft failure after LDLT. In this cohort study, we identified 1,335 adult-to-adult LDLT performed from June 1997 to April 2019 in our institution. We calculated DAOH at 30, 60, and 90 days among survivors and divided the recipients according to the estimated threshold of each defined period. The median duration of hospital stay after LDLT in the entire population was 25 (interquartile 22-41) days. Mean DAOH of survivors at 30, 60, and 90 days were 3.3 (±3.9), 19.7 (±15.9), and 40.3 (±26.3) days, respectively. We estimated the thresholds associated with three-year graft failure for DAOH at 30, 60, and 90 days and they were 1, 12, and 42 days, respectively. The incidence of graft failure was higher in recipients with short DAOH than long DAOH (10.9% vs. 23.6%, 10.3% vs. 24.3%, and 9.3% vs. 22.2% for DAOH at 30, 60, and 90 days, respectively). Among survivors at 60 days, recipients with short DAOH showed significantly higher incidence of three-year graft failure [hazard ratio (HR), 2.49; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.86-3.34; P<0.001]. Considering clinical situations after LDLT, DAOH at 60 days may be a valid outcome measure.

Lupus and the Bottom Line: Why we Need to Talk About the Economic Impact

Lupus and the Bottom Line: Why we Need to Talk About the Economic Impact

Treatment of Parapneumonic Effusion in Children.

To the Editors: We read the article by Lohuis et al1 regarding conservative treatment of parapneumonic effusion in children. In their article, the authors stated that the greater amount of children with parapneumonic effusion (PPE) could be treated conservatively with antibiotics only, especially in the absence of mediastinal shift, pleural septations/pockets, pleural thickening or extensive effusions. In a cohort of 136 patients, 117 patients (86%) were treated conservatively and 19 (14%) underwent pleural drainage. They found patients undergoing pleural drainage had mediastinal shift more frequently compared with conservatively treated patients (58% vs. 3%, difference 55%; 95% confidence interval: 32%–77%). In the study patients treated conservatively, median duration of hospitalization was 5 days (Interquartile range: 4–112) compared with 19 days (Interquartile range: 15–24) in the drainage group (P < 0.001), without significant difference in readmission rate (11% vs. 4%). Children with pneumonia can admit initially with an effusion that is in any one of the stages of evolution. The stage of evolution of the parapneumonic process and what therapy has already been provided is the key point for treatment. As in the study of Lohuis et al1 not all the patients were evaluated with ultrasonography, it is not possible to state how benign or complicated were PPE in the initial phase, since the cohort is not large enough to generalize to whole population and it is not easy to say PPE could be treated conservatively with antibiotics only, this statement might change due to geographic location, immunization schedules or surveillance data. For patients with parapneumonic effusions, clinicians can use ultrasound to quantify and characterize pleural fluid to determine whether diagnostic or therapeutic drainage is indicated, as well as to guide whether intrapleural fibrinolytics or surgical treatment is needed.2 In our center, 48 patients between 1 and 17 years of age from January 2011 to December 2016 were diagnosed with PPE, tube thoracostomy was performed in 43 of 48 (89.6%). Patients treated with fibrinolytic therapy was 22 (45.8%) and the mean dose was 5.18 ± 2.59 (1–9) in total. Fibrinolytic therapy was significantly higher in PE stage (II) than the other stages (P = 0.001). Intensive care need was 20.8% (n = 10), while total hospital stay was 23.58 ± 8.69 (3–47) days. Thoracotomy/decortication or Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery were required in 5 (10.4%) patients. There was no significant relationship between the operation and fibrinolytic treatment status of patients. The complication rate was 41.6% in total.3 Similarly, Lohuis et al1 also discussed that thoracic ultrasound could play a more important role in the decision making for the favorable treatment option with either conservative management or pleural drainage. Their study suggests that a Computed tomography scan does not play a major role in the diagnosis and treatment of PPE in children. These studies highlighting therapy of parapneumonic effusion in children are very helpful to guide clinicians and more randomized controlled trails are warranted.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized with measles during an outbreak in Somalia

