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Impact of enhanced recovery protocols after pancreatoduodenectomy: meta-analysis.
No full textBACKGROUND
This individual-patient data meta-analysis investigated the effects of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols compared with conventional care on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy.
METHODS
The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched systematically for articles reporting outcomes of ERAS after pancreatoduodenectomy published up to August 2020. Comparative studies were included. Main outcomes were postoperative functional recovery elements, postoperative morbidity, duration of hospital stay, and readmission.
RESULTS
Individual-patient data were obtained from 17 of 31 eligible studies comprising 3108 patients. Time to liquid (mean difference (MD) -3.23 (95 per cent c.i. -4.62 to -1.85) days; P < 0.001) and solid (-3.84 (-5.09 to -2.60) days; P < 0.001) intake, time to passage of first stool (MD -1.38 (-1.82 to -0.94) days; P < 0.001) and time to removal of the nasogastric tube (3.03 (-4.87 to -1.18) days; P = 0.001) were reduced with ERAS. ERAS was associated with lower overall morbidity (risk difference (RD) -0.04, 95 per cent c.i. -0.08 to -0.01; P = 0.015), less delayed gastric emptying (RD -0.11, -0.22 to -0.01; P = 0.039) and a shorter duration of hospital stay (MD -2.33 (-2.98 to -1.69) days; P < 0.001) without a higher readmission rate.
CONCLUSION
ERAS improved postoperative outcome after pancreatoduodenectomy. Implementation should be encouraged
Lipopolysaccharide induces acute lung injury and alveolar haemorrhage in association with the cytokine storm, coagulopathy and AT1R/JAK/STAT augmentation in a rat model that mimics moderate and severe Covid-19 pathology.
No full textProgress in the study of Covid-19 disease in rodents has been hampered by the lack of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2; virus entry route to the target cell) affinities for the virus spike proteins across species. Therefore, we sought to determine whether a modified protocol of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome in rats can mimic both cell signalling pathways as well as severe disease phenotypes of Covid-19 disease. Rats were injected via intratracheal (IT) instillation with either 15 mg/kg of LPS (model group) or saline (control group) before being killed after 3 days. A severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-like effect was observed in the model group as demonstrated by the development of a "cytokine storm" (>2.7 fold increase in blood levels of IL-6, IL-17A, GM-CSF, and TNF-α), high blood ferritin, demonstrable coagulopathy, including elevated D-dimer (approximately 10-fold increase), PAI-1, PT, and APTT (p 4 fold increase). Chest imaging revealed bilateral small patchy opacities of the lungs. Severe lung injury was noted by the presence of both, alveolar collapse and haemorrhage, desquamation of epithelial cells in the airway lumen, infiltration of inflammatory cells (CD45+ leukocytes), widespread thickening of the interalveolar septa, and ultrastructural alterations similar to Covid-19. Thus, these findings demonstrate that IT injection of 15 mg/kg LPS into rats, induced an AT1R/JAK/STAT-mediated cytokine storm with resultant pneumonia and coagulopathy that was commensurate with moderate and severe Covid-19 disease noted in humans
Renal hemofiltration prevents metabolic acidosis and reduces inflammation during normothermic machine perfusion of the vascularized composite allograft: A preclinical study.
No full textINTRODUCTION
Recent experimental evidence suggests normothermic machine perfusion of the vascularized composite allograft results in improved preservation compared to static cold storage, with less reperfusion injury in the immediate post-operative period. However, metabolic acidosis is a common feature of vascularized composite allograft perfusion, primarily due to the inability to process metabolic by-products. We evaluated the impact of combined limb-kidney perfusion on markers of metabolic acidosis and inflammation in a porcine model.
METHODS
Ten paired pig forelimbs were used for this study, grouped as either limb-only (LO, n = 5) perfusion, or limb-kidney (LK, n = 5) perfusion. Infrared thermal imaging was used to determine homogeneity of perfusion. Lactate, bicarbonate, base, pH, and electrolytes, along with an inflammatory profile generated via the quantification of cytokines and cell-free DNA in the perfusate were recorded.
RESULTS
The addition of a kidney to a limb perfusion circuit resulted in the rapid stabilization of lactate, bicarbonate, base, and pH. Conversely, the LO circuit became progressively acidotic, correlating in a significant increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines. Global perfusion across the limb was more homogenous with LK compared to LO.
