Vaccination status and outcomes in critical COVID-19 patients.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID-19-related acute respiratory failure on the basis of their vaccination status at the time of ICU admission.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study using a prospective database of patients admitted to the ICU of a university hospital in the city of Murcia, in Spain, between January 1, 2021 and September 1, 2022. Clinical, analytical, and sociodemographic data were collected and analyzed on the basis of patient vaccination status.

Ultrasound staging in breast cancer: A decision-making oriented approach to axillary metastatic burden prediction.

Purpose: The possibility of avoiding axillary lymphadenectomy (AL) in patients with breast cancer (BC) after positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and low metastatic burden (< ó = 2 positive lymph nodes) has put into question the role of axillary ultrasound due to the risk of overtreatment after positive axillary lymph node biopsy with low metastatic burden. Our aim was to identify clinical and ultrasound features to detect low and high metastatic burden.

Methods: A retrospective study of 405 BC patients with primary surgical treatment with axillary ultrasound examination and subsequent AL after positive fine needle aspiration (FNA) or SLNB.

Non-invasive ventilation in patients with an altered level of consciousness. A clinical review and practical insights.

Non-invasive ventilation has gained an increasingly pivotal role in the treatment of acute hypoxemic and/or hypercapnic respira-tory failure and offers multiple advantages over invasive mechanical ventilation. Some of these advantages include the preserva-tion of airway defense mechanisms, a reduced need for sedation, and an avoidance of complications related to endotracheal intubation. Despite its advantages, non-invasive ventilation has some contraindications that include, among them, severe encephalopathy.

Surgical options in lumbar hernia: laparoscopic versus open repair. A long-term prospective study.

Objective: To determine the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic lumbar hernia repair.

Design: Prospective clinical study.

Setting: Abdominal wall unit, university hospital.

Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation to treat hypercapnic coma secondary to respiratory failure.

Introduction: Hypercapnic coma secondary to acute respiratory failure (ARF) is considered to be a contraindication to the use of treatment with noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV). However, intubation exposes these patients to the risk of complications such as nosocomial pneumonia, sepsis, and even death.

Patients And Methods: We performed a prospective, open, noncontrolled study to assess the outcomes of NPPV therapy in patients with a Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score of View Article and Find Full Text PDF