Management of cytomegalovirus infection after liver transplantation.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the primary causes of morbidity and mortality following liver transplantation (LT). Based on current worldwide guidelines, the most effective strategies for avoiding post-transplant CMV infection are antiviral prophylaxis and pre-emptive treatment. CMV- IgG serology is the established technique for pretransplant screening of both donors and recipients. The clinical presentation of CMV infection and disease exhibits variability, prompting clinicians to consistently consider this possibility, particularly within the first year post-transplantation or subsequent to heightened immunosuppression. At annual symposia to discuss CMV prevention and how treatment outcomes can be improved, evidence on the incorporation of immune functional tests into clinical practice is presented, and the results of studies with new antiviral treatments are evaluated. Although there are ongoing studies on the use of letermovir and maribavir in solid organ transplantation, a consensus reflected in the guidelines has not been formed. Determining the most appropriate strategy at the individual level appears to be the key to enhancing outcomes. Although prevention strategies reduce the risk of CMV disease, the disease can still occur in up to 50% of high-risk patients. A balance between the risk of infection and disease development and the use of immunosuppressants must be considered when talking about the proper management of CMV in solid organ transplant recipients. The objective of this study was to establish a comprehensive framework for the management of CMV in patients who have had LT.

Update on Cytomegalovirus Infection Management in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients. A Consensus Document of the Spanish Group for Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy (GETH-TC).

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a common complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and in patients receiving novel hematological therapies. Its impact on morbidity and mortality necessitates effective management strategies. Despite recent advances in diagnostics and treatment, unresolved questions persist regarding monitoring and treatment, prompting the need for updated recommendations. Methods: A consensus was reached among a panel of experts selected for their expertise in CMV research and clinical practice. Key clinical areas and questions were identified based on previous surveys and literature reviews. Recommendations were formulated through consensus and graded using established guidelines. Results: Recommendations were provided for virological monitoring, including the timing and frequency of CMV DNAemia surveillance, especially during letermovir (LMV) prophylaxis. We evaluated the role of CMV DNA load quantification in diagnosing CMV disease, particularly pneumonia and gastrointestinal involvement, along with the utility of specific CMV immune monitoring in identifying at-risk patients. Strategies for tailoring LMV prophylaxis, managing breakthrough DNAemia, and implementing secondary prophylaxis in refractory cases were outlined. Additionally, criteria for initiating early antiviral treatment based on viral load dynamics were discussed. Conclusion: The consensus provides updated recommendations for managing CMV infection in hematological patients, focusing on unresolved issues in monitoring, prophylaxis, treatment, and resistance. These recommendations aim to guide clinical practice and improve outcomes in this high-risk population. Further research is warranted to validate these recommendations and address ongoing challenges in CMV management with emerging antiviral combinations, particularly in pediatric populations.

Efficacy and Safety of Different Preemptive Analgesia Measures in Pain Management after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this systematic review and network meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different preemptive analgesia measures given before laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for postoperative pain in patients. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search in databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library up to March 2024, and collected relevant research data on the 26 preemptive analgesia measures defined in this article in LC surgery. Outcomes included postoperative Visual Analogue Scores (VAS) at different times (2, 6, 12, and 24 h), opioid consumption within 24 h post-operation, time to first rescue analgesia, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and incidence of postoperative headache or dizziness. RESULTS: Forty-nine articles involving 5987 patients were included. The network meta-analysis revealed that multimodal analgesia, nerve blocks, pregabalin, and gabapentin significantly reduced postoperative pain scores at all postoperative time points and postoperative opioid consumption compared to placebo. Tramadol, pregabalin, and gabapentin significantly extended the time to first rescue analgesia. Ibuprofen was the best intervention for reducing PONV incidence. Tramadol significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative headache or dizziness. Subgroup analysis of different doses of pregabalin and gabapentin showed that compared to placebo, pregabalin (300 mg, 150 mg) and gabapentin (600 mg, 300 mg, and 20 mg/kg) were all more effective without significant differences in efficacy between these doses. Higher doses increased the incidence of PONV and postoperative headache and dizziness, with gabapentin 300 mg having a lower adverse drug reaction (ADR) incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Preemptive analgesia significantly reduced postoperative pain intensity, opioid consumption, extended the time to first rescue analgesia, and decreased the incidence of PONV and postoperative headache and dizziness. Multimodal analgesia, nerve blocks, pregabalin, and gabapentin all showed good efficacy. Gabapentin 300 mg given preoperatively significantly reduced postoperative pain and ADR incidence, recommended for preemptive analgesia in LC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42024522185.

