Cefepime-induced neurotoxicity

Lau C, et al. A retrospective study to determine the cefepime-induced neurotoxicity threshold in hospitalized patients. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2020 Mar 1;75(3):718-725.

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Results: In total, 206 patients were administered 259 courses of cefepime, with an overall CIN incidence of 6% (16/259 courses). A total of 64 courses had a cefepime trough concentration measured (24.7%). A cefepime trough concentration of 36 mg/L provided the best differentiation between patients who experienced neurotoxicity and those who did not. No other patient covariates were identified to be significantly associated with neurotoxicity occurring.

Conclusions: A cefepime trough plasma concentration ≥36 mg/L appears to be the most sensitive and specific cut-off to predict CIN occurring. No patient factors were associated with the development of CIN when accounting for cefepime trough plasma concentrations.

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Dor versus Toupet fundoplication after laparoscopic Heller myotomy

Torres-Villalobos G, et al. Dor Vs Toupet Fundoplication After Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy: Long-Term Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluated by High-Resolution Manometry. J Gastrointest Surg. 2018 Jan;22(1):13-22.

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Surgical data table

Results: Seventy-three patients were randomized, 38 underwent Dor and 35 Toupet. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Postoperative HRM showed that the integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) and basal lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure were similar at 6 and 24 months. The number of patients with abnormal acid exposure was significantly lower for Dor (6.9%) than that of Toupet (34.0%) at 6 months, but it was not different at 12 or 24 months. No differences were found in postoperative symptom scores at 1, 6, or 24 months.

Conclusion: There were no differences in symptom scores or HRM between fundoplications in the long term. A higher percentage of abnormal 24-h pH test were found for the Toupet group, with no difference in the long term.


More PubMed results on Dor vs.Toupet fundoplication after Heller myotomy.

The use of balanced crystalloids versus saline in sepsis

Brown RM, et al. Balanced Crystalloids versus Saline in Sepsis. A Secondary Analysis of the SMART Clinical Trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019 Dec 15;200(12):1487-1495.

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Measurements and Main Results: Of 15,802 patients enrolled in SMART, 1,641 patients were admitted to the medical ICU with a diagnosis of sepsis. A total of 217 patients (26.3%) in the balanced crystalloids group experienced 30-day in-hospital morality compared with 255 patients (31.2%) in the saline group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59-0.93; P = 0.01). Patients in the balanced group experienced a lower incidence of major adverse kidney events within 30 days (35.4% vs. 40.1%; aOR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.63-0.97) and a greater number of vasopressor-free days (20 ± 12 vs. 19 ± 13; aOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.02-1.54) and renal replacement therapy-free days (20 ± 12 vs. 19 ± 13; aOR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.08-1.69) compared with the saline group.

Conclusions: Among patients with sepsis in a large randomized trial, use of balanced crystalloids was associated with a lower 30-day in-hospital mortality compared with use of saline.

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Preoperative communication with older patients and their families about high-risk surgical outcomes

Berian JR, et al. Association of Loss of Independence With Readmission and Death After Discharge in Older Patients After Surgical Procedures. JAMA Surg. 2016 Sep 21;151(9): e161689.

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Results: Of the 5077 patients included in this study, 2736 (53.9%) were female and 3876 (76.3%) were white, with a mean (SD) age of 75 (7) years. For this cohort, LOI increased with age; LOI occurred in 1386 of 2780 patients (49.9%) aged 65 to 74 years, 1162 of 1726 (67.3%) aged 75 to 84 years, and 479 of 571 (83.9%) 85 years and older (P < .001). Readmission occurred in 517 patients (10.2%). In a risk-adjusted model, LOI was strongly associated with readmission (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.4-2.2) and postoperative complication (odds ratio, 6.7; 95% CI, 4.9-9.0). Death after discharge occurred in 69 patients (1.4%). After risk adjustment, LOI was the strongest factor associated with death after discharge (odds ratio, 6.7; 95% CI, 2.4-19.3). Postoperative complication was not significantly associated with death after discharge.

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Left subclavian artery coverage during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and the risk of stroke

Swerdlow NJ, et al. Stroke rate after endovascular aortic interventions in the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative. J Vasc Surg. 2020 Apr 2. [Epub ahead of print]

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TEVAR table

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Article of interest: Initial management of acute pancreatitis

Chaitoff A, Cifu AS, Niforatos JD. Initial Management of Acute Pancreatitis. JAMA. 2020 May 7. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.2177. [Epub ahead of print]

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Major recommendations:

  • In patients with acute pancreatitis, early oral feeding as tolerated (within 24 hours) is recommended (strong recommendation; moderate evidence).
  • If patients are unable to tolerate oral feeding, enteral (oral or enteral tube) rather than parenteral nutrition is recommended (strong recommendation; moderate evidence).
  • In patients with acute biliary pancreatitis, cholecystectomy should be performed during the initial admission rather than after discharge (strong recommendation; moderate evidence).
  • In patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis, a brief alcohol intervention should be performed during the initial admission (strong recommendation; moderate evidence).
  • In patients with predicted severe acute pancreatitis and necrotizing acute pancreatitis, the guidelines suggest against use of prophylactic antibiotics (conditional recommendation; low evidence).