Acute on chronic liver failure(ACLF) was first described in 1995 as a clinical syndrome distinct to classic acute decompensation.Characterized by complications of decompensation,ACLF occurs on a background of chronic ...Acute on chronic liver failure(ACLF) was first described in 1995 as a clinical syndrome distinct to classic acute decompensation.Characterized by complications of decompensation,ACLF occurs on a background of chronic liver dysfunction and is associated with high rates of organ failure and significant short-term mortality estimated between45%and 90%.Despite the clinical relevance of the condition,it still remains largely undefined with continued disagreement regarding its precise etiological factors,clinical course,prognostic criteria and management pathways.It is concerning that,despite our relative lack of understanding of the condition,the burden of ACLF among cirrhotic patients remains significant with an estimated prevalence of 30.9%.This paper highlights our current understanding of ACLF,including its etiology,diagnostic and prognostic criteria and pathophysiology.It is evident that further refinement of the ACLF classification system is required in order to detect high-risk patients and improve short-term mortality rates.The field of metabolomics certainly warrants investigation to enhance diagnostic and prognostic parameters,while the use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor is a promising future therapeutic intervention for patients with ACLF.展开更多
Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury is a major cause of liver transplant failure,and is of increasing significance due to increased use of expanded criteria livers for transplantation.This review summarizes the mechan...Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury is a major cause of liver transplant failure,and is of increasing significance due to increased use of expanded criteria livers for transplantation.This review summarizes the mechanisms and protective strategies for hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in the context of liver transplantation.Pharmacological therapies,the use of pre-and post-conditioning and machine perfusion are discussed as protective strategies.The use of machine perfusion offers significant potential in the reconditioning of liver grafts and the prevention of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury,and is an exciting and active area of research,which needs more study clinically.展开更多
Perioperative acute lung injury(ALI) is a syndrome characterised by hypoxia and chest radiograph changes.It is a serious post-operative complication,associated with considerable mortality and morbidity.In addition to ...Perioperative acute lung injury(ALI) is a syndrome characterised by hypoxia and chest radiograph changes.It is a serious post-operative complication,associated with considerable mortality and morbidity.In addition to mechanical ventilation,remote organ insult could also trigger systemic responses which induce ALI.Currently,there are limited treatment options available beyond conservative respiratory support.However,increasing understanding of the pathophysiology of ALI and the biochemical pathways involved will aid the development of novel treatments and help to improve patient outcome as well as to reduce cost to the health service.In this review we will discuss the epidemiology of peri-operative ALI;the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved on the pathological process;the clinical considerations in preventing and managing perioperative ALI and the potential future treatment options.展开更多
AIM To determine the existence of a common pathological link between dementia and osteoporosis through reviewing the current evidence base. METHODS This paper reviews the current literature on osteoporosis and dementi...AIM To determine the existence of a common pathological link between dementia and osteoporosis through reviewing the current evidence base. METHODS This paper reviews the current literature on osteoporosis and dementia in order to ascertain evidence of a common predisposing aetiology. A literature search of Ovid MEDLINE(1950 to June 2016) was conducted. The keywords "osteoporosis", "osteoporotic fracture", "dementia" and "Alzheimer's disease"(AD) were used to determine the theoretical links with the most significant evidence base behind them. The key links were found to be vitamins D and K, calcium, thyroid disease, statins, alcohol and sex steroids. These subjects were then searched in combination with the previous terms and the resulting papers manually examined. Theoretical, in vitro and in vivo research were all used to inform this review which focuses on the most well developed theoretical common causes for dementia(predominantly Alzheimer's type) and osteoporosis.RESULTS Dementia and osteoporosis are multifaceted disease processes with similar epidemiology and a marked increase in prevalence in elderly populations. The existence of a common link between the two has been suggested despite a lack of clear pathological overlap in our current understanding. Research to date has tended to be fragmented and relatively weak in nature with multiple confounding factors reflecting the difficulties of in vivo experimentation in the population of interest. Despite exploration of various possible mechanisms in search for a link between the two pathologies, this paper found that it is possible that these associations are coincidental due to the nature of the evidence available. One finding in this review is that prior investigation into common aetiologies has found raised amyloid beta peptide levels in osteoporotic bone tissue, with a hypothesis that amyloid beta disorders are systemic disorders resulting in differing tissue manifestations. However, our findings were that the most compelling evidence of a common yet independent aetiology lies in the APOE4 allele, which is a well-established risk for AD but also carries an independent association with fracture risk. The mechanism behind this is thought to be the reduced plasma vitamin K levels in individuals exhibiting the APOE4 allele which may be amplified by the nutritional deficiencies associated with dementia, which are known to include vitamins K and D. The vitamin theory postulates that malnutrition and reduced exposure to sunlight in patients with AD leads to vitamin deficiencies. CONCLUSION Robust evidence remains to be produced regarding potential links and regarding the exact aetiology of these diseases and remains relevant given the burden of dementia and osteoporosis in our ageing population. Future research into amyloid beta, APOE4 and vitamins K and D as the most promising aetiological links should be welcomed.展开更多
