Articles: cations.
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Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is hypothesized to lead to ischemic pain of the lower back. This retrospective study aims to identify the relationship between AAC and lower back pain (LBP) in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Lower back pain was assessed preoperatively and 2 years after surgery using the numeric analogue scale. ⋯ Both moderate and severe AAC were associated with reduced improvement in LBP after surgery (moderate AAC: OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.22-0.85, P = 0.016; severe AAC: OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.2-0.82, P = 0.012). This study demonstrates an independent association between AAC and LBP and reduced improvement after surgery. Evaluation of AAC could play a role in patient education and might be considered part of the differential diagnosis for LBP, although further prospective studies are needed.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Feb 2024
ReviewAdvances in the clinical use of patient-reported outcomes in thoracic surgery.
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly recognized as a clinical tool for measuring and improving patient-centric care. This review provides a summary on recent advances in the use of PROs in the field of thoracic surgery. ⋯ Advances have been made in the application of PROs in multiple areas of thoracic surgery, which include lung and esophageal surgery. The growing focus on the use of PROs in clinical pathways has led to a better understanding on how to optimize patient experience.
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Semin Respir Crit Care Med · Feb 2024
ReviewChronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis as a Considerable Complication in Post-Tuberculosis Lung Disease.
Post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD) has only recently been put in the spotlight as a medical entity. Recent data suggest that up to 50% of tuberculosis (TB) patients are left with PTLD-related impairment after completion of TB treatment. ⋯ Diagnosis of CPA is based on four criteria including a typical radiological pattern, evidence of Aspergillus species, exclusion of alternative diagnosis, and a chronic course of disease. In this manuscript, we provide a narrative review on CPA as a serious complication for patients with PTLD.
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Critical care medicine · Feb 2024
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Pneumonia in Critically Ill Patients: A Cluster Analysis According to Baseline Characteristics, Biological Features, and Chest CT Scan on Admission.
Inconsistent results from COVID-19 studies raise the issue of patient heterogeneity. ⋯ Three clusters with distinct characteristics and outcomes were identified. Such clusters could facilitate the identification of targeted populations for the next trials.
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To provide an approach to perioperative fluid management for lung resection patients that incorporates the entire patient pathway in the context of international guidelines on enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). ⋯ The goal of perioperative euvolemia can be achieved with the ongoing evolution and application of ERAS principles. A focus on the pre and postoperative phases of fluid management and a pragmatic approach to intraoperative fluid management negates the need for goal-directed fluid therapy in most cases.