Dynamical behaviour and meta heuristic optimization of a hospital management software system.

The growing demand for easily available healthcare in recent years has fuelled the digitization of healthcare services. The Hospital Management System (HMS) software stands out as a comprehensive solution among the software systems and tools that hospitals and clinics are developing in tandem with this trend. In order to effectively manage many facets of hospital operations, in this paper, we propose an approach for investigating software of this kind. Thus, we characterise the HMS software as a unique sort of batch arrival retrial queueing system (QS) that can handle both ordinary and priority patient demands. Furthermore, it permits patient resistance (balk) and departure (renege) in specific circumstances. The proposed model is additionally deployed within the framework of Bernoulli working vacation. The supplementary variable technique (SVT) has been utilised to obtain the necessary results. ANFIS, a soft computing tool, is used to validate the analytical results as well. Finally, this study seeks to enhance the cost-effectiveness of software creation by employing four unique optimization methods, aiming to achieve optimal efficiency in resource utilization.

A study of a loss system with priorities.

The Erlang loss formula, also known as the Erlang B formula, has been known for over a century and has been used in a wide range of applications, from telephony to hospital intensive care unit management. It provides the blocking probability of arriving customers to a loss system involving a finite number of servers without a waiting room. Because of the need to introduce priorities in many services, an extension of the Erlang B formula to the case of a loss system with preemptive priority is valuable and essential. This paper analytically establishes the consistency between the global balance (steady state) equations for a loss system with preemptive priorities and a known result obtained using traffic loss arguments for the same problem. This paper, for the first time, derives this known result directly from the global balance equations based on the relevant multidimensional Markov chain. The paper also addresses the question of whether or not the well-known insensitivity property of the Erlang loss system is also applicable to the case of a loss system with preemptive priorities, provides explanations, and demonstrates through simulations that, except for the blocking probability of the highest priority customers, the blocking probabilities of the other customers are sensitive to the service time distributions and that a larger service time variance leads to a lower blocking probability of the lower priority traffic.

The Use of Kidneys With Lower Longevity From Deceased Donors to Improve Access to Preemptive Renal Transplantation for Elderly Patients: A Qualitative Study.

Background: There is a gap between the number of patients waiting for a transplant and the number of kidneys available. Some deceased donor kidneys are currently nonutilized, as medical teams fear that they will experience suboptimal graft survival. However, these organs could provide an acceptable therapeutic option if they were allocated for preemptive kidney transplantation in elderly candidates. Objective: This project aims to gather patients' perspectives on the allocation of kidneys with lower longevity for preemptive kidney transplantation in elderly patients. Design: Individual interviews. Setting: The Center hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) chronic kidney disease (CKD) clinic. Participants: Patients aged between 64 and 75 years with CKD G4-5 ND, followed at the CHUM and who have not initiated dialysis yet. Methods: Between March and July 2023, we conducted 14 individual interviews with patients aged between 64 and 75 years who had CKD G4-5 ND and were followed at the CHUM. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was conducted. Results: Most participants were in favor of using kidneys with lower longevity to increase their access to transplantation, improve their quality of life, enable accelerated transplantation, and avoid dialysis. Patients also wanted to be engaged in the decision-making process, underlining the importance of informed consent. Although the use of kidneys with lower longevity offers the hope of returning to "normal" life, some patients were concerned about the risk of reduced graft survival and the need for a subsequent kidney transplant. In these cases, patients were interested in using mitigation strategies, such as prioritization for kidney transplantation from standard donors in case of early graft loss associated with receiving kidneys with lower longevity. They also recommended the development of a separate waiting list for patients consenting to preemptive transplantation with kidneys with lower longevity. Limitations: This study was conducted in only 1 nephrology clinic in the province of Quebec with French-speaking patients. Consequently, the results may not be generalizable to other populations, including ethnic minorities. Conclusion: The use of kidneys with lower longevity for preemptive kidney transplantation appears to be an interesting option for elderly kidney transplant candidates. However, patient information and participation in the decision-making process are essential. Moreover, organ donation organizations and transplant programs should develop a separate waitlist for transplant candidates who have preconsented to receive organ offers of deceased donor kidneys with lower longevity. Trial registration: Not registered.

