European guidelines on perioperative venous thromboembolism prophylaxis: Surgery in the elderly.

: The risk for postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is increased in patients aged more than 70 years and in elderly patients presenting with co-morbidities, for example cardiovascular disorders, malignancy or renal insufficiency. Therefore, risk stratification, correction of modifiable risks and sustained perioperative thromboprophylaxis are essential in this patient population. Timing and dosing of pharmacoprophylaxis may be adopted from the non-aged population. Direct oral anti-coagulants are effective and well tolerated in the elderly; statins may not replace pharmacological thromboprophylaxis. Early mobilisation and use of non-pharmacological means of thromboprophylaxis should be exploited. In elderly patients, we suggest identification of co-morbidities increasing the risk for VTE (e.g. congestive heart failure, pulmonary circulation disorder, renal failure, lymphoma, metastatic cancer, obesity, arthritis, post-menopausal oestrogen therapy) and correction if present (e.g. anaemia, coagulopathy) (Grade 2C). We suggest against bilateral knee replacement in elderly and frail patients (Grade 2C). We suggest timing and dosing of pharmacological VTE prophylaxis as in the non-aged population (Grade 2C). In elderly patients with renal failure, low-dose unfractionated heparin (UFH) may be used or weight-adjusted dosing of low molecular weight heparin (Grade 2C). In the elderly, we recommend careful prescription of postoperative VTE prophylaxis and early postoperative mobilisation (Grade 1C). We recommend multi-faceted interventions for VTE prophylaxis in elderly and frail patients, including pneumatic compression devices, low molecular weight heparin (and/or direct oral anti-coagulants after knee or hip replacement) (Grade 1C). (C) 2017 European Society of Anaesthesiology

http://ift.tt/2y2nDye

Risk Vessels of Retropharyngeal Hematoma During Stellate Ganglion Block.

Background and Objective: Bleeding into the retropharyngeal space is a potential complication in stellate ganglion block (SGB). Retropharyngeal hematoma formation is considered to be due to damage of small arteries in the region, although only scanty details of the region are available. The aim of this study was to map the risk blood vessels in the retropharyngeal space to avoid accidental damage during SGB. Methods: Contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional computed tomography images performed on 80 patients were reanalyzed retrospectively to construct detailed map of cervical blood vessels that are prone to damage and bleeding during SGB. Results: Of the 160 bilateral necks, 6 (3.8%) and 82 (51.3%) small arteries were identified in the medial portions of the ventral surface of the transverse processes of the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae, respectively. In particular, 5 of the 6 small arteries detected in the medial portion of the ventral surface of the transverse process of the sixth cervical vertebra were the inferior thyroid artery (ITA). Of the 160 vertebral arteries, 2 arteries were missing, 4 (2.5%) entered the transverse foramen of the fifth cervical vertebra, whereas 1 artery (0.6%) entered the transverse foramen of the fourth cervical vertebra. Conclusions: Three-dimensional computed tomography identified the ITA in the medial portion of the ventral surface of the transverse process of the sixth cervical vertebra. The risk vessels of retropharyngeal hematoma during SGB could include the ITA. Copyright (C) 2017 by American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine.

http://ift.tt/2wWQIec

Outcomes of Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Implant at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC)

Abstract

The cross sectional study was conducted in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center (UKMMC), Malaysia from August 2012 to December 2013. All patients implanted with in UKMMC from December 2001 until December 2012 was included. Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) questionnaires and UKMMC questionnaires were used as part of the assessment tool. The GBI is a scoring which measures the change in health status produced by surgical interventions. UKMMC questionnaires was invented by our department to assess questions related to social and life style of patients and also the cosmetic perspective Baha implant and other daily related activities. The audiological assessment was assessed using hearing aid gain threshold. Complication with regards to skin reaction was graded using Holger Skin Classification. A total of 40 patients underwent Baha implant were recruited but only 35 patients fulfilled the criteria and included in this study for analysis. Age of patients ranged from 5 year old to 38 year old, with median of 13 years old. There were 22 patients (62.8%) were male and 13 patients (37.1%) were females. Almost all cases were canal atresia except one adult patient was a case of bilateral chronic discharging ear with chronic irritation with ear mould. Majority of patients 21 (60%) have hearing level of moderate to severe hearing loss (40–89 dB) and 14 patients (40%) have mild to moderate hearing loss (20–39 dB). The level of hearing was retested post operatively. All of the patients have improvement in their aided hearing with the range of 10–25 dBL which is statistically significant at p value of <0.05. The GBI was scored positively in all subscales. Majority of patients (91.4%) used BAHA more than 4 h per day and 88.6% agreed that BAHA is cosmetically acceptable. All patients experienced some form of skin irritation (Holger grade 1–2) however only 20% required surgical intervention. All our patients have range of 10–25 dB improvement of their aided hearing which is statistically significant at p value of <0.05. BAHA has been proven to show significant benefit in audiological improvement and quality of life.

