Preemptive Use Research Articles

A Comparison of effect of preemptive versus postoperative use of ultrasound-guided bilateral transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block on pain relief after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Nowadays, there are various methods to manage pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to compare the effectof preemptive versus postoperative use of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (USG-TAP) block on pain relief after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In this single-blinded randomized clinical trial, the patients who were candidates for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly divided into the two groups (n = 38 per group). In the preemptive group (PG) after the induction of anesthesia and in the postoperative group (POG) after the end of surgery and before the extubation, bilateral ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block was performed on patients using 20 cc of ropivacaine 0.25%. Both groups received patient controlled IV analgesia (PCIA) containing Acetaminophen (20 mg/ml) plus ketorolac (0.6 mg/ml) as a standard postoperative analgesia and meperidine 20 mg q 4 h PRN for rescue analgesia. Using the numerical rating scales (NSR), the patients’ pain intensity was assessed at time of arrival to the PACU and in 2th, 4th, 8th, 12th, 24th h. Primary outcome of interest is NSR at rest and coughing in the PACU and in 2th, 4th, 8th, 12th, 24th h. Secondary outcomes of interests were the time to first post-surgical rescue analgesic and level of patients’ pain control satisfaction in the first 24 h. The USG-TAP block significantly decreased pain score in the POG compared to the PG, and also the pain was relieved at rest especially in 8 and 12 h (p value ≤ 0.05) after the surgery. Pain score after coughing during recovery at 2, 8 and 12 h after the operation were significantly decreased. (p value ≤ 0.05) The patient satisfaction scores in the POG were significantly higher in all times. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), indicating that patients in the POG had significantly lower incidences of the PONV compared tothe PG. The time to first analgesic request was significantly shorterin the POG, which was statistically significant (p value = 0.089). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of consumption of analgesics. The postoperative TAP block could offer better postoperative analgesia than preepmtive TAP block.

Can the preemptive use of lornoxicam or paracetamol prevent pain after inguinal hernia repair? A randomized prospective double-blind placebo controlled trial

INTRODUCTION: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have become a popular part of multimodal analgesic regimens particularly in ambulatory surgery. This study was designed to search the efficacy of preoperative administration of lornoxicam or paracetamol in patients who underwent open inguinal hernia repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification (ASA) I–III male patients with unilateral primary inguinal hernia scheduled for elective prosthetic repair under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to three groups. Group I patients were infused 100-ml normal saline 30 min before anesthesia (placebo), whereas Group II and Group III patients were given 8 mg lornoxicam or 1,000 mg paracetamol intravenously in 100-ml normal saline. Postoperative pain was treated with patient controlled intravenous morphine. Postoperative pain scores were evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS) in the recovery room and at 1st, 6th, 12th, and 24th hours postoperatively in all groups. Total amount of analgesics. Liker scale and SF-36 form was also used at 4th week follow-up in order assess quality of life. RESULTS: Totally 88 patients were completed the study (G1 = 28, G2 = 30, and G3 = 30). Preemptive use of both lornoxicam and paracetamol resulted in significantly lower recovery room VAS scores in comparison with placebo group (3.93, 3.73, and 5.25). Both lornoxicam and paracetamol groups (G2 and G3) displayed better results at 12th h than placebo group (P = 0.04). VAS scores at 24th hour were similar in three groups. Total morphine consumptions were also similar between the groups at all times. Total postoperative 1-week oral analgesic use was significantly less in G2 (lornoxicam), and G3 (paracetamol) in comparison with G1 (placebo). Quality of life indicators in Likert Scale and SF-36 form were also not different. CONCLUSION: Preemptive use of both lornoxicam and paracetamol may be effective in early postoperative pain control in patients undergo elective open inguinal hernia repair. However, there seems to be no difference between the efficacies of the two agents.

Premedication with Diclofenac and Precurarization with Atracurium on Succinylcholine-Induced Myalgia in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Double-Blinded Randomized Study.

