Cholecystectomy in the Very Elderly—Is 90 the New 70?

Background  

Nonagenarians are the fastest growing sector of population across Western Europe. Although prevalence of gallstone disease is high, elective cholecystectomy is still controversial in this age group.     

Editorial Commentary: Rising Interest in “Big Data” in Arthroscopy: Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze?

The use of “big data” in orthopaedic sports medicine research is on the rise. Greater access to data sources that allow for analysis of outpatient procedures has contributed to this surge. Important advantages and disadvantages to each database exist and should be understood to properly interpret these studies. In the era of value-based medicine, this macro data will drive policy and payment.     

New Perspectives in Oxygen Therapy Titration: Is Automatic Titration the Future?

Oxygen therapy, like all technology-based treatments, is continuously evolving. There are no doubts as to its effectiveness in the treatment of acute and respiratory failure in different clinical scenarios. However, the dosing guidelines for oxygen therapy are not as strict as for other treatments. The use of higher than necessary flows over excessively long periods, derived from the clinician's perception of it as a ‘life-saving treatment with few side effects’, has led to a rather liberal use of this intervention, despite evidence that overuse and suboptimal adjustment can be harmful. The titration of oxygen therapy, which is traditionally performed manually, has been shown to be beneficial. Recently, new devices have been developed that automatically adjust oxygen flow rates to the needs of each patient, in order to maintain stable oxygen saturation levels. These closed-loop oxygen supply systems can potentially reduce medical error, improve morbidity and mortality, and reduce care costs. Familiarizing the medical community with these technological advances will improve awareness of the risks of the inappropriate use of oxygen therapy. The aim of this paper is to provide an update of recent developments in oxygen therapy titration.     

Big Data: Progress or a Big Headache?

Large administrative database, or “big data” research studies can include an immense number of patients. Strengths of research based on big data include generalizability resulting from diverse patients, diverse providers, and diverse clinical settings. Limitations of research based on large administrative databases may include indeterminate quality and obscure purpose of data entry, lack of information regarding confounding variables, and suboptimal clinical outcome measures. Thus, research conclusions based on big data must be scrutinized in a discerning and critical manner.     

Is the psoas a hip flexor in the active straight leg raise?

Psoas function is a topic of considerable relevance in sports and clinical science. However, the literature on psoas function is not sufficiently consistent. Questions are, amongst others, if during hip flexion the psoas always has the same function as the iliacus, and if the psoas affects the hip more than the lumbar spine. In the present study, 17 healthy women, 20–40 years, performed the active straight leg raise (ASLR), with the right or the left leg (“Side”), and without or with weight added above the ankle (“Condition”). Electromyographic (EMG) activity of psoas and iliacus were recorded with fine-wire electrodes, and of rectus femoris and adductor longus with surface electrodes, all on the right side. Movements of the leg were recorded with active markers and a camera system. During ASLR, the iliacus, rectus femoris, adductor longus and psoas were active ipsilaterally, but psoas was also active contralaterally. All muscles started to contract before movement onset, the iliacus, rectus femoris, and adductor longus largely at the same time, before the psoas. There was no significant difference between the amplitude or time of onset of ipsilateral and contralateral psoas EMG activity, nor was there a significant interaction between Side and Condition for the psoas. Although ipsilateral psoas activity is consistent with the psoas being a hip flexor, contralateral activity is not. The most simplest explanation of the pattern found is that the psoas is bilaterally recruited to stabilize the lumbar spine, probably in the frontal plane.     

Is there a role for the intravenous urogram in the 21st century?

Over the last two decades, there have been major advances in methods of medical imaging that have brought great benefits to patients both for diagnosis and for treatment. There has been an increasing tendency for some of these new imaging modalities to be dependent on highly sophisticated technology. The belief has developed amongst doctors who use these techniques that newer is necessarily better. Just as patients (and some doctors) now often believe that anything done with a laser represents the best that can be offered, so there is a tendency to demand that newer techniques in imaging should always be offered as the preferred option. In urological practice that philosophy is questionable.