Economic evaluation of percutaneous cryoablation vs conventional surgery in extra-abdominal desmoid tumours in the Spanish healthcare system.

Background: Desmoid tumours (DTs) or deep fibromatosis are benign soft-tissue tumours, sometimes locally aggressive, requiring intervention on some cases. Surgery has been the gold standard, but new less invasive techniques such as percutaneous cryoablation have proved their effectiveness, reducing health resources and complications. The study aimed to compare the total cost of percutaneous cryoablation and conventional surgery for patients with extra-abdominal and/or abdominal wall DTs, candidates for local ablative treatment in Spain.

High doses of beta-blockers and alcohol abstinence improve long-term rebleeding and mortality in cirrhotic patients after an acute variceal bleeding.

Background & Aim: We analysed prognostic indicators of long-term outcome in cirrhotic patients surviving the critical 6-week period after an episode of acute variceal bleeding.

Methods: All patients with oesophageal variceal bleeding from 2001-2007 were prospectively registered. Follow-up extended from day 42 after index bleeding to last visit, death or liver transplantation (LT).

[Predicting very early rebleeding after acute variceal bleeding based in classification and regression tree analysis (CRTA).].

Background: Variceal bleeding (VB) is the main cause of death among cirrhotic patients. About 30-50% of early rebleeding is encountered few days after the acute episode of VB. It is necessary to stratify patients with high risk of very early rebleeding (VER) for more aggressive therapies.

Platelet thromboembolism after lung transplantation.

Lung transplant patients have an increased risk of pulmonary embolism which is often associated with hypercoagulability disorders. We present a case of sudden death resulting from pulmonary intravascular platelet thromboembolism following a single-lung transplant.

Predicting 6-week mortality after acute variceal bleeding: role of Classification and Regression Tree analysis.

Background: Available prognostic scores for mortality after acute variceal bleeding are mainly based on logistic regression analysis but may have some limitations that can restrict their clinical value.

Aims: To assess the efficacy of a novel prognostic approach based on Classification and Regression Tree -CART- analysis to common easy-to-use models (MELD and Child-Pugh) for predicting 6-week mortality in patients with variceal bleeding.

Methods: Sixty consecutive cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding.