Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty. A multicenter feasibility study.

INTRODUCTION: The value and risk of simultaneous total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with bilateral knee arthritis is a subject of debate. HYPOTHESES: The risk of complications following simultaneous bilateral TKA will be increased compared to the rates published in the literature for unilateral TKA, and the clinical and functional outcomes will be poorer in this particular group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-three patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral TKA between 2005 and 2011 in five specialized, high volume centers were evaluated. The files were analyzed retrospectively after a mean 33 months of follow-up. RESULTS: The mean hospital stay was 11 days. Mean blood loss was 4.1g/dL. A postoperative transfusion was performed in 68 patients (55%), with a mean 3.1 units of blood. The mean global IKS score increased from 90 to 150 points. Eighty patients would agree to undergo simultaneous bilateral TKA again (65%), and 70 would recommend this procedure to others (57%). DISCUSSION: The hypothesis was not confirmed: the risk of complications was not increased compared to the generally accepted risk of a unilateral procedure. The risk of complications in this study was very similar to that published in the literature for the same therapeutic strategy. Therefore, there is no solid medical evidence to prevent recommending this strategy. The results of the participating centers suggest that this therapeutic approach should be continued in selected indications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective study.

Bilateral total knee arthroplasty in a one-stage surgical procedure.

INTRODUCTION: Bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in a one-stage surgical procedure has the advantage of a single hospital stay, shorter rehabilitation, and reduced patient management costs. However, until now the use of this strategy has been limited by the fear of a higher rate of perioperative complications. The hypothesis of this study was that in selected patients, this management strategy would not result in any serious complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective 24-month pilot study was performed in a continuous series of patients without a control group. Inclusion criteria were bilateral non-infectious gonarthropathy, in patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) 1 or 2 and presenting with a preoperative hemoglobin level of at least 13g/dL. All patients underwent a pre- and postoperative evaluation using the International Knee Society (IKS) and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Score (KOOS) scores. RESULTS: Thirty patients were included in the study (25 women, mean age 70.3years old [32 to 88years]; five ASA 1 and 25 ASA 2). All patients were followed-up and evaluated for a mean 18months (6 to 30months). Three deep vein thromboses, one cardiopulmonary accident and three confusional states were reported, but there were no perioperative deaths, pulmonary embolisms, nosocomial infections or revision procedures. At 18months follow-up the IKS score had improved from 98 (33-139) preoperatively to 169 (62-200) postoperatively. The five items of the KOOS score improved significantly. DISCUSSION: This preliminary series confirms that bilateral total knee replacement in a one-stage surgical procedure is a reliable alternative to a two-stage procedure in ASA 1 and 2 patients. Because of the savings in health costs with this strategy, public healthcare authorities should provide support by creating and sponsoring a specific group for further study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4, prospective, no control group.

Improvements with tiotropium in COPD patients with concomitant asthma.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma have different diagnostic criteria and treatment paradigms. Both are common and can occur in the same patient. We sought to determine the spirometric effects of tiotropium in COPD patients with concomitant asthma. METHODS: A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial with tiotropium 18 mcg daily was performed. Patients continued usual respiratory medications except for inhaled anticholinergics. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Physician diagnosis of COPD and asthma, age >or= 40 years, smoking >10 pack years, post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV(1))<80% predicted, FEV(1)/forced vital capacity (FVC)<70%, >or= 12%, and >or= 200 ml increase in FEV(1) following inhaled bronchodilator, treatment with inhaled steroids >or= 1 year. Spirometry was measured serially for 6h on days 1, 29 and 85. RESULTS: Four hundred and seventy-two patients were randomized. Baseline characteristics were balanced. Mean age=59.6 years, 61.4% were men, and FEV(1)=1.55l (53.0% predicted). Improvements at 12 weeks with tiotropium were observed for the primary endpoint FEV(1) area under the curve (AUC) from 0 to 6h (difference=186+/-24 ml, p<0.001) and for morning pre-dose FEV(1) (difference=98+/-23 ml, p<0.001). Significant differences in favor of tiotropium were observed for pre-dose FVC (difference=128+/-34 ml, p<0.001) and FVC AUC 0-6h (difference=232+/-35 ml, p<0.001). Compared to baseline, the mean weekly number of daily puffs of prn salbutamol was reduced by 0.05+/-0.12 puffs/day in the placebo group and by 0.50+/-0.12 puffs/day in the tiotropium group at week 12 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COPD and concomitant asthma achieve spirometric improvements with tiotropium along with symptomatic benefit as seen by reduced need for rescue medication.