Mise en contexte: Il existe un écart entre le nombre de patients en attente d'une greffe et le nombre de reins disponibles. À l'heure actuelle, un certain nombre de reins de donneurs décédés ne sont pas utilisés, car les équipes médicales craignent que la survie des greffons ne soit pas optimale. Ces organes pourraient toutefois constituer une option thérapeutique acceptable s'ils étaient attribués à des candidats âgés pour une transplantation pré-emptive. Objectifs de l'étude: Ce projet vise à connaître la position des patients quant à la transplantation pré-emptive de reins jugés de moindre longévité chez des candidats âgés. Conception: Entretiens individuels. Cadre: La clinique d'insuffisance rénale chronique du Center hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM). Sujets: Des patients âgés de 64 à 75 ans atteints d'IRC G4-5 suivis au CHUM et n'ayant pas encore amorcé la dialyse. Méthodologie: Entre mars et juillet 2023, nous avons mené 14 entretiens individuels avec des patients de 64 à 75 ans non dialysés atteints d'IRC G4-5 suivis au CHUM. Les entrevues ont été enregistrées sous forme numérique, puis transcrites. Une analyze thématique a été effectuée. Résultats: La plupart des personnes interrogées étaient en faveur de l'utilisation de reins de moindre longévité en vue d'augmenter leur accès à la transplantation, d'améliorer leur qualité de vie, d'accélérer la transplantation et d'éviter la dialyse. Les patients souhaitaient également participer au processus décisionnel, ce qui met en lumière l'importance du consentement éclairé. Bien que l'utilisation de reins de moindre longévité offre l'espoir d'un retour à une vie « normale ¼, certains patients s'inquiétaient du risque de survie réduite du greffon et, dès lors, de l'éventuelle nécessité d'une nouvelle greffe. Dans ces cas, les personnes interrogées étaient intéressées par des stratégies d'atténuation comme une priorité donnée à la transplantation de reins provenant de donneurs standards en cas de perte précoce du greffon liée au fait d'avoir reçu un rein de moindre longévité. Les personnes répondantes ont également proposé l'établissement d'une liste d'attente distincte pour les patients qui consentent à une transplantation pré-emptive avec des reins de moindre longévité. Limites de l'étude: Cette étude a été menée dans une seule clinique de néphrologie au Québec auprès de patients francophones. Par conséquent, les résultats pourraient ne pas être généralisables à d'autres populations, notamment à des personnes issues de minorités ethniques. Conclusion: L'utilisation de reins de moindre longévité pour la transplantation rénale pré-emptive semble être une option thérapeutique intéressante pour les candidats âgés. Toutefois, il est essentiel que les patients soient bien informés et qu'ils participent au processus décisionnel. Enfin, les organismes de don d'organes et les programs de transplantation devraient établir une liste d'attente distincte pour les candidats ayant préalablement consenti à recevoir des offres d'organes pour des reins de moindre longévité provenant de donneurs décédés.

Pre-Emptive Acetaminophen for Postoperative Pain (PAPP): An Updated Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: Postoperative pain is a common consequence of surgery. Pre-emptive analgesia involves the initiation of analgesics prior to surgical incision. This has been proposed as a simple method to help reduce postoperative pain, which may be more effective in higher-risk populations such as cervical spine surgery. A previous meta-analysis has demonstrated that pre-emptive acetaminophen may be effective in reducing postoperative pain although the certainty of evidence was limited. This present paper is an updated meta-analysis comparing pre-emptive acetaminophen versus postincision acetaminophen in adult patients undergoing surgery. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis with the inclusion of an unpublished randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. METHODS: An updated meta-analysis was conducted which searched electronic databases to identify randomized controlled trials with the same interventions. FINDINGS: We included 845 participants and 12 studies in the updated meta-analysis. The meta-analysis (including our trial) found reduced 24-hour morphine consumption in the pre-emptive group (mean difference -2.42 mg; 95% confidence interval -4.26 to -0.59 mg), as well as reduced postoperative vomiting (risk ratio 0.56; 95% confidence interval 0.36 to 0.88). There was no difference between pre-emptive acetaminophen and control groups for time to analgesic request, pain scores at 6 and 24 hours or pruritis. For all outcomes assessed, there was very low certainty of evidence. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis found pre-emptive acetaminophen reduced 24-hour opioid consumption and postoperative vomiting.

Efficacy of Pre-emptive Infiltration of Dexmedetomidine with a Local Anaesthetic on Postoperative Pain in Maxillofacial Trauma Management under General Anaesthesia: A Prospective Study.