Measles is a contagious disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This paper describes the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized with measles during an outbreak in Somalia from January 2018 to December 2021. This retrospective study was conducted at Mogadishu Somalia Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital. Children aged 6 months to 17 years who were hospitalized with clinical signs and symptoms of measles and its complications were recruited In total, 110 participants were enrolled. The median age was 16 [interquartile range (IQR) 12–36] years, and 87 (79.1%) were male. All participants presented with fever, typical measles rash, cough and conjunctivitis, and 43 (39.1%) had received the measles vaccine. Overall, 104 (94.6%) participants were admitted with severe respiratory symptoms, and six (5.4%) were admitted due to poor feeding and/or significant dehydration. Overall, all-cause mortality was 1.8% (n=2). The median duration of hospitalization was longer among participants who died compared with those who survived [11 (IQR 8–14) vs 4 (IQR 2–6) days; P=0.046]. Unvaccinated participants were significantly younger than vaccinated participants [36 (IQR 24–72) vs 12 (IQR 9–16) months; P<0.001]. There was a trend towards higher mortality [0/43 (0%) vs 2/67 (3%); P=0.519] and longer length of hospitalization [3 (IQR 2–6) vs 4 (IQR 3–7) days; P=0.056] among unvaccinated participants compared with vaccinated participants. Both the median total leukocyte count [5.7 (IQR 3.9–8.5) vs 11.6 (IQR 5.9–46.3) x 109/L; P<0.001] and platelet count [239 (IQR 202–358) vs 308 (IQR 239–404) x 109/L; P=0.032] were significantly higher among unvaccinated participants compared with vaccinated participants. However, the median haemoglobin concentration was significantly higher among vaccinated participants compared with unvaccinated participants [11.1 (IQR 9.9–12.3) vs 10.1 (IQR 9.1–11.2) g/dL; P=0.006]. Patients with measles in Somalia have a short hospital stay, low mortality rate and low vaccination rate. Timely vaccination and the need for improved care of patients with measles, particularly vulnerable groups including children and those with undernutrition, are encouraged.

Large volume plasmapheresis using a single-use immunoadsorption column: A cost-effective approach for desensitization in ABO-incompatible liver transplant.

Liver transplant is a life-saving treatment, but due to the limited availability of suitable liver donors, ABO-incompatible liver transplants (ABOi-LT) are conducted to increase the availability of liver donors. Perioperative desensitization for ABOi-LT is an established strategy to circumvent the risk of graft rejection. A single prolonged session can be performed to achieve the desired titers to avoid using multiple immunoadsorption (IA) columns or off-label reuse of single-use columns. This study retrospectively assessed the effectiveness of a single prolonged plasmapheresis session using IA as a desensitization strategy in live donor liver transplant (LDLT). This retrospective observational study conducted at a center for liver diseases in North India on six ABOi-LDLT patients who underwent single prolonged IA sessions in the perioperative period from January 2018 to June 2021. Median baseline titer in patients was 320 (64, 1024). The median plasma volume adsorbed was 7.5 volumes (4, 8) per procedure, with a mean procedure time of 600 min (310-753). The reduction in titer ranged from 4 log to 7 log reduction per procedure. Two patients developed transient hypotension during the procedure, which was managed successfully. The median duration of pre-transplant hospital stay was 1.5 days (1, 3). Desensitization therapy helps overcome the ABO barrier and decreases the waiting period before a transplant when ABO identical donors are unavailable. A single prolonged IA session reduces the cost of additional IA columns and hospital stay, thus making it a cost-effective approach to desensitization.

Prevalence of preoperative opioid usage and its impact on postoperative outcomes: a retrospective cohort study.

Preoperative opioid treatment increases postoperative adverse events. This study was aimed to analyze preoperative opioid prevalence in countries with low opioid consumption. Additionally, the effect of low opioid usage on postoperative outcomes was also investigated. We conducted this single center retrospective cohort analysis in a Japanese university-affiliated hospital to investigate opioid usage and its impact on the duration of postoperative hospitalization and in-hospital mortality. Adult patients who underwent general anesthesia between 2015 and 2020 were included. We extracted the patients' characteristics, surgical information and postoperative outcomes. Subgroup analysis to address opioid dose effect was performed in high and low dose opioid subgroups. Among 20,306 inpatients, 535 (2.63%) patients used opioids preoperatively. Tramadol was the most frequently used opioid. The median morphine equivalent (MME) dose was 15mg/day. Median duration of hospitalization was 18 and 9days in the opioid and non-opioid groups, and in-hospital mortality was 2.06% and 0.42%. Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated that preoperative opioid use was associated with a longer duration of hospitalization and in-hospital mortality. Subgroup analysis demonstrated longer durations of hospitalization in both high (> 30mg/day MME) and low (≤ 30mg/day MME) dose opioid groups, while higher in-hospital mortality was seen only in the high dose opioid group. Preoperative opioid usage was one-tenth of the United States average. Despite its low prevalence and small dosage, preoperative opioid usage was associated with poor postoperative outcomes. Dedicated perioperative interventions to prevent opioid-associated adverse events should be developed even in countries with low opioid consumption.