Clinical efficacy and safety of fluticasone propionate 250 microg twice daily administered via a HFA 134a pressurized metered dose inhaler to patients with mild to moderate asthma. French study group.

This study compared the efficacy and safety of the fluticasone propionate 125 microg pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) propelled by either hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) 134a or chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants, in adult patients with asthma. HFA 134a is a non-ozone depleting propellant used as a replacement for the CFC propellants 11 and 12 which are being phased out in accordance with the Montreal Protocol. Three hundred and eighty patients with mild to moderate asthma and 'room for improvement' in their treatment were randomized to receive fluticasone propionate 250 microg twice daily via pMDIs propelled by either CFC propellants 11 and 12 (n = 195) or HFA 134a (n = 185). Fluticasone propionate significantly improved lung function over the 4-week treatment period in both treatment groups. The improvement in mean morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) after 7 days of treatment was approximately 12 l min(-1) in both groups, rising to approximately 22 l min(-1) at the end of the 4-week treatment period. The adjusted mean difference between the two formulations over weeks 1-4 was -1 l min(-1) (90% confidence interval: -7, 5 l min(-1)), confirming their equivalence. Clinical comparability was also demonstrated with respect to secondary efficacy variables, including daily symptom scores, evening PEF and clinic visit expiratory measurements. There were no clinically relevant differences in adverse events or serum cortisol levels between the two groups. The fluticasone propionate 125 microg HFA 134a pMDI is an effective and well tolerated product and is a suitable replacement for the fluticasone propionate 125 microg CFC pMDI at a microgram equivalent dose.

[Comparative in vitro and in vivo study of several long-acting theophyllines]. / Etude comparative in vitro et in vivo de plusieurs théophyllines à action prolongée.

This study describes the comparative in vitro and in vivo release of six slow-release formulations. In vitro, with half-change method, differences appear in the profiles, some formulations showing a linear release (Dilatrane, Euphylline LA, Théostat), the others an irregular release with 'plateau' related to the pH gradient (Armophylline, Cétraphylline, Théolair). In vivo, at steady state, the fluctuations are less important and the comparative kinetic study in ten normal healthy volunteers after chronic oral dosing of six different formulations show a slight variability in the theophylline release during 12 h. Great interindividual variations appear with all formulations. In fact, none of the formulations present an ideal release over a 12 h period.

[Significance and evaluation of theophyllinemia in clinical medicine]. / Intérêt et valeur en clinique de la théophyllinémie.

The theophyllinemia variations depend upon some factors: -observance of treatment, time of blood swab posology, laboratory technic, concomitant drugs, method of adaptation selected and the mean of administration. The theophylline title is a very important biologic parameter, necessary to the asthma treatment survey through such drug. Daily posology may be adapted to this titrate.

[Indwelling transtracheal sound for oxygen administration in the patient with hypoxic chronic respiratory insufficiency]. / Sonde transtrachéale à demeure pour administration d'oxygène chez l'insuffisant respiratoire chronique hypoxique.

A new technique for administering oxygen to patients with severe chronic respiratory failure is reported. It consists of introducing a catheter, 2 mm in diameter, into the trachea between the second and third tracheal rings under local anesthesia. The technique was used in a 70-year old patient with severe chronic obstructive lung disease and resulted in significant reduction of dyspnoea, improvement in general condition with a weight gain of 6 kg in 6 months, and a 15 mmHg increase in arterial partial oxygen pressure for the same oxygen flow rate. This technique appears to be indicated for patients with chronic respiratory failure whenever dyspnoea is not adequately reduced by oxygen given through a nasal tube.

[The theophylline test. Indications for the effective daily dosage (author's transl)]. / Le test à la théophylline. Indication d'une posologie quotidienne "efficace".

The great variability in the metabolism and degradation of theophylline in different people demands an individual dosage to be effective; this is to maintain the theophylline levels between the threshold of therapeutic activity (10 mg/L) to the upper limit of tolerance (15 to 20 mg/L according to different studies). The effective individual doses may be determined before commencing treatment by a Theophylline Test. This allows the dose over 24 hours to be specified as well as the number of tablets necessary to maintain the theophylline levels in the chosen range. The principle of the Theophylline Test is to administer intravenously a test dose of theophylline, then with 5 successive samples for blood theophylline to assess the individual elimination of the drug. For each subject two pharmacokinetic parameters are determined: clearance and plasma half life. The plasma clearance allows the total dose over 24 hours to be calculated, the half life the number of doses and the type of preparation used: microkrystalline theophylline (Techniphylline), slow release theophylline (Theophylline Bruneau) and prolonged action theophylline (Armophylline).