Neurological, neuropsychological, and functional outcome following treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

The objective of this study was to carry out a detailed investigation of the neurological, neuropsychological, and return-to-work status of treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). A prospective design was used to evaluate the outcome of UIA treatment in a group of 26 UIA patients. Over a 24-month period UIA patients were assessed prior to treatment, during hospitalization, at three months and at six months following treatment. Their performance was compared to a group of 20 matched controls. Neurological morbidity as a result of the UIA treatment was 5%, as assessed by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) or Rankin at 3 months. The Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) proved to be unreliable as a measure of cognitive change. Reliability of change analysis was more sensitive than group analysis, and revealed a pattern of cognitive deficits in 10% of patients as a result of the UIA treatment. In addition, 25% of patients reported a change in work role as a result of the UIA treatment. While 10% of patients sustained mild to moderate neurological and cognitive impairments 3 to 6 months following UIA treatment, their deficits were not as wide-ranging nor as severe as those sustained by patients who survive a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).     

Rhabdomyolysis due to severe hypokaliemia in a Crohn's disease patient after budesonide treatment.

Patients with Crohn's disease may experience several non-digestive complications, including muscle disorders. Rabdomyolysis has rarely been reported in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, however a number of factors may cause muscular damage in this setting. We report the case of a young woman with Crohn's disease who developed a severe, symptomatic skeletal muscle damage associated with severe hypokaliemia. Reversal of the potassium levels to normal ranges led to clinical resolution. The possible causes that might have lead to hypokalemia development and subsequent rhabdomyolysis are discussed with special emphasis for the potential causative role of medical treatment, especially budesonide for which similar side effects have been previously reported. Physicians should be aware that hypokalemia is possible in the setting of Crohn's disease and muscle damage can present as a complication.     

Penal liability from retained foreign body inside the surgical site

The Authors focus on the liability of the surgery team members in the case they inadvertently forget behind in the patient's body a foreign object, which causes injuries and/or death. The Authors underline that, according to the current case law regarding medical malpractice, both the main surgeon and their assistant/subordinate are liable for engaging in a markedly imprudent and/or negligent conduct, such as not double-checking scrupulously the surgical site before its closure in order to highlight forgotten foreign bodies. As well, the Authors underline that either the circulator nurse or the theatre nurse can be considered punishable by law when that medical error occurs, even if they are responsible for the count of the instruments used in the course of the surgery. Conversely, the main surgeon and his or her assistant are always directly responsible, due to the fact that the nurses' count procedure represents merely an additional control measure, without substituting at all the check the surgeons must obligatory conduct on the surgical site. Finally, the Authors point out that, as the count procedure is performed by the members of a surgical team, where a hierarchy-based relationship rules, the main surgeon is the liable for any preventable and avoidable adverse event provoked by the nursing staff as a consequence of the objective responsibility due to culpa in eligendo and culpa in vigilando.     

Failure modes of 433 metal-on-metal hip implants: how, why, and wear

Metal-on-metal total hip replacements (THRs) and hip resurfacings are coming under increasing scrutiny in light of concerns that they fail because of high wear and elevated metal ions. The aim of this study was to investigate the modes of failure in a collection of 433 metal-on-metal THRs and hip resurfacings and to examine the correlations between the reasons for revision and a range of patient and implant variables considered relevant to implant wear.     

Mid-to-long term follow-up of Transcend metal-on-metal versus Interseal metal-on-polyethylene bearings in total hip arthroplasty

Second-generation metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty (THA) was introduced in the early 1990s to address osteolysis and aseptic loosening resulting from polyethylene wear. We present a comparison between the Transcend metal-on-metal and Interseal metal-on-polyethylene THAs. Thirty-seven hips with Transcend metal bearings and 36 hips with Interseal polyethylene acetabular liners but identical acetabular shells were reviewed to determine clinical performance, radiographic changes, and survivorship. Patients with higher anticipated activity levels were selected to receive the Transcend bearing. Mean follow-up time was 107.0 months for the Transcend group, and 90.4 months for the Interseal group. There were no significant differences between the Transcend and Interseal groups for mode of failure and survivorship, which is notable considering the younger and more active Transcend group. However, the Transcend group showed significantly better clinical scores, which may have been a result of the selection methods. Neither surface was differentially implicated in osteolysis, aseptic loosening, or adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR). Our study shows a favorable and comparable performance for both systems.     

A simple functional marker to predict the need for prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome

Introduction  

Patients suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) may frequently develop an acute respiratory failure and need ventilatory support. Immune therapy using plasma exchange or immunoglobulins has modified the natural course of the disease and by decreasing the length of the plateau phase, may induce a rapid improvement in ventilatory function. However a substantial proportion of patients still require prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV) and tracheotomy. The present study was designed to search for simple functional markers that could predict the need for prolonged MV just after completion of immune therapy.