CONCLUSION
The addition of a kidney during limb perfusion results in significant improvements in perfusate biochemistry, with no evidence of metabolic acidosis
Smartphone detection of atrial fibrillation using photoplethysmography: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
No full textOBJECTIVES
Timely diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) is essential to reduce complications from this increasingly common condition. We sought to assess the diagnostic accuracy of smartphone camera photoplethysmography (PPG) compared with conventional electrocardiogram (ECG) for AF detection.
METHODS
This is a systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane (1980-December 2020), including any study or abstract, where smartphone PPG was compared with a reference ECG (1, 3 or 12-lead). Random effects meta-analysis was performed to pool sensitivity/specificity and identify publication bias, with study quality assessed using the QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2) risk of bias tool.
RESULTS
28 studies were included (10 full-text publications and 18 abstracts), providing 31 comparisons of smartphone PPG versus ECG for AF detection. 11 404 participants were included (2950 in AF), with most studies being small and based in secondary care. Sensitivity and specificity for AF detection were high, ranging from 81% to 100%, and from 85% to 100%, respectively. 20 comparisons from 17 studies were meta-analysed, including 6891 participants (2299 with AF); the pooled sensitivity was 94% (95% CI 92% to 95%) and specificity 97% (96%-98%), with substantial heterogeneity (p<0.01). Studies were of poor quality overall and none met all the QUADAS-2 criteria, with particular issues regarding selection bias and the potential for publication bias.
CONCLUSION
PPG provides a non-invasive, patient-led screening tool for AF. However, current evidence is limited to small, biased, low-quality studies with unrealistically high sensitivity and specificity. Further studies are needed, preferably independent from manufacturers, in order to advise clinicians on the true value of PPG technology for AF detection
A rare case of inferior vena cava occlusion secondary to abdominal pseudocyst associated with ventriculoperitoneal shunt-case report and review of literature.
No full textBACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE
Abdominal pseudocyst (APC) is an uncommon but well-recognised complication of ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt. Diagnosis is based on clinical features of shunt malfunction, including headaches, vomiting and drowsiness, and abdominal swelling. APCs can grow to large sizes resulting in compression of abdominal viscera; however, inferior vena cava (IVC) compression is extremely rare, and only one other case associated with VP shunt had been reported.
CLINICAL PRESENTATION
We report a case of a 12-year-old girl with a background of open myelomeningocoele repair, kyphoscoliosis and right-sided VP shunt in situ who presented with bilateral lower limb swelling and abdominal distension. She exhibited no features of raised intracranial pressure but had bilateral pitting oedema up to the groin. Abdominal ultrasound and CT scan showed a massive septated pseudocyst (20 × 18 × 8 cm) compressing the IVC. The APC was drained, and the shunt was externalised, with conversion to a ventriculo-atrial (VA) shunt 1 week later after cultures of the cystic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid and shunt tube came back sterile. The patient remained well with no recurrence of the abdominal fluid and no VA shunt complication at 36-month follow-up.
CONCLUSION
This patient had specific risk factors for development of a massive APC and the subsequent IVC compression, including prior surgeries, spinal deformity, abnormal abdominal anatomy and poor abdominal muscle tone and sensation. Early recognition of this complication and prompt alleviation of the mass effect of IVC compression can prevent long-term neurological and vascular sequalae
Understanding the role of host metabolites in the induction of immune senescence: Future strategies for keeping the ageing population healthy.
No full textAdvancing age is accompanied by significant remodelling of the immune system, termed immune senescence, and increased systemic inflammation, termed inflammageing, both of which contribute towards an increased risk of developing chronic diseases in old age. Age-associated alterations in metabolic homeostasis have been linked with changes in a range of physiological functions, but their effects on immune senescence remains poorly understood. In this article, we review the recent literature to formulate hypotheses as to how an age-associated dysfunctional metabolism, driven by an accumulation of key host metabolites (saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, ceramides and lactate) and loss of other metabolites (glutamine, tryptophan and short-chain fatty acids), might play a role in driving immune senescence and inflammageing, ultimately leading to diseases of old age. We also highlight the potential use of metabolic immunotherapeutic strategies targeting these processes in counteracting immune senescence and restoring immune homeostasis in older adults. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Inflammation, Repair and Ageing. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.9/issuetoc
A retrospective real-world study of the current treatment pathways for myelofibrosis in the United Kingdom: the REALISM UK study.
No full textBackground
Myelofibrosis (MF) is a blood cancer associated with splenomegaly, blood count abnormalities, reduced life expectancy and high prevalence of disease-associated symptoms. Current treatment options for MF are diverse, with limited data on management strategies in real-world practice in the United Kingdom.