Postoperative sleep disturbance is a common occurrence with significant adverse effects on patients including delayed recovery,impairment of cognitive function,pain sensitivity and cardiovascular events.The developmen...Postoperative sleep disturbance is a common occurrence with significant adverse effects on patients including delayed recovery,impairment of cognitive function,pain sensitivity and cardiovascular events.The development of postoperative sleep disturbance is multifactorial and involves the surgical inflammatory response,the severity of surgical trauma,pain,anxiety,the use of anesthetics and environmental factors such as nocturnal noise and light levels.Many of these factors can be managed perioperatively to minimize the deleterious impact on sleep.Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment strategies for postoperative sleep disturbance include dexmedetomidine,zolpidem,melatonin,enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS) protocol and controlling of environmental noise and light levels.It is likely that a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies will have the greatest impact;however,further research is required before their use can be routinely recommended.展开更多
AIM:To compare short term outcomes of elective laparoscopic and open right hemicolectomy(RH) in an elderly population.METHODS:All patients over the age of 70 undergoing elective RH at Ninewells Hospital and Perth Roya...AIM:To compare short term outcomes of elective laparoscopic and open right hemicolectomy(RH) in an elderly population.METHODS:All patients over the age of 70 undergoing elective RH at Ninewells Hospital and Perth Royal Infirmary between January 2006 and May 2011 were included in our analysis.Operative details,hospital length of stay,morbidity and mortality was collected by way of proforma from a dedicated prospective database.An extracorporeal anastomosis was performed routinely in the laparoscopic group.The primary endpoints for analysis were morbidity and mortality.Our secondary endpoints were operative duration,length of hospital stay and discharge destination.RESULTS:Two hundred and six patients were included in our analysis.One hundred and twenty-five patients underwent an open resection and 81 patients had a laparoscopic resection.The mean operating time was significantly longer in the laparoscopic group(139 ± 36 min vs 197 ± 53 min,P = 0.001).The mean length of hospital stay was similar in both groups(11.2 ± 7.8 d vs 9.6 ± 10.7 d,P = 0.28).The incidence of postoperative morbidities was 27% in the open group and 38% in the laparoscopic group(P = 0.12).Overall inhospital mortality was 0.8% in open procedures vs 1% in laparoscopic.CONCLUSION:Laparoscopic RH was associated with a significantly longer operative time compared to open RH.In our study,laparoscopic RH was not associated with reduced post-operative morbidity or significantly shorter length of hospital stay.展开更多
Peri-operative hearing impairment is a poorly reported morbidity following any type of anaesthesia. We report a case where the patient developed temporary hearing impairment after a gynaecological surgery. This recove...Peri-operative hearing impairment is a poorly reported morbidity following any type of anaesthesia. We report a case where the patient developed temporary hearing impairment after a gynaecological surgery. This recovered in a couple of week time. The causes of such hearing impairment in various types of anaesthesia are discussed.展开更多
Magnesium, Mg2+, is the second most abundant intracellular cation after potassium and the fourth most abundant in the body. It was first isolated in 1808 by the English chemist, Sir Humphrey Davy. Magnesium is essenti...Magnesium, Mg2+, is the second most abundant intracellular cation after potassium and the fourth most abundant in the body. It was first isolated in 1808 by the English chemist, Sir Humphrey Davy. Magnesium is essential to numerous biochemical reactions. It modulates key physiological processes such as metabolic biochemistry, nucleic acid synthesis, receptor-binding and ion flux. The western diet falls short of the recommended daily allowance of 4.5 mg/Kg/day and important dietary sources are seeds, grains, nuts and green vegetables. It is used as a therapeutic agent in a broad range of pathologies: neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and obstetric. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of magnesium, as a drug, are not well understood. Despite its fundamental importance to human physiology, it remains an electrolyte that is not routinely measured as part of the “urea & electrolytes” test and is the most overlooked electrolyte deficiency in hospital inpatients. This review will summarise the importance of magnesium homeostasis, its pharmacological effects and clinical applications.展开更多
Communication boards provide a low-cost means of facilitating communication with patients who are unable to speak;however the process is slow and frustrating. A computer model was used to calculate the cumulative freq...Communication boards provide a low-cost means of facilitating communication with patients who are unable to speak;however the process is slow and frustrating. A computer model was used to calculate the cumulative frequency-weighted path length for letter selection (“chart index”) for three conventional communication boards using different search strategies;and exhaustively generate and evaluate designs for a novel communication board based on a frequency-ordered arrangement of letters. For all arrangements, a 46% to 53% reduction in chart indices was achieved when “2 Dimensional” (2D) rather than “1 Dimensional” (1D) search strategies were employed. A further 23% to 30% reduction in chart indices was achieved through use of frequency-ordered sequences with optimal row groupings. Conventional communication boards can be used more efficiently by employing a 2D search strategy. Novel communication boards based on optimised arrangements of frequency-ordered letter sequences potentially provide a faster means of communication than conventional communication boards.展开更多
