Anemia can predict organ failure in acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is the leading hospital admission in Gastroenterology and has a variable clinical course. Identifying severity of AP patients in its early stages is of foremost importance to improve prognosis. The revised Atlanta Classification grades AP severity by the presence of organ failure and local complications.

Recurrent acute pancreatitis is not uncommon in our clinical setting.

Data on recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis (RAP) are scarce. The aim of the study was to evaluate our rate of RAP and risks factors. This is a retrospective, single-center, study of consecutive patients admitted for AP and followed-up. Patients with more than one AP attack (RAP) were compared with patients with only a single AP episode (SAP) Clinical, demographic, outcome measures and severity were studied. 561 patients were included and follow-up over a mean 67.63 months' time. Our rate of RAP was 18,9%. Most patients suffered form only one episode of RAP (93%). Etiology of RAP episodes was mainly biliary (67%). On univariate analysis younger age (p 0.004), absence of high blood pressure (p 0.013) and absent of SIRS (p 0.022) were associated with recurrence of AP. On multivariate analysis only younger age was related to RAP (OR 1.015 95%IC 1.00-1.029). There were no statistical differences in outcome measures between both cohorts. RAP had a milder course in terms of severity (SAP 19% moderately severe/severe versus 9% in SAP). Almost 70% of the biliary RAP patients did not have a cholecystectomy performed. In this subset of patients, age OR 0.964 (95%IC 0.946-0.983), cholecystectomy OR 0.075 (95%IC 0.189-0.030) and cholecystectomy plus ERCP OR 0.190 (95%IC 0.219-0.055) were associated with absent of RAP. The rate of RAP in our series was 18,9%. Younger age was the only risk factor associated. Biliary etiology accounts for a large proportion of our RAP which could have been prevented with cholecystectomy or cholecystectomy plus ERCP.

Recurrent acute pancreatitis is not uncommon in our clinical setting

Data on recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis (RAP) are scarce. The aim of the study was to evaluate our rate of RAP and risks factors. This is a retrospective, single-center, study of consecutive patients admitted for AP and followed-up. Patients with more than one AP attack (RAP) were compared with patients with only a single AP episode (SAP) Clinical, demographic, outcome measures and severity were studied. 561 patients were included and follow-up over a mean 67.63 months' time. Our rate of RAP was 18,9%. Most patients suffered form only one episode of RAP (93%). Etiology of RAP episodes was mainly biliary (67%). On univariate analysis younger age (p 0.004), absence of high blood pressure (p 0.013) and absent of SIRS (p 0.022) were associated with recurrence of AP. On multivariate analysis only younger age was related to RAP (OR 1.015 95%IC 1.00-1.029). There were no statistical differences in outcome measures between both cohorts. RAP had a milder course in terms of severity (SAP 19% moderately severe/severe versus 9% in SAP). Almost 70% of the biliary RAP patients did not have a cholecystectomy performed. In this subset of patients, age OR 0.964 (95%IC 0.946-0.983), cholecystectomy OR 0.075 (95%IC 0.189-0.030) and cholecystectomy plus ERCP OR 0.190 (95%IC 0.219-0.055) were associated with absent of RAP. The rate of RAP in our series was 18,9%. Younger age was the only risk factor associated. Biliary etiology accounts for a large proportion of our RAP which could have been prevented with cholecystectomy or cholecystectomy plus ERCP.

