Short-term Outcomes In Patients Research Articles

Surgical management of pancreatic cancer in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a 5 years retrospective descriptive study

IntroductionThe incidence of Pancreatic cancer is different in different parts of the world. It is a cancer with the worst prognosis of all malignancies. Pancreatic cancer is predominantly a disease of an older population. There are different environmental (modifiable) and non-modifiable risk factors associated with the development of pancreatic cancer. At present, surgical resection is the only potential cure for pancreatic cancer. However, as only 10–20% of the patients have resectable disease at the time of diagnosis. The morbidities associated with surgeries for pancreatic cancers remain high though the post-operative mortality has shown significant reduction in the past few decades. So far, no study has been conducted to investigate pancreatic cancer in Ethiopia.ObjectivesTo assess the clinico-pathologic profile, associated factors, surgical management and short-term outcome of patients with pancreatic cancer in Tikur Anbessa Specialized hospital.MethodsA 5 years retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 52 patients operated with the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer with either curative or palliative intents. The study period was from April 2016 to July 2021. The data collected includes demographic profile, associated risk factors and comorbidities, clinical presentations, biochemical parameters, pathologic features of the tumors as well as type of treatment offered and short term treatment outcome. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.ResultThe mean and median age of patients was 54.1 and 54.5% respectively. Males constitute about 52% the patients. 21% of the patients have potential risk factors; whereas only 10 (19.2%) of the patients had medical comorbidities. Median duration of symptoms at diagnosis was 12 weeks. Abdominal pain (88.5%) was the most common presenting symptom followed by anorexia (80.8%) and significant weight loss (78.8%), while 71.2% of the patients have jaundice. On clinical evaluation, 69.2% were jaundiced, while 34.6% had a palpable gallbladder. More than two third of patients presented with advanced disease. 76.9% of the tumors are located in the head of pancreas. More than three quarters (77%) of the surgeries performed were palliative. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were 19.2% and 3.8% respectively.ConclusionAge at first diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is relatively earlier in our setup. Most patients present with advanced condition, only amenable for palliative measures. The post-operative morbidity and mortality are more or less comparable with similar studies. The need for adjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer should be emphasized.

Characteristics and Short-Term Outcomes of Impella-Ineligible Cardiogenic Shock Patients

Characteristics and Short-Term Outcomes of Impella-Ineligible Cardiogenic Shock Patients

Devimistat (CPI-613) With Modified Fluorouarcil, Oxaliplatin, Irinotecan, and Leucovorin (FFX) Versus FFX for Patients With Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas: The Phase III AVENGER 500 Study.

Metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPC) remains a difficult-to-treat disease. Fluorouarcil, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and leucovorin (FFX) is a standard first-line therapy for mPC for patients with a favorable performance status and good organ function. In a phase I study, devimistat (CPI-613) in combination with modified FFX (mFFX) was deemed safe and exhibited promising efficacy in mPC. The AVENGER 500 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03504423) is a global, randomized phase III trial conducted at 74 sites across six countries to investigate the efficacy and safety of devimistat in combination with mFFX (experimental arm) compared with standard-dose FFX (control arm) in treatment-naïve patients with mPC. Treatment, administered in once-every-2-weeks cycles until disease progression or intolerable toxicity, included intravenous devimistat at 500 mg/m2 total per day on days 1 and 3 in the experimental arm. The primary end point of the study was overall survival (OS). Five hundred and twenty-eight patients were randomly assigned (266 in the experimental arm and 262 in the control arm). The median OS was 11.10 months for devimistat plus mFFX versus 11.73 months for FFX (hazard ratio [HR], 0.95 [95% CI, 0.77 to 1.18]; P = .655) and median progression-free survival was 7.8 months versus 8.0 months, respectively (HR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.76 to 1.29]; P = .94). Grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events with >10% frequency in the devimistat plus mFFX arm versus the FFX arm were neutropenia (29.0% v 34.5%), diarrhea (11.2% v 19.6%), hypokalemia (13.1% v 14.9%), anemia (13.9% v 13.6%), thrombocytopenia (11.6% v 13.6%), and fatigue (10.8% v 11.5%), respectively. Devimistat in combination with mFFX did not improve long- and short-term mPC patient outcomes compared with standard FFX. There were no new toxicity signals with the addition of devimistat.