Introduction: Pre-emptive analgesia aims to reduce post-operative pain and the need for analgesics. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist with sedative and analgesic properties. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of pre-emptive infiltration of DEX combined with local anaesthetic (2% lignocaine with adrenaline) in managing post-operative pain in maxillofacial trauma patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation procedures, as compared to pre-emptive infiltration of placebo (saline) with the same local anaesthetic. Materials and Methods: Forty-two participants of maxillofacial trauma with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score of more than 4 were included in this double-blinded randomised controlled trial. Group DL (Dexmedetomidine with local anaesthetic) received dexmedetomidine (DEX) with local anaesthesia while group PL (placebo with local anaesthetic) received placebo with local anaesthesia. Participants were evaluated for the time taken for the first rescue analgesic, total doses of fentanyl taken by the patient in the first 24 h, post-operative pain (VAS) at 6, 12, 16 and 24 h, post-operative side effects and analysed. Results: The DL group had a significantly longer time to first rescue analgesic compared to the PL group. Surgeons in the DL group reported higher satisfaction and better surgical field visibility. Post-operative VAS scores were lower in the DL group at 6 and 12 h, with a median score of 1 at 16 and 24 h. Discussion: Pre-emptive DEX infiltration is effective in reducing post-operative pain and opioid consumption in maxillofacial trauma cases undergoing open reduction and internal fixation. This approach can enhance patient comfort and improve surgical outcomes without significant risks.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Immunodeficiency-Centromeric Instability-Facial Dysmorphism (ICF) Syndrome: an EBMT/ESID Inborn Errors Working Party Study.

Immunodeficiency-Centromeric instability-Facial dysmorphism (ICF) syndrome is an inborn error of immunity characterized by progressive immune dysfunction and multi-organ disease usually treated with antimicrobial prophylaxis and immunoglobulin substitution. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment, but data on outcome are scarce. We provide a detailed description of disease characteristics and HSCT outcome in an international cohort of ICF syndrome patients. Eighteen patients (including all four genotypes) were enrolled. Main HSCT indications were infections (83%), enteropathy/failure to thrive (56%), immune dysregulation (22%) and myelodysplasia/haematological malignancy (17%). Two patients underwent pre-emptive HSCT after early diagnosis. Patients were transplanted between 2003-2021, at median age 4.3 years (range 0.5-19), after myeloablative or reduced-intensity conditioning, from matched sibling or matched family donors, matched unrelated or mismatched donors in 39%, 50% and 12% of cases respectively. Overall survival was 83% (all deaths occurred within the first 5 months post-HSCT; mean follow-up 54 months (range 1-185)). Acute GvHD occurred in 35% of patients, severe (grade III) in two (12%), while none developed chronic GvHD. At latest follow-up (median 2.2 years (range 0.1-14)), complete donor chimerism was achieved in 15/17 surviving patients. All survivors demonstrated normalized T and B cell numbers. Immunoglobulin substitution independence was achieved in all but two patients. All survivors recovered from pre-transplant infections, enteropathy/failure to thrive and immune dysregulation. All three patients transplanted at young age (≤ 3 years), after early diagnosis, survived. The favourable clinical and immunological HSCT outcome in this cohort of patients supports the timely use of this curative treatment in ICF syndrome.

Cytomegalovirus viral load at initiation of pre-emptive antiviral therapy impacts cytomegalovirus dynamics in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) contributes to morbidity and mortality in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) recipients. Pre-emptive antiviral therapy (PET) reduces the incidence of CMV end-organ disease (EOD), though relevant viral thresholds to initiate PET remain undefined. We evaluated the impact of viral loads (VLs) at PET initiation on virologic and clinical outcomes following pediatric allo-HCT. METHODS: Single-center retrospective cohort analysis of children who underwent their first allo-HCT from January 2014 to December 2020. Weekly quantitative plasma CMV polymerase chain reaction was performed until Day +100 and PET was initiated once VL exceeded a pre-defined threshold per institutional guidelines. Patients were followed for 1-year post-HCT to evaluate virologic and clinical outcomes including end-organ disease (EOD), overall survival (OS), and non-relapse mortality (NRM). RESULTS: Among 146 allo-HCT recipients, CMV DNAemia occurred in 40 patients (27%) at a median of 15 days post-HCT (interquartile range 6-28.5). Ten percent (n = 4) had spontaneous resolution of DNAemia, while 90% (n = 36) required PET. PET initiated when CMV VL was ≥ 1000 IU/mL (n = 21) vs when VL < 1000 IU/mL (n = 15) resulted in higher peak CMV VL (12,670 vs. 1284 IU/mL, p = 0.0001) and longer time to CMV DNAemia resolution (36 vs. 24 days, p = 0.035). There were no differences in EOD, OS, or NRM at 12 months post-HCT based on VL at PET initiation. CONCLUSIONS: Initiating PET when CMV VL was ≥1000 IU/mL resulted in significantly higher peak VL and prolonged DNAemia, with no differences in EOD, OS, or NRM at 12 months post pediatric HCT.

