A retrospective study for association between post-transfusion hemoglobin S level and pre-transfusion hemoglobin S level at the next scheduled transfusion.

Background: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) frequently undergo prophylactic red blood cell (RBC) exchange transfusion and simple transfusion (RCE/T) to prevent complications of disease, such as stroke. These treatment procedures are performed with a target hemoglobin S (HbS) of ≤30%, or a goal of maintaining an HbS level of <30% immediately prior to the next transfusion. However, there is a lack of evidence-based instructions for how to perform RCE/T in a way that will result in an HbS value <30% between treatments.

Prospective determination of the incidence and severity of hyponatraemia in older hospitalised patients with acute urinary tract obstruction.

Introduction: acute urinary tract obstruction (aUTO) is a common finding in older hospitalised patients. Anecdotal reports described hyponatraemia in patients with aUTO, which subsides rapidly with relief of the obstruction.The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, severity and subsequent correction of hyponatraemia in patients with aUTO.

Safety of oesophagogastroduodenoscopy in a nonagenarian population.

Background: invasive gastrointestinal (GI) procedures are increasingly performed on much older patients but data regarding oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) in this population are limited. We compared the indications, safety and benefits of OGD for nonagenarians compared to octogenarians.

Methods: an observational retrospective review of patients who underwent OGD between 2013 and 2018 at a gastroenterology institute in one large hospital.