Predictors of failure of conservative management of cholecystitis: a systematic review of the literature.

Objectives: While emergency cholecystectomy is the preferred treatment for acute cholecystitis, conservative management can be used as a bridge to definitive surgical management in situations where emergency surgical services are limited. The objective of this systematic review is to identify factors associated with conservative management failure as defined as either failed resolution of symptoms on initial presentation, or the recurrence of symptoms whilst awaiting an elective cholecystectomy. This study aims to allow clinicians to make evidence-based recommendations for conservative versus operative management.

Percutaneous versus surgical catheter insertion for peritoneal dialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Introduction: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is used as a kidney replacement therapy for patients with kidney failure. Institutional practices vary considerably, and the optimal technique for insertion of PD catheters is unknown. This study compared the efficacy and safety of surgical versus percutaneous approaches to PD catheter insertion for patients with end-stage kidney disease.

Liraglutide for the Treatment of Severe Hypoglycemia Following Total Pancreatectomy and Islet Autotransplantation.

Total pancreatectomy and islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) is an effective treatment for chronic and recurrent acute pancreatitis, and it provides a significant potential additional benefit of insulin independence. Spontaneous hypoglycemia in the absence of insulin therapy following TPIAT is a recognized complication, which has been attributed to lack of protective glucagon responses to hypoglycemia, following intrahepatic islet autotransplantation. We describe the use of liraglutide to treat spontaneous hypoglycemia following TPIAT.

Normothermic Regional Perfusion in Controlled Donation After Circulatory Death Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Liver grafts from controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD) donors have lower utilization rates due to inferior graft and patient survival rates, largely attributable to the increased incidence of ischemic cholangiopathy, when compared with grafts from brain dead donors (DBD). Normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) may improve the quality of cDCD livers to allow for expansion of the donor pool, helping to alleviate the shortage of transplantable grafts. A systematic review and metanalysis was conducted comparing NRP cDCD livers with both non-NRP cDCD livers and DBD livers.