Palliative Prognostic Index accuracy of survival prediction in an inpatient palliative care service at a Brazilian tertiary hospital.

Purpose: The Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI) was developed to improve survival prediction for advanced cancer patients. However, there is limited data about the PPI application in a real-world scenario. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of PPI > 6 in predicting survival of cancer inpatients.

Implementing a patient-centred outcome measure in daily routine in a specialist palliative care inpatient hospital unit: An observational study.

Background: Gathering clinical evidence data on patients' palliative care needs is paramount to identify changes in outcomes over time and maintaining on-going quality improvement. Implementation of patient-centred outcome measures has been widely recommended. The routine use of these instruments in daily practice is challenging and not widespread.

Anatomical and surgical considerations on lumbar hernias.

Lumbar hernias, which are rare hernias of the posterolateral abdominal wall, can be divided into two groups: primary lumbar hernias, often the expression of a congenital defect, which typically arise in two areas of weakness, the superior triangle and inferior triangle and acquired (or diffuse) lumbar hernias which are usually due to previous lumbar trauma or surgery. Clinical examination may be adjuvated by ultrasound or CT scan, which can reveal the abdominal wall defect with the hernia content (viscera or extraperitoneal tissue). Surgical repair of lumbar hernias, both primary and acquired, has rapidly developed through recent years, similarly to the treatment of more frequent kinds of hernia (groin, epigastric), evolving from direct repair to mini-invasive techniques, even if, since the rarity of these hernias, precise knowledge of this complex anatomic region is required.

Surgical options in the treatment of GIST of the upper portion of the stomach. Report of two cases.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare neoplasms arising from mesenchymal precursor cells of the gastrointestinal tract that may differentiate towards the interstitial cells of Cajal, pacemaker cells regulating autonomous motility of G.I. tract.