Caesarean section under spinal and epidural anesthesia in complete atrioventricular block without a pacemaker: a rare case report

Complete heart block (CHB) during pregnancy is rarely encountered. Management requires a multidisciplinary approach involving the obstetrician, cardiologist, anesthetist, and neonatologist. Treatment varies from medical management to temporary or permanent pacemaker insertion. Complete atrioventricular block comprises complete absence of AV conduction - none of the supraventricular impulses are conducted to the ventricles. Perfusing rhythm is maintained by a junctional or ventricular escape rhythm. Typically, the patient will have severe bradycardia with independent atrial and ventricular rates. The incidence is 1 in 15,000 to 20,000 live births. We successfully managed caesarean section in a pregnancy with complete atrioventricular block under spinal and epidural anesthesia without a pacemaker. Asymptomatic pregnant women with congenital complete atrioventricular block can tolerate caesarean section under spinal and epidural anesthesia without a pacemaker

Acute pyelonephritis in pregnancy: a case series at Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre

Acute pyelonephritis is one of the most common indications for antepartum hospitalization, estimated at approximately 9.7% of all indications for predelivery hospitalization, and when diagnosed, conventional treatment includes intravenous fluid and parenteral antibacterial administration, and careful monitoring of fluid balance. Here, we present four cases of acute pyelonephritis in pregnancy treated and patient successfully delivered with healthy babies

Intraoperative cystoscopy in major gynaecological surgeries: necessary skill for a gynecologist

Background: The goal of this study is to find out: how important it is to utilize intraoperative cystoscopy liberally in normal gynaecological procedures to detect urinary tract injuries, how long it takes to do intraoperative cystoscopy and what problems are linked with cystoscopy.Materials: The study is from the year 2016 to 2022 involving around 1221 patients. In a tertiary care facility, retrospective observational research was conducted. The study comprised patients receiving all gynaecological and urogynaecological operations. Malignancy was ruled out. Following gynaecological surgery, a 20-F-30-degree telescope was used to perform a cystourethroscopy. To record case information, a study proforma was created.Results: Intraoperative cystoscopy detected four bladder injuries during anti-incontinence surgery (TVT) and hysterectomy. After a thorough laparoscopic hysterectomy with normal cystoscopy, one patient returned one month later with right ureteric injury. A urinary tract infection struck fifteen people shortly after surgery. After surgery, one patient suffered flank pain and a fever for 48 hours. There was no sign of urinary tract injury on a CT-IVP scan. She was handled with care.Conclusions: For early diagnosis of urinary tract injuries, gynaecologists should have a low threshold for performing intraoperative cystoscopy during gynaecological procedures. Early detection and treatment of urinary tract injuries reduces the patient's morbidity, with a successful repair outcome at the time of detection. Performing an intraoperative cystoscopy during gynaecological procedures allows for this

Etiological evaluation of amenorrhea: a cross-sectional study from a tertiary care center in India

Background: To determine the prevalence of etiological causes in cases with primary and secondary amenorrhea in a tertiary care center in Western India. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 170 medical records of non-pregnant women who presented with either primary or secondary amenorrhea to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IKDRC-ITS, Ahmedabad, Gujarat from Jan 2014 to December 2022 was done. The clinical profile, presentation, development of secondary sexual characteristics, physical examinations, hormone profile, imaging and cytogenetic study including karyotyping was done. Results: The most common causes of primary amenorrhea identified were end organ failure (71.49%), among these 69.41% had some form of Mullerian anomalies while three were cases of complete androgen insensitivity syndrome. This was followed by hormonal abnormalities (15.97%) and gonadal failure (7.63%). There were two cases of gonadal dysgenesis, three cases of Turner's syndrome, three cases of complete androgen insensitivity, one case of Swyers syndrome, two cases of ring X chromosomes. Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism was the most common cause of secondary amenorrhea. Three patients had premature ovarian failure. Single kidney was the most common association seen in eleven patients. Conclusions: This is one of the large studies exploring causes of both primary and secondary amenorrhea in Western India. Mullerian anomaly was the commonest cause of primary amenorrhea followed by hormonal abnormalities and gonadal failure. Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism was the most common cause of secondary amenorrhea. Role of racial, genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors could be an area of future research

Association of protein intake with the outcomes of critically ill patients: A post hoc analysis of the PermiT trial

