An update on a persisting challenge: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the risk factors for surgical site infection post craniotomy.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) postcraniotomy continue to impose a significant burden on health care systems and patient outcomes. It is, therefore, important to understand their risk factors in order to promote effective preventative measures. This meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date analysis of the risk factors associated with SSIs in neurosurgical procedures.

The initial intracranial pressure spike phenomenon.

Background: Elective use of intraparenchymal intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is a valuable resource in the investigation of hydrocephalus and other cerebrospinal fluid disorders. Our preliminary study aims to investigate ICP changes in the immediate period following dural breach, which has not yet been reported on.

Method: This is a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing elective ICP monitoring, recruited between March and May 2022.

Challenge or opportunity: Rehabilitation outcomes in patients with metastatic spinal cord compression - a UK single center experience.

Context /objective: Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC) is a devastating complication of cancer, affecting approximately 3000 patients per annum in England. However, access to rehabilitation services for MSCC patients is limited. The London Spinal Cord Injury Centre has set up a bespoke MSCC rehabilitation pathway from May 2013.

The effect of baseline cognition and delirium on long-term cognitive impairment and mortality: a prospective population-based study.

Background: There is an unmet public health need to understand better the relationship between baseline cognitive function, the occurrence and severity of delirium, and subsequent cognitive decline. Our aim was to quantify the relationship between baseline cognition and delirium and follow-up cognitive impairment.

Methods: We did a prospective longitudinal study in a stable representative community sample of adults aged 70 years or older who were registered with a Camden-based general practitioner in the London Borough of Camden (London, UK).

Patient's experience with the Arabin cervical pessary during pregnancy: A questionnaire survey.

Introduction: The cervical pessary is used in women with precocious cervical ripening to prevent preterm birth. Up to now however, there have been no systematic studies on compliance and tolerance, which vary among different study cohorts.

Material And Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 166 women treated with the Arabin cervical pessary in one center.

Gender Disparities in Concerns of Cancer Research Participation During COVID-19 Climate.

The unprecedented threat of COVID-19 has taken its toll on the field of cancer research, with trial accrual rates seeing a sharp decline since the beginning of the pandemic. Recent evidence has suggested that decreased participation appears to be more pronounced in women than men, which raises concerns about an exacerbation of gender bias in research. The following manuscript is a commentary article to the recent study by Fox et al, who aimed at investigating the concerns of patients with regard to participating to cancer research, as well as examining potential gender disparities within their sample population.

Warm versus cold cardioplegia in cardiac surgery: A meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to compare clinical outcomes of warm and cold cardioplegia in cardiac surgeries in adult patients, with trial sequential analysis (TSA) used to determine the conclusiveness of the results.

Methods: Electronic searches were performed on PubMed, Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, and Cochrane library to identify all studies that compared warm and cold cardioplegia in cardiac surgeries. Primary end points were in-hospital or 30-day mortality, myocardial infarction, low cardiac output syndrome, intra-aortic balloon pump use, stroke, and new atrial fibrillation.