"Five-Step" Vaporization of the Prostate Using 180-W XPS Greenlight Laser in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia of Large Volume: Improved Efficacy and Safety.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 180-W XPS Greenlight laser "Five-step" photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with prostate volume (PV) > 80 mL. Background: In patients with BPH with large PV, PVP often results in bleeding, unclear visual field, additional damage, and insufficient tissue vaporization. Methods: This single-center, retrospective study enrolled patients with BPH with PV > 80 mL treated with the Five-step PVP or the Conventional PVP from January 2018 to June 2021. Comorbidities, high-risk habits, and operative parameters were analyzed and compared. The short-term functional outcomes and postoperative complications were recorded over the 24-month follow-up. Results: Two hundred eligible patients were divided into the Five-step PVP and Conventional PVP groups (n = 100 each). These groups showed no differences in comorbidities, living habits, baseline perioperative parameters, operative time, lasing time, or energy use. However, a higher energy density (3.95 [interquartile range (IQR) 3.37, 4.52] vs 3.68 [IQR 3.17, 4.20] kJ/mL) and energy-time ratio (7.23 [IQR 6.12, 8.52] vs 6.72 [IQR 5.51, 7.87] kj/min p = 0.034)were obtained in the Five-step PVP group. Subgroup analysis of patients with PV ≥120 mL showed similar results. The short-term functional outcomes were similar between the two study groups with significant improvement from baseline, but the total prostate-specific antigen levels at 1 and 6 months were lower in the Five-step PVP group. Further, incidences of intraoperative bleeding, bladder mucosa injury, postoperative hematuria, and urinary tract infection were lower in the Five-step PVP group. In the Conventional PVP group, four patients required conversion to transurethral resection of the prostate in surgery and two patients required retreatment during the 24-month follow-up. Conclusions: The 180-W XPS Greenlight laser Five-step PVP has advantages of less bleeding, high vaporization efficiency, and low rates of perioperative complications, and, therefore, it is a promising treatment to improve short-term functional outcomes for patients with BPH with large PV.

Minimally invasive left colectomy with total intracorporeal anastomosis versus extracorporeal anastomosis. A single center cohort study. Stage 2b IDEAL framework for evaluating surgical innovation

PurposePerforming intracorporeal anastomoses in minimally invasive colon surgery appears to provide better short-term outcomes for patients with colon cancer. The aim of the study is to compare surgical aspects and short-term outcomes between intracorporeal and extracorporeal techniques in left colectomies with both laparoscopic and robotic approaches and evaluate advantages and disadvantages of intracorporeal anastomosis according to IDEAL framework (Exploration, stage 2b).MethodsThis is a single center, ambispective cohort study comparing total intracorporeal anastomosis (TIA) and standard surgery with extracorporeal anastomosis (EA). Patients with colon cancer treated by left colectomy, sigmoidectomy and high anterior resection by total intracorporeal anastomosis between May 2020 and January 2023 without exclusion criteria were prospectively included in a standardized database. Short-term outcomes in the group undergoing TIA were compared with a historical EA cohort. The main assessment outcomes were intraoperative complications, postoperative morbidity according to the Clavien-Dindo scale and the comparison of pathological. We conducted a preliminary comparative study within the TIA group between approaches, a primary analysis between the two anastomotic techniques, and a propensity score matched analysis including only the laparoscopic approach, between both anastomotic techniques.ResultsTwo hundred and forty-six patients were included: 103 who underwent TIA, 35 of them with laparoscopic approach and 68 with robotic approach, and a comparison group comprising another 103 eligible consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic EA. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographic variables. No statistically significant differences were observed in anastomotic dehiscence. Intraoperative complications are fewer in the TIA group, with a higher C-Reactive Protein levels. Relevant anastomotic bleeding and the number of retrieved lymph nodes were higher in EA group. Nevertheless, no differences were observed in terms of overall morbidity.ConclusionMinimally invasive left colectomy with intracorporeal resection and anastomosis is technically feasible and safe suing either a laparoscopic or a robotic approach. Clinical data from this cohort demonstrate outcomes comparable to those achieved through the conventional EA procedure in relation to postoperative morbidity and oncological efficacy, with indications suggesting that the utilization of robotic-assisted techniques may play a contributing role in enhancing overall treatment outcomes.

D-Dimer and the Short-Term Prognosis of Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Meta-Analysis.

