Vaccination and Its Impact on Lung Involvement in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Study in India.

Background COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, led to a global pandemic necessitating urgent vaccine development and deployment. By the end of 2020, several vaccines had reached their clinical trial endpoints. India, leveraging its pharmaceutical prowess, developed two primary vaccines: CoviShield® and Covaxin®.

Doppler ultrasound surveillance of recently formed haemodialysis arteriovenous fistula: the SONAR observational cohort study.

Background: Arteriovenous fistulas are considered the best option for haemodialysis provision, but as many as 30% fail to mature or suffer early failure.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of performing a randomised controlled trial that examines whether, by informing early and effective salvage intervention of fistulas that would otherwise fail, Doppler ultrasound surveillance of developing arteriovenous fistulas improves longer-term arteriovenous fistula patency.

Design: A prospective multicentre observational cohort study (the 'SONAR' study).

Early Ultrasound Surveillance of Newly-Created Hemodialysis Arteriovenous Fistula.

Introduction: We assess if ultrasound surveillance of newly-created arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) can predict nonmaturation sufficiently reliably to justify randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluation of ultrasound-directed salvage intervention.

Methods: Consenting adults underwent blinded fortnightly ultrasound scanning of their AVF after creation, with scan characteristics that predicted AVF nonmaturation identified by logistic regression modeling.

Results: Of 333 AVFs created, 65.

Exploring the Correlation Between Splenomegaly and Lung Involvement in COVID-19: A Retrospective Study.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resulting from the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has not only shown substantial effects on the respiratory system but also on extrapulmonary systems, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hematological, and immune responses, notably spleen enlargement. The connection between the enlargement of the spleen and pulmonary complications in individuals with COVID-19 is still not well elucidated, with current studies offering divergent conclusions. Objective This study aims to elucidate the correlation between splenomegaly, as assessed by computed tomography (CT) imaging, and the extent of lung involvement (LI) in COVID-19 patients, thereby offering insights into potential prognostic indicators.

Quality assurance in surgical trials of arteriovenous grafts for haemodialysis: A systematic review, a narrative exploration and expert recommendations.

Background: Introducing new procedures and challenging established paradigms requires well-designed randomised controlled trials (RCT). However, RCT in surgery present unique challenges with much of treatment tailored to the individual patient circumstances, refined by experience and limited by organisational factors. There has been considerable debate over the outcomes of arteriovenous grafts (AVG) compared to AVF, but any differences may reflect differing practice and potential variability.

Can virtual reality enhance the patient experience during awake invasive procedures? A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Procedural anxiety and pain negatively affect surgical outcomes and the patient experience during awake, invasive procedures (AIPs). This systematic review aims to evaluate the effect of using virtual reality (VR) to enhance the intraprocedural patient experience during AIPs. PRISMA, Cochrane, and SWiM Reporting Items guidelines were followed.

Quality assurance in surgical trials of arteriovenous grafts for haemodialysis: protocol for a systematic review.

Introduction: Decisions regarding the optimal vascular access for haemodialysis patients are becoming increasingly complex, and the provision of vascular access is open to variations in systems of care as well as surgical experience and practice. Two main surgical options are recognised: arteriovenous fistula and arteriovenous graft (AVG). All recommendations regarding AVG are based on a limited number of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

The Global Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Undergraduate Medical Curriculum: A Systematic Review.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly advancing technology that has the potential to revolutionize medical education. AI can provide personalized learning experiences, assist with student assessment, and aid in the integration of pre-clinical and clinical curricula. Despite the potential benefits, there is a paucity of literature investigating the use of AI in undergraduate medical education.

Recruitment into randomised trials of arteriovenous grafts: A systematic review.

Although randomised controlled trials (RCT) are considered the optimal form of evidence, there are relatively few in surgery. Surgical RCT are particularly likely to be discontinued with poor recruitment cited as a leading reason. Surgical RCT present challenges over and above those seen in drug trials as the treatment under study may vary between procedures, between surgeons in one unit, and between units in multi-centred RCT.

Adapting a Dialysis Service for Delivery of Percutaneous Arteriovenous Fistulas.

The percutaneous arteriovenous fistula (pAVF) is an exciting and novel addition to the vascular access options available to patients with end-stage kidney disease who require dialysis. Early clinical results have been promising, with high rates of maturation and low rates of reintervention. To successfully adapt an existing hemodialysis service to include the provision of pAVF formation, it is essential to identify and align the interests of key clinical and nonclinical stakeholders.

Robot-assisted kidney transplantation: an update.

Renal transplantation has become the gold-standard treatment for the majority of patients with established renal failure. Recent decades have seen significant progress in immunosuppressive therapies and advances in post-transplant management of recipients, resulting in improved graft and patient outcomes. However, the open technique of allograft implantation has stood the test of time, remaining largely unchanged.

The management of dialysis access thrombosis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Maintaining patent access is essential for haemodialysis dependent end stage renal failure patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected surgical and interventional radiology services worldwide. We aimed to review the impact COVID-19 has caused to the management of acute dialysis access thrombosis.

