Validation of Claims Data for Absorbing Pads as a Measure for Urinary Incontinence after Radical Prostatectomy, a National Cross-Sectional Analysis.

The use of healthcare insurance claims data for urinary incontinence (UI) pads has the potential to serve as an objective measure for assessing post-radical prostatectomy UI rates, but its validity for this purpose has not been established. The aim of this study is to correlate claims data with Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) for UI pad use. Patients who underwent RP in the Netherlands between September 2019 and February 2020 were included. Incontinence was defined as the daily use of ≥1 pad(s). Claims data for UI pads at 12-15 months after RP were extracted from a nationwide healthcare insurance database in the Netherlands. Participating hospitals provided PROMS data. In total, 1624 patients underwent RP. Corresponding data of 845 patients was provided by nine participating hospitals, of which 416 patients were matched with complete PROMs data. Claims data and PROMs showed 31% and 45% post-RP UI (≥1 pads). UI according to claims data compared with PROMs had a sensitivity of 62%, specificity of 96%, PPV of 92%, NPV of 75% and accuracy of 81%. The agreement between both methods was moderate (κ = 0.60). Claims data for pads moderately align with PROMs in assessing post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence and could be considered as a conservative quality indicator.

Treatment of hypertriglyceridemia in patients receiving parenteral nutrition.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate whether withdrawal of a soy oil-based lipid emulsion from the parenteral nutrition (PN) regimen in humans is associated with improved triglyceride and liver enzyme concentrations. METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients with hypertriglyceridemia (>4.50 mmol/L) while receiving PN were retrieved from a prospective complication registration database. Patients received Intralipid 20% as part of an all-in-one system containing all necessary macro- and micronutrients, electrolytes, trace elements, and vitamins. RESULTS: Forty patients with hypertriglyceridemia were included. Lipid emulsions were withdrawn from the all-in-one mixture for a median of 5 (range, 1-23) days, after which triglyceride concentrations decreased significantly (mean difference -2.5 ± 0.30 mmol/L, P < .001). Aspartate aminotransaminase and leukocyte count decreased significantly (mean difference -35 ± 17 U/L, P = .049 and -3.8 ± 1.7*10E9/L, P = .028, respectively), whereas albumin level increased significantly (mean difference 2.1 ± 0.9 g/L, P = .027). Alanine aminotransaminase showed a nonsignificant reduction (mean difference -30 ± 22 U/L, P = .194). In 11 patients, the lipid emulsion was reintroduced, after which triglyceride levels showed a significant increase (mean difference 1.5 ± 0.30 mmol/L, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Short-term withdrawal of the lipid fraction in the PN mixture is associated with a significant reduction of plasma triglyceride concentration. Reintroduction was related to an increase of triglyceride concentration. In addition, liver enzyme abnormalities and leukocyte count reduced, whereas albumin levels increased, suggesting that even short withdrawal of the lipid emulsion diminished hepatocellular damage and systemic inflammation.

[Primary aortoduodenal fistula: risk of fatal bleeding]. / Primaire aortoduodenale fistel: verbloedingsrisico.

A primary aortoduodenal fistula is a life-threatening cause of haematemesis. Early recognition is essential for the prevention of complications and death. We describe the case of an 82-year-old man with acute haematemesis and melaena resulting from this condition. The diagnostic procedures included a gastroduodenoscopy and computed tomography angiography (CTA). The fistula was surgically removed, with neighbouring parts of the duodenum and aorta. The duodenum was closed by a simple anastomosis; the aorta by the introduction of a Dacron graft. The postoperative course was uneventful. Surgical intervention is the treatment of choice in patients with an aortoduodenal fistula.