Articles: treatment.
-
Prolongation of treatment package time is strongly associated with inferior oncologic outcomes. We examine the effect of creation of a multidisciplinary head and neck clinic on treatment package times. ⋯ Colocalization of radiation oncology and otolaryngology care in multidisciplinary clinic substantially improved time to postoperative radiotherapy and treatment package times. This is likely due to the identification of patients requiring adjuvant radiation earlier in their clinical presentation which in turn allowed for advanced planning and minimization of delays in initiation of adjuvant radiation.
-
Initial oral antibiotics may be as effective as intravenous (IV) antibiotics for children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), but further data are needed. ⋯ Children with CAP receiving initial oral antibiotics had reduced LOS and hospital cost without differences in escalated care or return visits. Starting hospitalized children on oral antibiotics is likely a safe and effective alternative to IV treatment.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Topical or oral antibiotics in childhood acute otitis media and ear discharge: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.
Current guidance suggests oral antibiotics can be considered for children with acute otitis media (AOM) and ear discharge, but there is an absence of evidence regarding the relative effectiveness of antibiotic-corticosteroid eardrops. ⋯ Early termination stopped us from determining non-inferiority of antibiotic-corticosteroid eardrops. Our limited data, requiring confirmation, suggest that oral antibiotics may be more effective than antibiotic-corticosteroid eardrops in resolving symptoms and shortening the duration of ear discharge.
-
First-line therapy for most intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) is endovascular embolization, but some require microsurgical ligation due to limited endovascular accessibility, anticipated lower cure rates, or unacceptable risk profiles. We investigated the most common surgically treated dAVF locations and the approaches and outcomes of each. ⋯ Although endovascular embolization is the first-line treatment for most intracranial dAVFs, surgical ligation is an important alternative. ACF and tentorial fistulas particularly demonstrate high rates of postoperative obliteration.