One- and two-stage surgical revision of peri-prosthetic joint infection of the hip: a pooled individual participant data analysis of 44 cohort studies

One-stage and two-stage revision strategies are the two main options for treating established chronic peri-prosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the hip; however, there is uncertainty regarding which is the best treatment option. We aimed to compare the risk of re-infection between the two revision strategies using pooled individual participant data (IPD). Observational cohort studies with PJI of the hip treated exclusively by one- or two-stage revision and reporting re-infection outcomes were retrieved by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform; as well as email contact with investigators. We analysed IPD of 1856 participants with PJI of the hip from 44 cohorts across four continents. The primary outcome was re-infection (recurrence of infection by the same organism(s) and/or re-infection with a new organism(s)). Hazard ratios (HRs) for re-infection were calculated using Cox proportional frailty hazards models. After a median follow-up of 3.7 years, 222 re-infections were recorded. Re-infection rates per 1000 person-years of follow-up were 16.8 (95% CI 13.6–20.7) and 32.3 (95% CI 27.3–38.3) for one-stage and two-stage strategies respectively. The age- and sex-adjusted HR of re-infection for two-stage revision was 1.70 (0.58–5.00) when compared with one-stage revision. The association remained consistently absent after further adjustment for potential confounders. The HRs did not vary importantly in clinically relevant subgroups. Analysis of pooled individual patient data suggest that a one-stage revision strategy may be as effective as a two-stage revision strategy in treating PJI of the hip.     

生脉成骨胶囊对骨髓微循环损害的影响

目的：探讨生脉成骨胶囊对骨髓微循环的影响。方法：对钴^60γ射线大剂量照射小鼠造成骨髓微循环损伤为实验模型，将108只小白鼠分为正常组，空白对照组和生脉成骨胶囊治疗组，通过对骨髓微循环通透性，尺骨活体，股骨头墨汁灌注透明切片的观察数据进行统计分析。结果：生脉成骨胶囊可明显的降低骨髓微血管的通透性，抑制骨髓血窦扩张和微小血栓形成，改善血流动态和毛细管的充盈，减轻骨髓微循环的损害，促进血窦的修复。结论：生脉成骨胶囊保护和治疗骨髓微循环损害的作用可能是其预防和治疗股骨头坏死的药理基础。     

Management of common bile-duct stones and associated gallbladder stones: surgical aspects

In most countries, endoscopic sphincterotomy is the first-choice treatment for common bile-duct stones. In patients with residual gallbladder stones, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the next step. The optimal timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy after endoscopic sphincterotomy remains to be determined. An alternative approach of combined cholecystocholedocholithiasis consists of laparoscopic cholecystectomy together with laparoscopic stone removal. The advantage of this ‘single-stage’ therapy appears to be limited to patients with stones that can be removed transcystically. This approach is successful in about half of the patients. Laparoscopic common bile-duct exploration is technically more demanding, more time-consuming, and associated with increased postoperative morbidity. If transcystic removal is not possible, a postoperative ERCP with endoscopic sphincterotomy is a good option. Intraoperative ERCP and endoscopic sphincterotomy are also feasible, but require specific organisational efforts.Recurrence of choledocholithiasis after ES is reported in a considerable number of patients (6–21%), resulting from de novo primary stone formation or recurrent secondary migration from the gallbladder. Primary choledocholithiasis is associated with bactobilia and delayed bile-duct clearance, indicated by CBD dilation. Endoscopic reintervention is safe and usually easy to perform. Surgery should be reserved for intractable cases. In selected patients, an underlying lithogenic bile composition (low-phospholipid-associated cholelithiasis) should be identified, and preventive medical treatment with UDCA could be considered.

• in patients with combined cholecystocholedocholithiasis, endoscopic sphincterotomy should be followed by elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, even in the elderly; however, a ‘wait-and-see’ policy does not lead to higher mortality, and therefore expectant management can be advocated in case of significant contraindications to surgery

• laparoscopic cholecystectomy combined with laparoscopic stone removal offers a one-stage treatment of patients with combined cholecystocholedocholithiasis. Laparoscopic transcystic duct clearance is associated with low morbidity and short hospital stay. In contrast, laparoscopic common bile-duct exploration remains a procedure with increased risk of biliary complications and prolonged hospital stay. In case of stones that cannot be removed transcystically, it may be wise to perform an intraoperative or early postoperative ERCP

• performing an endoscopic sphincterotomy during laparoscopic cholecystectomy using a ‘rendezvous’ procedure may be beneficial in selected patients (especially in case of earlier failed ERCP)

• laparoscopic cholecystectomy after endoscopic sphincterotomy is associated with increased conversion rates to open procedure compared to laparoscopic cholecystectomy for uncomplicated gallstones; laparoscopic cholecystectomy planned early after endoscopic sphincterotomy may reduce this risk

• morphological or functional bile-duct defects, indicated by a dilated CBD, may lead to bactobilia and biliary stasis, thus promoting primary stone formation

• in a subgroup of patients with recurrent bile-duct stones, an MDR3 gene mutation must be considered, resulting in low-phospholipid-associated cholelithiasis. These patients are characterised by early onset of symptoms, recurrence after cholecystectomy, hyperechogenic foci in the liver, and often a history of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Ursodeoxycholic acid is beneficial in these patients

• the optimal timing or ERCP in patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (before, during, or after the operation) still needs to be defined.

• further data are needed to determine potentially increased incidence of conversion and postoperative complications for laparoscopic cholecystectomy after endoscopic sphincterotomy compared to laparoscopic cholecystectomy for uncomplicated gallstones

Haemodynamic changes associated with caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia

Summary. Serial haemodynamic investigations were performed in 15 women delivered by elective caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia at 38–40 weeks gestation. Cardiac output was measured by Doppler and cross-sectional echocardiography at the aortic valve. No haemodynamic changes were demonstrable after attainment of surgical anaesthesia (T5 or above). Stroke volume increased 13% after delivery of the placenta and remained elevated until the end of the operation at which time cardiac output was 11% above pre-operative values. Stroke volume and cardiac output fell during the first postoperative day. Heart rate remained elevated at pre-operative values for 48 h after delivery. There was a fall in heart rate and cardiac output between the second and the sixth days after delivery. By 2 weeks after delivery cardiac output was 28% lower than pre-operative values. Compared with pre-operative values, diastolic blood pressure was lower on the first and second postnatal days.     

Obstetric acute renal failure 1956–1987

Summary. A total of 142 women with severe acute renal failure (ARF) resulting from obstetric causes was treated by dialysis at a single centre from 1956 to 1987. One-year survival was 78·6%, which compares favourably with other causes of ARF. Abortion, haemorrhage and preeclampsia comprised 95% of cases, with survival being best (82·9%) with abortion. Survival was adversely affected by increasing age. Acute cortical necrosis (12·7% of patients) carried 100% mortality after 6 years. Follow-up of survivors showed normal renal function up to 31 years following ARF; 25-year patient survival was 71·6%. Improvements in obstetric care and the disappearance of illegal abortions have resulted in a dramatic decline in the incidence of obstetric ARF.