Percutaneous needle aspiration versus catheter drainage in treating hepatic abscess

Aim of the study: was to investigate the effectiveness of Percutaneous Needle Aspiration in comparison to continuous catheter drainage in the treatment of hepatic abscesses

Methods: A review of the scientific literature [From 1980 to October 2017] MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Current Contents, Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov were searched to identify randomized controlled trials that investigated thoroughly the Percutaneous Needle Aspiration Versus Catheter Drainage in the treating of hepatic abscess and clearly met the inclusion criteria and the study primary endpoints [success rate, total resolution and mortality]. Identification of papers and data extraction were performed by independent researchers

Results: the search yielded six eligible RCTs covering 348 patients. The meta-analysis showed that outcomes in patients treated with PCD were superior to those in patients treated with PNA in terms of success rate [RR: 0.79, 95% CI=0.64-0.97; P = 0.04], days to achieve a 50% reduction in abscess cavity size [SMD: ?1.076, 95% CI 0.63-1.51; P < 0.00001] and overall clinical improvement [SMD: 0.71, 95% CI 0.35-1.09; P =0.0001]. On the other hand, no significant difference was notable in the duration of hospitalization [SMD: -0.15, 95% CI -2.03 to 1.72, P = 0.84] or procedure-related complications [RR: 0.48, 95% CI 0.13-2.58; P = 0.39]

Conclusion: The results of the present meta-analysis and systematic review indicated that PCD and PNA can be less safe and less invasive methods for the treatment of hepatic abscesses yet PCD is suggested to be more advantageous and superior to PNA

Anemia: its prevalence, causes, and management

Background: Nutritional anemia or anemia due to dietary causes is the most common form, yet the easiest to manage compared to other forms of anemia. Some of the most common nutritional deficiencies are iron, cobalamin, folate, and also other elements like copper. Anemia due to diet is mostly asymptomatic in the initial phase until the stores are depleted, which can take a few months to several years, depending upon the cause

Methodology: We conducted this review using a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE from January 1987 to March 2017. The following search terms were used: nutritional anemia, dietary anemia, iron deficiency anemia, cobalamin deficiency, folic acid deficiency anemia, dietary anemia treatment

Aim of the work: In this study we aimed to understand about the different types of anemia caused as a result of dietary deficiency. We will also briefly study about their presentation, pathophysiology, and treatment

Conclusion: Various causes, presentations, and complications are associated with different types of nutritional anemia, but they still are the easiest to treat and manage. Most cases are due to an underlying occult disorder rather than simple dietary insufficiency, making diagnosis more difficult in some cases, and requiring thorough history and investigations integration to reach an accurate diagnosis and treat the underlying cause