Background and Aims:Succinylcholine is the only available depolarizing neuromuscular blocker that has been widely used in the induction of anesthesia, and it is the drug of choice for rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia due to its rapid onset of effect and ultrashort duration of action owing to its rapid hydrolysis by acetyl-cholinesterase. Postoperative muscle pain (myalgia) and muscle stiffness are the most common side effects and are observed most frequently on the 1st postoperative day in ambulatory surgery. The use of succinylcholine in the induction of anesthesia and intubation in routine cases has been discouraged because of such adverse effects. However, because of its cost-effectiveness and easy availability, it is still used by some institutions routinely. This study aimed to study the efficacy of preoperative diclofenac along with atracurium precurarization in alleviating succinylcholine-induced myalgia.Materials and Methods:It is a double-blind randomized comparative study carried out in a tertiary care hospital. The study sample was 60 and divided into two equal groups. All data entered in MS-Excel Sheet and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were done for nonparametric data and one-way ANOVA for the parametric data. The normal distribution of the study sample was tested by the Shapiro − Wilk test.Results:The fasciculations in the test group were much less than in the control group with P < 0.00001. The results for the incidence of myalgia in the two groups were as follows: P value at 24 h was 0.00018 and at 48 h was 0.0028, respectively. Creatine kinase levels at preoperative and 24 h postoperative periods were 49.47 ± 7.24 in Group D, 53.30 ± 7.98 in Group B and 87.38 ± 15.16 in Group D, and 188.41 ± 33.27 in Group B, respectively.Conclusion:Succinylcholine-induced myalgia has a complex pathophysiology. However, the preemptive use of diclofenac in combination with precurarization can alleviate the incidence and severity of succinylcholine-induced myalgia. Therefore, its use may be considered in routine cases for induction of anesthesia for facilitating laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation.

Effects of Pregabalin versus Gabapentin on their Opioid Sparing Effects among Patients Undergoing Laproscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomised Controlled Study

Introduction: Gabapentin and pregabalin were earlier used as antiepileptics. These have been also found to have analgesic, anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects. Aim: To compare the pre-emptive use of pregabalin and gabapentin on their opioid sparing effects among patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Materials and Methods: This randomised controlled, singleblind study was conducted in Department of Anaesthesiology at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and M.Y Hospital Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India, from August 2020 to August 2021. The study included 90 patients of American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status class I/II, undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were allocated randomly into three groups, 30 patients each. Group P receiving tablet oral pregabalin 150 mg, group G receiving oral gabapentin 600 mg and group C receiving tablet multivitamin (control group), before induction of anaethesia. Intraoperative requirement of opioids, sedation score, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, and postoperatively analgesia requirement in the form of opioid were noted. Association between two non parametric variables was done using Pearson Chi-square test. Comparison of means between three groups was done using One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Posthoc Turkey test. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 software was used. Results: The mean age in group P, C and G was 39.73±13.55 year, 38.67±13.33 year and 41.03±5.62 years (p-value=0.726). The mean intraoperative requirement of opioid in pregabalin group was 100 μg, in gabapentin group was 100 μg when compared to control group 150 μg. Postoperative requirement of analgesic was later in pregabalin group (7.23±0.64 hours) compared to gabapentin group (5.78±0.49 hours) and control group (4.37±0.47 hours). Conclusion: Pregabalin and gabapentin have opioid-sparing effect intraoperatively and postoperatively and can be used preemptively as an attractive choice.

Duty-Cycle-Based Pre-Emption Protocol for Emergency Networks.

This paper proposes a new duty-cycle-based protocol for transmitting emergent data with high priority and low latency in a sensor network environment. To reduce power consumption, the duty cycle protocol is divided into a listen section and a sleep section, and data can only be received when the receiving node is in the listen section. In this paper, high-priority transmission preempts low-priority transmission by distinguishing between high-priority preamble and low-priority preamble. However, even when a high priority transmission preempts a low priority transmission such that the high priority transmission is received first, if the sleep period is very long, the delay may be large. To solve this problem, the high priority short preamble and high priority data reduce receiver sensitivity and increase coverage through repeated transmission. If there are several receiving nodes within a wide coverage, the receiving node that wakes up first can receive the transmission, thus reducing the delay. The delay can also be further reduced by alternately reducing the sleep cycle of one node among the receiving nodes that can receive it. This paper shows that emergent data can be transmitted effectively and reliably by reducing the delay of high-priority data to a minimum through the use of preemption, coverage extension, and an asymmetric sleep cycle.

