Cost-effectiveness analysis of the diagnosis of temporal arteritis.

Unlabelled: Temporal arteritis (TA) is the most common form of systemic vasculitis. Its diagnosis is based on criteria proposed by the American College of Rheumatology (1990), and its treatment is high-dose corticosteroids. Our objective is to assess the cost of diagnosing TA, and secondarily, cost-effective analysis of different diagnostic strategies (clinical, biopsy, doppler ultrasound) and therapeutic strategies (corticosteroid suspension).

Clinical prediction rules in acute appendicitis: which combination of variables is more effective at predicting?

Background: Clinical prediction rules have been designed to reduce variability and improve the diagnostic process. However, there are no unanimous criteria regarding which of them is the most efficient for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Aim: The primary aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic efficacy of the most commonly used clinical prediction rules.

Clinical Characteristics and Surgical Outcomes of Carotid Body Tumors: Data from the Carotid Paraganglioma Cooperative International Registry (CAPACITY) Group.

Background: This study's objective was to conduct a multinational registry of patients with carotid body tumors (CBTs) and to analyze patients' clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective study from the Carotid Paraganglioma Cooperative International Registry involving eleven medical centers in Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Spain, of all patients with a CBT who underwent resection between 2009 and 2019.

Results: A total of 1432 patients with a CBT surgically treated were included.

Effect of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning on the Incidence of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (Remote Ischemic Preconditioning-Endovascular Aneurysm Repair Study).

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a major inconvenience in the use of iodinated contrast media (ICM) and it is associated with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality and cost of hospitalization. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a noninvasive and cost-effective tissue protection technique that has showed to be beneficial in decreasing renal insult in patients receiving intravascular contrast.

Aim: The primary outcome of this study is to evaluate the impact of RIPC on the incidence of CIN in patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair.

Impact of nutritional and inflammatory status in patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia.

Background: A pro-inflammatory state and a poor nutritional status have been associated with severity and prognosis of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The clinical applicability of the different pre-operative nutritional and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) was analyzed.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed, that included all patients with CLTI revascularized from January 2016 to July 2019.