Evaluation of the Vitek® Reveal™ system for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Gram-negative pathogens, including ESBL, CRE and CRAB, from positive blood cultures.

Blood culture (BC) remains the reference diagnostic tool for bloodstream infections but is hampered by long turn-around time (TAT). This study evaluated the Vitek® Reveal™ (VR) system for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) with 72 cases of monomicrobial BCs (55 Enterobacterales, 12 Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 5 Acinetobacter baumannii), including isolates producing carbapenemases and/or extended-spectrum β-lactamases. VR returned AST results with a mean TAT of 5.

Evaluation of two commercial broth microdilution systems for dalbavancin susceptibility testing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and other resistant Gram-positive cocci.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate two commercial broth microdilution (BMD) systems, E1-185-100 (Merlin) and FDANDPF (ThermoFisher), for dalbavancin susceptibility testing in comparison with reference BMD assay.

Methods: Study collection was composed of 200 non-replicate multidrug-resistant Gram-positive cocci of clinical origin, including 180 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 10 vancomycin-resistant enterococci, seven linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis, and three methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci. S.

Rates of Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cervical Cancer: A Study in a Province in the South of Italy.

In Italy, cervical cancer represents the fifth most prevalent cancer in women under 50 years of age and is one of the most commonly detected lesions globally. Given the developing burden of the disease and the availability of both primary and secondary prevention measures, their accurate surveillance is of paramount importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the trends in cervical cancer screening adherence in the period between 2020 and 2022, as well as to evaluate positive tests, identifying the most frequently associated genotypes and the vaccination coverage.

Predictive features associated with thyrotoxic storm and management.

Thyroid storm (TS) is an endocrine emergency characterized by rapid deterioration, associated with high mortality rate therefore rapid diagnosis and emergent treatment is mandatory. In the past, thyroid surgery was the most common cause of TS, but recent preoperative medication creates a euthyroid state before performing surgery. An active approach during perioperative period could determine an effective clinical treatment of this life-threating diseases.

A randomised controlled trial comparing two popliteal nerve catheter tip positions for postoperative analgesia after day-case hallux valgus repair.

We compared the effect of two different positions of a sciatic nerve catheter within the popliteal fossa on local anaesthetic consumption and postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing day-case hallux valgus repair. Eighty-four patients were randomly allocated to receive a sciatic nerve catheter either between the tibial and peroneal components (sciatic group) or medial to the tibial nerve (tibial group). The primary endpoint was postoperative local anaesthetic consumption, while secondary endpoints were pain scores, number of occasions where sleep was disturbed by pain and incidence of insensate limb and foot drop at 24 h and 48 h postoperatively.

Uncommon Case of a Post-Traumatic Portal Vein Pseudoaneurysm Treated with Percutaneous Transhepatic Stent Grafting.

We describe a man who presented with a traumatic portal vein pseudoaneurysm, which was subsequently managed with a percutaneous transhepatic stent graft. This case demonstrates a rarely seen condition in the traumatic population and a novel management strategy, which should be considered in the management of this challenging injury.

The role of endovascular treatment of pelvic fracture bleeding in emergency settings.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of endovascular treatment for controlling haemorrhage in haemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic bone fractures and to relate clinical efficacy to pre-procedural variables.

Materials And Methods: From March 2009 through April 2013, 168 patients with major pelvic trauma associated with high-flow haemorrhage were referred to our emergency department and were retrospectively reviewed. Pelvic arteries involved were one or more per patient.

Open abdomen management of intra-abdominal infections: analysis of a twenty-year experience.

Background: No conclusive results on the efficacy and timing of open abdomen (OA) are available, particularly in the setting of intra-abdominal infections. We analyzed outcomes and risk factors retrospectively in a large series of patients managed with an OA during the past 20 y in an effort to clarify this issue.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 133 patients who underwent treatment with an OA, considering factors related to patient, disease, medical management, and surgical treatment.

Usefulness and safety of biliary percutaneous transluminal forceps biopsy (PTFB): our experience.

Aim: To evaluate the usefulness and safety of percutaneous transluminal forceps biopsy in patients suspected of having a malignant biliary obstruction.

Material And Methods: Forty consecutive patients (21 men and 19 women; mean age, 71.9 years) underwent forceps biopsy through percutaneous transhepatic biliary access performed to drain bile.

Microwave ablation of lung tumours: single-centre preliminary experience.

Purpose: This study was done to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness and safety of microwave (MW) ablation of lung tumours.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four patients underwent percutaneous MW ablation of 26 intraparenchymal pulmonary masses. All patients were judged to be inoperable on the basis of tumour stage, comorbidities, advanced age and/or refusal to undergo surgery.

Microwave ablation of pancreatic head cancer: safety and efficacy.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous microwave (MW) ablation treatment in locally advanced, nonresectable, nonmetastatic pancreatic head cancer.

Materials And Methods: Ten patients with pancreatic head cancer treated with percutaneous (n = 5) or laparotomic (n = 5) MW ablation were retrospectively reviewed. The MW generator used (45 W at 915 MHz) was connected by coaxial cable to 14-gauge straight MW antennas with a 3.

Report of four simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants in HIV-positive recipients with favorable outcomes.