Introduction: Since its revival two decades ago development of the surgical technique, along with evidence and clinical outcomes of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) were brought into focus. Methods: We ...Introduction: Since its revival two decades ago development of the surgical technique, along with evidence and clinical outcomes of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) were brought into focus. Methods: We report a single surgeon, single center experience of the first 37 consecutive patients undergoing off-pump surgery. Patients were selected for OPCAB (study group) individually and matched retrospectively to a control group of 113 patients performed over an identical time frame. Data were retrieved from a hospital data base (TOMCAT). Results: Mean Logistic European System of Cardiac Operative Risk Stratification (EuroSCORE) was slightly higher in the off-pump group (3.8% versus 2.9%). One patient died during the study and this was in the off-pump CAB group (OPCAB-30 day mortality 2.7%). Operating time was slightly shorter in the off-pump group (3 hours 28 minutes versus 3 hours 49 minutes, p = 0.15). After exclusion of outliers, total hospital stay was significantly shorter for off-pump cases (mean 6.8 days versus 8.37 days), while Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay (1.2 versus 1.4 days) and ventilation time were only slightly shorter (9.35 hours versus 10.6 hours) for off-pump cases. Chest tube drainage was significantly lower in the off-pump group (484 ml versus 744 ml, p = 0.04) with correspondingly slightly lower transfusion requirements and significantly increased discharge haemoglobin concentrations in OPCAB. There was one cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in the off-pump group and none in the on-pump group. Conclusion: In this study we show short term outcomes for introduction of off-pump into surgical technique. Length of ICU stay, ventilation times, chest tube drainage, transfusion re0 quirements and pre-discharge haemoglobin concentration all appeared superior in the off pump group. The off-pump technique was safely introduced into the surgeon`s service with relatively little mortality. Experience of surgeon was considered advantageous for fast adaption of the technique. However, numbers were too small to make strong inferences. With practice more patients should benefit from the technique.展开更多
Objective:Bariatric surgery has been shown to be an effective method of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)with long-term benefits,however,the mechanisms of action and the optimum operative procedure remains un...Objective:Bariatric surgery has been shown to be an effective method of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)with long-term benefits,however,the mechanisms of action and the optimum operative procedure remains unclear.The aim of this systemic review was to compare the efficacy of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy(LSG)and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass(RYGB)in resolving OSA.Methods:A comprehensive search of MEDLINE,Pubmed,Embase,and OVID was performed.Studies that reported OSA resolution in obese patients with BMI>30 kg/m2 were included in the study.RCTs,comparative prospective and matched cohort studies comparing RYGB with LSG were considered for this study.Results:Five studies(309 participants)were included:4 cohort studies and 1 RCT;all with low risk of bias.At 12 months follow-up,there was a trend towards improved resolution of OSA with LSG(OR 0.47,95%CI[0.20 to 1.06];p=0.07)when compared to RYGB.In contrast,there was a trend to poorer weight loss in the LSG group(SMD 3.83,95%CI[-1.82 to 9.48];p=0.18).Similarly,at 36 months follow-up,there was a trend towards better resolution of OSA with LSG(OR 0.52,95%CI[0.16 to 1.71];p=0.28)and a significantly poorer weight loss in LSG when compared to RYGB(SMD 8.25,95%CI[2.91 to 13.58];p=0.002).Conclusion:Despite poorer weight loss following LSG,there is a trend towards increased resolution of sleep apnea post-LSG.These findings suggest the possibility of weight loss independent factors causing OSA resolution,which should be further investigated.Registration:PROSPERO:CRD42018090367.展开更多
Background:The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has led to a paradigm shift in global health,casting a previously niche academic discipline into a headline dominating field of research.However,accurate infor...Background:The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has led to a paradigm shift in global health,casting a previously niche academic discipline into a headline dominating field of research.However,accurate information on the delivery of global health education(GHE)at a university level is lacking.This study aims to assess current GIIE practices in U.K.universities,by identifying the availability of dedicated global health qualifications,as well as the breadth of inclusion of GHE topics across university course content.Methods:Universities selected were the top 25 recipients of MRC funding in 2015-2016,as well as universities who were included in previous iterations of the“Global Health League Table”.We used the Consortium of Universities for Global Health“GHE Competencies Toolkit”to identify the presence of global health content across university global health and other course offerings.Universities were additionally judged on opportunities available in global health and on the presence of sustainable partnerships.Results:Our results showed that 20 universities(74%)offer a post-graduate global health related course,with 9(33%)offering an undergraduate global health related course.13(48%)were identified as centers of global health excellence.Just 12(44%)universities had registered sustainable partnerships with Tropical Health and Education Trust.The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was identified as the top deliverer of GHE,with the Universities of Leicester and the Universities of Exeter joint bottom.We were unable to standardize quality assessments in this iteration of the project,but the release of student feedback to future assessors would help to improve the reliability of this study methodology.Additionally,much of our data was based on information available online,and thus some aspects of degree courses not published publicly may not have been accounted for in our scoring.Conclusion:Those institutions wishing to improve their delivery of GHE should consider the establishment of a postgraduate or undergraduate degree course.Breadth of global health content across curricular was a major discriminating factor between institutions,and we would advise universities to consider including more global health topics across their curricular-especially in light of the intersectional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.展开更多