Modulation of nociception and pain-evoked neurobehavioral responses by levetiracetam in a craniotomy pain model

Traditional and novel analgesic modalities have been extensively tested for post-craniotomy pain management, yet the role of newer antiepileptic drugs in this area remains obscure. This study investigates the impact of levetiracetam (LEV) on pain modulation and neurobehavioral performance in a craniotomy model. Fifty-six Wistar rats were randomly assigned into seven groups: no intervention (CTRL), administration of placebo or LEV with no further intervention (PBO and LEV, respectively), and sham-operation or craniotomy in placebo (PBO-SHAM and PBO-CR, respectively) or LEV-treated rats (LEV-SHAM and LEV-CR, respectively). Pain was assessed by the rat grimace scale before, and at 8 and 24 h after craniotomy, following intraperitoneal injections of LEV (100 mg/kg twice daily) or normal saline two consecutive days before and on the craniotomy day. Elevated plus-maze and olfactory social memory tests were performed at 24- and 48 h post-craniotomy, respectively. Upon testing conclusion blood samples were collected for cytokines estimation. Levetiracetam administration enhanced antinociception in sham and craniotomy groups. In the elevated plus-maze test, LEV-CR rats spent more time in investigating open arms and performed more open arm entries than PBO-SHAM and PBO-CR animals. The olfactory test revealed no between-groups difference in acquisition time during first contact with a juvenile rat, while LEV-CR rats spent less time to recognize the same juvenile rat compared to PBO-SHAM and PBO-CR groups. Furthermore, LEV-treatment attenuated cortisol, interleukin-6 and TNF-a release, in sham and craniotomy animals. In conclusion, preemptive use of LEV decreases nociception, improves pain-evoked behavior and attenuates stress response in rats subjected to craniotomy.

Impact of Daratumumab-Containing Induction on Stem Cell Mobilization and Collection, Engraftment and Hospitalization Parameters Among Multiple Myeloma Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

Introduction: Advances in induction regimens have significantly improved depth of response and duration of remission in multiple myeloma (MM) patients who are eligible for high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Proteasome inhibitor-based induction regimens are standard as part of induction and it has been shown not to have any detrimental effect on stem cell (SC) collection and engraftment. Daratumumab (DARA) is an IgG1k monoclonal antibody directed against CD38 with potent antimyeloma activity. Based on the results of prospective studies DARA is now approved as part of induction therapy. Available data indicate a potential impact of DARA on SC collection but there is limited data on engraftment, duration of hospitalization and infection risk. In this retrospective analysis we evaluated the effect of DARA-based induction on ASCT parameters.Methods: The analysis included consecutive newly diagnosed MM patients that received ASCT between 2016 and 2020, as part of their upfront treatment regimen in our institution (Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Athens, Greece). Per institutional protocol, after 4-6 cycles of induction, pts received low dose cyclophosphamide (2.5 g/m2) followed by G-CSF (10 mcg/Kg/day) to mobilize and collect SCs. Plerixafor was administered on-demand in case of poor mobilization and insufficient first day collection. Large volume leukapheresis was performed in pts with low CD34+ counts in order to increase CD34+ yield. Pts received G-CSF 480 μcg once daily from day +4 after SC reinfusion to ANC >1500/mm3. All pts received antiviral and antifungal but no anti-bacterial prophylaxis.Results: 200 eligible pts were included in the analysis; 40 (20%) pts received DARA as part of PI-based upfront treatment and 160 (80%) pts received PI-based upfront treatment without DARA. Baseline demographics (age, gender, performance status) and disease characteristics (ISS and R-ISS stage, cytopenias, eGFR, lytic bone disease etc) were not different between the two groups. Response after induction was also similar (CR+VGPR rate was 93% vs 95% for non-DARA and DARA-containing regimens respectively).Use of DARA at induction was associated with lower total mean number of collected CD 34+ SCs (10.48 x 10^6/kg vs 16.58 x 10^6/kg, p<0.0001), or SC collection on day 1 (7.99 x 10^6/kg vs 16.27 x 10^6/kg, p<0.0001). Fewer pts in the DARA-treated group achieved the planned yield of at least 5 X 10^6 CD34+/kg, compared to DARA-untreated group (87.5 % vs 96.2%, p=0.047). DARA-treated pts required more often additional SC mobilization with on demand administration of plerixafor (42.5% vs 7.6%, p<0.0001). In order to compensate for a poorer mobilization and lower quality graft (CD34% 0.66% vs 1.26% in apheresis product, p<0.0001) DARA-treated group underwent more often >1 day of SC collection (37.5% vs 6.3%, P <0.0001), resulting in longer duration of collections (689 vs 452 min, p<0.0001) and larger total apheresis volumes (723 vs 557 ml, p<0.0001). However, 97% and 98% of pts in the two groups respectively were able to move to at least a single ASCT. Following ASCT, DARA-treated pts had a slightly delayed hematopoietic recovery (11 vs 10 days to PMN>500/mm3, p<0.001 and 12 vs 11 days for PLT counts> 25x10^9/mm3, p<0.001) and required more transfusions (2 vs 1 for RBCs, p=0.031 and 4 vs 2 for platelets, p<0.001). Rates of neutropenic fever were higher (80% vs 67%, p=0.182), required antibiotics for longer duration (10 vs 8 days, p=0.042) and more often 2 or more lines of antibiotic therapy (53% vs 39%, p=0.003), experienced more often septic shock (12.5% vs 1.3%, p=0.003) and as a results DARA-treated pts had a slightly prolonged hospitalization (21 vs 19 days, p=0.02). However, D100 mortality was not statistically different (<2% in both groups).Conclusion: DARA-containing induction before ASCT is associated with poorer mobilization and frequent need for use of plerixafor. However, similar percentage of patients can move to at least a single ASCT. The use of DARA-containing induction was also associated with slightly increased risk of infectious complications, antibiotics use and blood product transfusions but no increase in the risk of D100 mortality. These data point to the need for certain modifications to ASCT protocol for patients treated with DARA-containing regimens at induction, such as preemptive use of plerixafor, and perhaps prophylactic antibiotics. DisclosuresTerpos: Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genesis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; GSK: Honoraria, Research Funding. Gavriatopoulou: Takeda: Honoraria; Karyopharm: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; GSK: Honoraria; Genesis: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria. Dimopoulos: Amgen: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; BeiGene: Honoraria. Kastritis: Takeda: Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genesis Pharma: Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.

