Evaluation of Hemogram Parameters in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism: Immature Granulocytes and Other New Tips.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is an important cause of sudden death and is difficult to diagnose. Therefore unnecessary radiological investigations are often resorted to. Although some inflammatory parameters in the hemogram have been found to play a role in the diagnosis of PE, many parameters have not been adequately investigated. We aimed to evaluate potential inflammatory parameters in hemogram in the diagnosis of PE and to determine the parameters with the highest diagnostic value. This single-center, retrospective study was performed by evaluating 114 cases with suspected PE admitted to the emergency department between January 2017 and June 2022. Among 114 cases, 62 cases with a definitive diagnosis of PE by pulmonary computed tomography angiography served as the PE group and 52 cases without PE served as the control group. Admission hemogram parameters of both groups were recorded. Potential chronic diseases and acute conditions affecting hemogram were excluded from the study. In the multivariate model; immature granulocyte (IG), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte % and platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR) were found to be significantly and independently effective in differentiating cases with and without PE (P˂.05). Our findings suggest that high IG, high NLR, high monocyte %, and low P-LCR values have diagnostic value in cases with suspected PE. However the usability of IGs in the diagnosis of PE is a new finding. Hemogram is cheap, easily accessible, and potential inflammatory biomarkers in hemograms may increase physicians' awareness in the diagnosis of PE.

Determinants of outcomes in chronic pediatric peritoneal dialysis: a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: In situations where it may take a long time to perform renal transplantation peritoneal dialysis may become a long-term maintenance treatment, especially in countries with low donor rates. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate peritonitis, catheter revision and survival rates in children on chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD); and to define related factors in a single tertiary center from a WHO upper middle income country. METHODS: Between January 1998 and September 2018, data of pediatric patients receiving CPD with a followup longer than 3 months were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic, clinical and catheter-related data were collected. Patients were grouped as being operated before/after 2009 in order to evaluate the effects of 2 different periods on outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 229 catheters in 132 patients were included in the study. The female to male ratio was 60/72. The mean age at the time of dialysis was 8.9 ± 5.5 years. The median follow-up period was 22.5 months (IQR 8.25-50; range 3-139). Peritonitis incidence in 1998-2008 and 2009-2018 periods was 0.13 episodes/patient-year and 0.09 episodes/ patient-year, respectively. The overall revision rate was 1 per 46.7 patient-months. Peritonitis history was the only independent risk factor for access revision (p=0.003). Peritoneal dialysis failure was observed in 25% (33/132) of patients. The need for catheter revision due to any cause, the presence of peritonitis, history of HD and infancy were independent risk factors for PD failure. The overall mortality rate was 15.2%(20/132). Having a history of temporary PD catheter placement and being infant were independent risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Access revision is still an important complication leading to PD failure despite the development of surgical techniques. Peritonitis is the most important cause of access revision and PD failure.