Intracapsular Enucleation of Cervical Sympathetic Chain Schwannoma: Improved Strategy of Intraoperative Hemostasis and Better Outcome.

Objective: Intracapsular enucleation (ICE) of cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma (CSCS) is associated with technical difficulties, with diffuse hemorrhage being the main challenge in our previous attempts. This article presents our new strategy for achieving better hemostasis during ICE procedures in CSCS cases. Methods: A retrospective review of CSCS cases treated at our tertiary medical institution was undertaken between April 2018 and February 2024. Only cases with successful ICE were included. Results: A total of 8 cases were included, with 4 male and 4 female patients and an age range of 23 to 77 (average and median ages were 48.5 and 49.5 years, respectively). The presenting symptom was a neck mass for all the patients, with 4 masses on the left and 4 on the right sides. Enucleation was first undertaken for the first 3 cases (before March 2022), followed by hemostasis; this strategy was quite difficult and time-consuming. For the remaining 5 cases, a new strategy was developed to preemptively manage any potential nourishing vessel between the capsule and tumor parenchyma, which significantly decreased operation time (P = .0155) and facilitated hemorrhage control. First bite syndrome (FBS) was avoided in all cases. Postoperative Horner's syndrome (HS) was avoided in 1 patient (Case 6, new strategy) but occurred in 7 patients, taking 8 days to 1 month to recover with the new strategy (4 patients), significantly shorter (P = .0364) than before (3 patients, 1-3 months). The median duration of follow-up was 20 months. No recurrence was documented. Conclusions: ICE was achieved for CSCS cases, especially with our newly developed strategy, by preemptively and securely managing potential nourishing vessels. Operation time and duration of recovery of postoperative HS could both be shortened. Moreover, FBS could be avoided.

Comparing the effects of pre-emptive oxycodone, diclofenac, and gabapentin on postoperative pain after tibia fracture surgery: A randomized clinical trail.

Background: Postoperative pain (POP) is one of the most common and most important types of pain. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of pre-emptive oxycodone, diclofenac, and gabapentin on postoperative pain (POP) among patients with tibia fracture surgery. Materials and Methods: This double-blind three-group randomised controlled trial was conducted in 2023. Participants were 111 candidates for tibia fracture surgery under general anaesthesia. They were randomly allocated to oxycodone, gabapentin, and diclofenac groups through block randomisation. Baseline arterial oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure were documented before surgery and POP and sedation status were measured during postoperative recovery and 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h after surgery. Postoperative opioid analgesic use was also documented. The data were analysed using the SPSS software (v. 20.0) at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: Groups did not significantly differ from each other respecting participants' baseline age, gender, body mass index, arterial oxygen saturation, heart rate, blood pressure, and surgery duration (P > 0.05). Moreover, there were no significant differences among the groups respecting POP and sedation status at different measurement time points (P > 0.05), except for six hours after surgery at which the POP mean score in the gabapentin group was significantly less than the other two groups (P = 0.001). Among-group differences respecting postoperative use of opioid analgesics and medication side effects were also insignificant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Pre-emptive oxycodone, diclofenac, and gabapentin significantly reduce POP among patients with tibia fracture surgery, though gabapentin may produce more significant analgesic effects. All these three medications can be used for pre-emptive analgesia. Of course, the best pre-emptive analgesic agent is determined based on the opinion of the treating physician.

