Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jan 2012
Review[Neuromodulation as a treatment for overactive bladder syndrome].
Neuromodulation is used as a treatment for overactive bladder syndrome, if conservative management is ineffective or only partially effective. Sacral neuromodulation is now a minimally invasive treatment as a result of improvements in surgical technique, and it has good long-term results. ⋯ Intravesical injection therapy with botulinum toxin, along with sacral neuromodulation, has been included in the treatment algorithm of overactive bladder syndrome if this does not respond to conservative therapy. When choosing for a neuromodulation therapy, the side-effects and complications of the treatments should be considered alongside the specific patient situation and evidence for effectiveness and long-term effectiveness.
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Since 2011, cobalt and chromium blood levels are measured in patients with a metal-on-metal hip implant (MoM prosthesis). In this article we discuss the health risks that are related to chronically elevated blood cobalt concentrations induced by abnormal wear and corrosion of the MoM prosthesis. Only a few patients who have systemic symptoms of poisoning, besides local symptoms around the failing MoM prosthesis, have been described in the literature. ⋯ In patients with a normal kidney function, the cobalt blood levels rapidly decrease and symptoms of cobalt intoxication subside. Chelation therapy should be restricted to those patients who are unable to undergo removal of the prosthesis immediately due to their medical condition. This can for example be because of a severe cobalt-induced cardiomyopathy.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jan 2012
Review[Down with odds ratios: risk ratios in cohort studies and randomised clinical trials].
Various effect measures are available for quantifying the relationship between an intervention or a risk factor and an outcome, such as the risk ratio and the odds ratio. Odds ratios are intended for use in case-control studies in which they are an appropriate measure for estimating the relative risk; however, this measure is also often presented in cohort studies and in randomized clinical trials. ⋯ For cohort studies and randomized clinical trials, however, there are methods to estimate adjusted risk ratios; these include the Mantel-Haenszel method, log-binomial regression, Poisson regression with robust standard error, and 'doubling of cases' method with robust standard error. To avoid misinterpretation of odds ratios, risk ratios should be calculated in cohort studies and randomized clinical trials.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jan 2012
Comparative Study[Surgery in patients with centrally-situated non-small cell lung carcinoma: lung-parenchymal sparing procedure versus pneumonectomy].
To examine if lung-parenchymal sparing resection ('sleeve' resection) is a safe and oncologically responsible alternative to pneumonectomy in patients with central tumours. Further, to evaluate in how far this technique is being used in the Netherlands. ⋯ Patients with centrally-situated NSCLC who undergo a lung-parenchymal sparing procedure have lower mortality and better survival than patients who undergo pneumonectomy.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jan 2012
Case Reports[Hip fracture in patients with dementia: surgery is not always the best alternative].
Patients with dementia are at risk of hip fracture. The prognosis of rehabilitation after surgery is less favourable than in the general population, because of higher mortality, more complications and a longer rehabilitation period. We present 2 female patients with dementia (77 and 86 years old) who each received a different therapy: one surgical, the other conservative. ⋯ When making a medical decision, it is important to consider if a treatment is effective, proportional and if the intended outcome is desirable. In some cases of hip fracture in patients with dementia, conservative treatment and withholding surgery can be good care. More investigation is needed for further evidence-based decision-making.