Clinical frailty assessment might be associated with mortality in incident dialysis patients.

Frailty is associated with mortality in maintenance dialysis patients. For incident dialysis patients, we used the clinical frailty scale (CFS) to investigate frailty as related to mortality or hospitalization within 2 years. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients initiating hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis during 2016-2018. Based on those records, two dialysis nurses independently used a 9-point CFS (1 = "Very fit" to 9 = "Terminally ill") to assess each patient's frailty at dialysis initiation. Patients with a mean CFS value of 5 or higher were classified into the frail group. The 2-year survival rates or hospitalization-free rates after the initiation of dialysis were compared between the frail (mean CFS score ≥ 5) and non-frail (mean CFS score < 5) groups. The analysis included 155 incident dialysis patients with mean age of 66.7 ± 14.1 (71% male). Frailty was inferred for 39 (25%) patients at dialysis initiation. Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that the survival rate and hospitalization-free rate within 2 years were significantly lower in the frail group than in the non-frail group (p < 0.01). Cox proportional hazards regression analyses revealed the CFS score as associated with the occurrence of a composite outcome, independently of age (hazard ratio 1.34, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.72). Frailty assessment based on clinical judgment using CFS might predict adverse outcomes in dialysis-initiated patients.

Time until treatment initiation is associated with catheter survival in peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis.

For peritonitis, a serious complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD), we investigated the relation between duration from the sign (PD effluent abnormalities) to treatment with appropriate antibiotics (ST time) and catheter removal. For 62 PD hospital patients, data of PD-related peritonitis (n = 109) were collected retrospectively. We examined ST time and PD catheter removal times using univariate and multivariate analyses. The catheter removal rate in the delayed ST time group (≥ 24 h) was higher than that in early ST time group (< 24 h) (38 vs. 16%, p = 0.02). Concomitant tunnel infection and delayed ST time were associated with catheter removal (OR [95% CI] 32.3 [3.15-329] and 3.52 [1.11-11.1]). Rates of catheter removal and re-development of peritonitis within 1 month after starting treatment were higher in the delayed ST time group (p = 0.02). PD duration at peritonitis and the first peritonitis episode were associated with delayed ST time (1.02 [1.00-1.04] and 3.42 [1.09-10.7]). Significant association was found between PD catheter removal and the start of treatment more than 24 h after appearance of abnormal effluent. Education for patients about prompt visitation at the onset of peritonitis with long PD duration might improve outcomes.

Effective treatment for infantile hemangioma with long-pulsed dye laser with oral propranolol medication: a preliminary report.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of our treatment of infantile hemangioma (IH)s retrospectively presenting as disfiguring or functionally threatening lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 25 infants with IH treated with long-pulsed dye laser or laser with or without propranolol. Tumor fading after treatment was evaluated using both color and size rating scales, before, during and after treatment. RESULTS: 6 infants were treated by laser, 11, oral propranolol and 8 using both treatments. Each treatment was effective for most IH with a median treatment duration of 7.7 months for laser, and 13.3 months for the latter two. Combination therapy was the most effective in both color-fading and size reduction by the 3rd month. Laser alone was most effective in color-fading with almost complete disappearance of most tumors. Oral propranolol to the three site-specific IHs was effective with disappearance of tumors. There were no apparent side effects related to laser treatment, but one infant suffered from allergy and another from bronchial asthma due to propranolol medication. CONCLUSIONS: Most IHs discolored and regressed considerably with these treatments, including complete disappearance of the three functionally threatening lesions. This combined approach is quite useful for accelerating tumor regression.

The current strategy for urachal remnants.

BACKGROUND: Optimal therapy for urachal remnant (UR) in children is controversial. Nonoperative management for symptomatic UR is an alternative. Many papers support the laparoscopic approach but the indication for this is unclear. We review our experience to determine the optimal management of UR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients from 1990 to 2013 with UR was performed. Patients were analyzed according to age, gender, initial symptoms, type of UR, treatment, and outcome. RESULTS: We identified 27 patients (M:F = 17:10). A urachal sinus was found in 16 cases (59%), a urachal cyst in 5 (18%) and a urachal duct in 6 (22%). Eleven (A) were under 1 year, with 16 over 1 year (B). In Group A, the commonest symptom was umbilical granulation (n = 6, 54%). Group B was dominated by abdominal pain (n = 12, 75%). Six cases in Group A needed operation for repeated infections. In 5 cases, the UR disappeared. In Group B, 2 cases were followed conservatively. The others required surgery. From 2009, we utilized a laparoscopic approach (LA, n = 7) rather than the classical umbilical approach (UA, n = 13). The operation time was not significantly different (LA = 124 min: UA = 110 min, P > 0.05). There was a tendency for shorter hospital stay following LA (LA = 7.5 days: UA = 10.9 days). Complete resection was always possible using UA in Group A but a more caudal incision (mean 3.6 cm) was required in group B. LA enabled confirmation of the complete resection with three 5 mm ports in Group B. There were no operative complications after LA against two wound infections, one of which suffered a disruption, after UA. CONCLUSION: Conservative follow-up is recommended for UR under 1-year old except when there are repeated infections. The umbilical approach is enough for infants. Laparoscopic surgery is recommended in older children.