Irish journal of medical science
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CT thorax, abdomen and pelvis (CT-TAP) remains the standard in the identification of metastatic disease in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. In patients with proven micro and macro axillary nodal metastasis, the optimal radiological technique remains controversial. A consensus on which patients with axillary nodal disease should receive radiological staging for distant disease and how this should be performed is not currently available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield from CT staging of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis (CT-TAP) in patients with proven nodal disease. ⋯ Patients diagnosed with micrometastatic disease of the axilla following a sentinel lymph node biopsy do not require systemic staging as it fails to detect metastatic disease.
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This meta-analysis aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of cannabis in the management of Crohn's disease (CD) by synthesizing evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). By adhering to the 2020 PRISMA guidelines and registering the study protocol with PROSPERO, this research intends to offer robust, evidence-based recommendations for healthcare practitioners on the therapeutic potential and clinical implications of cannabis use in CD management. ⋯ The study concludes that cannabis shows promise as a therapeutic option for CD, demonstrating higher remission rates and potential benefits for disease management. However, it also highlights the need for larger, standardized research studies to solidify conclusions regarding efficacy, safety, and biomarker responses in CD patients.
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Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is increasingly offered to patients who have undergone lung resection for non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) as it can improve exercise tolerance and quality of life. However, designing and implementing such a complex multidisciplinary programme has its challenges. ⋯ Patient participation in PR has been shown to be influenced by both external and intrapersonal variables. The barriers and facilitators experienced by the patients in this study contribute to the existing knowledge of the patient experience of pulmonary rehabilitation and can help to inform clinical practice and future research.
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The rate of VTE in trauma patients varies significantly in the reported literature. We aimed to determine the incidence of VTE in trauma patients in a trauma-receiving hospital over a 7-year period. We sought to evaluate the timing and nature of VTE events and explore the patterns of co-occurrence between PE and DVT, while factoring in clinical care and death outcome. ⋯ This is the largest study of VTE incidence in Irish trauma patients and the first to delineate VTE risk in a trauma population. These findings urge reconsideration of VTE risk in trauma patients and implementation of prevention strategies.