Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Aug 2024
Healing chronic idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia using mepolizumab alone without corticosteroids.
While glucocorticoids remain the standard first-line treatment for chronic idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia (CIEP), the long-term use is marred by significant side effects. This case study explores the effectiveness of mepolizumab, an anti-interleukin‑5 (IL-5) monoclonal antibody, as a novel corticosteroid-free alternative in treating CIEP. A 50-year-old woman presented with a 3-week history of progressive shortness of breath, dry cough and night sweats. ⋯ Treatment with mepolizumab was remarkable for effectively resolving symptoms and improving radiological findings without any prior or concurrent glucocorticoid therapy. Notably, the patient remained relapse-free over a 2-year follow-up, underscoring mepolizumab's efficacy as a corticosteroid-free treatment for CIEP. This case study calls for further research into anti-IL‑5 treatment of rare respiratory conditions.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Aug 2024
Does surgeon or hospital volume influence outcome in dedicated colorectal units?-A Viennese perspective.
A clear relationship between higher surgeon volume and improved outcomes has not been convincingly established in rectal cancer surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of individual surgeon's caseload and hospital volume on perioperative outcome. ⋯ Treating center standards impacted on outcome, while individual caseload of surgeons or mode of surgery did not independently affect complication rates in this analysis. The majority of rectal cancer resections are performed by a small number of surgeons in Viennese hospitals.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Aug 2024
A pilot study evaluating stress factors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Viennese families who have the suspicion of child maltreatment or abuse.
The global population was affected by the unprecedented coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on children who suffer child maltreatment has not been explored sufficiently. Child abuse is known to increase in stressful circumstances, and therefore potentially during this pandemic. ⋯ A total of 35 carers participated, with almost equal numbers in both intervention and control groups. Results show that there was statistically significantly higher stress level perception before and during the pandemic period in the study group. Several families in this group commented on the positive effect of support received from health professionals, especially after the pandemic.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Aug 2024
Outcome of COVID-19 patients treated with VV-ECMO in Tyrol during the pandemic.
A small percentage of patients infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV‑2) showed severe respiratory deterioration requiring treatment with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). During the pandemic surges availability of ECMO devices was limited and resources had to be used wisely. The aim of this analysis was to determine the incidence and outcome of venovenous (VV) ECMO patients in Tyrol, when criteria based on the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) guidelines for VV-ECMO initiation were established. ⋯ Despite a rapidly increased demand and the resulting requirement to initiate an additional ECMO center, we could demonstrate that a structured approach with interdisciplinary collaboration resulted in favorable survival rates similar to multinational reports.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Aug 2024
Comparative StudyExternal quality assessments for SARS-CoV-2 genome detection in Austria : A comparison of the first postpandemic round with results from the pandemic era.
External quality assessment (EQA) schemes provide objective feedback to participating laboratories about the performance of their analytical systems and information about overall regional analytical performance. The EQAs are particularly important during pandemics as they also assess the reliability of individual test results and show opportunities to improve test strategies. With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the testing frequency significantly decreased in Austria. Here, we analyzed whether this decrease had an effect on participation and/or performance in SARS-CoV‑2 virus detection EQAs, as compared to the pandemic era. ⋯ Overall ratios of true positive results were below the mean of all results during the pandemic but were similar to the first round of the pandemic. A lower post-pandemic true positive ratio was associated with specific laboratory types and assay formats, particularly for samples with low concentration. The EQAs will continue to monitor the laboratory performance to ensure the same quality of epidemiological data after the pandemic, even if vigilance has decreased.