Management of Acute Appendicitis in HIV/AIDs Patients: A 19-year Review from the National In-Patient Sample.

BACKGROUND: Acute Appendicitis (AA), one of the most common surgical emergencies, is usually managed operatively. There is a paucity of data addressing how HIV/AIDS affects management of acute uncomplicated appendicitis. METHODS: A retrospective review of HIV/AIDS positive (HPos) versus negative (HNeg) patients with acute, uncomplicated appendicitis over a 19-year period. The primary outcome was undergoing appendectomy. RESULTS: Among 912,779 AA patients, 4,291 patients were HPos. HIV rates increased from 3.8/1,000 in 2000 to 6.3 per 1,000 appendicitis cases in 2019 (p<0.001). HPos patients were older, less likely to have private insurance, and more likely to have psychiatric illnesses, hypertension, and a history of prior malignancy. HPos AA patients underwent operative intervention less often than HNeg AA patients (90.7% versus 97.7%;p<0.001). Overall, comparing HPos to HNeg patients, there was no difference in post-operative infections or mortality. CONCLUSION: HIV-positive status should not deter surgeons from offering definitive care for acute uncomplicated appendicitis.

Pacinian Corpuscles in Human Lymph Nodes.

The occurrence of Pacinian corpuscles associated to lymph nodes is an anatomical rarity and very scarce information exists in this regard. Here we examined immunohistochemically four Pacinian corpuscles found in the close vicinity of the hiliar blood vessels of lymph nodes (2 cervical, 1 axillary, and 1 inguinal) during routine surgical pathology. Pacinian corpuscles were normally arranged and displayed a pattern of protein distribution as follows: the axon was positive for neurofilament proteins and neuron specific enolase, the inner core cells showed intense S100 protein and vimentin immunostaining while they were negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein, type IV collagen and glucose transporter 1; vimentin, type IV collagen, and glucose transporter 1 were also observed also in the outer-core and the capsule. These results are in agreement with those reported for cutaneous Pacinian corpuscles, demonstrating that the immunohistochemical profile of these corpuscles is independent of its anatomical localization. The possible functional significance of Pacinian corpuscles in lymph nodes is discussed. Anat Rec, 300:2233-2238, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Appendectomy in patients with human immunodeficiency virus: Not as bad as we once thought.

BACKGROUND: The number of patients living with human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is growing due to advances in antiretroviral therapy. Existing literature on appendectomy within this patient population has been limited by small sample sizes. Therefore, we used a large, multiyear, nationwide database to study this topic comprehensively. METHODS: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we identified 338,805 patients between 2005 and 2012 who underwent laparoscopic or open appendectomy for acute appendicitis. Interval appendectomies were excluded. We used multivariable adjusted regression models to test differences between patients with human immunodeficiency virus without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and a reference group, as well as human immunodeficiency virus with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and a reference group, with regard to duration of stay, hospital charges, in-hospital complications, and in-hospital mortality. Models were adjusted for patient age, sex, race, insurance, socioeconomic status, Elixhauser comorbidity score, and appendix perforation. RESULTS: There were 1,291 (0.38%) patients with human immunodeficiency virus, among which 497 (0.15%) patients had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In regression analysis, human immunodeficiency virus alone was not associated with adverse outcomes, while acquired immunodeficiency syndrome alone was associated with longer duration of stay (incidence rate ratio 1.40 [1.37-1.57 95% confidence interval], P < .0001), increased total charges (exponentiated coefficient 1.16 [1.10-1.23 95% confidence interval], P < .0001), and increased risk of postoperative infection (odds ratio 2.12 [1.44-3.13 95% confidence interval], P = .0002). CONCLUSION: Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who undergo appendectomy for acute appendicitis are subject to longer and more expensive hospital admissions and have greater rates of postoperative infections while patients with human immunodeficiency virus alone are not at risk for adverse outcomes.

