Clinical and radiological characteristics of spinal epidural lipomatosis: A retrospective review of 90 consecutive patients

BackgroundThe epidemiology and clinical characteristics of spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) have been well-reported in the literature. However, few studies investigated the concomitant spinal pathologies that were present in patients with SEL. Therefore, we aimed to summarize the clinical and radiological characteristics of patients with SEL diagnosed on spinal imaging.MethodsPatients who were diagnosed with SEL on magnetic resonance imaging from January 2018 to October 2020 at our institution were included in the study. Clinical data was collected using a standardized data collection form. SEL was graded using a modified version of the Borré grading system. Factors associated with moderate or severe SEL were determined using multiple logistic regression.ResultsA total of 90 patients were included in the analysis. The mean (±SD) age was 59.3 (±17.1) years, and 62 patients (68.9%) were male. 61 patients (67.8%) had moderate or severe SEL. Most patients were overweight or obese (57 patients, 63.3%). The most common presenting symptoms was back pain (57 patients, 63.3%). SEL was diagnosed incidentally in 42 patients (46.7%). The lumbar spine was the most common site of SEL (35 patients, 38.9%). The most common concomitant spinal pathologies were disc bulge (83 patients, 92.2%) and flavum hypertrophy (60 patients, 66.7%). Moderate or severe SEL was associated with WHO Obesity Class, back pain or radicular leg pain at first presentation, and SEL that was worst at the lumbar or lumbosacral spinal level.ConclusionsModerate or severe SEL were independently associated with WHO Obesity Class, back pain, radicular leg pain, and SEL that was worst at the lumbar or lumbosacral spinal level. Future studies should prospectively evaluate whether weight loss therapy is warranted in patients with SEL.     

持续性胸段硬脊膜外麻醉在治疗颅脑外伤性应激性溃疡中的效果

目的分析持续性胸段硬脊膜外麻醉在颅脑外伤性应激性溃疡中的治疗效果。方法 60例颅脑外伤性应激性溃疡患者,随机分为对照组和实验组,各30例。对照组实施常规治疗,实验组实施常规治疗+持续性胸段硬脊膜外麻醉治疗。比较两组临床指标及临床疗效。结果治疗后,实验组心率(74.26±12.37)次/min、呼吸频率(22.31±4.27)次/min、热休克蛋白70(HSP70)(1.61±0.37)ng/ml、热休克蛋白90(HSP90)(112.31±12.29)ng/ml低于对照组的(84.36±14.27)次/min、(27.26±6.31)次/min、(2.74±0.26)ng/ml、(127.34±14.25)ng/ml,中心静脉压(6.27±2.37)cm H₂O(1 cm H₂O=0.098 kPa)、血氧饱和度(97.25±7.16)%、胃部pH值(6.09±0.26)高于对照组的(4.93±2.17)cm H₂O、(91.27±7.29)%、(4.05±0.16),溃疡愈合时间(7.23±2.19)d短于对照组的(12.37±1.74)d,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。实验组治疗总有效率为96.67%,高于对照组的73.33%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论将持续性胸段硬脊膜外麻醉治疗方法应用于颅脑外伤性应激性溃疡治疗过程中,能迅速控制病情,值得推广。     

An observational pilot study of a novel loss of resistance syringe for locating the epidural space

BackgroundThe EpiFaith® syringe is a novel loss-of-resistance syringe that utilizes a spring-loaded plunger that automatically moves forward within the syringe when there is a loss of resistance. We evaluated the syringe in a clinical setting among a cohort of pregnant women receiving neuraxial labor analgesia.MethodsIn a non-randomized observational study, four anesthesiologists used the EpiFaith® syringe 10 times each while placing epidural catheters for labor analgesia. The anesthesiologists scored each placement on an 11-point Likert scale (−5 = absolutely worse, 0 = the same, and 5 = absolutely better than using their regular loss-of-resistance syringe technique).ResultsAll 40 neuraxial placements correctly located the epidural space. Air was used in the syringe in 35 of the 40 cases. In 50%, 27.5% and 22.5% of cases the anesthesiologists reported that using the EpiFaith® syringe was better than, the same as, or worse than using their regular syringe, respectively. There were no inadvertent dural punctures.ConclusionsThis feasibility study found that three of the four anesthesiologists scored the EpiFaith® syringe as better or the same as using their regular loss-of-resistance syringe. More extensive studies are required to determine if the EpiFaith® syringe reduces adverse outcomes such as unintentional dural punctures.     