Complete and reliable neuromuscular reversal is important to successful anaesthetic recovery in the morbidly obese patient undergoing laparoscopic surgery.Our goal was to determine whether sugammadex,a selective rever...Complete and reliable neuromuscular reversal is important to successful anaesthetic recovery in the morbidly obese patient undergoing laparoscopic surgery.Our goal was to determine whether sugammadex,a selective reversal agent is associated with better respiratory recovery than neostigmine following the reversal of anaesthesia-associated neuromuscular blockade by rocuronium in the morbidly obese.Peak Expiratory Flow Rate a surrogate marker for respiratory function,was the primary outcome measured and secondary outcome measures included post-operative nausea and vomiting,pain and head lifting.We found that patients reversed with sugammadex had a significantly higher post-operative PEFR as compared to those reversed with neostigmine and glycopyrrolate group.展开更多
Background:The AbSeS-classification defines specific phenotypes of patients with intra-abdominal infection based on the(1)setting of infection onset(community-acquired,early onset,or late-onset hospital-acquired),(2)p...Background:The AbSeS-classification defines specific phenotypes of patients with intra-abdominal infection based on the(1)setting of infection onset(community-acquired,early onset,or late-onset hospital-acquired),(2)presence or absence of either localized or diffuse peritonitis,and(3)severity of disease expression(infection,sepsis,or septic shock).This classification system demonstrated reliable risk stratification in intensive care unit(ICU)patients with intra-abdominal infection.This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of ICU patients with pancreatic infection and assess the relationship between the components of the AbSeS-classification and mortality.Methods:This was a secondary analysis of an international observational study(“AbSeS”)investigating ICU patients with intra-abdominal infection.Only patients with pancreatic infection were included in this analysis(n=165).Mortality was defined as ICU mortality within 28 days of observation for patients discharged earlier from the ICU.Relationships with mortality were assessed using logistic regression analysis and reported as odds ratio(OR)and 95%confidence interval(CI).Results:The overall mortality was 35.2%(n=58).The independent risk factors for mortality included older age(OR=1.03,95%CI:1.0 to 1.1 P=0.023),localized peritonitis(OR=4.4,95%CI:1.4 to 13.9 P=0.011),and persistent signs of inflammation at day 7(OR=9.5,95%CI:3.8 to 23.9,P<0.001)or after the implementation of additional source control interventions within the first week(OR=4.0,95%CI:1.3 to 12.2,P=0.013).Gramnegative bacteria were most frequently isolated(n=58,49.2%)without clinically relevant differences in microbial etiology between survivors and non-survivors.Conclusions:In pancreatic infection,a challenging source/damage control and ongoing pancreatic inflammation appear to be the strongest contributors to an unfavorable short-term outcome.In this limited series,essentials of the AbSeS-classification,such as the setting of infection onset,diffuse peritonitis,and severity of disease expression,were not associated with an increased mortality risk.展开更多
To the Editor:Currently,lung transplantations are typically performed via a transverse thoracosternotomy or a sternotomy for double lung transplantation,or a posteriolateral thoracosternotomy for single lung transplan...To the Editor:Currently,lung transplantations are typically performed via a transverse thoracosternotomy or a sternotomy for double lung transplantation,or a posteriolateral thoracosternotomy for single lung transplantation.However,these extremely invasive approaches may contribute to early post-operative pain,delay wound healing,and cause chronic post-thoracotomy neuralgia,which can affect patient’s quality of life.[1,2]Of interest,several minimally invasive surgical methods for lung transplantation were reported.[3,4]Furthermore,robotic surgical systems are now widely used in the field of thoracic surgery.Herein,we reported a case of performing robot-assisted right single lung transplantation for a patient with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).展开更多
Background:Identifying a potentially difficult airway is crucial both in anaesthesia in the operating room(OR)and non-operation room sites.There are no guidelines or expert consensus focused on the assessment of the d...Background:Identifying a potentially difficult airway is crucial both in anaesthesia in the operating room(OR)and non-operation room sites.There are no guidelines or expert consensus focused on the assessment of the difficult airway before,so this expert consensus is developed to provide guidance for airway assessment,making this process more standardized and accurate to reduce airway-related complications and improve safety.Methods:Seven members from the Airway Management Group of the Chinese Society of Anaesthesiology(CSA)met to discuss the first draft and then this was sent to 15 international experts for review,comment,and approval.The Grading of Recommendations,Assessment,Development and Evaluation(GRADE)is used to determine the level of evidence and grade the strength of recommendations.The recommendations were revised through a three-round Delphi survey from experts.Results:This expert consensus provides a comprehensive approach to airway assessment based on the medical history,physical examination,comprehensive scores,imaging,and new developments including transnasal endoscopy,virtual laryngoscopy,and 3D printing.In addition,this consensus also reviews some new technologies currently under development such as prediction from facial images and voice information with the aim of proposing new research directions for the assessment of difficult airway.Conclusions:This consensus applies to anesthesiologists,critical care,and emergency physicians refining the preoperative airway assessment and preparing an appropriate intubation strategy for patients with a potentially difficult airway.展开更多