The advent of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) dramatically changed the view of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection as an exclusion criterion for solid organ transplantation, resulting in worldwide reports of successful transplants in HIV-infected individuals. However, there are few reports on simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant in HIV-positive recipients detailing poor outcomes. A series of four pancreas-kidney transplant performed on HIV-infected individuals between 2006 and 2009 is presented.

Endovascular treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms: aorto-uni-iliac or bifurcated endograft?

Purpose: This study evaluated the safety and technical and clinical success rates of positioning endovascular endografts (EG) in ruptured abdominal aneurysms.

Materials And Methods: Patients with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm confirmed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography angiography (CTA) were eligible for the analysis. Of 67 patients, 42 (62.

Preoperative methods to improve erythropoiesis.

Preoperative anemia creates a challenge for surgical treatment and patient outcomes after major surgery. Prior to a surgical intervention, it is optimal to increase erythropoiesis to improve oxygen transport through the bloodstream for patients at high risk of anemia and to avoid the complications of allogeneic blood transfusion. In this way, patients could receive predeposited autologous blood or, during the surgical procedures, undergo acute normovolemic hemodilution.

Microwave ablation therapy for treating primary and secondary lung tumours: technical note.

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of microwave ablation (MWA) in nine patients with unresectable lung tumour.

Materials And Methods: Ten lesions were treated in ten ablation sessions in nine patients. The treatments were performed with a microwave generator with 45 W and 915 MHz connected to a 14.

Plasma-mediated radiofrequency ablation followed by percutaneous cementoplasty under fluoro-CT guidance: a case report.

We report a case of a 81-year-old Caucasian man with colorectal carcinoma, treated by surgery in 1998, referred for palliative treatment of a refractory painful caused by osteolytic metastases of 2.5 cm in back-upper ilium spine. Plasma-mediated radiofrequency ablation was performed under conscious sedation, using Fluoroscopic Computer Tomography guidance.

Single-antenna microwave ablation under contrast-enhanced ultrasound guidance for treatment of small renal cell carcinoma: preliminary experience.

The purpose of this study was to determine the safety, effectiveness, and feasibility of microwave ablation (MWA) of small renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) in selected patients. Institutional review board and informed consent were obtained. From December 2007 to January 2009, 12 patients (8 male, 4 female) were enrolled in a treatment group, in which percutaneous MWA of small RCCs was performed under contrast-enhanced ultrasound guidance.

Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency thermal ablation of uterine fibroids: medium-term follow-up.

Previous studies have shown that radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) of uterine fibroids through a percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided procedure is an effective and safe minimally invasive treatment, with encouraging short-term results. The aim of this study was to assess the results in terms of volume reduction and clinical symptoms improvement in the midterm follow-up of fibroids with a diameter of up to 8 cm. Eleven premenopausal females affected by symptomatic fibroids underwent percutaneous US-guided RFA.

Effect of perioperative blood transfusion on clinical outcomes in hepatic surgery for cancer.

Allogeneic blood transfusion during liver resection for malignancies has been associated with an increased incidence of different types of complications: infectious complications, tumor recurrence, decreased survival. Even if there is clear evidence of transfusion-induced immunosuppression, it is difficult to demonstrate that transfusion is the only determinant factor that decisively affects the outcome. In any case there are several motivations to reduce the practice of blood transfusion.

Percutaneous imaging-guided ablation therapies in the treatment of symptomatic bone metastases: preliminary experience.

Purpose: The treatment of pain in bone metastases is currently multidisciplinary. Among the various therapies, local radiotherapy is the gold standard for pain palliation from single metastasis, even though the maximum benefit is obtained between 12 and 20 weeks from initiation. In carefully selected patients, several ablation therapies achieve this objective in 4 weeks.

Percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation of renal cell carcinoma: is it possible a day-hospital treatment?

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of the procedure in day-hospital and discuss prognostic factors, efficacy and complications of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2003 and August 2008, 26 patients (mean age 79, range 70-87 years, 15 men and 11 women) affected by 27 kidney tumoral lesions, 25 RCC and two renal oncocitome (one patient was affected by two RCC), undergo 29 treatments of RFA (three patients underwent two treatments due to residual tumor at the CT performed 1 month after the first treatment). Three out of 26 patients had only one kidney due to progressed nephrectomy because of RCC; three/26 patients were carriers of oncological comorbidity while four/26 patients were carriers of medical comorbidity.

Anaesthesia for thyroid surgery: perioperative management.

The aim of this review is to analyse anaesthesiologic preoperative assessment, intraoperative management and postoperative complications of patients with thyroid disease. A special care is paid to difficult airway recognition and resolving this situation. Anaesthetist's and surgeon's point of view of perioperative and postoperative complications is both discussed with special interest on early surgical complications and the need for urgent anaesthetic treatment.

Microwave tumors ablation: principles, clinical applications and review of preliminary experiences.

Local ablative techniques have been developed to enable local control of unresectable tumors. Ablation has been performed with several modalities including ethanol ablation, laser ablation, cryoablation, and radiofrequency ablation. Microwave technology is a new thermal ablation technique for different types of tumors, providing all the benefits of radiofrequency and substantial advantages.