The effect of preemptive ketamine on postoperative analgesia in lower extremity surgery

Background/Aim: Preventing sensitization by an analgesic administered before a painful stimulus is the basis for preemptive analgesia. Preemptive use of pain medication prior to the application of painful stimuli results in better-controlled pain. This study aimed to compare the effects of preoperatively administered low-dose ketamine and lornoxicam on postoperative analgesia, their side effects and patient satisfaction in orthopedic operations on the lower extremities. Methods: Seventy-eight patients aged 18-70 years who were admitted for lower extremity surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, and double-blind study. The patients were randomly allocated to one of the three following groups: Four milliliters of physiological saline were administered to the patients in Group P, 0.15 mg kg-1 ketamine was given to the patients in Group K and 8 mg lornoxicam was administered to those in Group L, all in 4 ml of volume, intravenously, 15 minutes before anesthesia induction. Postoperative pain was evaluated at rest and during movement at 0th, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 12th, 20th and 24th postoperative hours with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Verbal Pain Scale (VPS). Total fentanyl consumption, additional meperidine usage, side effects and patient satisfaction were recorded at these times. Results: The mean area under the VAS and VPS at rest and movement-time curves were lower in Group K compared to the other groups. Group P and Group L were comparable in terms of the area under the VAS at rest and movement-time curves, but the mean area under the VPS at rest and movement-time curves were higher in Group P compared to Group L. Total fentanyl consumption was lower in Group K than the other two groups (P=0.001). Conclusion: Low-dose ketamine administered preoperatively to patients for lower extremity surgery decreased postoperative pain scores more than lornoxicam or placebo.

Reduced mortality from KPC-K.pneumoniae bloodstream infection in high-risk patients with hematological malignancies colonized by KPC-K.pneumoniae