文摘Acute on chronic liver failure(ACLF) was first described in 1995 as a clinical syndrome distinct to classic acute decompensation.Characterized by complications of decompensation,ACLF occurs on a background of chronic liver dysfunction and is associated with high rates of organ failure and significant short-term mortality estimated between45%and 90%.Despite the clinical relevance of the condition,it still remains largely undefined with continued disagreement regarding its precise etiological factors,clinical course,prognostic criteria and management pathways.It is concerning that,despite our relative lack of understanding of the condition,the burden of ACLF among cirrhotic patients remains significant with an estimated prevalence of 30.9%.This paper highlights our current understanding of ACLF,including its etiology,diagnostic and prognostic criteria and pathophysiology.It is evident that further refinement of the ACLF classification system is required in order to detect high-risk patients and improve short-term mortality rates.The field of metabolomics certainly warrants investigation to enhance diagnostic and prognostic parameters,while the use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor is a promising future therapeutic intervention for patients with ACLF.
基金supported by British Journal of Anaesthesia Fellowship grant,NIAA,London,UK
文摘Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury is a major cause of liver transplant failure,and is of increasing significance due to increased use of expanded criteria livers for transplantation.This review summarizes the mechanisms and protective strategies for hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in the context of liver transplantation.Pharmacological therapies,the use of pre-and post-conditioning and machine perfusion are discussed as protective strategies.The use of machine perfusion offers significant potential in the reconditioning of liver grafts and the prevention of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury,and is an exciting and active area of research,which needs more study clinically.
文摘Perioperative acute lung injury(ALI) is a syndrome characterised by hypoxia and chest radiograph changes.It is a serious post-operative complication,associated with considerable mortality and morbidity.In addition to mechanical ventilation,remote organ insult could also trigger systemic responses which induce ALI.Currently,there are limited treatment options available beyond conservative respiratory support.However,increasing understanding of the pathophysiology of ALI and the biochemical pathways involved will aid the development of novel treatments and help to improve patient outcome as well as to reduce cost to the health service.In this review we will discuss the epidemiology of peri-operative ALI;the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved on the pathological process;the clinical considerations in preventing and managing perioperative ALI and the potential future treatment options.
文摘AIM To determine the existence of a common pathological link between dementia and osteoporosis through reviewing the current evidence base. METHODS This paper reviews the current literature on osteoporosis and dementia in order to ascertain evidence of a common predisposing aetiology. A literature search of Ovid MEDLINE(1950 to June 2016) was conducted. The keywords "osteoporosis", "osteoporotic fracture", "dementia" and "Alzheimer's disease"(AD) were used to determine the theoretical links with the most significant evidence base behind them. The key links were found to be vitamins D and K, calcium, thyroid disease, statins, alcohol and sex steroids. These subjects were then searched in combination with the previous terms and the resulting papers manually examined. Theoretical, in vitro and in vivo research were all used to inform this review which focuses on the most well developed theoretical common causes for dementia(predominantly Alzheimer's type) and osteoporosis.RESULTS Dementia and osteoporosis are multifaceted disease processes with similar epidemiology and a marked increase in prevalence in elderly populations. The existence of a common link between the two has been suggested despite a lack of clear pathological overlap in our current understanding. Research to date has tended to be fragmented and relatively weak in nature with multiple confounding factors reflecting the difficulties of in vivo experimentation in the population of interest. Despite exploration of various possible mechanisms in search for a link between the two pathologies, this paper found that it is possible that these associations are coincidental due to the nature of the evidence available. One finding in this review is that prior investigation into common aetiologies has found raised amyloid beta peptide levels in osteoporotic bone tissue, with a hypothesis that amyloid beta disorders are systemic disorders resulting in differing tissue manifestations. However, our findings were that the most compelling evidence of a common yet independent aetiology lies in the APOE4 allele, which is a well-established risk for AD but also carries an independent association with fracture risk. The mechanism behind this is thought to be the reduced plasma vitamin K levels in individuals exhibiting the APOE4 allele which may be amplified by the nutritional deficiencies associated with dementia, which are known to include vitamins K and D. The vitamin theory postulates that malnutrition and reduced exposure to sunlight in patients with AD leads to vitamin deficiencies. CONCLUSION Robust evidence remains to be produced regarding potential links and regarding the exact aetiology of these diseases and remains relevant given the burden of dementia and osteoporosis in our ageing population. Future research into amyloid beta, APOE4 and vitamins K and D as the most promising aetiological links should be welcomed.
