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).

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.

Predicting early mortality after acute variceal hemorrhage based on classification and regression tree analysis.

Background & Aims: Available prognostic models for mortality after an acute variceal hemorrhage have limitations that restrict their clinical value. We assessed the performance of a novel prognostic approach based on classification and regression tree (CART) analysis.

Methods: Logistic regression (LR) and CART analyses were performed to identify prognostic models for mortality at 6 weeks in a single-center cohort of 267 consecutive patients with acute variceal bleeding.

Respiratory pasteurellosis: infection or colonization?

Respiratory infection by Pasteurella multocida is uncommon and usually occurs in patients with an underlying lung disease, advanced age and/or immunodepression. In this study, we describe the clinical and microbiological characteristics of a series of 14 patients in whom Pasteurella multocida was isolated from lower respiratory tract samples, over a period of 21 y (1986-2006). Differentiation between colonization and infection allows establishment of early antibiotic treatment.