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High-risk Cases (high-risk + case)
Selected AbstractsFactors affecting outcome in liver resectionHPB, Issue 3 2005CEDRIC S. F. LORENZO Abstract Background. Studies demonstrate an inverse relationship between institution/surgeon procedural volumes and patient outcomes. Similar studies exist for liver resections, which recommend referral of patients for liver resections to ,high-volume' centers. These studies did not elucidate the factors that underlie such outcomes. We believe there exists a complex interaction of patient-related and perioperative factors that determine patient outcomes after liver resection. We sought to delineate these factors. Methods. Retrospective review of 114 liver resections by a single surgeon from 1993,2003: Records were reviewed for demographics; diagnosis; type/year of surgery; American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score; preoperative albumin, creatinine, and bilirubin; operative time; intraoperative blood transfusions; epidural use; and intraoperative hypotension. Main outcome measurements were postoperative morbidities, mortalities and length of stay (LOS). Data were analyzed using a multivariate linear regression model (SPSS v10.1 statistical analysis program). Results. Primary indications for resections were hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (N=57), metastatic colorectal cancer (N=25), and benign disease (N=18). There were no intraoperative mortalities and 4 perioperative (30-day) mortalities (3.5%). Mortality occurred in patients with malignancies who were older than 50 years. Morbidity was higher in malignant (15.6%) versus benign (5.5%) disease. Complications included bile leak/stricture (N=6), liver insufficiency (N=3), postoperative bleeding (N=2), myocardial infarction (N=2), aspiration pneumonia (N=1), renal insufficiency (N=1), and cancer implantation into the wound (N=1). Average LOS for all resections was 8.6 days. Longer operative time (p=0.04), lower albumin (p<0.001), higher ASA score (p<0.001), no epidural use (p=0.04), and higher creatinine (p<0.001) all correlated positively with longer LOS. ASA score and creatinine were the strongest predictors of LOS. LOS was not affected by patient age, sex, diagnosis, presence of malignancy, intraoperative transfusion requirements, intraoperative hypotension, preoperative bilirubin, case volume per year or year of surgery. Conclusions. Liver resections can be performed with low mortality/morbidity and with acceptable LOS by an experienced liver surgeon. Outcome as measured by LOS is most influenced by patient comorbidities entering into surgery. Annual case volume did not influence LOS and had no impact on patient safety. Length of stay may not reflect surgeon/institution performance, as LOS is multifactorial and likely related to patient population, patient selection and increased high-risk cases with a surgeon's experience. [source] Correlation of enhanced cell turnover with prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the stomach: Relevance of cellularity and p27Kip1PATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 12 2006Yuta Nemoto The aim of the present study was to determine whether expression of molecules associated with cell cycle regulation and apoptosis might reflect tumor grade and patients' prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Forty-nine cases of gastric GIST were divided into three grades; low, intermediate, and high risk. Ki-67, cyclin A, cyclin D1, cyclin E, p16Ink4, p21Waf1, p27Kip1, cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk)2, cdk4 and single-strand DNA (ssDNA) were immunohistochemically stained and assessed. Ki-67, ssDNA, cyclin A and cdk2 had higher labeling indices (LI) in high-risk than in low-risk cases. Cyclin E expression was greater in the intermediate- than in the low-risk grade. On Kaplan,Meier analysis, tumor size, necrosis, cellularity, Ki-67, ssDNA, and cyclin A LI were significantly correlated with disease-free survival. Necrosis, cellularity, and Ki-67 LI were significant as prognostic factors on univariate, and Ki-67 LI on multivariate Cox hazard tests. Within the high-risk grade, high cellularity and low p27Kip1 subgroups had the worst prognosis. The histological grade is related to cell turnover, assessed in terms of Ki-67, ssDNA, cyclin A, cyclin E, and cdk2 levels. Ki-67, ssDNA, and cyclin A are useful for prediction of prognosis, with cellularity and p27Kip1 expression as further prognostic factors in high-risk cases. [source] Evidence-based prescription of antibiotics in urology: a 5-year review of microbiologyBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2009Ranan DasGupta OBJECTIVE To analyse the results of positive urine cultures over a 5-year period in a large hospital and urology department (amongst both inpatients and outpatients), assess the prevalence of different organisms and the resistance profiles of a range of antibiotics, and thus provide information on which organisms are likely to cause urosepsis. METHODS The use of antibiotics should be based on knowledge of which pathogens are present and what resistance patterns are emerging, particularly relevant in surgical disciplines like urology, as antibiotics are now routinely administered peri-operatively, whereby