文摘Postoperative sleep disturbance is a common occurrence with significant adverse effects on patients including delayed recovery,impairment of cognitive function,pain sensitivity and cardiovascular events.The development of postoperative sleep disturbance is multifactorial and involves the surgical inflammatory response,the severity of surgical trauma,pain,anxiety,the use of anesthetics and environmental factors such as nocturnal noise and light levels.Many of these factors can be managed perioperatively to minimize the deleterious impact on sleep.Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment strategies for postoperative sleep disturbance include dexmedetomidine,zolpidem,melatonin,enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS) protocol and controlling of environmental noise and light levels.It is likely that a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies will have the greatest impact;however,further research is required before their use can be routinely recommended.
文摘AIM:To compare short term outcomes of elective laparoscopic and open right hemicolectomy(RH) in an elderly population.METHODS:All patients over the age of 70 undergoing elective RH at Ninewells Hospital and Perth Royal Infirmary between January 2006 and May 2011 were included in our analysis.Operative details,hospital length of stay,morbidity and mortality was collected by way of proforma from a dedicated prospective database.An extracorporeal anastomosis was performed routinely in the laparoscopic group.The primary endpoints for analysis were morbidity and mortality.Our secondary endpoints were operative duration,length of hospital stay and discharge destination.RESULTS:Two hundred and six patients were included in our analysis.One hundred and twenty-five patients underwent an open resection and 81 patients had a laparoscopic resection.The mean operating time was significantly longer in the laparoscopic group(139 ± 36 min vs 197 ± 53 min,P = 0.001).The mean length of hospital stay was similar in both groups(11.2 ± 7.8 d vs 9.6 ± 10.7 d,P = 0.28).The incidence of postoperative morbidities was 27% in the open group and 38% in the laparoscopic group(P = 0.12).Overall inhospital mortality was 0.8% in open procedures vs 1% in laparoscopic.CONCLUSION:Laparoscopic RH was associated with a significantly longer operative time compared to open RH.In our study,laparoscopic RH was not associated with reduced post-operative morbidity or significantly shorter length of hospital stay.
文摘Peri-operative hearing impairment is a poorly reported morbidity following any type of anaesthesia. We report a case where the patient developed temporary hearing impairment after a gynaecological surgery. This recovered in a couple of week time. The causes of such hearing impairment in various types of anaesthesia are discussed.
文摘Magnesium, Mg2+, is the second most abundant intracellular cation after potassium and the fourth most abundant in the body. It was first isolated in 1808 by the English chemist, Sir Humphrey Davy. Magnesium is essential to numerous biochemical reactions. It modulates key physiological processes such as metabolic biochemistry, nucleic acid synthesis, receptor-binding and ion flux. The western diet falls short of the recommended daily allowance of 4.5 mg/Kg/day and important dietary sources are seeds, grains, nuts and green vegetables. It is used as a therapeutic agent in a broad range of pathologies: neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and obstetric. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of magnesium, as a drug, are not well understood. Despite its fundamental importance to human physiology, it remains an electrolyte that is not routinely measured as part of the “urea & electrolytes” test and is the most overlooked electrolyte deficiency in hospital inpatients. This review will summarise the importance of magnesium homeostasis, its pharmacological effects and clinical applications.
文摘Communication boards provide a low-cost means of facilitating communication with patients who are unable to speak;however the process is slow and frustrating. A computer model was used to calculate the cumulative frequency-weighted path length for letter selection (“chart index”) for three conventional communication boards using different search strategies;and exhaustively generate and evaluate designs for a novel communication board based on a frequency-ordered arrangement of letters. For all arrangements, a 46% to 53% reduction in chart indices was achieved when “2 Dimensional” (2D) rather than “1 Dimensional” (1D) search strategies were employed. A further 23% to 30% reduction in chart indices was achieved through use of frequency-ordered sequences with optimal row groupings. Conventional communication boards can be used more efficiently by employing a 2D search strategy. Novel communication boards based on optimised arrangements of frequency-ordered letter sequences potentially provide a faster means of communication than conventional communication boards.