http://ift.tt/2xsxK25

Outcomes of Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Implant at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC)

Abstract

The cross sectional study was conducted in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center (UKMMC), Malaysia from August 2012 to December 2013. All patients implanted with in UKMMC from December 2001 until December 2012 was included. Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) questionnaires and UKMMC questionnaires were used as part of the assessment tool. The GBI is a scoring which measures the change in health status produced by surgical interventions. UKMMC questionnaires was invented by our department to assess questions related to social and life style of patients and also the cosmetic perspective Baha implant and other daily related activities. The audiological assessment was assessed using hearing aid gain threshold. Complication with regards to skin reaction was graded using Holger Skin Classification. A total of 40 patients underwent Baha implant were recruited but only 35 patients fulfilled the criteria and included in this study for analysis. Age of patients ranged from 5 year old to 38 year old, with median of 13 years old. There were 22 patients (62.8%) were male and 13 patients (37.1%) were females. Almost all cases were canal atresia except one adult patient was a case of bilateral chronic discharging ear with chronic irritation with ear mould. Majority of patients 21 (60%) have hearing level of moderate to severe hearing loss (40–89 dB) and 14 patients (40%) have mild to moderate hearing loss (20–39 dB). The level of hearing was retested post operatively. All of the patients have improvement in their aided hearing with the range of 10–25 dBL which is statistically significant at p value of <0.05. The GBI was scored positively in all subscales. Majority of patients (91.4%) used BAHA more than 4 h per day and 88.6% agreed that BAHA is cosmetically acceptable. All patients experienced some form of skin irritation (Holger grade 1–2) however only 20% required surgical intervention. All our patients have range of 10–25 dB improvement of their aided hearing which is statistically significant at p value of <0.05. BAHA has been proven to show significant benefit in audiological improvement and quality of life.

http://ift.tt/2xsxK25

European S3-Guideline on the systemic treatment of psoriasis vulgaris – Update Apremilast and Secukinumab – EDF in cooperation with EADV and IPC

http://ift.tt/2wX74Fq

Supraventricular tachycardia diagnosed by smartphone ECG

Diagnosis of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) may be difficult due to its episodic nature, which can be brief and self-limited, limiting the ability for clinicians to diagnose the specific rhythm disorder in a timely manner. We present a case of PSVT, which was unable to be diagnosed through typical evaluation with an event monitor despite several years of symptoms. The patient was ultimately diagnosed using the AliveCor Mobile ECG, a smartphone-based ECG device and application, which he purchased himself and captured a typical atrioventricular node re-entrant tachycardia. The patient was then able to email his cardiologist the tracing, which led to an electrophysiology study and successful slow pathway ablation procedure. Smartphone-based technology has the potential to push diagnostic evaluations outside of the healthcare system and empower patients.

http://ift.tt/2wWZhaH

Dilation of epidural space and posterior soft tissue veins in Hirayama disease

Description

An 18-year-old man presented with distal weakness and amyotrophy of the right hand for a few months. He had no familial or personal medical history. Clinical examination showed atrophy and a marked weakness of right hypothenar and interossei muscles (grade 1/5 on Medical Research Council scale) and a mild weakness of right thumb abduction and wrist extension (4/5). Biceps, brachioradial and triceps tendon reflexes were normal and symmetric. There were no fasciculation, sensory abnormality or pain. Motor nerve conduction studies showed a reduced amplitude of compound muscle action potential of the right ulnar nerve but normal parameters of left ulnar and two median nerves. No focal slowing or conduction block was found. Studies of bilateral median, ulnar and right medial antebrachial cutaneous sensory nerves were normal. Electromyographic examination found active denervation (fibrillation potentials and neurogenic recruitment) in right C8-T1 innervated muscles (abductor pollicis brevis, first dorsal interosseus, extensor...

http://ift.tt/2wmhScv