BackgroundKPC-K.pneumoniae bloodstream infection (KPC-KpBSI) mortality rate in patients with hematological malignancies is reported about 60%. The initial treatment active against KPC-K.pneumoniae is crucial for survival and KPC-K.pneumoniae rectal colonization usually precedes KPC-KpBSI. We evaluated the impact on KPC-KpBSI mortality of the preemptive use of antibiotics active against KPC-K.pneumoniae, as opposed to inactive or standard empiric antibiotics, for the empiric treatment of febrile neutropenia episodes in patients with hematological malignancy identified as KPC-K.pneumoniae intestinal carriers.MethodsWe compared the outcomes of KPC-KpBSIs occurring in high-risk hematological patients known to be colonized with KPC-K.pneumoniae, during two time periods:March2012-December2013 (Period 1, initial approach to KPC-K.pneumoniae spread) and January2017-October2018 (Period 2, full application of the preemptive strategy). The relative importance of the various prognostic factors that could influence death rates were assessed by forward stepwise logistic regression models.ResultsKPC-KpBSI-related mortality in hematological patients identified as KPC-K.pneumoniae carriers dropped from 50% in Period 1 to 6% in Period 2 (p < 0.01), from 58 to 9% in acute myeloid leukemia carriers(p < 0.01). KPC-KpBSIs developed in patients identified as KPC-K.pneumoniae carriers were initially treated with active therapy in 56% and 100% of cases in Period 1 and Period 2, respectively (p < 0.01), in particular with an active antibiotic combination in 39 and 94% of cases, respectively(p < 0.01). The 61% of KPC-KpBSI observed in Period 1 developed during inactive systemic antibiotic treatment (none in Period 2, p < 0.01), fatal in the 73% of cases. Overall, KPC-KpBSI-related mortality was 88% with no initial active treatment, 11.5% with at least one initial active antibiotic (p < 0.01), 9% with initial active combination. Only the initial active treatment resulted independently associated with survival.ConclusionsIn high-risk hematological patients colonized by KPC-K.pneumoniae, the empiric treatment of febrile neutropenia active against KPC-K.pneumoniae reduced KPC-KpBSI-related mortality to 6% and prevented fatal KPC-KpBSI occurrence during inactive systemic antibiotic treatment.

Comparison of Analgesic Efficacy of Oral Flupirtine Maleate and Ibuprofen in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Control Trial

Aims and Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Flupirtine in reducing acute postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy as compared to Ibuprofen when administered by oral route prior to surgery and to observe and compare side effect profile of oral Flupirtine maleate and Ibuprofen. Method: This study was conducted in 60 patients of ASA1/2,21to70 years of age who were randomly divided into two groups to receive either 200mg oral flupirtine maleate or 800 mg oral Ibuprofen 2 hrs prior to the procedure. Post operatively patient was observed for vas score, RSS, rescue analgesia requirement and post-operative nausea and vomiting. Result: Patients from flupirtine group had lower VAS score than that of ibuprofen group in first 6 hours. RSS score was satisfactory in first 4 hours in flupirtine group than ibuprofen group. Rescue analgesia requirement was more in ibuprofen group than flupirtine group also post-operative nausea and vomiting was seen more in ibuprofen group than flupirtine group. Conclusion: This study concluded that, patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, pre-emptive use of oral flupirtine 200 mg is more effective compared to oral ibuprofen 800 mg and flupirtine provides better pain relief with additional muscle relaxation and mild sedation in early post-operative period. Keywords: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy; Flupirtine; Ibuprofen; Pre-emptive Analgesia.

Efficacy of Preemptive Analgesia on Postoperative Pain Control in Children Who Underwent Full-Mouth Dental Rehabilitation Under General Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous preemptive analgesia on postoperative pain in children undergoing dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia. In this prospective randomized clinical trial, 70 children aged 3 to 7 years were scheduled for dental treatment and randomized into two groups: the control group or the preemptive group. Patients received 15 mg/kg of intravenous paracetamol either before the start of treatment (preemptive group, n = 35) or at the end of treatment (control group, n = 35). Postoperative pain scores were recorded at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBFS). Additionally, the need for rescue analgesic and the total opioid consumption of the patients were recorded during the first 24 hours postoperative. The pain scores in the preemptive group were significantly lower than those in the control group at the postanesthesia care unit and at 2, 4, and 8 hours postoperative (P < .05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in pain scores between groups at 12 and 24 hours postoperative. Need for rescue analgesics and total intravenous fentanyl consumption were significantly higher in the control group than in the preemptive group (P < .05). The percentage of children who received medication for pain relief at home was higher in the control group than in the preemptive group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > .05). Preemptive use of intravenous paracetamol reduces postoperative pain scores and postoperative opioid consumption. However, there is a need to evaluate pain levels in children who receive comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia after hospital discharge for effective postoperative pain control.