Coverage of Two-Dose Preemptive Cholera Mass Vaccination Campaign in High-Priority Hotspots in Shashemene, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Cholera is a public health priority in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian National Cholera Plan elaborates a multi-year scheme of oral cholera vaccine (OCV) use. Aligned with this, a preemptive OCV campaign was conducted under our Ethiopia Cholera Control and Prevention project. Here, we present the OCV vaccination outcomes. METHOD: Cholera high-priority hotspots in the Oromia Region, Shashemene Town (ST) and Shashemene Woreda (SW), were selected. Four kebelles (Abosto, Alelu, Arada, and Awasho) in ST and 4 clusters (Faji Gole, Harabate, Toga, and Chabi) in SW were study sites with OCV areas nested within. A total of 40 000 and 60 000 people in ST and SW, respectively, were targeted for a 2-dose OCV (Euvichol-Plus) campaign in 11-15 May (first round [R1]) and 27-31 May (second round [R2]) 2022. Daily administrative OCV coverage and a coverage survey in 277 randomly selected households were conducted. RESULTS: The administrative OCV coverage was high: 102.0% for R1 and 100.5% for R2 in ST and 99.1% (R1) and 100.0% (R1) in SW. The coverage survey showed 78.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 73.1-82.9) of household members with 2-dose OCV and 16.8% (95% CI: 12.4-21.3) with no OCV in ST; and 83.1% (95% CI: 79.6-86.5) with 2-dose OCV and 11.8% (95% CI: 8.8-14.8) with no OCV in SW. The 2-dose coverages in 1-4-, 5-14-, and ≥15-year age groups were 88.3% (95% CI: 70.6-96.1), 88.9% (95% CI: 82.1-95.7), and 71.3% (95% CI: 64.2-78.3), respectively, in ST and 78.2% (95% CI: 68.8-87.7), 91.0% (95% CI: 86.6-95.3), and 78.7% (95% CI: 73.2-84.1) in SW. CONCLUSIONS: High 2-dose OCV coverage was achieved. Cholera surveillance is needed to assess the vaccine impact and effectiveness.

Endoscopic vacuum therapy (eVAC) combined with continuous perianastomotic irrigation for prevention of anastomotic leak after surgical ampullectomy.

PURPOSE: Transduodenal surgical ampullectomy (tAMP) with papillary reimplantation is a valid alternative to pancreaticoduodenectomy for lesions of the periampullary region not amenable to endoscopic resection. As tAMP is burdened by high rates of biliopancreatic-enteric anastomotic leak, we tested preventive endoluminal vacuum therapy (eVAC) combined with post-operative continuous perianastomotic irrigation (CPI) to reduce such anastomotic leak. METHODS: Between 10/2013 and 09/2023, 37 patients undergoing laparotomic tAMP (with or without jejunal transposition) and papillary reimplantation at Hirslanden Klinik Zurich were retrospectively analysed; of these, 16 received prophylactic eVAC combined with CPI, while the remaining represented the historical cohort. RESULTS: The eVAC-CPI-group and the historical-cohort were homogeneous in demographic characteristics. Surgery in the prophylactic eVAC-CPI-group lasted about 30 min longer due to eVAC application (p = 0.008). The biliopancreatico-enteric anastomotic leak rates were 6.2% in the eVAC-CIP-group vs. 19.0% in the historical-cohort (p = 0.266). Along, a strong trend of less severe post-operative complications in general (p = 0.073), and borderline-significantly less cases of acute pancreatitis (p = 0.057) and tAMP-related re-operations or re-interventions (p = 0.057) in particular, were observed in the eVAC-CPI-group. The only anastomotic leak in the eVAC-CPI-group was successfully managed through repeated cycles of eVAC. The device was well tolerated by all patients; no vacuum/irrigation-related complications or malfunctioning occurred. CONCLUSION: Our study is the first to provide some technical insights demonstrating the safety and feasibility of a prophylactic approach with eVAC and perianastomotic irrigation to reduce anastomotic leak after tAMP. Increasing the number of subjects will confirm the benefit of our promising results.

Azacitidine combined with interferon-α for pre-emptive treatment of AML/MDS after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation: A prospective phase II study.