Preenchimento facial com Polimetilmetacrilato em pacientes que vivem com a síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (AIDS) / Facial filling with polymethylmethacrylate in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

INTRODUÇÃO: Pacientes que vivem com síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (AIDS) em uso da Terapia Antirretroviral de Alta Potência (TARV) são suscetíveis a desenvolver síndrome lipodistrófica. O preenchimento facial com polimetilmetacrilato é opção de tratamento. O objetivo é analisar o procedimento de preenchimento facial e avaliar os pacientes em relação à percepção, incômodo, revelação do diagnóstico, expectativa quanto ao preenchimento e a satisfação e impacto em suas vidas. MÉTODOS: Análise em 63 pacientes submetidos ao preenchimento facial. Foram realizados procedimentos, analisados prontuários dos pacientes e o Protocolo do Ambulatório de Lipodistrofia do Programa Municipal de doenças sexualmente transmissíveis (DST)/AIDS e Hepatites Virais de São Bernardo do Campo, atendidos no período de janeiro a julho de 2009. RESULTADOS: Todos os 63 pacientes iniciais que concordaram em participar da pesquisa permaneceram até o término deste trabalho. Apenas seis pacientes (9,5%) eram de origem de outros municípios, enquanto 57 pacientes (90,5%) eram moradores de São Bernardo. 68,2% eram homens e 100% brancos. A média das idades foi 49,7 anos. Em média, o Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana (HIV) foi diagnosticado há 11,5 anos, com tempo médio de uso de TARV por 10 anos e tempo médio de lipoatrofia facial de 3,8 anos. A maioria fez uso de Estavudina e/ou Efavirenz. Quem ficava mais desconfortável com as alterações na face eram os próprios pacientes. 85,7% não revelaram o diagnóstico para terceiros. 100% dos pacientes ficaram satisfeitos ou muito satisfeitos com o resultado obtido. CONCLUSÃO: 100% dos pacientes ficaram satisfeitos ou muito satisfeitos com o resultado obtido. Em 100% dos casos houve um impacto favorável na vida. Não houve efeitos adversos ao procedimento cirúrgico de preenchimento.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who use highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can develop lipodystrophy syndrome, for which facial filling with polymethylmethacrylate is a treatment option. The objective is to analyze the procedure of facial filling and evaluate patients in relation to their perception, discomfort, revelation of the diagnosis to third parties, expectation concerning facial filling, and satisfaction with the treatment outcome and its impact on their lives. METHODS: Sixty-three patients who underwent facial filling were evaluated. Procedures performed between January and July 2009 were assessed, the records of the patients were analyzed, and the outpatient lipodystrophy protocol of the STD/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis Municipal Program of São Bernardo do Campo was used. RESULTS: All the 63 patients who agreed to participate in the research completed the study. Only 6 patients (9.5%) were from other municipalities, while 57 patients (90.5%) were residents of São Bernardo. Of the patients, 68.2% were men and 100% were Caucasian. The mean age of the patients was 49.7 years. Human immunodeficiency virus was diagnosed 11.5 years prior on average, with 10-year average use of HAART and 3.8-year average time of facial lipoatrophy. Most of the patients used stavudine and/or efavirenz. The patients themselves felt more uncomfortable with facial changes. Among the patients, 85.7% did not reveal the diagnosis to third parties. CONCLUSION: All of the patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the result obtained, which had a favorable impact on their lives. The filling surgical procedure had no adverse effects.

Correção cirúrgica da lipodistrofia relacionada ao uso da terapia antirretroviral: uma análise sobre os procedimentos realizados e o impacto sobre os pacientes / Surgical lipodystrophy correction associated with the use of antiretroviral therapy: an analysis of procedures performed and impact on the patients