Methods
The REALISM UK study was a multi-center, retrospective, non-interventional study, which documented the early management of patients with MF. The primary endpoint was the time from diagnosis to active treatment.
Discussion
Two hundred patients were included (63% [ = 126/200] with primary MF; 37% [ = 74/200] with secondary MF). Symptoms and prognostic scores at diagnosis were poorly documented, with infrequent use of patient reported outcome measures. 'Watch and wait' was the first management strategy for 53.5% ( = 107/200) of patients, while the most commonly used active treatments were hydroxycarbamide and ruxolitinib. Only 5% of patients proceeded to allogeneic transplant. The median (IQR) time to first active treatment was 46 days (0-350); patients with higher risk disease were prescribed active treatment sooner.
Conclusion
These results provide insight into real-world clinical practice for patients with MF in the United Kingdom. Despite the known high prevalence of disease-associated symptoms in MF, symptoms were poorly documented. Most patients were initially observed or received hydroxycarbamide, and ruxolitinib was used as first-line management strategy in only a minority of patients.
Plain Language Summary
Myelofibrosis is a rare blood cancer associated with symptoms that can seriously affect a patient's daily life, such as enlarged spleen and decreased white and red blood cells. Although several treatments are available for patients with myelofibrosis, it is not clear which ones clinicians use most frequently. We aimed to review which treatments are usually given to patients with myelofibrosis in the UK, by collecting information from the medical records of 200 patients with myelofibrosis treated in different centres across the UK. The results showed that the symptoms patients experienced were not always written down in the medical records. Similarly, clinical scores based on patient characteristics (which clinicians use to try to predict if a patient will respond to treatment well or not) were also missing from the medical records. Clinicians also rarely asked patients to complete questionnaires that try to measure the impact of myelofibrosis and its treatment on their health. The most common approach for patients with myelofibrosis in the UK was 'watch and wait', which over half of patients received. The most common drugs used for treatment were hydroxycarbamide and ruxolitinib; only a very small proportion of patients received a bone marrow transplant. On average, patients waited for 46 days before receiving a treatment, although patients considered to have a more aggressive type of disease received treatment sooner. The results of this study suggest that medical records can be missing key information, which is needed to decide which is the best way to treat a patient with myelofibrosis. They also suggest that clinicians in the UK prefer observation to treatment for a large number of patients with myelofibrosis. This could mean that the approach used for many patients with myelofibrosis does not help them to control symptoms that have an impact on their daily lives
Global variations in preoperative practices concerning patients seeking primary bariatric and metabolic surgery (PACT Study): A survey of 634 bariatric healthcare professionals.
No full textBACKGROUND
Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (BMS) is a popular weight loss intervention worldwide, yet few scientific studies have examined variations in preoperative practices globally. This study aimed to capture global variations in preoperative practices concerning patients planned for BMS.
METHODS
A 41-item questionnaire-based survey was designed and the survey link was freely distributed on social and scientific media platforms, email groups and circulated through personal connections of authors. The survey included eight parts: basic information; criteria for BMS; preoperative nutritional screening; preoperative weight loss; preoperative diets for liver size reduction; preoperative glycemic control; other laboratory investigations and preparations; decision making, education, and consents. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data and graphs were used for representation where applicable.
RESULTS
Six hundred thirty-four bariatric healthcare professionals from 76 countries/regions completed the survey. Of these, n = 310 (48.9%) were from public hospitals, n = 466 (73.5%) were surgeons, and the rest were multidisciplinary professionals. More than half of respondents reported using local society/association guidelines in their practice (n = 310, 61.6%). The great majority of respondents routinely recommend nutritional screening preoperatively (n = 385, 77.5%), mandatory preoperative diets for liver size reduction (n = 220, 53.1%), routine screening for T2DM (n = 371, 90.7%), and mandate a glycemic control target before BMS in patients with T2DM (n = 203, 55.6%). However, less than half (n = 183, 43.9%) recommend mandatory preoperative weight loss to all patients. Most respondents (n = 296, 77.1%) recommend psychological intervention before surgery for patients diagnosed with psychological conditions. Variations were also identified in laboratory investigations and optimisation; and in the aspects of decision making, education and consent.
CONCLUSIONS
This survey identified significant global variations in preoperative practices concerning patients seeking primary BMS. Our findings could facilitate future research for the determination of best practice in these areas of variations, and consensus-building to guide clinical practice while we wait for that evidence to emerge