La Pancreatitis Aguda Recurrente (PAR) es una entidad frecuente de la que hay pocos datos publicados. El objetivo del estudio es hallar la tasa y factores de riesgo asociados a PAR en nuestro medio. Es un estudio retrospectivo, unicéntrico, de pacientes ingresados por Pancreatitis Aguda (PA) y seguidos posteriormente. Se dividen en 2 grupos de pacientes: 1.- pacientes con un solo episodio de PA (PAS) y 2.- pacientes con más de un ingreso por PA (PAR). Se comparan variables clínicas, demográficas y de resultado. Resultados: 561 pacientes fueron incluidos y seguidos durante una media de 67,63 meses. 18,9% tuvieron al menos otro ingreso por PA. La mayoría sufrieron un solo episodio de PAR (93%). La etiología más frecuente fue biliar (67%). En el análisis univariado, una menor edad (p 0,004), la ausencia de hipertensión arterial (p 0,013) y de SIRS (p 0,022) se asociaron con PAR. En el análisis multivariado solo una menor edad se relacionó con PAR (OR 1,015, 95%, IC 1,00-1,029). No encontramos diferencias en las variables resultados entre ambos grupos. La PAR cursó de forma más leve (9% de pancreatitis moderada/graves o graves versus 19%). Casi un 70% de los pacientes con PAR biliar no tenían realizada una colecistectomía tras el ingreso índice. En este subgrupo de PAR, la edad OR 0,964 (95% IC 0,946-0,983), la colecistectomía OR 0,075 (95% IC 0,189-0,030) y la colecistectomía más colangiografía retrógrada OR 0,190 (95% IC 0,219-0,055) se asociaban a ausencia de PAR. Conclusión: Nuestra tasa de PAR fue 18,9%, con una menor edad como factor de riesgo. La etiología biliar fue la más frecuente que podría haberse evitado de haber realizado colecistectomía o colecistectomía más colangiografía retrógrada tras el primer ingreso.

Postoperative delirium: An independent risk factor for poorer quality of life with long-term cognitive and functional decline after cardiac surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of delirium on the functional and cognitive capacity of patients included in the DELIPRECAS study, as well as on their quality of life, in the 3-4 years after cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Assessment of cognitive and functional status from hospital discharge to the present, 3 years after cardiac surgery. PATIENTS: 313 patients undergoing cardiac surgery consecutively, aged 18 years or over. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome measure was the cognitive and functional status of the patients 3 years after cardiac surgery, evaluated by telephone interview, and the possible influence on them of delirium diagnosed by the Confusion Assessment Method in Intensive Care Units (CAM-ICU) during their stay in the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery. MAIN RESULTS: Postoperative delirium acts as an independent risk factor for the long-term development of memory problems (OR 6.11, 95% CI 2.54 to 14.68, p < 0.001), concentration (OR 11.20, 95% CI 3.58 to 35.09, p > 0.001), confusion/disorientation (OR 10.93, 95% CI 3.61 to 33.12, p > 0.001), sleep problems (OR 5.21, 95% CI 2 0.29 to 11.84, p < 0.001), nightmares (OR 8.99, 95% CI 1.98 to 40.90, p = 0.004), emotional problems (OR 4.30, 95% CI 1.87 to 9.91, p = 0.001) and poorer mobility after hospital discharge (OR 2.436, 95% CI 1.06 to 5.61, p = 0.037). The number of hospital readmissions was also significantly higher in those patients who developed delirium after cardiac surgery (27% vs 13.8%, p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Postoperative delirium is a risk factor for decreased quality of life in patients 3 years after heart surgery, being associated with greater cognitive and functional deterioration, as well as greater risk of hospital readmission. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on both prevention and early recognition and treatment of delirium to improve long-term outcomes for patients after cardiac surgery.

The influence of preoperative anxiety on postoperative pain in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery represent a challenge in terms of pain management due to multiple factors relating to the patients and to the procedure itself. Our aim was to identify the influence of levels of preoperative anxiety on postoperative pain in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and explore associations between preoperative anxiety, postoperative pain, analgesic requirements, and sex. We present a prospective cohort study of 116 patients undergoing cardiac surgery between January and April 2020. Preoperative anxiety was evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the amount of morphine needed to keep pain intensity below 4 on the verbal numerical rating scale was recorded for 48 h post-surgery. Given the extracorporeal circulation time, type of surgery and body surface, it was observed that every percentile increase in preoperative state anxiety led to an extra 0.068 mg of morphine being administered. For each extra year of age, the amount of morphine needed decreased by 0.26 mg, no difference was observed between men and women in terms of preoperative anxiety or postoperative analgesics requirements. It may be concluded that in cardiac surgery, postoperative analgesic requirements increased with higher levels of preoperative state anxiety and decreased for every extra year of age.

Impact of Oxygen Delivery on the Development of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Valve Heart Surgery.