Background: The optimal amount of protein intake in critically ill patients is uncertain. Objective: In this post hoc analysis of the PermiT (Permissive Underfeeding vs. Target Enteral Feeding in Adult Critically Ill Patients) trial, we tested the hypothesis that higher total protein intake was associated with lower 90-d mortality and improved protein biomarkers in critically ill patients. Design: In this post hoc analysis of the PermiT trial, we included patients who received enteral feeding for ≥3 consecutive days. Using the median protein intake of the cohort as a cutoff, patients were categorized into 2 groups: a higher-protein group (>0.80 g · kg-1 · d-1) and a lower-protein group (≤0.80 g · kg-1 · d-1). We developed a propensity score for receiving higher protein. Primary outcome was 90-d mortality. We also compared serial values of prealbumin, transferrin, 24-h urinary nitrogen, and 24-h nitrogen balance on days 1, 7, and 14. Results: Among the 729 patients included in this analysis, the average protein intake was 0.8 ± 0.3 g · kg-1 · d-1 [1.0 ± 0.2 g · kg-1 · d-1 in the higher-protein group (n = 365) and 0.6 ± 0.2 g · kg-1 · d-1 in the lower-protein group (n = 364); P < 0.0001]. There was no difference in 90-d mortality between the 2 groups [88/364 (24.2%) compared with 94/363 (25.9%), propensity score-adjusted OR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.56, 1.16; P = 0.24]. Higher protein intake was associated with an increase in 24-h urea nitrogen excretion compared with lower protein intake, but without a significant change in prealbumin, transferrin, or 24-h nitrogen balance. Conclusions: In the PermiT trial, a moderate difference in protein intake was not associated with lower mortality. Higher protein intake was associated with increased nitrogen excretion in the urine without a corresponding change in prealbumin, transferrin, or nitrogen balance. Protein intake needs to be tested in adequately powered randomized controlled trials targeting larger differences in protein intake in high-risk populations. Am J Clin Nutr 2018;108:988-996. © 2018 American Society for Nutrition. All rights reserved

PANC Study (Pancreatitis: A National Cohort Study): national cohort study examining the first 30 days from presentation of acute pancreatitis in the UK

Abstract Background Acute pancreatitis is a common, yet complex, emergency surgical presentation. Multiple guidelines exist and management can vary significantly. The aim of this first UK, multicentre, prospective cohort study was to assess the variation in management of acute pancreatitis to guide resource planning and optimize treatment. Methods All patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years presenting with acute pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria, from March to April 2021 were eligible for inclusion and followed up for 30 days. Anonymized data were uploaded to a secure electronic database in line with local governance approvals. Results A total of 113 hospitals contributed data on 2580 patients, with an equal sex distribution and a mean age of 57 years. The aetiology was gallstones in 50.6 per cent, with idiopathic the next most common (22.4 per cent). In addition to the 7.6 per cent with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, 20.1 per cent of patients had a previous episode of acute pancreatitis. One in 20 patients were classed as having severe pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria. The overall mortality rate was 2.3 per cent at 30 days, but rose to one in three in the severe group. Predictors of death included male sex, increased age, and frailty; previous acute pancreatitis and gallstones as aetiologies were protective. Smoking status and body mass index did not affect death. Conclusion Most patients presenting with acute pancreatitis have a mild, self-limiting disease. Rates of patients with idiopathic pancreatitis are high. Recurrent attacks of pancreatitis are common, but are likely to have reduced risk of death on subsequent admissions. </jats:sec

Proton Pump Inhibitors in the Elderly Hospitalized Patient: Evaluating Appropriate Use and Deprescribing

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are often prescribed for elderly patients without appropriate indication, or for longer durations than recommended. Objective: To review appropriateness of PPI use prior to and in hospital, and deprescribing rates across different hospital units. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients ≥65 years admitted to 5 acute care units: intensive care unit, acute care for elderly, orthopedics, surgery, and medicine. Patients who were “non-naive” (prehospital PPI use) or “naive” (new PPI initiated in hospital) users were included. For both groups, demographics, reason for admission, length of stay, comorbidities, name and number of home medications, PPI name, dose and indication, and PPI discharge instructions were collected. For naive patients, duration of in-hospital use and prescriber specialty was recorded. Results: Among non-naive patients (n = 377), for 37 patients (10%), the indication for a PPI was not appropriate, and for 92 patients (24%), the indication was unclear. Most patients had their home PPI continued while in hospital (87%) and at discharge (90%). Among naive (n = 93) patients, for 8 patients (9%), the indication for a PPI was not appropriate, and for 25 (27%) patients, the indication was unclear. PPI was prescribed to only 16 (18%) by the gastrointestinal consult service. Most patients had their new PPI continued at discharge (74%); only 7 (9%) were discharged with a plan to reassess PPI indication. Conclusion: PPIs are infrequently deprescribed during hospital admission, despite inappropriate or unclear indications for use. Thorough medication reconciliation, documentation of PPI indication and duration, and institutional focus on deprescribing are encouraged. </jats:p