This prospective clinical study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the pre-emptive treatment modality of azacitidine in combination with interferon-α (IFN-α) in AML/MDS patients post-transplantation. Forty-seven patients aged 17-62 were enrolled with 14 patients having completed the planned 12 cycles. Following initiation, 72.3% responded positively after the first cycle, peaking at 77.2% by the fifth cycle. Notably, 24 patients maintained sustained responses throughout a median follow-up of 1050 days (range, 866-1234). Overall survival, leukaemia-free survival and event-free survival probabilities at 3 years were 69.5%, 60.4% and 35.7% respectively. Cumulative incidences of relapse and non-relapse mortality were 36.5% and 4.3% respectively. Multivariate analysis identified that receiving pre-emptive treatment for fewer than six cycles and the absence of chronic graft-versus-host disease after intervention was significantly associated with poorer clinical outcomes. The combination of azacitidine with IFN-α was well-tolerated with no observed severe myelotoxicity, and the majority of adverse events were reversible and manageable. In conclusion, the use of azacitidine in conjunction with IFN-α as pre-emptive therapy is a safe and effective treatment to prevent disease progression in AML/MDS patients with MRD positivity post-allo-HSCT.

Components of Residential Neighborhood Deprivation and Their Impact on the Likelihood of Live-Donor and Preemptive Kidney Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Adults residing in deprived neighborhoods face various socioeconomic stressors, hindering their likelihood of receiving live-donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) and preemptive kidney transplantation (KT). We quantified the association between residential neighborhood deprivation index (NDI) and the likelihood of LDKT/preemptive KT, testing for a differential impact by race and ethnicity. METHODS: We studied 403 937 adults (age ≥ 18) KT candidates (national transplant registry; 2006-2021). NDI and its 10 components were averaged at the ZIP-code level. Cause-specific hazards models were used to quantify the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of LDKT and preemptive KT across tertiles of NDI and its 10 components. RESULTS: Candidates residing in high-deprivation neighborhoods were more likely to be female (40.1% vs. 36.2%) and Black (41.9% vs. 17.7%), and were less likely to receive both LDKT (aHR = 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.64-0.67) and preemptive KT (aHR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.59-0.62) than those in low-deprivation neighborhoods. These associations differedby race and ethnicity (Black: aHRLDKT = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.55-0.62; aHRpreemptive KT = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.63-0.73; Pinteractions: LDKT < 0.001; Preemptive KT = 0.002). All deprivation components were associated with the likelihood of both LDKT and preemptive KT (except median home value): for example, higher median household income (LDKT: aHR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.07-1.09; Preemptive KT: aHR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.08-1.11) and educational attainments (≥high school [LDKT: aHR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.15-1.18; Preemptive KT: aHR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.21-1.25]). CONCLUSION: Residence in socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods is associated with a lower likelihood of LDKT and preemptive KT, differentially impacting minority candidates. Identifying and understanding which neighborhood-level socioeconomic status contributes to these racial disparities can be instrumental in tailoring interventions to achieve health equity in LDKT and preemptive KT.

Preemptive oral analgesia with steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in periodontal surgery: a systematic review.

Introduction: Periodontal procedures can promote prolonged intense pain, particularly in clinical situations requiring surgical procedures. In this context, preemptive analgesia has also been assessed for its utility in controlling post-operative pain and discomfort in patients undergoing periodontal invasive procedures. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of preemptive oral analgesia with steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in periodontal surgeries. Methods: This systematic review performed a search in the following electronic sources: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE (via Ovid), Web of Science, Virtual Health Library and in clinical trials electronic databases for relevant randomized clinical trials (RCTs); published up to July 2023. Primary outcomes assessed were post-operative pain, edema and trismus. A narrative synthesis of the findings was carried out. Results: Six RCTs, involving a total of 250 participants, were included. The studies reviewed had a high risk of bias, particularly due to allocation concealment and blinding of participants and personnel. The RCTs reported only the outcome pain. The preemptive use of dexamethasone 8 mg, etoricoxib 90 mg or 120 mg and ketorolac 20 mg seems to be more effective for controlling post-operative pain than placebo. Discussion: The anti-inflammatory drugs evaluated proved to be effective for controlling post-operative pain. However, given the limitations regarding lack of studies, methodological biases, disparities in drugs and doses, report restricted the pain outcome; further RCTs confirming the effectiveness and safety of these drugs in periodontal surgical procedures are warranted.

Relationship between Contingent Negative Variation and afterimage duration in migraine patients.