One of the strongest risk factors for death in individuals undergoing cardiac surgery is Cardiac Surgery Associated-Acute Kidney Injury (CSA-AKI). Although the minimum kidney oxygen delivery index (DO2i) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been reported, the optimal threshold value has not yet been established. A prospective study was conducted from June 2012 to January 2016 to asses how DO2i influences the pathogenesis of CSA-AKI, as well as its most favorable cut-off value. DO2 levels were recorded at the beginning, middle, and end of the CPB. The association between DO2i and CSA-AKI was investigated using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The optimal cut-off of DO2i as a predictor of CSA-AKI was determined using Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis. A total of 782 consecutive patients were enrolled. Of these, 231 (29.5%) patients developed AKI. Optimal DO2i thresholds of 303 mL/min/m2 during the CPB and 295 mL/min/m2 at the end of the intervention were identified, which increased the odds of CSA-AKI almost two-fold (Odds Ratio (OR), 1.90; 95% CI, 1.12-3.24) during the surgery and maintained that risk (OR 1.94; 95% CI, 1.15-3.29) until the end. Low DO2i during cardiopulmonary bypass is a risk factor for CSA-AKI that cannot be ruled out. Continuous renal oxygen supply monitoring for adult patients could be a promising method for predicting AKI during CPB.

Auditing completion of nursing records as an outcome indicator for identifying patients at risk of developing pressure ulcers, falling, and social vulnerability: An observational study.

AIM: To evaluate the completion of nursing records through scheduled audits to analyse risk outcome indicators. BACKGROUND: Nursing records support clinical decision-making and encourage continuity of care, hence the importance of auditing their completion in order to take corrective action where necessary. METHOD: This was an observational descriptive study carried out from February to November 2020 with a sample of 1131 electronic health records belonging to patients admitted to COVID-19 hospital units during three observation periods: pre-pandemic, first wave, and second wave. RESULTS: A significant reduction in nursing record completion rates was observed between pre-pandemic period and first and second waves: Braden scale 40.97%, 28.02%, and 30.99%; Downton scale: 43.74%, 22.34%, and 33.91%; Gijón scale: 40.12%, 26.23%, and 33.64% (p < 0.001). There was an increase in the number of records completed between the first and second waves following the measures adopted after the quality audit. CONCLUSIONS: The use of scheduled audits of nursing records as quality indicators facilitated the detection of areas for improvement, allowing timely corrective actions. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Support from nursing managers at health care facilities to implement quality assessment programmes encompassing audits of clinical record completion will encourage the adoption of measures for corrective action.

Can the Cytokine Profile According to ABO Blood Groups Be Related to Worse Outcome in COVID-19 Patients? Yes, They Can.

Severe status of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is extremely associated to cytokine release. Moreover, it has been suggested that blood group is also associated with the prevalence and severity of this disease. However, the relationship between the cytokine profile and blood group remains unclear in COVID-19 patients. In this sense, we prospectively recruited 108 COVID-19 patients between March and April 2020 and divided according to ABO blood group. For the analysis of 45 cytokines, plasma samples were collected in the time of admission to hospital ward or intensive care unit and at the sixth day after hospital admission. The results show that there was a risk of more than two times lower of mechanical ventilation or death in patients with blood group O (log rank: p = 0.042). At first time, all statistically significant cytokine levels, except from hepatocyte growth factor, were higher in O blood group patients meanwhile the second time showed a significant drop, between 20% and 40%. In contrast, A/B/AB group presented a maintenance of cytokine levels during time. Hepatocyte growth factor showed a significant association with intubation or mortality risk in non-O blood group patients (OR: 4.229, 95% CI (2.064-8.665), p < 0.001) and also was the only one bad prognosis biomarker in O blood group patients (OR: 8.852, 95% CI (1.540-50.878), p = 0.015). Therefore, higher cytokine levels in O blood group are associated with a better outcome than A/B/AB group in COVID-19 patients.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Levels of Adherence to the Completion of Nursing Records for Inpatients in Isolation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased workload for nurses and organisational and structural changes, which have been necessary to meet the needs of inpatients in isolation. AIM: To describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on levels of adherence to the completion of nursing records that document the risk of developing pressure ulcers, falling, and social vulnerability among hospitalised patients in isolation. METHODS: Observational pre-post comparison study. Comparison between nursing records (the Braden, Downton, and Gijón scales) belonging to 1205 inpatients took place in two phases. Phase 1: 568 patients admitted in February 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, vs. phase 2: 637 patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in March-April 2020, during the peak of the first wave of the pandemic. This research adheres to the STROBE guidelines for the reporting of observational studies. RESULTS: The degree of completion of the Braden, Downton, and Gijón scales decreased significantly in phase 2 vs. phase 1 (p < 0.001). The mean Downton and Gijón scale scores for patients admitted in phase 1 were higher compared to those of patients admitted in phase 2 (p < 0.001). The mean Braden scale score in phase 2 was higher than in phase 1 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a decrease in the completion of nursing records in the clinical records of patients in isolation. The levels of risk of developing PUs, falling, and social vulnerability of patients admitted to hospital were lower during the first wave of the pandemic.