Elevated plasma D-dimer has been observed in acute phase of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), while a quantitative evaluation for the association between D-dimer level and prognosis of SAH remains lacking. The aim of the meta-analysis was to investigate the potential predictive role of D-dimer for the short-term functional outcome of patients with SAH. Relevant observational studies were retrieved by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Wanfang, and CNKI. A poor functional outcome was generally defined by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (1-3) or the modified Rankin Scale (≥3). A random-effects model was used to combine the data by incorporating the influence of between-study heterogeneity. Eleven studies involving 3,748 patients with SAH were included. Among them, 1,131 patients (30.2%) developed a poor functional outcome within 6 months. The pooled results showed that a higher plasma D-dimer at admission was associated with a higher risk of poor functional outcome during follow-up (odds ratio per 1 mg/L increment of D-dimer: 1.65, 95% confidence interval: 1.49-1.82, p < 0.001; I2 = 0%). Sensitivity analysis by excluding one study at a time showed similar results. Subgroup analyses suggested that the association between D-dimer and poor functional outcome of patients with SAH was not significantly affected by study design, country, mean age, proportion of men, follow-up duration, methods for defining poor outcome, study quality scores, timing of D-dimer measurement, or the publication year. A high plasma D-dimer at admission is associated with a poor short-term functional outcome of patients with SAH.

Effect of Hemodynamic Monitoring Systems on Short-Term Outcomes after Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

Background and Objectives: To evaluate the effects of the pulse index continuous cardiac output and MostCare Pressure Recording Analytical Method hemodynamic monitoring systems on short-term graft and patient outcomes during living donor liver transplantation in adult patients. Materials and Methods: Overall, 163 adult patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation between January 2018 and March 2022 and met the study inclusion criteria were divided into two groups based on the hemodynamic monitoring systems used during surgery: the MostCare Pressure Recording Analytical Method group (n = 73) and the pulse index continuous cardiac output group (n = 90). The groups were compared with respect to preoperative clinicodemographic features (age, sex, body mass index, graft-to-recipient weight ratio, and Model for End-stage Liver Disease score), intraoperative clinical characteristics, and postoperative biochemical parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, and platelet count). Results: There were no significant between-group differences with respect to recipient age, sex, body mass index, graft-to-recipient weight ratio, Child, Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, ejection fraction, systolic pulmonary artery pressure, surgery time, anhepatic phase, cold ischemia time, warm ischemia time, erythrocyte suspension use, human albumin use, crystalloid use, urine output, hospital stay, and intensive care unit stay. However, there was a significant difference in fresh frozen plasma use (p < 0.001) and platelet use (p = 0.037). Conclusions: The clinical and biochemical outcomes are not significantly different between pulse index continuous cardiac output and MostCare Pressure Recording Analytical Method as hemodynamic monitoring systems in living donor liver transplantation. However, the MostCare Pressure Recording Analytical Method is more economical and minimally invasive.

The effect of chronic kidney disease on short-term single-level lumbar fusion outcomes

IntroductionChronic kidney disease (CKD) has an increasing global prevalence and has previously been associated with increased complications and morbidity after spine surgery. Understanding the isolated effect of CKD on short-term patient outcomes is critical for optimizing perioperative risk management and healthcare utilization. ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to utilize coarsened exact matching (CEM) to analyze the isolated effect of CKD on short-term patient outcomes in single-level posterior lumbar fusion surgery. MethodsA retrospective analysis of 4680 consecutive patients undergoing single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion was performed. Univariate logistic regression comparing the odds of outcomes in patients with CKD (n=40) to patients without medical comorbidities (n=2329) was performed. CEM was then employed to match patients with CKD to those without any comorbidities 1:1 on ten patient characteristics known to affect neurosurgical outcomes. Primary outcomes included intraoperative complications, length of stay, discharge disposition, and 30-day Emergency Department (ED) visits, readmissions, reoperations, and mortality. ResultsIn a univariate logistic regression, CKD was associated with increased risk of 30-day ED visits (OR=3.53, p=0.003) but not complication, discharge disposition, or 30-day readmissions or reoperations. Between otherwise exactly matched patients (n=72), CKD similarly remained associated with an increased risk of 30-day ED visits (OR=7.00, p=0.034) and not with other outcomes. ConclusionBetween otherwise exactly matched patients undergoing single-level posterior lumbar fusion, CKD was related to increased risk of 30-day ED utilization but not other markers indicative of inferior surgical outcomes. Further study must investigate the reasons for increased ED visitation and implement risk-mitigation strategies for these patients.