The role and place of glucocorticosteroids in treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia without hypoxemia

Introduction. The article presents the problems of the use of glucocorticosteroids in the treatment of patients with coronavirus– associated pneumonia (COVID-19) without hypoxemia. The experience of the preemptive use of low doses of glucocorticosteroids in the treatment of such patients in a hospital is described. Simplification of a unified scheme of pathogenetic therapy with glucocorticosteroids in the above patients is urgent. The article highlights the effectiveness of the early use of low doses of glucocorticosteroids in the treatment of a specific cohort of patients with COVID-19.Objective. To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of early use of small doses of methylprednisolone in the comprehensive therapy of patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia to prevent the development of complications and improve the outcomes of the disease.Materials and methods. The study included 40 hospitalized patients from 37 to 68 years (average age 52. years) with a diagnosis of moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients were randomized into two groups: the main group (n = 20) and the control group (n = 20). The main group additionally received methylprednisolone: 4 mg tablets, 7 tablets per day, divided into 2 doses (4 tablets in the morning and 3 tablets at lunchtime). The effectiveness of the therapy was evaluated based on the primary combined endpoint of the study, which included progression of the disease to an extremely severe form or the occurrence of pulmonary and extrapulmonary complications that required transfer to the intensive care unit, or death of the patient during the followup period. The secondary combined endpoint of the study was resolution of clinical symptoms of the disease or achievement of reference values of laboratory and instrumental indicators.Results. No lethal outcomes were observed in the compared groups, there were no cases of development of an extremely severe course, complications requiring transfer to the intensive care unit in the main group.Conclusion. Early use of small doses methylprednisolone of in comprehensive therapy of patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 pneumonia reduces the incidence of life-threatening complications and improves the outcomes of the disease.

Comparison between mephentermine and ondansetron for the prevention of post spinal hypotension: a prospective randomized trial

Background and Aims: Spinal anesthesia is a technique often associated with side effects like hypotension and bradycardia. Recent studies have shown that the use of ondansetron leads to a decreased incidence of hypotension induced by spinal anesthesia. This prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind study was done to compare the efficacy of the prophylactic use of intravenous (IV) ondansetron and mephentermine on post-spinal hypotension. Methods: A total of 130 patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups: Group O received 4 mg IV ondansetron and Group M received 6 mg of IV mephentermine. All patients received spinal anesthesia using 3 mL of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. Assessment of blood pressure and heart rate (HR) was done for 30 minutes after spinal anesthesia was performed. Quantitative data were analyzed using ANOVA tests and qualitative data were analyzed using the Chi-square tests. Results: Both groups were comparable regarding demographic data. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in Group O was lower than Group M at 5 to 25 minutes and difference of MAP between the two groups was &gt; 20% of baseline values (p &lt; 0.05). HR was comparable between groups. No statistically significant differences were seen in side effects between the two groups. Conclusion: Our study shows that the preemptive use of both ondansetron and mephentermine significantly decreases the incidence of post-spinal hypotension.

MM-400: Plerixafor and Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor for Poor Mobilizers in Patients Undergoing Autologous Peripheral Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: Single-Institution Study

Context Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (ASCT) has become the mainstay treatment for many hematological malignancies and solid tumors. An adequate number of stem cells must be collected for better ASCT outcomes, which is challenging in 5%–30% of patients. To improve mobilization, plerixafor is used, along with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Objective To evaluate the real-life efficacy of plerixafor and to identify factors associated with poor mobilization. Design and Setting This is a retrospective, single-center study involving patients who received plerixafor pre-ASCT between January 2013 and December 2020 at a tertiary care center in Lebanon. Patients We identified a total of 72 consecutive adult patients. Patients who received plerixafor were divided into two groups: poor mobilizers with pre-emptive use before first apheresis for those with peripheral CD34+ stem cells (PSC) 20 cells/µL. Main Outcome Measures The main endpoints were to evaluate characteristics of poor mobilizers, stem cell yields pre- and post-plerixafor, as well as the time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment. Results The median age at diagnosis was 54 years (12–73). 60% were males. 50 (70%) patients had multiple myeloma (MM), 12 (15%) had non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 7 (10%) had Hodgkin lymphoma, and 3 (4%) had solid tumors and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. The median follow-up was 9 months (1–59). 59 (82%) patients had low PSCs, requiring pre-emptive plerixafor prior to apheresis. 62% of MM and 54.5% of non-MM patients needed >1 collection. 97% of all patients collected CD34+ >2×106cells/kg post-plerixafor. The median collected final CD34+ cells post-plerixafor was 4.4×106/kg (1.84–18.62). Factors associated with poor mobilization were male gender, age at diagnosis >55 years, MM, and bone marrow involvement (p=0.041, p=0.031, p=0.04, and p=0.012, respectively). Median times to absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and platelet engraftment were 11 (4–26) and 17 (4–28) days, respectively. A longer ANC engraftment (>2 weeks) was observed in patients who were infused Conclusion These results can guide us to use plerixafor early in selected patients who are predicted to fail mobilization.