Long-term results of visual function in posterior uveal melanoma patients treated with I125 episcleral brachytherapy in a Spanish referral Ocular Oncology Unit / Resultados de longo prazo da função visual em pacientes com melanoma uveal posterior tratados com braquiterapia epiescleral com I125 em uma unidade de referência em Oncologia Oftalmológica na Espanha

ABSTRACT Purposes: We analyzed patient, tumor and dosimetric characteristics of subjects in a Spanish population diagnosed with uveal melanoma treated with iodine 125 (I125) episcleral brachytherapy, who presented with post-treatment loss of useful visual acuity and global evolution of visual acuity. Methods: A single historic observational cohort study was undertaken. Patients with uveal melanoma were recruited between September 1995 and June 2015. Clinical, tumor and dosimetric data collection and visual acuity evaluations were performed under everyday practice conditions based on a useful visual acuity >0.1 on the decimal scale. The baseline analysis was performed using descriptive and survival analyses according to Kaplan-Meier curves. Results: A total of 286 of the 665 patients diagnosed with uveal melanoma received episcleral brachytherapy, and 198 were included in the study. The mean follow-up time was 75.3 months (95% CI = 68.0-82.6). Patients with post-treatment useful visual acuity loss (n=94, 47%) presented the following characteristics: visual symptoms (n=80, p-value = 0.001); iris color (brown n=33, hazel green n=49, p-value = 0.047); Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study size (medium n=80, p-value = 0.159); tumor, node, metastasis stage (T2: n=38, T3: n=38, p=0.012); shape (nodular n=67, mushroom-shaped n=26, p=0.001); posterior pole involvement (n=47, p=0.04); recurrence (n=10, p=0.001); and dose administered in the fovea, optic nerve and center of the eye (p<0.002). Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, the mean overall survival of useful visual acuity was 90.19 months, and the probability of preserving useful visual acuity was 66% for one year, 45% for five years and 33% for ten years. Conclusion: Patients most likely to present with visual acuity loss were those with the following profile: elderly males with dark irises who were diagnosed with visual symptoms and exhibited a medium/large melanoma with a mushroom shape in the posterior pole (near the fovea and/or optic nerve). All patients treated with episcleral brachytherapy are likely to present with visual acuity loss, which is more pronounced in the first few years following treatment.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar características individuais, tu morais e dosimétricas de pacientes diagnosticados com melanoma uveal, tratados através de braquiterapia epiescleral com iodo-125 (I125), que apresentaram perda da acuidade visual útil após o tratamento e analisar a evolução global da acuidade visual em uma população da Espanha. Métodos: Este é um estudo observacional de coorte histórica considerando pacientes com melanoma uveal diagnosticados entre setembro de 1995 e junho de 2015. Foram coletados dados clínicos, tumorais e dosimétricos e medida a acuidade visual em condições de prática clínica diária, considerando uma acuidade visual útil superior a 0,1 na escala decimal. A análise de base foi efetuada por curvas Kaplan-Meier descritivas de sobrevivência Resultados: Um total de 286 dos 665 pacientes diagnosticados com melanoma uveal recebeu braquiterapia epiescleral e 198 deles foram incluídos no estudo. O tempo médio de acompanhamento foi de 75,3 meses (IC 95%: 68,0-82,6). Os pacientes com perda da acuidade visual útil após o tratamento (n=94, 47%) apresentaram as seguintes características: sintomas visuais (n=80, p=0,001), cor da íris (castanha: n=33, castanho-esverdeada: n=49; p=0,047), tamanho de acordo com o Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (tamanho médio: n=80, p=0,159), tumor, nódulo, estágio de metástase (T2: n=38, T3: n=38, p=0,012), forma (nodular: n=67, em forma de cogumelo: n=26, p=0,001), envolvimento do polo posterior (n=47, p=0,04), recorrência (n=10, p=0,001) e dose administrada na fóvea, no nervo óptico e no centro do olho (p<0,002). Na análise de Kaplan-Meier, o tempo médio de sobrevivência geral da acuidade visual útil foi de 90,19 meses e a probabilidade de preservação da acuidade visual útil foi de 66% por um ano, 45% por 5 anos e 33% por 10 anos. Conclusão: O perfil de paciente com maior probabilidade de perda da acuidade visual útil é o de homem idoso com íris escura, diagnosticado com sintomas visuais e melanoma de tamanho médio a grande, em forma de cogumelo no polo posterior (próximo à fóvea, ao nervo óptico ou a ambos). Todos os pacientes tratados com braquiterapia epiescleral terão perda da acuidade visual, mais pronunciada nos primeiros anos após o tratamento.