Predictors of Operative Ischemic Cerebrovascular Complications in Skull Base Tumor Resections: Experience in Low Resource Setting

Abstract Background Ischemic cerebrovascular complications following skull base tumor resections remain a significant factor impacting both short-term and long-term patient outcomes. This study aims to improve risk stratification, surgical decision-making and postoperative care protocols. Methodology A retrospective cohort study on predictors of ischemic cerebrovascular complications among patients who underwent skull base tumor resection was conducted at two high-volume neurosurgical centers in Ethiopia from 2018 - 2023. Binary logistic analysis was performed to see the association of each predictor variable. Result The study included 266 patients, with 65.5% being female. The median age and tumor size were 37 (±IQR=17) years and 4.9cm (± IQR 1.5) respectively. Ischemic cerebrovascular complications occurred in 19.9% of patients. Middle cranial fossa tumors and tumors spanning both anterior &amp; middle cranial fossa (AOR = 6.75, 95% CI 1.66-27.54, p &amp;lt; 0.008), grade 3-5 vascular encasement (AOR = 5.04, 95% CI 1.79-14.12, p &amp;lt; 0.002), near-total resection and gross total resection (AOR = 2.89, 95% CI 1.01-8.24, p &amp;lt;0.048), and difficult hemostasis (AOR = 9.37, 95% CI 3.19-27.52, p &amp;lt; 0.000) were significantly associated with iatrogenic vascular injury. Sub-arachnoid hemorrhage had a statistically significant association with vasospasm (AOR = 12.27, 95% CI: 1.99-75.37, p = 0.007). Conclusion Surgery-related ischemic cerebrovascular complications are common. Thorough perioperative risk stratification and proactive treatment planning are crucial to mitigate vascular insults associated with it. In low-resource settings, neurosurgical services are provided without advanced instruments, leading to more complications. Therefore, it's important to focus on improving neurosurgical setup to enhance patient outcomes.

Perioperative outcomes in patients who undergo neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus chemotherapy versus up-front surgery in patients with oesophageal cancer.

Oesophagectomy is the mainstay of curative treatment for oesophageal cancer. The role of neoadjuvant therapy has evolved over time as evidence for its survival benefit comes to hand. Clinician reluctance to offer patients neoadjuvant therapy may be based on the perception that patients receiving treatment before surgery may be exposed to a greater risk of perioperative complications. The aim of this study was to examine short-term outcomes in patients who undergo neoadjuvant therapy versus up-front surgery in patients with oesophageal cancer. This was a retrospective cohort study of prospectively collated data from 2001 to 2020 of patients undergoing resection for oesophageal cancer. Patients who had neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, chemotherapy and up-front surgery were compared for perioperative morbidity (via the Clavien-Dindo classification), length of stay, unplanned readmission, and 30- and 90-day mortality. Logistic regression was performed to predict perioperative morbidity following surgery. In total, 284 patients underwent an oesophagectomy. Most patients received neoadjuvant treatment (41% received chemoradiotherapy (117/284), 33% received chemotherapy (93/284)), and 26% of patients received up-front surgery (74/284). Patients who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or up-front surgery were more likely to have a complication (57%, 67/117 and 57%, 43/74) than patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy only (38%, 35/93, P = 0.009). The 30- and 90-day mortality rates were 1.4% (n = 4) and 2.8% (n = 8), respectively, with no difference between the use of neoadjuvant therapy. In this series, we found that patients who received neoadjuvant treatment could undergo oesophagectomy with curative intent with acceptable postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Characteristics of patients with burn injuries managed at a tertiary care centre

IntroductionBurn injuries are becoming a growing burden, negatively impacting both individuals and society. They affect a person’s health and lead to psychosocial and economic problems. This study evaluates the prevalence, characteristics, and short-term outcomes of patients with burn injuries admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Northern Sri Lanka. MethodsThis prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with burn injuries admitted to Tertiary care centre Jaffna over six months in 2023. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna. Baseline characteristics and clinical features during hospitalisation were recorded. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test, with post hoc Tukey tests conducted where applicable. ResultsThis study included 57 patients aged 1 to 88 years, with a mean age of 35.19 ± 21.16 years. Most participants were female (53.4 %), and most had completed secondary education (62.1 %). Approximately 65.5 % were employed in unskilled jobs, with the remainder in skilled professions. Accidental burns were the most common cause (72.4 %), with 84.5 % of injuries occurring at home, though suicide-related burns accounted for 24.1 %. Flame-related burns constituted 50 % of injuries, with first-degree burns being the most common (44.8 %). The availability of first aid significantly influenced outcomes, with 74.1 % receiving assistance, primarily through removing clothing (43.8 %) and using running water (15.8 %). A combined approach of care was received by most patients (52.7 %), while 8.8 % were hospitalised in the plastic and reconstructive surgery department. Many patients had burns covering less than 10 % of their body surface area (46.6 %). ConclusionThe findings of this study on patients with burn injuries underscore the importance of understanding the causes of burns, administering appropriate first aid, recognising different injury types and severities, assessing the total burn surface area, and tailoring patient treatment. These insights are crucial for informing prevention strategies and healthcare planning, aiming to mitigate the impact of burn injuries and improve patient outcomes.