Is quality management a competitive advantage? A study after the Spanish financial crisis in the furniture industry

The aim of this study is to test whether the use of non-financial quality performance indicators reduces bankruptcy probabilities. A questionnaire was sent to the population of small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the Spanish furniture industry. The final sample consists of 126 SMEs from the referred industry during the recent economic crisis (2007–2014), a period characterised by a huge increase in business competition and the rate of failure. The main argument is that, in this context, the competitive response of the furniture industry, especially in the case of SMEs, revolves around quality. A logistic multivariate regression model is estimated in which we include both financial and non-financial quality-implementation measures. We use a variable inspired by Perera et al.’s (1997) scale which integrates a variety of factors related to quality practices. The results show that the pre-emptive use of quality non-financial indicators is a key factor for subsequent business survival. These findings suggest important implications for external and internal stakeholders as well as policymakers.

Statistical analysis of family based dispatching rules and preemption

Family based dispatching rules reduce time spent on setups to improve system performance. However, they can lead to bulky arrivals at subsequent stages, causing additional delays. Few studies have considered this effect so far. Preemption, on the other hand, can enforce the deadlines of important jobs in real situations. This study deals with a new production control problem of family based dispatching rules and preemption. No research has addressed both family based dispatching rules and preemption. A new framework of decision making is presented to solve this problem. The analysis of family based dispatching rules and preemption is carried out at a two-stage flow shop by simulation modeling and statistical analysis to discover several key factors. In addition, this research investigates the performance differences among different preemption types with respect to family based dispatching rules. The results of this paper can offer insight into the use of preemption, especially with family based dispatching rules.

Preemptive Utilization of Anterior Belly of the Digastric Muscle Flaps in Transoral Robotic Radical Tonsillectomy.

ObjectiveTo demonstrate the use of an anterior belly of the digastric muscle flap (ABDMF) during transoral robotic radical tonsillectomy (TORRT) with concomitant neck dissection with the intent of preventing the formation of postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistulas.Study DesignRetrospective study.SettingSingle academic tertiary care center.MethodsIn this study, all patients were included who underwent TORRT plus limited pharyngectomy with concomitant neck dissection and ABDMF for the treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma between September 2012 and September 2020. The rate of fistula formation was assessed in patients with preemptive utilization of ABDMF.ResultsA total of 43 patients underwent TORRT with neck dissection and ABDMF. No patients developed a fistula in the postoperative period or associated morbidity with the use of this flap.ConclusionPreemptive use of ABDMF in TORRT with concomitant neck dissection represents a reconstructive option that may help prevent the formation of pharyngocutaneous fistula by reinforcing the posteroinferior boundary of the parapharyngeal space.

The Use of Anti-Thymocyte Globulin Is Associated with Decreased Risk of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease without Impact on Survival after Allogeneic Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation for Adults with Philadelphia-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: An Analysis By the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the EBMT

BACKGROUNDAllogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is the standard of care for adults with Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-pos ALL). During the last decade mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCT) have become predominant source of graft for allo-SCT. However, as compared to bone marrow, PBSCT is associated with increased risk of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Attempts to reduce the cGVHD rate include the addition of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) to the conditioning regimen. The goal of this registry-based, retrospective study was to analyze the effect of ATG on results of allo-PBSCT in adults with Ph-pos ALL. PATIENTS AND METHODS1055 patients, aged 18-76 years, with Ph-pos ALL, treated with unmanipulated allo-PBSCT in first complete remission between 1997-2014 were included in the analysis. Conditioning regimen was myeloablative in 769 (72%) cases and based on total body irradiation in 608 (58%) cases. Among 590 transplantations from matched sibling donors, ATG was used in 95 (16%) patients. While, in the 8/8 HLA-matched unrelated setting 304/465 (65%) patients were treated with ATG. RESULTSIn a univariate analysis the use of ATG was associated with decreased incidence of the overall cGVHD (32% vs. 48%, p<0.001) and extensive cGVHD (14% vs. 22%, p=0.002) as well as a tendency to increased probability of survival free from grade III-IV acute GVHD, cGVHD and relapse (GRFS, 43% vs 36%, p=0.07). No significant difference could be demonstrated with regard to the incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD (34% vs. 33%, p=0.59), grade III-IV acute GVHD (12.5% vs. 13%, p=0.68), relapse (25.5% vs. 27%, p=0.86) and non-relapse mortality (NRM, 19% vs. 18.5%, p=0.21), as well as probability of leukemia-free survival (LFS, 55% vs. 54.5%, p=0.95) and overall survival (OS, 68% vs. 67%, p=0.57). Among patients treated with ATG, original disease was the most frequent cause of death (40%) followed by infections (24%) and GvHD (21%). Respective proportions among those not treated with ATG were 36%, 23%, and 28%.In a multivariate model adjusted for other potential risk factors, the use of ATG was associated with reduced risk of the overall cGVHD (HR=0.53, p<0.001) and extensive cGVHD (HR=0.53, p<0.001) while increased risk of relapse (HR=1.34, p=0.03). No significant effect was found with regard to the risk of NRM (HR=0.78, p=0.15), a chance of LFS (HR=1.01, p=0.49) and OS (HR=0.87, p=0.27). CONCLUSIONSPatients with Ph-pos ALL treated with allo-PBSCT benefit from the use of ATG in terms of reduced risk of cGVHD without impact on survival. Increased risk of relapse, as shown in a multivariate model implicates the need for strict monitoring of minimal residual disease and either prophylactic or pre-emptive use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors after transplantation. Further studies are needed to explore potential role of the ATG brand and dose. DisclosuresMohty:Sanofi: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau.