文摘Introduction: Since its revival two decades ago development of the surgical technique, along with evidence and clinical outcomes of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) were brought into focus. Methods: We report a single surgeon, single center experience of the first 37 consecutive patients undergoing off-pump surgery. Patients were selected for OPCAB (study group) individually and matched retrospectively to a control group of 113 patients performed over an identical time frame. Data were retrieved from a hospital data base (TOMCAT). Results: Mean Logistic European System of Cardiac Operative Risk Stratification (EuroSCORE) was slightly higher in the off-pump group (3.8% versus 2.9%). One patient died during the study and this was in the off-pump CAB group (OPCAB-30 day mortality 2.7%). Operating time was slightly shorter in the off-pump group (3 hours 28 minutes versus 3 hours 49 minutes, p = 0.15). After exclusion of outliers, total hospital stay was significantly shorter for off-pump cases (mean 6.8 days versus 8.37 days), while Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay (1.2 versus 1.4 days) and ventilation time were only slightly shorter (9.35 hours versus 10.6 hours) for off-pump cases. Chest tube drainage was significantly lower in the off-pump group (484 ml versus 744 ml, p = 0.04) with correspondingly slightly lower transfusion requirements and significantly increased discharge haemoglobin concentrations in OPCAB. There was one cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in the off-pump group and none in the on-pump group. Conclusion: In this study we show short term outcomes for introduction of off-pump into surgical technique. Length of ICU stay, ventilation times, chest tube drainage, transfusion re0 quirements and pre-discharge haemoglobin concentration all appeared superior in the off pump group. The off-pump technique was safely introduced into the surgeon`s service with relatively little mortality. Experience of surgeon was considered advantageous for fast adaption of the technique. However, numbers were too small to make strong inferences. With practice more patients should benefit from the technique.
基金The study was pre-registered with the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews,PROSPERO identification code:CRD42018090367.
文摘Objective:Bariatric surgery has been shown to be an effective method of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)with long-term benefits,however,the mechanisms of action and the optimum operative procedure remains unclear.The aim of this systemic review was to compare the efficacy of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy(LSG)and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass(RYGB)in resolving OSA.Methods:A comprehensive search of MEDLINE,Pubmed,Embase,and OVID was performed.Studies that reported OSA resolution in obese patients with BMI>30 kg/m2 were included in the study.RCTs,comparative prospective and matched cohort studies comparing RYGB with LSG were considered for this study.Results:Five studies(309 participants)were included:4 cohort studies and 1 RCT;all with low risk of bias.At 12 months follow-up,there was a trend towards improved resolution of OSA with LSG(OR 0.47,95%CI[0.20 to 1.06];p=0.07)when compared to RYGB.In contrast,there was a trend to poorer weight loss in the LSG group(SMD 3.83,95%CI[-1.82 to 9.48];p=0.18).Similarly,at 36 months follow-up,there was a trend towards better resolution of OSA with LSG(OR 0.52,95%CI[0.16 to 1.71];p=0.28)and a significantly poorer weight loss in LSG when compared to RYGB(SMD 8.25,95%CI[2.91 to 13.58];p=0.002).Conclusion:Despite poorer weight loss following LSG,there is a trend towards increased resolution of sleep apnea post-LSG.These findings suggest the possibility of weight loss independent factors causing OSA resolution,which should be further investigated.Registration:PROSPERO:CRD42018090367.
基金supported by Association of Medical Education Europe's Students Initiative Grant.
文摘Background:The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has led to a paradigm shift in global health,casting a previously niche academic discipline into a headline dominating field of research.However,accurate information on the delivery of global health education(GHE)at a university level is lacking.This study aims to assess current GIIE practices in U.K.universities,by identifying the availability of dedicated global health qualifications,as well as the breadth of inclusion of GHE topics across university course content.Methods:Universities selected were the top 25 recipients of MRC funding in 2015-2016,as well as universities who were included in previous iterations of the“Global Health League Table”.We used the Consortium of Universities for Global Health“GHE Competencies Toolkit”to identify the presence of global health content across university global health and other course offerings.Universities were additionally judged on opportunities available in global health and on the presence of sustainable partnerships.Results:Our results showed that 20 universities(74%)offer a post-graduate global health related course,with 9(33%)offering an undergraduate global health related course.13(48%)were identified as centers of global health excellence.Just 12(44%)universities had registered sustainable partnerships with Tropical Health and Education Trust.The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was identified as the top deliverer of GHE,with the Universities of Leicester and the Universities of Exeter joint bottom.We were unable to standardize quality assessments in this iteration of the project,but the release of student feedback to future assessors would help to improve the reliability of this study methodology.Additionally,much of our data was based on information available online,and thus some aspects of degree courses not published publicly may not have been accounted for in our scoring.Conclusion:Those institutions wishing to improve their delivery of GHE should consider the establishment of a postgraduate or undergraduate degree course.Breadth of global health content across curricular was a major discriminating factor between institutions,and we would advise universities to consider including more global health topics across their curricular-especially in light of the intersectional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
文摘Complete and reliable neuromuscular reversal is important to successful anaesthetic recovery in the morbidly obese patient undergoing laparoscopic surgery.Our goal was to determine whether sugammadex,a selective reversal agent is associated with better respiratory recovery than neostigmine following the reversal of anaesthesia-associated neuromuscular blockade by rocuronium in the morbidly obese.Peak Expiratory Flow Rate a surrogate marker for respiratory function,was the primary outcome measured and secondary outcome measures included post-operative nausea and vomiting,pain and head lifting.We found that patients reversed with sugammadex had a significantly higher post-operative PEFR as compared to those reversed with neostigmine and glycopyrrolate group.