Treatment of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears by different surgical technigues: comparative analysis of early outcomes

Background. Massive rotator cuff tears are up to 40% and can progress to the stage of irreparable ones. Nowadays, there are many treatment options available for irreparable rotator cuff injuries, from conservative treatment and arthroscopic reconstructions to reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Currently, the comparative effectiveness of various treatment methods remains uncertain, and therefore there is no clear algorithm for choosing treatment tactics of such orthopedic shoulder pathologies. The aim of the study is to compare short-term treatment outcomes of patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears using arthroscopic partial rotator cuff repair, latissimus dorsi tendon transfer, pectoralis major tendon transfer and reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Methods. The study enrolled 75 patients who underwent the following types of surgical interventions: partial arthroscopic repair, posterior and anterior arthroscopically assisted latissimus dorsi tendon transfer, pectoralis major tendon transfer and reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Treatment results were assessed using measurements of the range of active movements in the shoulder joint, the ASES and Constant-Murley Score (CMS) questionnaires, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), assessment of radiographs and MRI. The assessments were performed preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Results. In all groups, there was a statistically significant improvement by all indicators (p0.05). Clinical and functional results at the short-term follow-up after partial rotator cuff repair and various options of latissimus dorsi tendon transfer are largely comparable, while at the same time superior to the results of reverse shoulder arthroplasty and pectoralis major tendon transfer. Conclusions. The use of partial rotator cuff repair and musculotendinous transfers at the short-term follow-up gives comparable and better results in comparison with the use of reverse shoulder arthroplasty, which allows to consider “joint-preserving” interventions as an option in patients with massive irreparable rotator cuff tears.

Is thrombolysis beneficial in elderly patients with minor ischemic stroke?

IntroductionA pooled analysis of data from randomized controlled trials showed that thrombolysis is an effective treatment in patients older than 80 years of age with acute ischemic stroke. However, the outcomes in daily clinical practice may differ from those observed in randomized controlled trials. Thus, the present study aimed to compare the short-term outcomes of patients older than 80 years of age with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attacks (TIA) admitted to Haukeland University Hospital in Norway, examining thrombolysis vs. non-thrombolysis treatment in patients.MethodsAll patients with acute ischemic stroke or TIA who were older than 80 years of age and admitted to Haukeland University Hospital within the 4.5-h window after stroke onset between 2006 and 2020 were prospectively included in this observational study. Patients who received thrombolysis were compared to patients who did not receive thrombolysis. The endpoint was a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score on day 7 or discharge if earlier. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were recorded repeatedly during their hospital stays.ResultsIn total, 808 patients were included. Thrombolysis was given to 393 (49%) patients. In patients with an NIHSS score of &amp;lt;3 (minor ischemic stroke) at admission, thrombolysis was associated with worse short-term outcomes (β = 0.13, p = 0.03), whereas thrombolysis was associated with better short-term outcomes in patients with an NIHSS score of ≥3 (major ischemic stroke) at admission (β = 0.12, p = 0.003). Thrombolysis appeared to be associated with neurological worsening in patients with an NIHSS score of &amp;lt;3 at admission. Excluding patients who underwent a thrombectomy did not change the results.ConclusionIn elderly patients with major ischemic stroke, thrombolysis was associated with better short-term outcomes. However, in patients with minor ischemic stroke, thrombolysis was associated with worse short-term outcomes. Several reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.