Shock and haemodynamic monitoring

Shock is the clinical syndrome that arises from inadequate cellular oxygen metabolism which can occur when there is either insufficient oxygen delivery or impaired oxygen utilization. As a clinical syndrome, shock is associated with significant morbidity and mortality particularly if there is a delay in recognition or initiation of treatment. There are multiple mechanisms that can result in a shocked state; often clinical examination is insufficient to differentiate between such mechanisms. Clinicians must instead rely on haemodynamic monitoring devices for both diagnosis and the targeting of therapies. In this article we review the basic principles of haemodynamics, the different aetiologies of shock and explore the various haemodynamic monitoring devices available to clinicians.     

Subcutaneous tunneling technique to improve outcomes for patients undergoing chemotherapy with peripherally inserted central catheters: a randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo compare the value of the subcutaneous tunneling technique versus the normal technique in improving the outcomes of patients undergoing chemotherapy with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs).MethodsOne hundred thirty patients were randomly divided into an experimental group (subcutaneous tunneling technique) and control group (normal technique) according to the PICC placement technique, and clinical data were compared between the groups.ResultsIn total, 129 PICCs were successfully inserted. Compared with the control group, the experimental group had a lower occurrence of complications after placement (especially catheter dislodgement: 3.1% vs. 15.4%, venous thrombosis: 3.1% vs. 15.4%, and wound oozing: 14.1% vs. 27.7%), lower occurrence of unscheduled PICC removal (3.1% vs. 13.8%), greater comfort during placement (14.16 ± 2.21 vs. 15.09 ± 2.49 on a scale ranging from 6 to 30 points, with higher scores indicating lower degrees of comfort), and lower costs of PICC maintenance (median (interquartile range) per-day maintenance cost: 13.90 (10.99–32.83) vs. 15.69 (10.51–57.46) Yuan). The occurrence of complications and amount of bleeding during placement were not significantly different between the two groups.ConclusionsThe subcutaneous tunneling technique can improve PICC placement by reducing complications and costs of maintenance with better patient comfort during placement.     

Colonoscopy Versus Catheter Angiography for Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding After Localization on CT Angiography

PurposeThe aim of this study was to compare catheter angiography (CA) and colonoscopy outcomes after successful CT angiographic (CTA) localization for patients with overt lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB).MethodsSeventy-one consecutive patients from two institutions between 2010 and 2020 had both contrast extravasation on CTA imaging in the lower gastrointestinal tract and subsequent CA or colonoscopy. The primary outcome was confirmation of active bleeding during CA or colonoscopy (defined as confirmation yield). The secondary outcomes were to determine therapeutic yield (hemostatic therapy), time to procedure, rebleeding rate, and adverse outcome rates (defined as surgery, acute kidney injury, initiation of dialysis, and overall mortality). Univariate analyses and multivariable analyses with P < .05 were used to determine statistical significance.ResultsForty-four patients underwent CA and 27 underwent colonoscopy. CA had higher overall confirmation yield (55% vs 26%, P = .026), whereas therapeutic yields were similar (70% vs 56%, P = .214). Time to procedure was 5.1 ± 3.4 hours for CA and 15.5 ± 13.6 hours for colonoscopy (P < .001). On multivariable analysis, shorter time to procedure was the only statistically significant predictor of confirmation yield (P = .037) and therapeutic yield (P = .013), whereas procedure, hemoglobin, transfusions, and hemodynamic instability were not. Adverse events and rebleeding were not statistically different between patients who underwent CA and colonoscopy (P > .05).ConclusionsShorter time to procedure was the only statistically significant predictor of confirmation and therapeutic yield after CTA localization of LGIB. Because CA can be performed sooner than colonoscopy without increased rates of adverse outcomes or rebleeding, CA may be a reasonable first-line treatment option in patients with CTA localization of LGIB.