Retrospective evaluation of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema in dogs and cats (2000–2021): 31 cases

To characterize the clinical features of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (NCPE), etiology, and outcome in dogs and cats. The study also aimed to evaluate associations with mortality. Retrospective study. University teaching hospital. Thirty dogs and 1 cat, all client owned. None. Data collected included animal characteristics, clinical history, evaluation of oxygenation, radiographic features, treatments, and outcomes. Causes of NCPE included upper airway obstruction, electrocution, drowning, neurogenic etiology, and unknown. The etiology was known in 21 of 31 cases (68%), while the etiology of the remaining 10 cases (32%) was classified as unknown. The most common cause for NCPE was upper airway obstruction, found in 14 of 31 cases (45%). The majority of thoracic radiographs showed a mixed interstitial-to-alveolar pulmonary pattern with a diffuse distribution (52%). Oxygen therapy was administered to 27 dogs (90%). Furosemide was administered to 12 dogs (40%). The median duration of hospitalization was 48hours (range: 1-192). Twenty-three animals (74%) survived to discharge. Six dogs were mechanically ventilated, with only 2 of them (33%) surviving to discharge. The requirement for mechanical ventilation was the only parameter associated with mortality (P=0.03). NCPE is a heterogenous disease process that is most common in dogs. There are a variety of causes, but upper airway obstruction appears to be the most common. The overall prognosis is good in animals that do not require mechanical ventilation.

Comparative Study Between the First and Second Wave of COVID-19 Deaths in India: A Single Center Study.

Introduction The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is continuously evolving, and many mutant variants of the virus are circulating in the world. Recurrent waves of COVID-19 have caused enormous mortality all across the globe. Considering the novelty of the virus, it becomes crucial for healthcare experts and policymakers to understand the demographic and clinical attributes of inpatient deaths in the first and second waves of COVID-19. Methods This hospital record-based comparative study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Uttarakhand, India. The study included all COVID-19 RT PCR-positive patients admitted to the hospital during the first wave, from 1stApril2020to 31stJanuary2021, and the second wavefrom 1stMarch2021to 30thJune2021. Comparisons were made with respect to demographic, clinical, laboratory parameters, and course of hospital stay. Results The study exhibited 11.34% more casualties in the second wave, with the number of deaths being 424 and 475 for the first and second waves, respectively. A male preponderance of mortality was evident in both waves with significant differences(p=0.004). There was no significant difference in age between the two waves(p=0.809). The significantly different comorbidities were hypertension (p=0.003) and coronary artery disease (p=0.014). The clinical manifestations demonstrating a significant difference were cough (p=0.000), sore throat (p=0.002), altered mental status (p=0.002), headache (p=0.025), loss of taste and smell (p=0.001), and tachypnea (p=0.000). The lab parameters with a significant difference across both waves were lymphopenia (p=0.000), elevated aspartate aminotransferase (p=0.004), leukocytosis (p=0.008), and thrombocytopenia (p=0.004). During the hospital course of the second wave, in terms of intensive care unit stay, the need for non-invasive ventilation and inotrope support was higher. The complications manifesting in the form of acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis were observed more in the second wave. A significant difference was discerned in the median duration of hospital stay in both waves (p=0.000). Conclusion Despite being of shorter duration, the second wave of COVID-19 culminated in more deaths. The study demonstrated that most of the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics attributed to mortality were more common during the second wave of COVID-19, including lab parameters, complications, and duration of hospital stays. The unpredictable nature of COVID-19 waves calls for instituting a well-planned surveillance mechanism in place to identify the surge in cases at the earliest possible time and prompt response, along with developing infrastructure and capacity to manage complications.

Decannulation in congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.

Patients with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) require long-term ventilation to ensure gas exchange and to prevent deleterious consequences for neurocognitive development. Two ventilation modes may be used for these patients depending on their tolerance, one invasive by tracheostomy and the other noninvasive (NIV). For patients who have undergone a tracheostomy, transition to NIV is possible when they meet predefined criteria. Identifying the conditions favorable for weaning from a tracheostomy is critical for the success of the process. The aim of the study was to share our experience of decannulation in a reference center; we hereby describe the modality of ventilation and its effect on nocturnal gas exchange before and after tracheostomy removal. Retrospective observational study at Robert Debré Hospital over the past 10 years. The modalities of decannulation and transcutaneous carbon dioxide recordings or polysomnographies before and after decannulation were collected. Sixteen patients underwent decannulation following a specific procedure for transition from invasive to NIV. All decannulations were successful. The median age at decannulation was 12.6 [9.4; 14.1] years. Nocturnal gas exchange was not significantly different before and after decannulation, while expiratory positive airway pressure and inspiratory time increased significantly. An oronasal interface was chosen in two out of three patients. The median duration of hospital stay for decannulation was 4.0 [3.8; 6.0] days. Our study underlines that decannulation and transition to NIV are achievable in CCHS children using a well-defined procedure. Patient preparation is crucial to the success of the process.