Analysis on short-term outcomes of patients with thoracic trauma at dr. Zainoel Abidin General Hospital in Banda Aceh

Background Thoracic trauma is defined as a trauma that hits the chest wall directly or indirectly, either as a result of blunt or penetrating trauma. Thoracic trauma can occur in any age or genders, and become a life-threatening if the treatment isn’t immediate and appropriate. Methods This research was an observational study with a cohort retrospective design using secondary data in the form of thoracic trauma patients at The Zainoel Abidin General Hospital, Banda Aceh, Indonesia in the period January 2019-December 2020. The statistical analysis used were chi square for bivariate and multivariate analysis, spesifically logistic regression analysis was conducted to know which risk factor influences the most. Result There were 141 medical records used in this study, thoracic trauma was more common in men compared to women. The age group of 46-55 is the age group with the highest percentage of thoracic trauma patients, road traffic are the leading cause of thoracic trauma where the most common diagnosis is rib fractures. Significant factors that associated with the short outcome of thoracic trauma are thoracic trauma diagnosis (p=0,00), management of thoracic trauma (p=0,00), ventilator (p=0,04), duration of ventilator (p=0.01), sepsis (p=0,00), qSOFA score (p=0,00) and injury severity score (p=0,00). Conclusions Vehicle accidents contributed to a considerable number of traumatic chest injuries in this study. Diagnosis, management of trauma, days of ventilation, qSOFA score, injury severity score, and development of sepsis were associated with the short-term outcome among thoracic trauma patients. Injury severity score seems to be the most influential variable in this study, the lower the better it is. Road safety intervention is urgently needed to control the underlying problems in this study.

Short-Term Outcomes of Patients With Hyponatremia Presenting to the Emergency Department: An Observational Study.

Hyponatremia is the predominant electrolyte imbalance disorder in the emergency department. It can manifest with a diverse array of symptoms, ranging from non-specific and moderate to severe and even life-threatening. There is a scarcity of literature addressing the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with hyponatremia presenting to the emergency department in the western part of Rajasthan. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of hyponatremia on the outcomes of patients presenting to the emergency department. In this prospective, cross-sectional, observational study, 200 patients aged more than 18 years who presented to the emergency department with serum sodium < 135 mEq/l were included. The triage of patientswas determined by their primary complaints. The primary outcome was to study the clinical profile of patients with hyponatremia presenting to the emergency department. The secondary outcomes were to examine the etiology, i.e., hypovolemic, euvolemic, or hypervolemic, and the outcome of patients on the 7th day (patient admitted to the ward or intensive care unit) and the 28th day (discharged or death) with hyponatremia presenting to the emergency department. The clinical status of the patients was noted by telephonic follow-up in case they were not admitted for this period. Out of 200 patients, 66 (33%) had hypovolemic, 96 (48%) had euvolemic, and 38 (19%) had hypervolemic hyponatremia. We observed that seizures (84.2%), confusion (56%), and coma (77.7%) were the most common clinical features of patients with severe hyponatremia in the emergency, which was statistically significant than mild and moderate hyponatremia (p = 0.03, 0.023, and 0.029, respectively). On the 7th day of hospitalization, out of 181 (90.5%) admissions in the ward, 116 (64.08%) had severe hyponatremia, and out of 19 (9.5%) ICU admissions, 13 (68.4%) had severe hyponatremia. Death was seen in five (2.5%) patients, one (20%) in moderateand four (80%) in severe hyponatremia cases. Most cases of hyponatremia in this study were euvolemic. Most patientsexperienced severe hyponatremia, and seizures, confusion, and coma were the most prevalent symptoms. These disorders must be recognized early to properly diagnose and treat hyponatremia and prevent its morbidity and death.

The HEARTRISK6 Scale: Predicting Short-Term Serious Outcomes in Emergency Department Acute Heart Failure Patients

BackgroundAcute heart failure (AHF) is a common emergency department (ED) presentation that may have poor outcomes but often does not require hospital admission. There is little evidence to guide dispositional decisions. ObjectivesThe authors sought to create a risk score for predicting short-term serious outcomes (SSO) in patients with AHF. MethodsWe pooled data from 3 prospective cohorts: 2 published studies and one new cohort. The 3 cohorts prospectively enrolled patients who required treatment for AHF at 10 tertiary care hospital EDs. The primary outcome was SSO, defined as death <30 days, intubation or noninvasive ventilation (NIV), myocardial infarction, or relapse to ED <14 days. The logistic regression model evaluated 13 predictors, used an AIC-based step-down procedure, and bootstrapped internal validation. ResultsOf the 2,246 patients in the 3 cohorts (N = 559; 1,100; 587), the mean age was 77.4 years, 54.5% were male, 3.1% received intravenous nitroglycerin, 5.2% received ED NIV, and 48.6% were admitted to the hospital. There were 281 (12.5%) SSOs including 70 deaths (3.1%) with many in discharged patients. The final HEARTRISK6 Scale included 6 variables: valvular heart disease, tachycardia, need for NIV, creatinine, troponin, and failed reassessment (walk test). Choosing HEARTRISK6 total-point admission thresholds of ≥1 or ≥2 would yield, respectively, sensitivities of 88.3% (95% CI: 83.9%-91.8%) and 71.5% (95% CI: 65.9%-76.7%) and specificities of 24.7% (95% CI: 22.8%-26.7%) and 50.1% (95% CI: 47.9%-52.4%) for SSO. ConclusionsUsing 3 large prospectively collected datasets, we created a concise and sensitive risk scale for patients with AHF in the ED. Implementation of the HEARTRISK6 scale could lead to safer and more efficient disposition decisions.