Novel Risk Factors for Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Reactivation and Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD) after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and EBV-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV+PTLD) are often fatal complications following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Risk factors for the development of EBV+PTLD after HSCT include human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches, T cell depletion (TCD) and older age, among others. It has been proposed that specific HLA haplotypes are associated with the development of EBV+PTLD after solid organ transplant (SOT) and that pre-emptive use of Rituximab can reduce the risk of EBV+PTLD. We present a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent HSCT in order to determine the impact of donor source, TCD, age, HLA-A1 haplotypes and use of Rituximab prior to HSCT on the development of EBV reactivation and EBV+PTLD after HSCT.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who had undergone allogeneic HSCT at our Institution between January 2012 and December 2016. We analyzed the cumulative incidence of EBV reactivation and EBV+PTLD and the impact of known and novel risk factors.Results: Of 474 patients, 10% developed EBV reactivation and 6% were diagnosed with EBV+PTLD. The cumulative incidence of EBV reactivation and EBV+PTLD was 15% and 11%, respectively, after haplo-cord HSCT, compared to 3% and 2% after MRD HSCT and 8% and 5% after MUD HSCT (p=0.0004 and p=0.02, respectively). EBV reactivation was associated with receipt of ATG compared to Alemtuzumab (p=0.03) and age older than 60 years (p=0.004). The presence of HLA-A1 haplotype in the recipient did not affect the incidence of EBV reactivation and EBV+PTLD (p=0.2 and p=0.9, respectively). The cumulative incidence of EBV reactivation and EBV+PTLD was lower in patients with Rituximab exposure prior to HSCT, although this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.2 and p=0.15, respectively). In a multivariate analysis, donor source (haplo-cord vs HLA-matched) and age older than 60 were found to be independent risk factors for the development of EBV reactivation (HR 1.9; p=0.038 and HR 2.6; p=0.002, respectively) and EBV+PTLD (HR 1.9; p=0.020 and HR 3.5; p=0.004, respectively). PTLD was fatal in 8 of 27 patients (29%) with PTLD and 17% of all patients with EBV reactivation. One patient died of disseminated EBV disease without PTLD.Conclusions: The cumulative incidence of EBV viremia and PTLD after allogeneic HSCT was 10% and 6%, respectively, and led to death in 2% of the patients. Haplo-cord grafts and age older than 60 years were independent risk factors for EBV reactivation and EBV+PTLD. Rituximab use prior to HSCT may confer protection against EBV reactivation and its use in the conditioning regimen of patients undergoing HSCT, at high risk for EBV reactivation, should be studied prospectively. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of HLA haplotypes on the incidence of EBV reactivation in patients after HSCT. [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

RIC Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for High Risk CLL Followed By Preemptive MRD-Based Immunointervention - Final Results from the Phase II ICLL03 Ricac-Pmm Trial (FILO - SFGM-TC French intergroup)

RIC Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for High Risk CLL Followed By Preemptive MRD-Based Immunointervention - Final Results from the Phase II ICLL03 Ricac-Pmm Trial (FILO - SFGM-TC French intergroup)