Background: Abnormalities in electrocortical parameters and persistence of afterimage after visual stimulation are known to occur in migraine patients. The results of studies on Contingent Negative Variation (CNV) and afterimage persistence in migraine patients suggest a link between these two phenomena and a connection to the pathomechanism of migraine. Objectives: To date, no studies have investigated both afterimage duration and CNV parameters in the same subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the early component of CNV (iCNV) and the duration of the afterimage in migraine patients. Methods: Sixty seven migraine patients from the headache center of the University of Rostock Medical Center were examined for iCNV amplitude, iCNV habituation and afterimage duration. The subjects also completed questionnaires developed for this study and the MIDAS (Migraine Disability Assessment) questionnaire. Results: Associations were found between iCNV amplitude and afterimage duration and between habituation capacity and afterimage duration. A deficit in habituation capacity correlated with a significantly prolonged afterimage duration. Increased iCNV amplitude and prolonged afterimage duration were also significantly correlated. Conclusion: Conclusions about the pathophysiology of migraine can be drawn from the results of this study. The results support the hypothesis of cortical hyperexcitability as a consequence of a low pre-activation level, which may be a possible contributory cause of migraine. Furthermore, they allow assessment of whether the afterimage examination, which is easier and quicker to perform than the CNV examination, can be used as a diagnostic tool or as a parameter to monitor the course of therapy in people with migraine.

Robotic distal gastrectomy using a novel pre-emptive supra-pancreatic approach without duodenal transection in the dissection of D2 lymph nodes for gastric cancer.

Background: Robot-assisted surgery has shown remarkable progress as a minimally invasive procedure for gastric cancer. This study aimed to compare the pre-emptive suprapancreatic approach without duodenal transection and the conventional approach in terms of perioperative feasibility and short-term surgical outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent robotic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection using the da Vinci Xi robotic system between December 2021 and April 2023 and categorized them into two groups for comparison. Patients treated using the pre-emptive suprapancreatic approach (observation group) were compared with those who received the conventional approach (control group). Employing one-to-one propensity score matching, we evaluated the postoperative morbidity and short-term outcomes in these two distinct groups to assess the efficacy and safety of the novel surgical technique. Results: This study enrolled 131 patients: 70 in the observation group and 61 in the control group. After propensity score matching, the operative times were significantly longer in the control group than in the observation group (229.10 ± 33.96 vs. 174.84 ± 18.37, p <0.001). The mean blood loss was lower in the observation group than in the control group (25.20 ± 11.18 vs. 85.00 ± 38.78, p <0.001). Additionally, the observation group exhibited a higher number of retrieved lymph nodes, including suprapyloric, perigastric, and superior pancreatic lymph nodes (28.69 ± 5.48 vs. 19.21 ± 2.89, p <0.001; 4.98 ± 1.27 vs. 4.29 ± 1.21, p = 0.012; 10.52 ± 2.39 vs. 5.50 ± 1.62, p <0.001; 6.26 ± 2.64 vs. 5.00 ± 1.72, p = 0.029). Drain amylase levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (30.08 ± 33.74 vs. 69.14 ± 66.81, p <0.001). Conclusion: This study revealed that using the pre-emptive suprapancreatic approach without duodenal transection in the dissection of D2 lymph nodes for gastric cancer is a safe and feasible procedure in terms of surgical outcomes.

The time window for pre-emptive transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt could be extended to 5 days.

As recommended by Baveno VII consensus, the utilization of pre-emptive transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (pTIPS) has been considered as standard therapeutic approach for the management of acute variceal bleeding (AVB) associated with cirrhosis., but the 72-h window for pTIPS is too narrow. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes between patients who received <72 h pTIPS and 72 h-5d pTIPS. In this study, a total of 63 cirrhotic patients with AVB who underwent pTIPS between October 2016 and December 2021 were included in this retrospective study. They were divided into <72 h group (n = 32) and 72 h-5d group (n = 31), based on the timing of the intervention. The Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that there were no significant differences in the cumulative incidence of death (22.3% ± 7.4% vs. 19.9% ± 7.3%, log-rank P = 0.849), variceal rebleeding (9.7% ± 5.3% vs. 17.8% ± 7.3%, log-rank P = 0.406), OHE (28.5% ± 8.0% vs. 23.9% ± 8.0%, log-rank P = 0.641) and shunt dysfunction (8.6% ± 6.0% vs. 17.4% ± 8.1%, log-rank P = 0.328) between <72 h and 72 h-5d groups. In the total cohort, sarcopenia was identified as an independent risk factor for mortality (HR = 11.268, 95% CI = 1.435-88.462, P = 0.021) and OHE(HR = 12.504, 95% CI = 1.598-97.814, P = 0.016). In conclusion, the clinical outcomes of cirrhotic patients with AVB who underwent pTIPS within the 72-h to 5-day window were found to be comparable to those treated within the 72-h window.