AimsSelf-expanding metal stents provide rapid improvement of dysphagia in oesophageal cancer but are associated with complications. The aim of the present study was to test the effectiveness of an alternative treatment of combining biodegradable stents with radiotherapy.Materials and methodsA Simon two-stage single-arm prospective phase II trial design was used to determine the efficacy of biodegradable stents plus radiotherapy in patients with dysphagia caused by oesophagus cancer who were unsuitable for radical treatment. Fourteen patients were recruited and data from 12 were included in the final analyses.ResultsFive of 12 patients met the primary end point: one stent-related patient death; four further interventions for dysphagia within 16 weeks of stenting (41.7%, 95% confidence interval 15.2–72.3%). The median time to a 10-point deterioration of quality of life was 2.7 weeks. Nine patients died within 52 weeks of registration. The median time to death from any cause was 15.0 weeks (95% confidence interval 9.6–not reached).ConclusionThe high re-intervention observed, which met the pre-defined early stopping criteria, meant that the suggested alternative treatment was not sufficiently effective to be considered for a larger scale trial design. Further work is needed to define the place of biodegradable stents in the management of malignant oesophageal strictures. 相似文献
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a comorbidity associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of PH on intrahospital mortality in lung transplantation (LT) for ILD.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 66 patients who underwent LT for ILD at the 12 de Octubre University Hospital (Madrid, Spain) from October 2008 to June 2014. PH was defined as mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) ≥25 mmHg on right-sided heart catheterization and intrahospital mortality as any death taken place after the transplantation of patients not being discharged.
Results
We retrospectively analyzed data of 66 patients; they were stratified by the presence or absence of PH before LT. Twenty-seven patients (41%) had PH. The PH group had a lower diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO), carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO), and 6-minute walk distance test (6MWT) and a higher total lung capacity (TLC), modified medical research council dyspnea scale (mMRC), and lung allocation score (LAS) than the non-PH group. Patients with PH more often underwent double lung transplantation (DLT; 59%) than single lung transplantation (SLT).Intrahospital mortality was 13% (9/66). No significant differences were observed in Kaplan-Meier survival curves for the PH and non-PH groups with a median survival time of 46 days versus 33 days (IQR 26–74; log-rank P = .056); however, the postoperative length of stay in the hospital was greater in the PH group.
Conclusions
In our cohort, pulmonary hypertension was not related to early mortality in lung transplantation recipients for interstitial lung diseases. 相似文献
The aim of this study was to develop a high-fidelity minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) simulator.
Methods
The process of industrial serial design was applied based on pre-set requirements, acquired by interviewing experienced mitral surgeons. A thoracic torso with endoscopic and robotic access and disposable silicone mitral valve apparatus with a feedback system was developed. The feedback system was based on 4 cameras around the silicone valve and an edge detection algorithm to calculate suture depth and width. Validity of simulator measurements was assessed by comparing simulator-generated values with measurements done manually on 3-dimensional reconstructed micro-computed tomography scan of the same sutures. Independent surgeons tested the simulator between 2014 and 2018, whereupon an evaluation was done through a questionnaire.
Results
The feedback system was able to provide width and depth measurements, which were subsequently scored by comparison to pre-set target values. Depth did not significantly differ between simulator and micro-computed tomography scan measurements (P = .139). Width differed significantly (P = .001), whereupon a significant regression equation was found (P < .0001) to calibrate the simulator. After calibration, no significant difference was found (P = .865). In total, 99 surgeons tested the simulator and more than agreed with the statements that the simulator is a good method for training MIMVS, and that the mitral valve and suture placement looked and felt realistic.
Conclusions
We successfully developed a high-fidelity MIMVS simulator for endoscopic and robotic approaches. The simulator provides a platform to train skills in an objective and reproducible manner. Future studies are needed to provide evidence for its application in training surgeons. 相似文献
Purpose/aim: To focus on current aspects of primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL), which is a rare clinical entity usually manifested by a rapidly growing mass in the neck that can cause pressure symptoms.
Materials and Methods: Relevant papers in PubMed published through June 2017 were selected to track updated information about PTL with an emphasis on diagnosis and novel therapeutic management.
Results: The most frequent cases include non-Hodgkin lymphoma derived from B-cells, mainly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) followed by mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma or a mixed type. Other subtypes are less common. Lymphomas derived from T-cells and Hodgkin lymphomas are extremely rare. Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis has been implicated as a risk factor for lymphoma. At the molecular level, the Wnt5a protein and its receptor Ror2 are involved in the course of the disease. Ultrasonography, fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, and core or open biopsy combined with new diagnostic facilities contribute to an accurate diagnosis. An increased potential exists for a cure without the need for a radical surgical procedure. Modern chemoradiation therapy plus the monoclonal antibody rituximab, which acts against CD20, have limited the need for surgical interventions and provide an excellent outcome in most cases. However, some cases have resulted in treatment failure or recurrence.
Conclusions: A multidisciplinary approach must be used to define the management policy in each case. Future efforts by researchers are likely to be focused on the molecular level. 相似文献
Revision total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is associated with increased readmissions, complications, and expense compared to primary TJA. Bundled payment methods have been used to improve value of care in primary TJA, but little is known of their impact in revision TJA patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a care redesign for a bundled payment model for primary TJA on quality metrics for revision patients, despite absence of a targeted intervention for revisions.
Methods
We compared quality metrics for all revision TJA patients including readmission rate, use of post–acute care facility after discharge, length of stay, and cost, between the year leading up to the redesign and the 2 years following its implementation. Changes in the primary TJA group over the same time period were also assessed for comparison.