Parental Satisfaction With Autonomous Pediatric Ambulatory Surgery Units.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ambulatory surgery is much favored in children, as they are usually healthy with no major comorbidities. Obvious benefits are minimization of health costs, optimal utilization of resources, decreased exposure to infections, and psychological and emotional advantages of avoiding admission of the patient, especially for the family. Parental satisfaction is a challenge in pediatric surgery processes. The objective of this study was to compare satisfaction in parents whose children underwent surgery without overnight stays with parents whose children were operated on in an autonomous major ambulatory surgery unit (hospital isolated). METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of 200 children who received surgery on an outpatient basis (133 were included in an outpatient unit and 67 in a hospital setting). Different variables were collected, including sex, age, type of surgery, and length of stay in the hospital and location, and a telephone perception survey was conducted (questionnaire of satisfaction of 14 questions with possible answers from 1 to 4 on a Likert scale and a 15th question on global satisfaction, with an answer from 0 to 10). RESULTS: Overall satisfaction during the hospital stay was higher in the group operated on in the autonomous major surgery unit (3.54 ± 0.57 vs 3.28 ± 0.64, P = .004). Whether parents respond as being very satisfied with the hospital stay is influenced by several factors, among which are: being treated at major ambulatory surgery units (odds ratio [OR] = 2.16), good or very good information received prior to surgery (OR = 2.03), and good or very good information received at discharge (OR = 2.48). CONCLUSIONS: Parents of children who received surgery on an outpatient basis were more satisfied if the procedure was performed in an autonomous major ambulatory surgery unit compared with hospitalization, even if it was not overnight. The information received during the care process influenced the parents' satisfaction. These findings suggest that efforts should be devoted to the creation of autonomous units for ambulatory surgery and to the improvement of perioperative information.

HGF, IL-1α, and IL-27 Are Robust Biomarkers in Early Severity Stratification of COVID-19 Patients.

Pneumonia is the leading cause of hospital admission and mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to identify the cytokines responsible for lung damage and mortality. We prospectively recruited 108 COVID-19 patients between March and April 2020 and divided them into four groups according to the severity of respiratory symptoms. Twenty-eight healthy volunteers were used for normalization of the results. Multiple cytokines showed statistically significant differences between mild and critical patients. High HGF levels were associated with the critical group (OR = 3.51; p < 0.001; 95%CI = 1.95-6.33). Moreover, high IL-1α (OR = 1.36; p = 0.01; 95%CI = 1.07-1.73) and low IL-27 (OR = 0.58; p < 0.005; 95%CI = 0.39-0.85) greatly increased the risk of ending up in the severe group. This model was especially sensitive in order to predict critical status (AUC = 0.794; specificity = 69.74%; sensitivity = 81.25%). Furthermore, high levels of HGF and IL-1α showed significant results in the survival analysis (p = 0.033 and p = 0.011, respectively). HGF, IL-1α, and IL 27 at hospital admission were strongly associated with severe/critical COVID-19 patients and therefore are excellent predictors of bad prognosis. HGF and IL-1α were also mortality biomarkers.

Long-term results of visual function in posterior uveal melanoma patients treated with I125 episcleral brachytherapy in a Spanish referral Ocular Oncology Unit.