Cribriform CSF Leak: Endoscopic Surgical Repair Using Free Septal Mucosal Graft Without Postoperative Nasal Packs.

Cribriform plate is the commonest site of Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, its fragility and juxtaposition of arachnoid's investment to the bone, where the olfactory nerve pierces the skull, is a vulnerable site for CSF leak. Endoscopic transnasal approach has been the main stay for CSF leak repair over the past 2 decades. The technique and surgical steps of Endoscopic Surgical Repair of Cribriform CSF Leak using Free Septal Mucosal Graft without Postoperative Nasal packs are presented.

A UK Expert Consensus Approach for Managing Symptomatic Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) Stenosis in Haemodialysis Patients.

Purpose: Stenoses in mature arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are common and can negatively impact on the quality of haemodialysis, the longevity of the AVF and lead to debilitating symptoms. Multiple treatment options exist; however, management can vary between different centres. We aimed to establish multidisciplinary consensus on the optimal stepwise application of interventions based on evidence and consensus.

Outcomes of Renal Transplant Recipients With SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Eye of the Storm: A Comparative Study With Waitlisted Patients.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 and those on immunosuppression are particularly vulnerable and are shielded as per public health strategy. We present our experience of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transplant patients in one of the most affected parts of the UK with direct comparison to waitlisted patients.

Methods: A single-center prospective study of symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positive waitlisted and transplant patients was undertaken to compare these groups and assess clinical outcomes.

Outcomes and surgical complications following living-donor renal transplantation using kidneys retrieved with trans-peritoneal or retro-peritoneal hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy.

The best minimally invasive procedure for living-donor kidney retrieval remains debated. Our objective was to assess trans-peritoneal (TP) and retro-peritoneal (RP) hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (HALDN). In this single-center retrospective study, we analyzed results from 317 living-donor renal transplants (RT) performed between 2008 and 2016.

Surveillance arterioveNous fistulAs using ultRasound (SONAR) trial in haemodialysis patients: a study protocol for a multicentre observational study.

Introduction: Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are considered the best and safest modality for providing haemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease. Only 20% of UK centres achieve the recommended 80% target for achieving dialysis of the prevalent dialysis population via permanent access (as opposed to a central venous catheter). This is partly due to the relatively poor maturation rate of newly created fistulas, with as many as 50% of fistulas failing to mature.

Incidence, risk factors, and outcome of BK polyomavirus infection after kidney transplantation.

Background: Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy is a leading cause of kidney allograft failure. Therapeutic options are limited and prompt reduction of the net state of immunosuppression represents the mainstay of treatment. More recent application of aggressive screening and management protocols for BK-virus infection after renal transplantation has shown encouraging results.

Successful multi-modal treatment of grade IV lymphedema in lymphatic filariasis: A case study.

We present an integrated therapeutic approach performed on a 37 year old female with giant lymphedema (Grade IV) due to lymphatic filariasis of 27 years duration. Our therapeutic approaches consisted of a basic foot care program for two weeks, followed by a course of oral penicillin for a week including conservative treatment with complete decongestive therapy (CDT) together with respiratory physiotherapy and walking exercises. In addition, advanced surgical techniques with supra-fascial excision of alternate lumps in three stages over an interval of ten days followed by a nodo-venal shunt resulted in reversing the stage IV lymphedema condition.

Infectious aortitis in a liver transplant recipient.

The development of an abdominal aortic aneurysm secondary to infectious aortitis following solid organ transplantation is a rare event that in the absence of surgical intervention, can lead to uncontrolled sepsis, catastrophic hemorrhage and death. Arterial allografts have been a viable surgical option for the past 30 years, although operative modalities have undergone a paradigm shift in recent years. We describe the first case in the literature of a liver transplant recipient who developed an infrarenal aortic aneurysm secondary to Salmonella bacteraemia, which was treated successfully with aortic allograft transplantation.

A radiologist's guide to small bowel and multivisceral transplantation.

This review will describe the indications for the various small bowel containing transplants. The importance of early referral will be highlighted. Radiologists play a central role in assessing these complex patients prior to transplantation.

Preoperative comorbidity correlates inversely with survival after intestinal and multivisceral transplantation in adults.

We investigated the relationship between preoperative comorbidity and postoperative survival after intestinal transplantation. Each patient received a score for preoperative comorbidity. Each comorbidity was given a score based on the degree it impaired function (score range 0-3).

Operative salvage of radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas by formation of a proximal neoanastomosis.

Objective: We examined the outcomes of radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas salvaged by formation of a neoanastomosis in the proximal cephalic vein segment.

Methods: Patients with a radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula revised by formation of a neoanastomosis in the proximal cephalic vein segment were identified from a prospectively maintained database and outcomes retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Eighty patients had 81 radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas revised by formation of a neoanastomosis in the proximal cephalic vein segment.