Results
Despite a volume increase of 37% over the study period, readmissions declined from 8.9% to 5.8%. Use of post–acute care facilities decreased from 42% to 24%. Length of stay went from 4.84 to 3.92 days. Cost of the hospital episode declined by 5%.
Conclusion
Our health system experienced a halo effect from our bundled payment-influenced care redesign, with revision TJA patients experiencing notable improvements in several quality metrics, though not as pronounced as in the primary TJA population. These changes benefitted the patients, the health system, and the payers. We attribute these positive changes to an altered institutional mindset, resulting from an invested and aligned care team, with active physician oversight over the care episode. 相似文献
Today's healthcare policies rely heavily on data that has been gathered from multiple small studies in intrinsically varied populations. We sought to describe the prevalence, comorbidities and outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the population of a specific region where all healthcare centers have implemented a common information technology (IT) structure.
Methods
The total number of inhabitants was obtained from the healthcare area's IT system. Information pertaining to AF was derived from various datasets in the data warehouse of the Galician regional health service.
Results
In the healthcare area of Santiago de Compostela (n=383 000), the diagnosis of AF was coded in 7990 (2.08%) individuals in 2013. Mean age was 76.83±10.5 years, mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.5, 4056 (50.8%) were female and 72.6% were receiving oral anticoagulants. Up until December 31, 2015, 1361 patients died from all causes (17%), 478 (6%) of them in-hospital, with 30 deaths secondary to intracranial bleeding (0.4%) and 125 to stroke (1.6%). On multivariate analysis, age, gender, heart failure, diabetes, previous thromboembolic events and dementia were independently associated with all-cause mortality. Similarly, age, gender and previous thromboembolic events were associated with future thromboembolic events. Oral anticoagulation was found to be protective against mortality and thromboembolic events.
Conclusions
In this study, we report for the first time the true prevalence of diagnosed AF and its clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis in a Spanish healthcare area, based on the systematic integration of data available from a universally adopted health IT system within the region. 相似文献
Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) can reduce the burden of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) but its effect on health care utilization and costs after such therapy is poorly known. We sought to compare the rates of cardiovascular (CV)-related hospitalizations, survival, and health care costs in patients with recurrent VT treated either with VT ablation or with medical therapy.
Methods
One-hundred implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients with structural heart disease who underwent VT ablation were included. Propensity score-matched patients with recurrent VT treated with medical therapy were identified from a prospective registry of approximately 7000 de novo implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients. Outcomes and costs were ascertained using health administrative databases.
Results
Among patients who underwent VT ablation, the cumulative rates of VA-related hospitalizations were lower in the 2 years after their ablation procedure compared with the year before (rate ratio, 0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22-0.43). Rates of CV-related hospitalization and hospitalization because of VA post index date were similar between the VT ablation and medical therapy groups (hazard ratio [HR], 0.94; 95% CI, 0.57-1.54 and HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.57-1.91, respectively). Health care costs in the VT ablation patients were not increased post-ablation compared with the medical management group. The risk of all-cause mortality was lower among patients in the VT ablation group relative to the medical therapy group (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.4-0.99).
Conclusions
Patients who underwent VT ablation experienced a significant reduction in their rate of VA-related hospitalizations. Patients treated with VT ablation had similar rates of CV-related hospitalization compared with those treated with medical therapy without increased health care-related costs. 相似文献
To assess a 6-month nutritional and physical activity intervention program on the nutritional status of overweight or obese and not very active 8-14 years old children by means of a controlled pre-post design (ACTIVA’T program).
Method
Pre-post study in 8-14 years old overweight or obese and low active children from Vilafranca del Penedès (Barcelona, Spain) randomized in control group (n = 51, 47.1% girls, nutritional intervention and ≤3 h/wk physical activity) and ACTIVA’T group (n = 45, 37.8% girls, nutritional and physical activity ≥5 h/wk intervention). Body mass index, waist/height index, and diet quality by means of KIDMED test at the beginning and at the end of the program were assessed. During the intervention, each participant was accompanied by a relative (father or mother) who performed the same activities as the children.
Results
Dietary recommendations have positively changed the habits of both ACTIVA’T and control group. The reversion in the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 93.8% and 58.6%, respectively, in the ACTIVA’T group, compared to 25.0% and 35.8% in the control group. Abdominal obesity was decreased from 42.2% to 17.8% in the ACTIVA’T group and from 47.1% to 27.5% in the control group.
Conclusions
The program ACTIVA’T (nutritional education and physical activity promotion) improves the quality of diet and reverses the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the underactive child population. 相似文献
Background Many breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening programmes were disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to estimate the effects of five restart strategies after the disruption on required screening capacity and cancer burden.Methods Microsimulation models simulated five restart strategies for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening. The models estimated required screening capacity, cancer incidence, and cancer-specific mortality after a disruption of 6 months. The restart strategies varied in whether screens were caught up or not and, if so, immediately or delayed, and whether the upper age limit was increased.Results The disruption in screening programmes without catch-up of missed screens led to an increase of 2.0, 0.3, and 2.5 cancer deaths per 100 000 individuals in 10 years in breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer, respectively. Immediately catching-up missed screens minimised the impact of the disruption but required a surge in screening capacity. Delaying screening, but still offering all screening rounds gave the best balance between required capacity, incidence, and mortality.Conclusions Strategies with the smallest loss in health effects were also the most burdensome for the screening organisations. Which strategy is preferred depends on the organisation and available capacity in a country.Subject terms: Health policy, Population screening, Cancer screening, Cancer screening相似文献