evidence-based prescription is preferable to generic guidelines. We therefore examined almost 25 000 positive urine cultures in our hospital over a 5-year period, and focused on the infections encountered amongst urology patients during this time. RESULTS A significant proportion of inpatient urinary infection (40%) is caused by Gram-positive bacteria such as Streptococcus faecalis, underlining the need for including Gram-positive cover during urological prophylaxis. The commonest pathogen remains Escherichia coli among both inpatients and outpatients. The ineffectiveness of common antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim was identified, as was the increase in gentamicin resistance. CONCLUSION We propose using an aminoglycoside with a penicillin for high-risk cases (e.g. endoscopic stone surgery) while low-risk cases (e.g. flexible cystoscopy with no risk factors) might be managed without such prophylaxis. Pathogenic patterns and resistance rates should be monitored regularly. [source] Prophylaxis of posttraumatic endophthalmitisACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009A ABU EL ASRAR Infectious endophthalmitis is a devastating complication of open globe injuries. The incidence of culture-positive endophthalmitis after open globe injuries varies between 0.5% and 17%. Several reports have demonstrated that delayed primary repair, dirty wound, breach of lens capsule, retained intraocular foreign body (IOFB), grade 4 injury (presenting visual acuity of worse than 5/200 to light perception), placement of primary intraocular lens, and rural setting are associated with an increased risk of posttraumatic endophthalmitis. Posttraumatic endophthalmitis is associated with its own microbiologic spectrum which is distinct from other subgroups of exogenous endophthalmitis. Posttraumatic endophthalmitis still carries a poor prognosis. Reasons for guarded prognosis include polymicrobial infection and the virulence of the infecting microorganisms. In addition, concomitant injuries may directly result in ocular damage that limits ultimate visual recovery. Because of the substantial incidence of endophthalmitis after open globe injuries, careful consideration should be given to the use of prophylactic antimicrobial therapy. The purpose of prophylaxis is to provide effective antibiotic levels as rapidly as possible against a broad range of organisms. Good coverage for most organisms is obtained with intravenous vancomycin coupled with a third generation cephalosporin, such as ceftazidime, which can penetrate the vitreous cavity in effective levels in inflamed aphakic experimental eyes. Recently, the use of prophylactic intravitreal antibiotic administration in high-risk cases was recommended. [source] Long-term behavioural outcomes of pre-school mild traumatic brain injuryCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 1 2010A. McKinlay Abstract Background Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is a leading cause of injury for children during their pre-school years. However, there is little information regarding the long-term outcomes of these injuries. Method We used fully prospective data from an epidemiological study of a birth cohort to examine behavioural effects associated with MTBI during the pre-school years. Cases of confirmed MTBI were divided into two groups, those that had received outpatient medical attention, and those that had been admitted to hospital for a brief period of observation (inpatient cases). The remainder of the cohort served as a reference control group. Results Mother/teacher ratings for behaviours associated with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant/conduct disorder, obtained yearly from age 7 to 13, revealed evidence of deficits after inpatient MTBI (n = 21), relative to more minor outpatient injury MTBI (n = 55) and the reference control group (n = 852). For the inpatient group there was evidence of increasing deficits over years 7,13. Conclusions More severe pre-school MTBI may be associated with persistent negative effects in terms of psychosocial development. The vulnerability of pre-school children to MTBI signals a pressing need to identify high-risk cases that may benefit from monitoring and early intervention. [source] Practical tests for clinical diagnosis of kidney allograft dysfunctionCLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 2008Masayoshi Miura Abstract:, Graft dysfunction after renal transplant occurs due to a variety of causes. Graft biopsy is a mainstay in the diagnosis of graft dysfunction, including rejection, infection, glomerulonephritis and drug toxicity. Clinical tests including regular laboratory tests, antibody tests and imaging studies, however, are also important in the process of diagnosis. The possible causes of graft dysfunction are different depending on the period after transplantation. Pre-transplant donor factors may also affect the early graft function. Perioperative graft dysfunction is mainly related to hemodynamic factors and surgical complications. Early acute rejection may occur in immunologically high-risk cases. Later graft dysfunction may be related to infection, acute and chronic rejection or drug toxicity. Clinical tests to differentiate these factors are discussed in this paper. [source] |