PURPOSES: We analyzed patient, tumor and dosimetric characteristics of subjects in a Spanish population diagnosed with uveal melanoma treated with iodine 125 (I125) episcleral brachytherapy, who presented with post-treatment loss of useful visual acuity and global evolution of visual acuity. METHODS: A single historic observational cohort study was undertaken. Patients with uveal melanoma were recruited between September 1995 and June 2015. Clinical, tumor and dosimetric data collection and visual acuity evaluations were performed under everyday practice conditions based on a useful visual acuity >0.1 on the decimal scale. The baseline analysis was performed using descriptive and survival analyses according to Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: A total of 286 of the 665 patients diagnosed with uveal melanoma received episcleral brachytherapy, and 198 were included in the study. The mean follow-up time was 75.3 months (95% CI = 68.0-82.6). Patients with post-treatment useful visual acuity loss (n=94, 47%) presented the following characteristics: visual symptoms (n=80, p-value = 0.001); iris color (brown n=33, hazel green n=49, p-value = 0.047); Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study size (medium n=80, p-value = 0.159); tumor, node, metastasis stage (T2: n=38, T3: n=38, p=0.012); shape (nodular n=67, mushroom-shaped n=26, p=0.001); posterior pole involvement (n=47, p=0.04); recurrence (n=10, p=0.001); and dose administered in the fovea, optic nerve and center of the eye (p<0.002). Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, the mean overall survival of useful visual acuity was 90.19 months, and the probability of preserving useful visual acuity was 66% for one year, 45% for five years and 33% for ten years. CONCLUSION: Patients most likely to present with visual acuity loss were those with the following profile: elderly males with dark irises who were diagnosed with visual symptoms and exhibited a medium/large melanoma with a mushroom shape in the posterior pole (near the fovea and/or optic nerve). All patients treated with episcleral brachytherapy are likely to present with visual acuity loss, which is more pronounced in the first few years following treatment.

Development and validation of a delirium risk prediction preoperative model for cardiac surgery patients (DELIPRECAS): An observational multicentre study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a delirium risk prediction preoperative model for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Observational prospective multicentre study. SETTING: Six intensive care units in Spain. PATIENTS: 689 patients undergoing cardiac surgery consecutively, aged ≥18 years. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome measure was the development of delirium, diagnosed using the Confusion Assessment Method in Intensive Care Units (CAM-ICU), during the stay in the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery. MAIN RESULTS: The model was developed with 345 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery at six hospitals and validated with another 344 patients from the same hospitals. The prediction model contained four preoperative risk factors: age over 65 years, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 25-26 points (possible impairment of cognitive function) or < 25 (impairment of cognitive function), insomnia needing medical treatment and low physical activity (walk less than 30 min a day). The model had an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.825 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-0.89). The validation resulted in an area under the curve of 0.79 (0.73-0.85) and the pooled area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (n = 689) was 0.81 (0.76-0.85). We stratified patients in groups of low (0%-20%), moderate (> 20%-40%), high (> 40%-60%) and very high (> 60%) risk of developing delirium, with a positive and negative predictive value for the very high risk group of 70.97% and 85.56%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The DELIPRECAS model (DELIrium PREvention CArdiac Surgery), consisting of four well-defined clinical risk factors, can predict in the preoperative period the risk of developing postoperative delirium in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. An automatic version of the risk calculator is available.

Anomalous self-experiences are related to general cognition deficits in schizophrenia.

Anomalous self-experiences (ASEs) are prevalent in schizophrenia, but its underpinnings are not completely understood. Given the likely complex substrate of the experience of the self, neurocognitive functions requiring coordinate cerebral activity may relate to ASEs. Moreover, cognitive deficits functioning may be involved in the link between self-experience disturbances and some aspects of social dysfunction in schizophrenia. We have assessed ASEs in 41 schizophrenia patients (11 first episodes) using the Inventory of Psychotic-Like Anomalous Self-Experiences (IPASE), and the general cognition using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS). Besides, social cognition was assessed using two complementary tools Meyer, Salovey and Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) and GEOPTE (Grupo Español para la Optimización del Tratamiento de la Esquizofrenia). The results revealed that Self-awareness/presence and Somatization IPASE scores were inversely explained by motor speed in the BACS; Consciousness IPASE scores were inversely explained by problem solving performance in the BACS. These data reveal a significant relationship between certain domains of general cognition and anomalous self-experiences, that may be useful in further investigation on the substrates of ASEs.

Assessment of radiation doses received by patients during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography according to disease location.