Prophylactic Dose of Rivaroxaban Versus Warfarin for the Treatment of Isolated Calf Muscle Vein Thrombosis: A Retrospective Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

BackgroundProphylactic dose of rivaroxaban is often used in treatment of isolated calf muscle vein thrombosis (ICMVT), nevertheless, its effect is less reported. This study aims to evaluate short-term outcomes in patients with ICMVT who received prophylactic dose of rivaroxaban or warfarin therapy. MethodsA retrospective analysis of 472 ICMVT patients who received two different treatment regimens was undertaken. Propensity score matching method was used to balance the confounding effect of baseline clinical data. Chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis were used to compare outcomes (venous thromboembolism events, bleeding events, complete clot resolution) according to the type of treatment regimens before and after propensity score matching. Univariate and multivariable analysis were used to investigate risk factors for incomplete clot resolution of ICMVT after propensity score matching. Results242 ICMVT patients received prophylactic dose of rivaroxaban (rivaroxaban group, RG), and 230 received warfarin (warfarin group, WG). After propensity score matching, 156 patients were included in each group; Venous thromboembolism (VTE) events occurred in 14 (9.0%) patients in the RG and 10 (6.4%) in the WG (P = 0.395); No major bleeding events occurred in each group, and clinically relevant non-major bleeding events occurred in 5 (3.2%) patients in the RG and 10 (6.4%) in the WG (P = 0.186); Complete clot resolution at 3 months occurred in 80 (51.3%) patients in the RG and 100 (64.1%) in the WG (P = 0.022). Logistic regression analysis showed that there were no significant differences between RG and WG in VTE events (odds ratio 1.439, 95% confidence interval 0.619 to 3.347, P = 0.397) and clinically relevant non-major bleeding events (odds ratio 0.483, 95% confidence interval 0.161 to 1.449, P = 0.194); it revealed that complete clot resolution rate at 3 months was different in the two groups (odds ratio 0.589, 95% confidence interval 0.375 to 0.928, P = 0.022). Treatment regimens (prophylactic dose of rivaroxaban), thrombosis (maximum diameter >7 mm) and risk factors for VTE (non-surgery risk factors, mainly referring to active malignancy) were risk factors for incomplete clot resolution of ICMVT (P < 0.05). ConclusionsIn this retrospective study with a short-term follow-up, ICMVT patients who received prophylactic dose of rivaroxaban had no significant differences in VTE and bleeding events compared to those who received warfarin therapy (the overall INR > 2.0 for >50% of the time); but it was not conducive to complete clot resolution.

The Surgical Strategy Cerebrospinal Fluid Decompression Facilitates Outcomes of Adults with Chiari Malformation Type I: An Observational, Real-World, Single-Center Study of 528 Patients

ObjectivesWe designed this study to introduce the surgical strategy “CSF decompression” in treating Chiari malformation type I (CMI), and compared the “CSF decompression” strategy with other surgical strategies to provide a solid basis for patient counseling. MethodsA total of 528 consecutive CMI patients who underwent surgical interventions from 2012 to 2022 were enrolled. The surgical strategy for these patients was bony and dural decompression (BDD), anatomical reduction of herniated tonsils (AR) or CSF decompression (CSFD). Short-term results were determined after 3 months; long-term outcomes were evaluated at last follow-up and at least 18 months. ResultsThe CSFD strategy was independently associated with better long- or short-term primary outcomes than AR or BDD (P < 0.001). Compared with short-term, the long-term outcomes were better in CSFD patients (P = 0.035), but were worse in BDD patients (P = 0.03). Specific surgical techniques cannot affect the long- and short-term outcomes of CMI patients. CSFD provided better long-term syringomyelia improvement than short-term (181/218, 83% vs 169/218, 77.5%; P < 0.001). ConclusionThe “CSF decompression” surgical strategy, but not a specific surgical technique or operative method, was associated with favorable neurological outcomes in adult CMI patients. The surgical technique and operative method should be selected according to the characteristics of each patient and the intraoperative condition to normalized CSF circulation at CVJ. The intraoperative target maybe smoothly CSF flow, out from the fourth ventricle and in to the bilateral Luschka foramina, could be observed.