文摘Background:The AbSeS-classification defines specific phenotypes of patients with intra-abdominal infection based on the(1)setting of infection onset(community-acquired,early onset,or late-onset hospital-acquired),(2)presence or absence of either localized or diffuse peritonitis,and(3)severity of disease expression(infection,sepsis,or septic shock).This classification system demonstrated reliable risk stratification in intensive care unit(ICU)patients with intra-abdominal infection.This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of ICU patients with pancreatic infection and assess the relationship between the components of the AbSeS-classification and mortality.Methods:This was a secondary analysis of an international observational study(“AbSeS”)investigating ICU patients with intra-abdominal infection.Only patients with pancreatic infection were included in this analysis(n=165).Mortality was defined as ICU mortality within 28 days of observation for patients discharged earlier from the ICU.Relationships with mortality were assessed using logistic regression analysis and reported as odds ratio(OR)and 95%confidence interval(CI).Results:The overall mortality was 35.2%(n=58).The independent risk factors for mortality included older age(OR=1.03,95%CI:1.0 to 1.1 P=0.023),localized peritonitis(OR=4.4,95%CI:1.4 to 13.9 P=0.011),and persistent signs of inflammation at day 7(OR=9.5,95%CI:3.8 to 23.9,P<0.001)or after the implementation of additional source control interventions within the first week(OR=4.0,95%CI:1.3 to 12.2,P=0.013).Gramnegative bacteria were most frequently isolated(n=58,49.2%)without clinically relevant differences in microbial etiology between survivors and non-survivors.Conclusions:In pancreatic infection,a challenging source/damage control and ongoing pancreatic inflammation appear to be the strongest contributors to an unfavorable short-term outcome.In this limited series,essentials of the AbSeS-classification,such as the setting of infection onset,diffuse peritonitis,and severity of disease expression,were not associated with an increased mortality risk.
文摘To the Editor:Currently,lung transplantations are typically performed via a transverse thoracosternotomy or a sternotomy for double lung transplantation,or a posteriolateral thoracosternotomy for single lung transplantation.However,these extremely invasive approaches may contribute to early post-operative pain,delay wound healing,and cause chronic post-thoracotomy neuralgia,which can affect patient’s quality of life.[1,2]Of interest,several minimally invasive surgical methods for lung transplantation were reported.[3,4]Furthermore,robotic surgical systems are now widely used in the field of thoracic surgery.Herein,we reported a case of performing robot-assisted right single lung transplantation for a patient with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).
文摘Background:Identifying a potentially difficult airway is crucial both in anaesthesia in the operating room(OR)and non-operation room sites.There are no guidelines or expert consensus focused on the assessment of the difficult airway before,so this expert consensus is developed to provide guidance for airway assessment,making this process more standardized and accurate to reduce airway-related complications and improve safety.Methods:Seven members from the Airway Management Group of the Chinese Society of Anaesthesiology(CSA)met to discuss the first draft and then this was sent to 15 international experts for review,comment,and approval.The Grading of Recommendations,Assessment,Development and Evaluation(GRADE)is used to determine the level of evidence and grade the strength of recommendations.The recommendations were revised through a three-round Delphi survey from experts.Results:This expert consensus provides a comprehensive approach to airway assessment based on the medical history,physical examination,comprehensive scores,imaging,and new developments including transnasal endoscopy,virtual laryngoscopy,and 3D printing.In addition,this consensus also reviews some new technologies currently under development such as prediction from facial images and voice information with the aim of proposing new research directions for the assessment of difficult airway.Conclusions:This consensus applies to anesthesiologists,critical care,and emergency physicians refining the preoperative airway assessment and preparing an appropriate intubation strategy for patients with a potentially difficult airway.