Introdução: O tratamento de pacientes portadores da síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida deve ser integral e se basear no controle da doença e das complicações relacionadas ao uso de medicações antirretrovirais, como a lipodistrofia. Esse estudo tem como objetivo avaliar as principais queixas, os aspectos epidemiológicos e os procedimentos cirúrgicos realizados para corrigir a lipodistrofia em pacientes em uso crônico de antirretrovirais. Método: Estudo retrospectivo, no qual foram coletados dados dos prontuários de 27 pacientes submetidos a 36 procedimentos cirúrgicos relacionados à correção de lipodistrofia no período de março de 2010 a junho de 2014 no serviço de Cirurgia Plástica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Resultados: A idade média dos pacientes foi 47,2 anos, 22,2% homens e 77,8% mulheres. O tempo médio de uso da terapia antirretroviral (TARV) foi de 12,1 anos. As queixas mais encontradas foram: giba dorsal (44,4%), lipodistrofia abdominal (44,4%) e lipoatrofia glútea (37,04%). Na maioria dos pacientes (70,4%), foi realizada uma cirurgia. Quanto às cirurgias, a lipoaspiração de giba foi realizada em 48,1% dos pacientes, seguida da lipoaspiração de abdome, dorso ou flancos (44,4%) e gluteoplastia (22,2%). Entre todos os 36 procedimentos realizados, apenas dois apresentaram complicações. O tempo médio de seguimento pós-operatório foi de 11,2 meses. Do total, 70,4% dos pacientes mostraram-se satisfeitos após os procedimentos. Conclusões: O sucesso do tratamento cirúrgico da lipodistrofia causada pelo uso da TARV baseia-se na seleção pré-operatória adequada e em seguimento constante e prolongado. A melhoria da autoestima facilita a adesão ao tratamento com antirretrovirais.

Introduction: Treatment of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome should be complete and based on controlling the disease and the complications related to the use of antiretroviral medications, such as lipodystrophy. This study aimed to evaluate the main complaints, epidemiological aspects, and surgical procedures performed for lipodystrophy correction among patients receiving long-term antiretroviral therapy. Method: In this retrospective study, data were collected from the medical records of 27 patients who underwent 36 surgical procedures associated with lipodystrophy correction, from March 2010 to June 2014, at the Plastic Surgery Service of the Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto. Results: The average age of the patients was 47.2 years; 22.2% were men and 77.8% were women. The average duration of antiretroviral therapy (HAAR ) was 12.1 years. The most frequent complaints were dorsal hump (44.4%), abdominal lipodystrophy (44.4%), and gluteal lipoatrophy (37.04%). The majority of patients (70.4%) had undergone surgery . The most common type of surgery performed was hump liposuction (carried out in 48.1% of the patients), followed by abdominal, back, or flank liposuction (44.4%) and gluteoplasty (22.2%). Among all 36 procedures performed, only 2 resulted in complications. The average postoperative follow-up period was 11.2 months. In total, 70.4% of patients were satisfied with the results of their procedure. Conclusions: The success of surgical treatment of HAARinduced lipodystrophy is based on proper preoperative selection as well as constant and prolonged follow-up. Improved selfesteem facilitates the adherence to antiretroviral drug treatment.

An environmental scan of advance care planning decision AIDS for patients undergoing major surgery: a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Patients who undergo major surgery are at risk for perioperative morbidity and mortality. It would be appropriate to initiate advance care planning with patients prior to surgery, but surgeons may experience difficulty initiating such conversations. Rather than focus on changing clinician behavior, advance care planning decision aids can be an innovative vehicle to motivate advance care planning among surgical patients and their families. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to describe a study protocol for conducting an environmental scan concerning advance care planning decision aids that may be relevant to patients undergoing high-risk surgery. METHODS/DESIGN: This study will gather information from written or verbal data sources that incorporate professional and lay perspectives: a systematic review, a grey literature review, key informant interviews, and patient and family engagement. It is envisioned that this study will generate three outcomes: a synthesis of current evidence, a summary of gaps in knowledge, and a taxonomy of existing advance care planning decision aids. DISCUSSION: This environmental scan will demonstrate principles of patient-centered outcomes research, and it will exemplify a pioneering approach for reviewing complex interventions. Anticipated limitations are that information will be gathered from a small sample of patients and families, and that potentially relevant information could also be missing from the environmental scan due to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Outcomes from the environmental scan will inform future patient-centered research to develop and evaluate a new decision aid.

Update on kidney transplantation in HIV-infected recipients.

HIV infection has historically been a contraindication to kidney transplantation. Prior to the era of potent antiretroviral therapy, the survival of HIV-infected patients was too poor to justify transplantation. In the last 15 years there has been substantial improvement in antiretroviral medications, such that HIV-positive patients are living longer and developing chronic diseases such as end-stage renal disease. The improvement in survival of HIV-positive patients has resulted in transplant centers increasingly considering infected patients appropriate for kidney transplantation. Recently, the results of the first prospective multicenter trial of kidney transplantation into HIV-positive candidates were released, showing the success and challenges of transplantation into this population. In light of the multicenter findings as well as national registry data, kidney transplantation should be considered the standard-of-care renal replacement therapy for HIV-positive end-stage renal disease patients and they should be referred and evaluated for kidney transplantation accordingly.

Outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus-infected and -exposed children undergoing surgery--a prospective study.

AIM: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a worldwide pandemic. Mother-to-child transmission programs should theoretically minimize vertical transfer of the virus, but with variable effectiveness of implementation a significant number of children become infected and may present for emergency, diagnostic, and elective surgery. The aim of this study was to prospectively document the clinical presentation, the spectrum of pathology, and surgical outcomes of patients presenting to our hospital. This formed part of a pilot study of a collaborative international working group studying HIV infection in children, which included the Buzzi Children's Hospital Milan, Italy; the University of San Diego, California, USA; and the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and University of Cape Town, School of Adolescent and Child Health, Cape Town, South Africa. METHOD: Clinical data from all children admitted to the surgical service of the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital between July 2004 and December 2006 with either a history of HIV exposure (born to an HIV-infected mother) or confirmation of HIV infection by ELISA or polymerase chain reaction was collected. The clinical course was documented prospectively for the duration of admission and subsequent follow-up as recorded in case records review. The spectrum of pathology, surgical intervention, outcome, complications, World Health Organization stage of AIDS, and type of antiretroviral therapy were all noted. Comparative outcomes and subgroup analysis were not done in this part of the study. RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen patients were included in the study over the 30-month period. The average age was 24 months (1 day to 11 years). Seventy-nine (70%) of the 113 patients were infected and 34 (30%) were exposed, 9 of whom subsequently tested negative. Of the infected group, 53 (67%) patients were on antiretroviral therapy. The extent of disease in the infected group of patients according to the 2006 World Health Organization criteria was as follows: stage 1, 4 (5%); stage 2, 12 (15%); stage 3, 51 (65%); and stage 4, 12 (15%). All patients had nutritional assessments and were plotted on growth curves. Sixty-two (54%) were found to be malnourished and 41 (36%) of the children were found to have comorbid disease processes. Eighteen patients (16%) were treated with antibiotics or conservative therapy alone. The remaining 95 patients (84%) underwent an average of 1.6 procedures (range, 1-35), 59 (52%) in an elective manner and 36 (31%) as an emergency. When assessing the relationship of HIV to the presenting disease state, 58 (73.4%) had HIV-related diseases and 52 (46%) presented with sepsis. A total of 29 (25%) patients had surgical complications of which 6 (20%) were not considered to be HIV related. Nine (31%) had, in retrospect, incorrect management of the presenting disease, leaving 14 (48%) who potentially had HIV-related complications of poor wound healing and sepsis. A total of 100 (88%) were discharged alive, 6 (5.3%) died, and 7 (6 %) were lost to follow-up. Long-term follow-up of 50 patients for an average of 8 months revealed one further mortality. CONCLUSION: Human immunodeficiency virus-positive and -exposed patients present a unique challenge in management which is complicated by concomitant disease and poor nutrition. These patients require an expanded differential diagnosis. We believe that, although on the surface there may be a higher complication rate, this needs to be confirmed in an expanded comparative cohort study, which is underway and that patients should still receive the benefit of full surgical intervention.

Cord blood stem cell therapy for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Cord blood stem cell transplantation is routinely used to treat hematopoietic diseases. Individuals who are homozygous for the 32 polymorphism of the CCR5 locus, encoding a co-receptor for HIV-1, are normal and are resistant to HIV infection. Here we suggest that public cord blood repositories are likely to contain CCR5 homozygous units that could be used as a therapy for HIV-infected individuals.

The surgical management of infections involving the cerebrum.

