Publications by authors named "Tzimas P"

Article Synopsis
  • A study assessed the prevalence of post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS) among anaesthesiologists working in COVID-19 referral hospitals in Greece using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ).
  • Results showed that 18%-23% of participants exhibited PTSS, with 7% likely having PTSD; factors like having children and job satisfaction were protective against PTSS, while family obligations increased risk.
  • The study found that neuroticism and job ranking significantly predicted PTSS, with higher job levels correlating to an increased risk of developing the syndrome.
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  • The study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of a new abdominal stent graft called the Minos Abdominal stent device for treating patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) over a 2-year follow-up period.
  • A total of 52 patients were involved, with a 95% technical success rate in the endovascular aortic repair procedure and a low major adverse event rate of 3.8%.
  • The findings indicate that the Minos stent is both safe and effective, with 70% of patients showing significant reduction in aneurysm size (sac shrinkage) and no reported long-term complications or aorta-related deaths.
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Repeated administration of ketamine (KET) has been used to model schizophrenia-like symptomatology in rodents, but the psychotomimetic neurobiological and neuroanatomical underpinnings remain elusive. In parallel, the unmet need for a better treatment of schizophrenia requires the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-addictive phytocannabinoid has been linked to antipsychotic effects with unclear mechanistic basis.

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The high value of fiber-type Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) due to its phytochemicals has yet to be fully recognized and leveraged. Besides cannabidiol (CBD), which is the most prevalent non-psychoactive cannabinoid, hemp contains numerous other cannabinoids with unexplored bioactivities, in addition to various compound classes.

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Introduction: Cannabis sativa L. is attracting worldwide attention due to various health-promoting effects. Extraction solvent type is critical for the recovery of bioactive compounds from the plant, especially cannabinoids.

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Background: Regional anaesthesia and analgesia present many advantages. Related complications are few and have been fully described. Information on regional anaesthesia malpractice is lacking in Greece.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study aimed to determine the prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in critically ill patients, along with its effects on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), ICU length of stay, and in-hospital mortality.
  • - Conducted in a mixed medical-surgical ICU with 52 patients, the research utilized a modified hydrogen breath test to diagnose SIBO, revealing a prevalence rate of 36.5%.
  • - The findings indicated that SIBO was linked to a higher incidence of VAP and longer ICU stays, but did not significantly affect overall in-hospital mortality. Age was identified as a notable predictor for SIBO.
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Objectives: Point-of-care ultrasonography of the upper airway can be a useful supplement to conventional pre-anesthetic clinical evaluations. However, the reliability of such examinations is highly operator-dependent and proper training in sonoanatomy and ultrasound operational skills are required. The objective of this study aims to assess the minimum training requirements for applying a predefined upper airway scanning protocol in healthy volunteers by anesthesia trainees.

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COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented crisis with extreme distress for the frontline physicians and increased risk of developing burnout. Burnout has a negative impact on patients and physicians, posing a substantial risk in patient safety, quality of care and physicians' overall wellbeing. We evaluated burnout prevalence and possible predisposing factors among anaesthesiologists in the COVID-19 referral university/tertiary hospitals in Greece.

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Background: The objective of this study was to assess the Altura endoprosthesis outcomes up to 12 months for patients affected by infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) either in elective or emergent situations.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study identifying all patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) with the Altura endoprosthesis from January 2021 to August 2022. Outcomes evaluated included mortality, technical and clinical success (freedom from procedure-related death, endoleak, migration, thrombosis, and reintervention), and the freedom from reintervention rate.

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Background/aim: Acute pulmonary embolism during cesarean section is extremely rare and only a limited number of cases have been reported in literature. The aim of this study was to report a case of acute high risk pulmonary embolism during elective cesarean section treated with systemic thrombolysis and discuss the multidisciplinary management in both early recognition and prompt treatment.

Case Report: A 39-year-old, G5P2, ASA II parturient presented for repeat cesarean section under general anesthesia.

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Objective To evaluate the current landscape regarding medical liability in obstetric-gynecology (OB/GYN) physicians in Greece. Materials and methods Published court decisions of criminal, civil, administrative, and disciplinary content were searched in legal information banks for the years 1988-2021. The causes that led to the adverse outcome and the decisions were analyzed.

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Background And Aims: Preliminary evidence suggests a possible relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and perioperative neurocognitive disorders (NCD). We sought to investigate whether patients with T2DM, undergoing elective noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia, are at increased risk of perioperative NCD.

Material And Methods: A prospective cohort study was designed.

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Introduction: Cell salvaging is well established in the blood management of cardiac patients, but there remain some concerns about its effects on perioperative bleeding and transfusion variables. This randomized controlled study investigated the potential effects of the centrifuged end-product on bleeding, transfusion rates, and other transfusion-related variables in adult cardiac surgery patients submitted to extracorporeal circulation.

Materials And Methods: Patients were randomly chosen to receive (cell-salvage group, 99 patients) or not to receive (control group, 110 patients) the centrifuged product of a cell salvage apparatus.

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  • The study looked at how well the Greek version of a health survey (WHOQOL-BREF) works for patients with advanced cancer and pain, checking its reliability and how it connects to their quality of life (QoL).
  • 145 patients took part in the study, filling out various questionnaires to measure their quality of life, psychological distress, and pain levels.
  • Results showed that the WHOQOL-BREF was consistent and effective in identifying health issues, and higher psychological distress was linked to lower quality of life, regardless of pain intensity.
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  • A significant number of pregnant and postpartum women are experiencing mental health issues, with the COVID-19 pandemic contributing to a rise in postpartum depression (PPD) rates.
  • In a study of 330 women, 13.2% showed signs of depression postpartum and 24.8% had high anxiety levels before labor, which correlated with increased rates of PPD.
  • Despite heightened anxiety during the pandemic, the rates of PPD did not exceed pre-COVID levels in Greece, indicating a need for better monitoring and support for expecting mothers in stressful times.
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Hepatectomy-induced coagulation disturbances have been well studied over the past decade. Cumulative evidence supports the superiority of global coagulation analysis compared with conventional coagulation tests (i.e.

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Takotsubo syndrome is a serious complication of labor. Although the pathophysiologic role of excessive sympathetic activation is established in this process, concurrent vagal responses have not been adequately described. Moreover, it remains unclear whether autonomic activity depends on the mode of delivery.

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Introduction Surgery can be dangerous not only for patients, but it also carries a risk for the surgeon in case of medical error, which can affect their future medical career. The purpose of our research is to assess the current situation regarding medical liability in General Surgery in Greece, the reasons for the allegations of medical malpractice as well as the relationship between these issues and the court results. Methods Published court decisions of criminal, civil, administrative and disciplinary content were searched in legal information banks, between year 1973 and 2020.

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The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing, despite effective antiviral treatment for hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus infection and the application of preventive measures such as vaccination at birth against HBV infection. This is mainly due to the increase in metabolic syndrome and its hepatic components, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis. Liver resection and transplantation are the main treatment options, offering long-term survival and potential cure.

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