The use of andexanet alpha in the Polish setting: An interdisciplinary protocol. Expert consensus statement of the Polish Cardiac Society.

Andexanet alfa (AA) is a recombinant inactive analog of human activated factor X (FXa), effectively reversing the effects of its inhibitors - rivaroxaban and apixaban, which are available in Poland. The drug was approved for clinical use registration after the publication of the results of the ANNEXA-4 trial (Andexanet Alfa, a Novel Antidote to the Anticoagulation Effects of FXa Inhibitors 4), in which its efficacy in restoring hemostasis in life-threatening hemorrhages in patients receiving using the aforementioned anticoagulants was demonstrated. Hence, AA is now recommended for patients on apixaban or rivaroxaban therapy with massive and uncontrollable hemorrhages, including hemorrhagic strokes (HS) and gastrointestinal bleeding. Drug-specific chromogenic anti-Xa assays are generally best suited for estimating rivaroxaban and apixaban plasma levels, aside from direct assessment of their concentrations. The absence of anti-Xa activity, determined using these assays, allows us to rule out the presence of clinically relevant plasma concentrations of any FXa inhibitor. On the other hand, the dose of AA should not be modified based on the results of coagulation tests, as it depends solely on the time that elapsed since the last dose of FXa inhibitor and oon the dose and type of FXa inhibitor. AA is administered as an intravenous (i.v.) bolus, followed by an i.v. infusion of the drug. The maximum reversal of anti-Xa activity occurs within two minutes of the end of the bolus treatment, with the continuation of the continuous i.v. infusion allowing the effect to be maintained for up to two hours afterwards. Because anticoagulant activity can reappear after the infusion is completed, it is currently unclear at what point after AA administration FXa inhibitors or heparin should be re-administered. In Poland AA is starting to become available and its urgent need to administer it to patients with severe bleeding on apixaban or rivaroxaban.

A Comparison of Two Approaches to Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy: Lateral Transperitoneal Versus Posterior Retroperitoneal Approach.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the gold standard for the surgical treatment of benign adrenal masses. It is most commonly performed using the lateral transperitoneal approach (LTA) and the posterior retroperitoneal approach (PRA). The choice of the method depends on contraindications for a particular approach in an individual case and surgical experience. The objective of the article is to compare two approaches, LTA and PRA, in view of our own experience and literature review. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the article is to compare two approaches, LTA and PRA, in view of our own experience and literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The assessment involved morphological characteristics of tumors, indications for PRA and LTA, operative time, perioperative blood loss and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Seventy-seven of the examined 104 laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed retroperitoneally; 27 - transperitoneally. The mean size of tumors in PRA was 4.6 cm and in LTA 6.2 cm. The mean total operative time was 91.8 min in the case of PRA and 153.1 min in LTA. No differences in the amount of blood loss between the two approaches were recorded. The average hospitalization post PRA lasted 2.03 days and post LTA 2.67 days. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy proves to be an effective and safe surgical technique both in the case of LTA and PRA. The technique to be used should be suited to surgical team's experience, patient's general condition and tumor size and location. In our experience, the most advantageous approach in the case of tumors of less than 7 cm is PRA.

Complications after laparoscopic gastric banding in own material.

INTRODUCTION: Complications after bariatric procedures are the most difficult to diagnose among all complications in abdominal surgery. Furthermore, they are extremely difficult to treat conservatively and surgically. Laparoscopic treatment of complications after bariatric procedures requires great skills. Complications after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) are remarkably diverse. AIM: Presentation of complications after LAGB in our own material. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 2005 to 2010, in the 1(st) Department of General and Endocrine Surgery, in 110 patients adjustable gastric banding was applied. All procedures were conducted laparoscopically. The group consisted of 76 women (69.1%) and 34 men (30.9%). The average age of women was 37.7 ±13.80 years old. The average age of men was 38.9 ±11.50 years old. The average body mass was 128.5 ±24.35 kg for women and 125.4 ±23.60 kg for men. The average body mass index (BMI) for women was 44.08 ±3.03 kg/m(2) and for men 43.66 ±2.90 kg/m(2). The average waist circumference was 113.5 ±12.75 cm in women and for men it was 124.40 ±14.8 cm. RESULTS: In the analysed material, which consisted of 110 patients after LAGB, 36% developed at least 1 complication. Among early complications, injury of diaphragm, pneumothorax, pleural empyema, gastric perforation and thrombophlebitis were observed. Among late complications, oesophagitis, infections around the port, migration of the gastric band into the gastric lumen, band slippage, vomiting and lack of body mass loss were observed. The most common reasons for the removal of the band were band slippage, its migration to the gastric lumen and extension of the gastric reservoir. CONCLUSIONS: The LAGB is a relatively easy procedure with a short time of performance and short hospitalization. However, it can bring the risk of intraoperative, perioperative and late complications which require surgical intervention. The present research results are comparable to world data. Complications after LAGB were observed the most frequently in the first years of application of the procedure.

The role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in the diagnosis and assessment of resectability of pancreatic tumors.

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of the pancreas is one of the most malignant tumors. Symptoms are usually nonspecific and insidious, such that the cancer is advanced by the time of diagnosis. The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of MRI and MRCP in the diagnosis of patients suspected of pancreatic carcinoma and to define the role of these methods in the evaluation of resectability of pancreatic cancer in comparison with surgical findings. MATERIAL/METHODS: Forty-seven patients (32 men and 15 women) aged 46-81 had undergone MRI and MRCP examination of the upper abdomen on a 1.5 T system with a standard flexible surface coil. The results of those tests were compared with surgical and histopathological findings. The capacity of MR and MRCP to detect pathological mass, assess the nature of the disease process, and accurately assess the resectability of the malignant lesion were evaluated. In the statistical analysis the chi-squared and Fisher's precise tests were performed. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed 87% sensitivity, 97% specificity, and 95% accuracy of MRI and MRCP in the evaluation of the nature of tumors within the pancreas and 100% sensitivity, 90% specificity, and 93% accuracy in determining the resectability of the lesion. The positive predictive value came to 83%, while the negative predictive value was 100%. The kappa compatibility index in comparison with surgical findings was 0.85714. CONCLUSIONS: MR and MRCP is an important diagnostic method in assessing pancreatic tumors. It is very useful in differential diagnosis and determination of tumor resectability.