OBJECTIVE: Infection involving the cerebrum is a true neurosurgical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and appropriate surgical and medical intervention to achieve good clinical outcome. METHODS: Because of the potential for devastating neurological sequelae, it is imperative that neurosurgeons be involved in the diagnosis and management of these serious conditions once an infection is suspected. With the advent of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, it is now possible to detect an infectious process early in its course and follow the response to therapy. Although significantly more effective than in the past, antimicrobial therapy alone is insufficient to eradicate most intracranial infections, especially in the presence of compression or displacement of the cerebrum. Surgery remains an essential part of the management of intracranial infection because of its ability to provide immediate relief from pressure on neural structures and thereby result in clinical improvement. RESULTS: The most common infections affecting the brain, namely, cranial epidural abscess, subdural empyema, brain abscess, viral infection, tuberculosis, and neurocysticercosis, can each be associated with significant mass effect on the cerebrum that is greatly reduced through surgery. This relief, in combination with newer antimicrobial agents that have an improved ability to cross the blood brain barrier, has led to a reduction in the infection-related morbidity and mortality rates associated with intracranial infections. CONCLUSION: Combining advanced imaging and surgical techniques in the form of intraoperative magnetic resonance image-guided neurosurgery may further enhance clinical outcomes in these once uniformly fatal diseases.

Impact of human immunodeficiency virus on survival after liver transplantation: analysis of United Network for Organ Sharing database.

BACKGROUND: The outcome of liver transplantation (LT) in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been a matter of controversy. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed to assess the impact of HIV on LT survival by using United Network for Organ Sharing registry Standard Transplant Analysis and Research files. RESULTS: A total of 138 HIV(+) and 30,520 HIV(-) patients who were > or =18 years old and underwent LT during the highly active antiretroviral therapy era (starting January 1, 1997) in the United States were included. Among all HIV(+) patients, the estimated 2-year survival probability was lower (70%) than among non-HIV patients (81%). This excess risk appeared entirely among those with coinfections, that is, HIV with hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus (HCV), as none of the 24 HIV-infected patients who did not have hepatitis B virus or HCV died during an average of 1.2 years of follow-up per person. Among HCV(+) patients, those with HIV coinfection had significantly lower survival rates than patients without HIV (P=0.006). Controlling for age, coinfection, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores, and other potential confounders in a proportional hazards regression analysis, HIV(+) patients had a hazard ratio of 1.41 (P=0.14, 95% confidence interval: 0.90-2.22) for mortality after LT. CONCLUSION: HIV(+) patients without HCV coinfection seemed to have good prognosis, whereas patients who had HIV/HCV coinfection had poor outcomes, which were significantly worse than that seen in those with HCV alone.

SIDA y Ortopedia / AIDS and Orthopedics

Los cirujanos ortopédicos tienen un elevado riesgo de adquirir infecciones sanguíneas por exposición ocupacional. En los últimos años la prevalencia del SIDA ha aumentado notablemente el peligro de contagio, especialmente en las intervenciones de urgencia donde no siempre es posible tomar todas las medidas de precaución indispensables, dada la gravedad de las lesiones. En estos casos la transmisión percutánea es la vía fundamental, cobrando gran importancia la existencia de lesiones mucocutáneas en el personal. Pretendemos con nuestro trabajo exponer los principales factores relacionados con la especialidad que propician el contagio, así como medidas estratégicas que permitan disminuir el riesgo del cirujano a la infección...

The orthopedic surgeons are at a high risk of acquiring blood infections by occupational exposition. In the last years AIDS prevalence has notably raised the infection danger, especially during the urgency surgeries, when it is not always possible to take all the indispensable caution measures, because of the seriousness of the lesions. In these cases, the percutaneous transmission is the most common way, and the existence of staff mucous-cutaneous lesions has a great importance. In our work, we pretend to expose the main facts related with our specialty, which propitiate the infection, and also the strategic measures allowing diminishing the surgeon's infection risk.

The acute AIDS abdomen - a prospective clinical and pathological study

Objectives: Patients with AIDS who present with an acute abdomen pose a new challenge to surgeons. The purpose of this study was to determine the nature and outcome of intra-abdominal catastrophes in AIDS patients. Methods: A prospective clinical study was conducted on HIV-positive patients who presented with an acute abdomen. Results: Thirteen patients were included. Average age was 36 years. Seven patients presented with advanced AIDS. In 10 the ileo-caecal region was affected by a chronic inflammatory process resulting in ulceration and necrosis. Intestinal tuberculosis was found in 7 patients. Despite optimal treatment more than half the study group died in hospital. Conclusion: The 'acute AIDS abdomen' proved to be different in nature and prognosis than has been described previously. Intestinal tuberculosis can reasonably be suspected. Operative mortality is unacceptably high. Other treatment options are being investigated