Surgical treatment of Crohns disease in children in the era of biological treatment.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of Crohns disease in the paediatric population has been increasing and requires surgical treatment in addition to conservative therapy. While surgical treatment used to be the last step after the failure of all conservative therapies, nowadays it is a standard part of complex treatment. Surgery can enter the treatment process at any stage of the disease and, with a proper indication, timing and preoperative optimization, it can induce immediate remission in patients. On the other hand, with inadequate or improper preoperative preparation and indication, surgical treatment can cause serious or even life-threatening complications. The spectrum of patients undergoing surgery is changing in the era of biological therapy. The aim of this review was to summarize the current knowledge of the impact of biological (anti-TNF alpha) therapy on the development of postoperative complications in children and adolescents operated for Crohns disease. METHODS: We present a review based on literature available in MEDLINE-PubMed and Embase databases. CONCLUSION: According to current knowledge, no association was found between biological treatment in the preoperative period and the development of postoperative complications in paediatric patients. Surgical treatment of paediatric patients with Crohns disease is one of standard treatment modalities.

Management of ileocolic intussusception in the Czech Republic.

INTRODUCTION: Ileocolic intussusception is one of the most frequent causes of acute abdomen in infants and toddlers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment of ileocolic intussusception in the Czech Republic in 2019. METHODS: Fourteen departments of paediatric surgery participated in this multicentre retrospective study. A SurveyMonkey Inc. questionnaire was used for anonymous data collection of patients with ileocolic intussusception. RESULTS: In 2019, ileocolic intussusception was diagnosed in 162 patients; median age was 30 months (3 months to 9.5 years). Contrast enema was indicated in 133 patients, primary surgery in 14 patients and spontaneous reduction was found in 15 patients. All departments using contrast enema had a success rate of 89.5%; 12 departments approached the contrast enema procedure under general anaesthesia (including myorelaxation at 7 departments) and 2 departments under sedation. Contrast enema under general anaesthesia with/without myorelaxation was significantly more successful than contrast enema under sedation (108/113, 95.6% vs 11/20, 55%; p.

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in children via PIRS (percutaneous internal ring suturing).

INTRODUCTION: The miniinvasive approach is a trend in pediatric surgery nowadays. The new surgical technique called percutaneous internal ring suturing (PIRS) is a promising method bringing all the benefits of miniinvasive surgery. METHODS: Prospective study of patients operated on using the PIRS technique from 01 January 2018 to 01 January 2020 at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Motol. RESULTS: 73 patients (25 boys and 48 girls) were operated on using PIRS. The median age was 68 months. 90 % of operations were performed by the same team of surgeons. During the procedure there were found 53 right-sided and 38 left-sided inguinal hernias. In 18 cases the hernia was bilateral, but only in 13 cases was this diagnosis made before the operation. A non-absorbable stitch was used in 57 cases to close the internal ring of the inguinal canal, and a non-absorbable monofilament in 16. The median operating time was 34 minutes. There were 3 recurrences (3.3 %) in our study.  Conclusion: In our initial study, the PIRS technique proved to be a safe alternative method to the open inguinal hernia surgery. This method provides the benefit of allowing to revise the contralateral inguinal canal as a prevention of a metachronous inguinal hernia. The cosmetic results were excellent.

Determinants of label non-adherence to non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants in patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation.

Aims: To evaluate the extent and determinants of off-label non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant (NOAC) dosing in newly diagnosed Dutch AF patients. Methods and results: In the DUTCH-AF registry, patients with newly diagnosed AF (<6 months) are prospectively enrolled. Label adherence to NOAC dosing was assessed using the European Medicines Agency labelling. Factors associated with off-label dosing were explored by multivariable logistic regression analyses. From July 2018 to November 2020, 4500 patients were registered. The mean age was 69.6 ± 10.5 years, and 41.5% were female. Of the 3252 patients in which NOAC label adherence could be assessed, underdosing and overdosing were observed in 4.2% and 2.4%, respectively. In 2916 (89.7%) patients with a full-dose NOAC recommendation, 4.6% were underdosed, with a similar distribution between NOACs. Independent determinants (with 95% confidence interval) were higher age [odds ratio (OR): 1.01 per year, 1.01-1.02], lower renal function (OR: 0.96 per ml/min/1.73 m2, 0.92-0.98), lower weight (OR: 0.98 per kg, 0.97-1.00), active malignancy (OR: 2.46, 1.19-5.09), anaemia (OR: 1.73, 1.08-2.76), and concomitant use of antiplatelets (OR: 4.93, 2.57-9.46). In the 336 (10.3%) patients with a reduced dose NOAC recommendation, 22.9% were overdosed, most often with rivaroxaban. Independent determinants were lower age (OR: 0.92 per year, 0.88-0.96) and lower renal function (OR: 0.98 per ml/min/1.73 m2, 0.96-1.00). Conclusion: In newly diagnosed Dutch AF patients, off-label dosing of NOACs was seen in only 6.6% of patients, most often underdosing. In this study, determinants of off-label dosing were age, renal function, weight, anaemia, active malignancy, and concomitant use of antiplatelets.

[Is one DOAC better than another?] / Is de ene DOAC beter dan de andere?

Real-world evidence is accumulating to support the idea that there are differences among the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). The results of the study, discussed elsewhere in the NTvG, add to the growing body of evidence that while there is almost no difference in efficacy in prevention of the thromboembolic complications of non-valvular atrial fibrillation there are significant differences in safety. Apixaban is safer than rivaroxaban, with significantly less major bleeding, any bleeding or gastro-intestinal bleeding. Apixaban is probably the safest DOAC of the four available. These differences between DOACs with almost equal half-life are probably partly due to the differences in dosing interval: twice a day (BID) versus once a day (QD).

[Non-invasive evaluation of cardic output by analysis of peripheral pressure profile in patients recovering in intensive care]. / Misura non invasiva della gittata cardiaca attraverso analisi del profilo pressorio periferico in pazienti ricoverati in terapia intensiva.

BACKGROUND: The analysis of the arterial pulse contour obtained by means of a non-invasive device (Finapres) seems to be an ideal method to measure cardiac output (CO). An individual calibration factor (Z) dimensionally equal to aortic impedence is the necessary pre-requisite to calculate CO by pulse contour analysis. To verify the reliability of non-invasive pulse contour method, we compared the COs measured from Finapres tracings with those measured from thermodilution method in Intensive Care patients. METHODS: In 9 patients undergoing cardiac and general surgery, CO was measured from thermodilution (COTD) within 24 hours of postoperative period (total of 67 measurements). During COTD measurements, Finapres tracings were recorded and then analysed to calculate CO by two different procedures. In the former (COA), Z was calculated from an algorithm which takes into account heart rate, mean arterial pressure and age of the patient. In the latter procedure (COB), Z was experimentally determined from the initial COTD measure and then updated for the hemodynamic conditions of the patient. RESULTS: COTD ranged between 3.5 and 9.5 L.min-1 (mean value 5.53 +/- 1.29 L.min-1). The mean difference between COTD e COA was 0.485 +/- 1.537 L.min-1 and the mean percentage error was 25.1 +/- 14.5%. The experimental determination of Z reduced the mean difference and the mean percentage error between thermodilution and Finapres method to--0.002 +/- 1.056 L.min-1 and 15.5 +/- 11.0%, respectively. The regression line between COTD and COB turned out to be: COB = 0.68 + 0.88.COTD (r = 0.73). CONCLUSIONS: The pulse contour analysis applied to Finapres tracing allows to calculate CO with reasonable accuracy in the intensive care patients. An initial experimental determination of Z is recommended to improve the accuracy of Finapres method.