Early access flow rate predicts vascular access patency-related intervention in the first year: A retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Arteriovenous fistulas and grafts are lifelines for most hemodialysis patients, and a low access flow rate often requires patency-related intervention, such as angioplasty or thrombectomy, to prevent access failure. We examined whether early access flow rate, measured after initial fistula/graft cannulation, predicts vascular access patency-related intervention within 1 year.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study.

Acute sodium bicarbonate administration improves ventilatory efficiency in experimental respiratory acidosis: clinical implications.

Administering sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO) to patients with respiratory acidosis breathing spontaneously is contraindicated because it increases carbon dioxide load and depresses pulmonary ventilation. Nonetheless, several studies have reported salutary effects of NaHCO in patients with respiratory acidosis but the underlying mechanism remains uncertain. Considering that such reports have been ignored, we examined the ventilatory response of unanesthetized dogs with respiratory acidosis to hypertonic NaHCO infusion (1 N, 5 mmol/kg) and compared it with that of animals with normal acid-base status or one of the remaining acid-base disorders.

Cardiorespiratory Effects of Yogic Versus Slow Breathing in Individuals with a Spinal Cord Injury: An Exploratory Cohort Study.

An intricate physiological and pathophysiological connection exists between the heart and lungs, which is especially important in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). While an exercise intervention may seem the best approach to leverage this relationship, the prior work has shown that, despite numerous health benefits, regular exercise training does not improve cardiorespiratory control in individuals with SCI. Breath training presents an alternative intervention that is uniquely accessible, with yogic breathing directly engaging linked fluctuations in respiration and cardiovascular control.

Solid Pseudopapillary Tumor of the Pancreas: Is Enucleation Safe?

Background: While solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas are oncologically low-risk tumors, their resection with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or partial pancreatectomy (PP) carries a significant risk for morbidity. To balance the favorable prognosis with the surgical morbidity of pancreas resection, this study explores the oncologic safety of enucleation (EN).

Patients And Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for resected SPT from January 2004 through December 2020.

Innovations in surgery for gallbladder cancer: A review of robotic surgery as a feasible and safe option.

Background: This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of robotic-assisted surgical techniques in the treatment of gallbladder cancer, comparing it with traditional open and laparoscopic methods.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature searched for comparative analyses of patient outcomes following robotic, open, and laparoscopic surgeries, focusing on oncological results and perioperative benefits.

Results: Five total studies published between 2019 and 2023 were identified.

Predictors of hospital length of stay and long-term care facility placement in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is frequently associated with complications, extended hospital length of stay (LOS) and high health care related costs. We sought to determine predictors for hospital LOS and discharge disposition to a long-term care facility (LTCF) in aSAH patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of a prospectively collected cohort of consecutive patients with aSAH admitted to an academic referral center from 2016 to 2021.

Laparoscopic Dissection of Lymph Node Station 16-Why and How?

Background: Dissection of para-aortic lymph nodes (Station 16) provides an important prognosticator for patients with gastrointestinal, colorectal, and hepatobiliary cancers. For example, a positive Station 16 lymph node has been shown to lead to 2-year survival of 3% in patients with pancreas adenocarcinoma, akin to stage IV disease. Thereby, Station 16 involvement can help with the risk/benefit stratification of the decision to move forward with radical surgery.

Utilizing Poetry as Spiritual Care for Hospital Staff.

This personal reflection emphasizes the potential benefits of poetry for interfaith spiritual and pastoral support of medical professionals. Details are provided for the implementation of several successful practices, including an Intensive Care Unit Poetry Basket, Portable Poetry with Aromatherapy Towelette Hand Blessings, and Presenting Poems to Nurse Practice Council. The references include the poetry used in the spiritual care activities and the author also provided a helpful "Further Resources" section.

Evaluating Kaposi Sarcoma in Kidney Transplant Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a malignancy that commonly appears as lesions on the skin or mucosal surfaces but can also develop in other organs. This cancer is usually caused by the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), recently known as Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). KS is rare in the general population but can develop in kidney transplant recipients with varying incidence due to immunocompromised status from immunosuppression.

Laparoscopic Caudate Resection: How to Safely Manage the Spiegel/IVC Interface.

Background: Minimally invasive caudate lobectomy, or even paracaval caudate resection, can be associated with significant bleeding due to its abutment of inferior vena cava (IVC), portal pedicle and hepatic veins. This risk can be magnified by cirrhosis as well as response to neoadjuvant therapy (a common phenomenon after excellent response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy), leading to obliteration or even fusion of the hepato-caval space. PATIENT: A 68-year-old female with stage IVa colorectal adenocarcinoma was found to have a single liver metastasis (3.

Global practice patterns of preoperative image reconstruction for liver surgery.

Background: Three-dimensional (3-D) liver modeling is used globally; however, its actual practice is limited to a few centers. This study aimed to assess practice patterns and barriers to the use of 3-D modeling among liver surgeons worldwide.

Methods: A survey approved by the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association research council consisting of 27 questions was conducted using an online questionnaire.

Association of Body Mass Index with Multiple Organ Failure in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

This study examines whether excessive adipose tissue, as measured by the body mass index (BMI), is associated with higher systemic markers of inflammation and higher risk of severe acute organ failure among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study of 1370 hospitalized adults (18 years or older) with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic. Patient-level variables were extracted from the electronic medical record.

From Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Out with the Old, in with the New.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease (CLD) affecting a quarter of the global population [...

Updates in pulmonary drug-resistant tuberculosis pharmacotherapy: A focus on BPaL and BPaLM.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern and contributes to high morbidity and mortality. New evidence supports the use of shorter duration, all-oral regimens, which represent an encouraging treatment strategy for drug-resistant TB. As a result, the landscape of drug-resistant TB pharmacotherapy has drastically evolved regarding treatment principles and preferred agents.

Racial and ethnic disparities in heart transplantation for end-stage heart failure: An analysis of the national inpatient sample (NIS) database.

Purpose: This study aims to examine disparities among heart transplant recipients in the United States, utilizing the latest data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of NIS discharge data (2017-2020), focusing on adult end-stage heart failure (ESHF) patients, identified using the ICD-10 CM code I50.84.

Risk Prediction in Male Adolescents With Congenital Long QT Syndrome: Implications for Sex-Specific Risk Stratification in Potassium Channel-Mediated Long QT Syndrome.

Background: Sex-specific risk management may improve outcomes in congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS). We recently developed a prediction score for cardiac events (CEs) and life-threatening events (LTEs) in postadolescent women with LQTS. In the present study, we aimed to develop personalized risk estimates for the burden of CEs and LTEs in male adolescents with potassium channel-mediated LQTS.

Retained arterial catheter following patient self-discontinuation-a case report.

A patient self-discontinues arterial line resulting in retention of arterial catheter. The retained catheter was identified on bedside ultrasound and the patient required radial artery exploration and removal of catheter under general anesthesia. We describe potential contributing factors and solutions to catheter design and placement as well as next steps once a retained catheter has been identified.

A case report of lung metastasis in a cervical cancer presenting as a consolidation.

Cervical cancer is a preventable cancer in the United States. We discuss a case of a 43-year-old woman who presented with signs and symptoms of Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) as well as shortness of breath and chest tightness. Upon investigation, it was concluded that she had developed multiple brain infarcts, pulmonary embolism, and deep venous thrombosis in both lower extremities.