ACL Repair with Suture Tape Augmentation of Proximal Tears and Early ACL Reconstruction with Suture Tape Augmentation Result in Comparable Clinical Outcomes to ACL Reconstruction at 2-year Follow-up

The purpose of this study is to compare the post-operative side-to-side laxity and short-term clinical outcomes of patients who received primary ACL repair with suturetape augmentation, acute ACL reconstruction with suture tape augmentation performed within 8 weeks of injury (ACLRacute), or ACL reconstruction (ACLR) beyond 8 weeks of injury. Following IRB approval, 100 patients were enrolled in this prospective trial: n=34 primary ACL repair with suture tape augmentation, n=33 ACL reconstruction performed within 8 weeks of injury (ACLRacute), and n=33 ACL Reconstruction (ACLR). Patients were allocated to ACL repair if a proximal avulsion was present with good tissue quality (Sherman type 1), confirmed by intraoperative diagnostic arthroscopy. Preoperative side-to-side AP knee laxity was assessed with KT-1000 arthrometer and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) including visual analog scale (VAS), Marx activity scale, Veterans RAND 12-item health survey (VR-12 physical & mental), Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) survey subscales, and range of motion (ROM) were collected. These objective and subjective measures were repeated at regular intervals post-operatively through 2 years. Minimal clinically important differences (MCID) calculations were performed assessing post-operative PRO changes at 2 years compared to preoperative. The average time from injury to surgery was 5.03±1.2 weeks for the ACL repair group, 5.09±0.74 weeks for the ACLRacute, and 43.22±33.5 weeks for the ACLR group. Postoperatively, the KT-1000 side-to-side laxity difference for 30lbs was determined to be 0.1±0.37, 95% CI: [-0.7,0.8] for ACL repair vs ACLR (p<0.0001), -0.8±0.35, 95% CI: [-1.5,-0.1] for ACLRacute vs ACLR (p<0.0001), and 0.8±0.40, 95% CI: [0.0,1.6] for ACL repair vs ACLRacute (p<0.0001). The data reveals ACL repair and ACLRacute are non-inferior to ACLR at 2-year follow-up. The post-operative difference from baseline for all PROs demonstrated improvement for all PROs. MRI at 1-year revealed tissue healing for the three ACL injury treatment groups. Patients who underwent ACL repair of proximal tears with suture tape augmentation or ACL reconstruction within 8 weeks from injury resulted in non-inferior side-to-side knee laxity, comparable PROs, and similar range of motion at 2-year follow-up, compared to ACL reconstruction.

Prognostic Role of Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio (LMR) in Patients with Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Undergoing Chemoembolizations (DEM-TACE or cTACE) of the Liver: Exploring the Link between Tumor Microenvironment and Interventional Radiology.

Inflammation-based scores are biomarkers of the crosstalk between the tumor microenvironment and the immune response. Investigating the intricate relationship between the tumor stromal microenvironment, biomarkers, and the response to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is essential for early identification of TACE refractoriness or failure, providing insights into tumor biology and facilitating personalized therapeutic interventions. This study addresses a dearth of recent literature exploring the prognostic significance of the preoperative LMR in individuals from western countries diagnosed with stage B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing drug eluting microspheres TACE (DEM-TACE) or conventional TACE (cTACE). This international multi-center retrospective analysis included consecutive patients with stage B HCC who underwent TACE from January 2017 to June 2023. The study evaluated the ability of the preoperative LMR to predict complete response (CR), objective response (OR), sustained response duration (SRD) exceeding 6 months, successful downstaging at 6 months, progression-free survival (PFS) at 6 months, and overall survival (OS) at 6 months. The study population included 109 HCC patients and it was divided into low LMR (LMR < 2.24) and high LMR (LMR ≥ 2.24) groups, according to ROC curve analysis to select the optimal LMR cut-off value. High LMR was associated with lower Hepatitis C prevalence, higher absolute lymphocyte count, and a trend toward lower alpha-fetoprotein. The group with high LMRs exhibited superior CR rates (14.9% vs. 0%), overall OR (43.2% vs. 14.3%), and better PFS at 6 months (75.7% vs. 45.7%). The LMR, specifically categorized as <2.24 and ≥2.24, emerged as a robust predictor for treatment response and short-term outcomes in patients with stage B HCC undergoing DEM- or c-TACE.