OBJECTIVE: patients are exposed to ionizing radiation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Radiation dose depends on multiple factors. The goal of this study was to assess fluoroscopy time (FT), radiation doses and effective dose (ED) during ERCP according to the condition being treated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: a descriptive study was performed of 369 consecutive ERCPs from January 2017 to June 2019. Patient demographic and procedure data were collected. FT, cumulative dose area product (DAP), fluoroscopy DAP, DA fluoroscopy, air kerma, and number of radiographs were assessed. ED was estimated using specific conversion factors. RESULTS: the mean age was 73.34 years and 193 subjects were male. Mean FT was 4.56 ± 0.17 min, cumulative DAP was 2,056.73 ± 188.83 cGycm2, fluoroscopy DAP was 1,722.90 ± 82.26 cGycm2 and air kerma was 85.84 ± 4.93 mGy. The number of radiographs was 2.10 ± 0.07 and the mean ED was 5.34 ± 0.49 mSv. FT was significantly longer for choledocholithiasis (CL), proximal malignant biliary stricture (PMBS) and distal malignant biliary stricture (DMBS) versus others (OT). Cumulative DAP was higher for PMBS (p < 0.002). FT, cumulative DAP, fluoroscopy DAP and air kerma values were significantly higher for complicated CL as compared to simple CL. ED was higher for CL, DMBS and PMBS, but only significantly (p < 0.002) for PMBS. CONCLUSIONS: FT for ERCP is variable and increases with exploration difficulty. Thus, it is longer in the case of PMBS, as well as with the amount of radiation received by the patients and ED.

Nosocomial Vs. Community-Acquired Infective Endocarditis in Spain: Location, Trends, Clinical Presentation, Etiology, and Survival in the 21st Century.

Major changes have occurred in the epidemiology and etiology of infective endocarditis (IE). Nevertheless, the differences between nosocomial infective endocarditis (NIE) and community-acquired infective endocarditis (CIE) have not been addressed in a population-based study. We conducted a retrospective, nationwide, temporal trend study from 1997 to 2014 analyzing the epidemiology, clinical, geographical, meteorological characteristics of patients diagnosed with IE in Spain, to distinguish NIE from CIE. Among 25,952 patients with IE (62.2 ± 18·6 years; 65.9% men), 45.9% had NIE. The incidence of IE increased from 2.83 to 3.73 due to the NIE incidence increment with a decline in CIE. Patients with NIE were older (63.8 years vs. 60.8 years, p < 0·001), presented a higher Charlson index (1.22 vs. 1.03, p < 0.001), a greater history of implanted cardiac devices (8.7% vs. 4.6%, p < 0.001), and higher mortality (31.5% vs. 21.7%, p < 0.001). The most frequent microorganism for both NIE and CIE was Staphylococcus (p < 0.001), and the North reported a higher incidence (p < 0.001). Risk factors of mortality for NIE were age, Charlson index, hemodialysis, shock, heart failure, and stroke. Risk factors for CIE included female sex, renal disease, and cardiac-device carriers. The etiology of IE shifted from community origins to mostly nosocomial-associated infections. Higher morbidity, mortality, and poorer outcomes are associated with NIE.

The Overlooked Immune State in Candidemia: A Risk Factor for Mortality.

Lymphopenia has been related to increased mortality in septic patients. Nonetheless, the impact of lymphocyte count on candidemia mortality and prognosis has not been addressed. We conducted a retrospective study, including all admitted patients with candidemia from 2007 to 2016. We examined lymphocyte counts during the first 5 days following the diagnosis of candidemia. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between lymphocyte count and mortality. Classification and Regression Tree analysis was used to identify the best cut-off of lymphocyte count for mortality associated with candidemia. From 296 cases of candidemia, 115 died, (39.8% 30-day mortality). Low lymphocyte count was related to mortality and poor outcome (p < 0.001). Lymphocyte counts <0.703 × 109 cells/L at diagnosis (area under the curve (AUC)-ROC, 0.783 ± 0.042; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.700-0.867, p < 0.001), and lymphocyte count <1.272 × 109 cells/L five days later (AUC-ROC, 0.791 ± 0.038; 95%CI, 0.716-0.866, p < 0.001) increased the odds of mortality five-fold (odds ratio (OR), 5.01; 95%CI, 2.39-10.93) at time of diagnosis, and three-fold (OR, 3.27; 95%CI, 1.24-8.62) by day 5, respectively. Low lymphocyte count is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with candidemia and might serve as a biomarker for predicting candidemia-associated mortality and poor outcome.