Predictors of hyponatremia following elective primary unilateral knee arthroplasty at a tertiary centre: A retrospective observational cohort and predictive model.

Introduction: Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disorder. This can be associated with nausea, disorientation and in more serious cases a decreased level of consciousness or neurological deficits. These symptoms may lead to increases in the cost of hospital care and significant morbidity.

Challenges faced by patients, relatives and clinicians in end-stage dementia decision-making: a qualitative study of swallowing problems.

Background: Decision-making in end-stage dementia (ESD) is a complex process involving medical, social, legal and ethical issues. In ESD, the person suffers from severe cognitive problems leading to a loss of capacity to decide matters regarding health and end-of-life issues. The decisional responsibility is usually passed to clinicians and relatives who can face significant difficulty in making moral decisions, particularly in the presence of life-threatening swallowing problems.

Integration of the Duke Activity Status Index into preoperative risk evaluation: a multicentre prospective cohort study.

Background: The Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) questionnaire might help incorporate self-reported functional capacity into preoperative risk assessment. Nonetheless, prognostically important thresholds in DASI scores remain unclear. We conducted a nested cohort analysis of the Measurement of Exercise Tolerance before Surgery (METS) study to characterise the association of preoperative DASI scores with postoperative death or complications.

Plasma Ropivacaine Concentrations Following Local Infiltration Analgesia in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Pharmacokinetic Study to Determine Safety Following Fixed-Dose Administration.

Background And Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to examine the pharmacokinetics of ropivacaine in patients undergoing elective total knee arthroplasty with local infiltration analgesia as the primary analgesic method. We also sought to determine the incidence of biochemical toxicity through measurement of plasma ropivacaine concentrations over the first 24 hours postoperatively.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational study of 15 patients undergoing elective total knee arthroplasty.