scholarly journals Long-term sequelae secondary to snakebite envenoming: a single centre retrospective study in a Costa Rican paediatric hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e000735
Author(s):  
Helena Brenes-Chacon ◽  
Jose M Gutierrez ◽  
Kattia Camacho-Badilla ◽  
Alejandra Soriano-Fallas ◽  
Rolando Ulloa-Gutierrez ◽  
...  

ObjectivesAlthough devastating acute effects associated with snake envenoming are well described, the long-term sequelae resulting from these envenomings have not been adequately addressed, especially in the paediatric population. The aim of our study is to describe the clinical characteristics among paediatric patients in Costa Rica who developed long-term sequelae secondary to snakebite envenoming.DesignRetrospective descriptive study of paediatric patients under 13 years who were admitted with a history of a recent snakebite at the National Children’s Hospital in Costa Rica from January 2001 to December 2014.ResultsWe enrolled 74 patients admitted to our centre due to envenoming, and separated those who did not develop sequelae (50 patients) from those who did (24 patients). Of those who presented acute complications during hospitalisation, local wound infection and clinically diagnosed compartmental syndrome were significantly higher in the group that developed sequelae thereafter. Hypertrophic scars (66.7%), functional limitation of affected limb (37.5%) and the need of skin graft (37.5%) were the most common sequelae. The median follow-up of patients with long-term sequelae after discharge was 25.4 months (5.6–59.4). No deaths were reported during this time period.ConclusionsGiven the high economic, personal and healthcare burden that entails follow-up of these patients, efforts should be carried out to prevent the factors associated with sequelae among the affected population.

Author(s):  
Elda Kara ◽  
Elisa Della Valle ◽  
Sara De Vincentis ◽  
Vincenzo Rochira ◽  
Bruno Madeo

Summary Spontaneous or fine-needle aspiration (FNAB)-induced remission of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) may occur, especially for cystic lesions. However, the disease generally relapses over a short time period. We present a case of PHPT due to an enlarged hyperfunctioning parathyroid that underwent long-term (almost 9 years) clinical and ultrasonographic remission after the disappearance of the lesion following ultrasound (US)-assisted FNAB. A 67-year-old woman with PHPT underwent biochemical and US examinations that confirmed the diagnosis and showed a lesion suggestive for parathyroid adenoma or hyperplasia. US-FNAB of the lesion confirmed its parathyroid nature by means of elevated levels of parathyroid hormone within the needle washing fluid. At the second visit, the patient referred slight neck swelling that resolved spontaneously in the days after the US-FNAB. At subsequent follow-up, the enlarged parathyroid was not found; it was visible neither with US nor with magnetic resonance imaging. Biochemical remission persists after 9 years. This is the first reported case of cure of PHPT after US-FNAB performed on a hyperfunctioning parathyroid resulting in its complete disappearance over a period of 9 years of negative biochemical and ultrasonographic follow-up. Learning points: Spontaneous or fine-needle aspiration-induced remission of primary hyperparathyroidism can occur. Both circumstances may present disease relapse over a variable time period, but definite remission is also possible even though long-term periodic follow-up should be performed. Parathyroid damage should be ruled out in case of neck symptomatology after parathyroid fine-needle aspiration or spontaneous symptomatology in patients with history of primary hyperparathyroidism.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18562-e18562
Author(s):  
Cynthia van Arkel ◽  
Daphne Dumoulin ◽  
Bart van Straten ◽  
Joost ter Woorst ◽  
Saskia Houterman ◽  
...  

e18562 Background: To determine factors predicting early and long term mortality in patients who underwent a thoracotomy because of primary lung cancer. Methods: Data of patients who underwent a thoracotomy in the Catharina Hospital Eindhoven between 1 January 1995 and 1 January 2011 have been collected retrospectively from the medical files. Early mortality was defined as mortality <30 days after surgery. Last date of follow up was 1 January 2013. Patients were divided in three periods according to date of surgery (1: 1995-1999, 2: 2000-2004 and 3: 2005-2010). Predicting factors for early mortality were assessed with uni- and multivariate logistic regression analysis. For long term mortality and survival predicting factors were assessed using the Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Results: In total 501 patients underwent a thoracotomy due to primary lung cancer. Overall 30 day mortality was 5.8% (n=29). Early mortality was 3.0% for lobectomy (n=289), 0.2% for bilobectomy (n=29) and 11% for pneumonectomy (n=109). Multivariate analysis showed that age over 70 (p=0.002), pneumonectomy (p=0.008) and a pre-operative VO2max of <15 ml/kg/min (p=0.02) were significant predictors of early mortality. With respect to long term survival, 308 (62%) patients had died at the end of the follow-up period. Median survival time was 44 months, with an overall 5- and 10- year survival of 45% and 27% respectively. The 5- and 10-year survival for stage I, II and III-IV was 61% and 37%; 46% and 30%;16% and 6.6%, respectively (p<0.0001, log rank test). Finally Cox regression analysis showed that stage (stage I (HR 0.30; 95% CI 0.22-0.42), stage II (HR 0.38; 95% CI 0.26-0.57) compared to stage III-IV, FEV1% ≤70% (HR 1.57; 95% CI 1.61-2.11), a history of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) (HR 1.97; 95% CI 1.20-3.23) and surgery in an earlier time period (1 (HR 1.50; 95% CI 1.04-2.17); 2 (HR 1.46; 95% CI 1.05-2.02) compared to 3) were significant predictors of long term mortality. Conclusions: In this cohort age, pneumonectomy and pre-operative VO2max are significant predictors of early mortality. Significant predictors of long term mortality are disease stage, FEV1%, a history of CVD and surgery in an earlier time period.


1989 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Busey

Writers have long claimed that Costa Rica has achieved standards of popular, constitutional government unusual for Latin America. A few recent commentators have attempted to modify the unstinted praise which others have been prone to lavish upon Costa Rican political institutions and processes.To evaluate properly the assumption that Costa Rica is somehow more “democratic” than her neighbors, there must be examination of a number of elements of Costa Rican political life—that is, press and public expression, individual rights, political parties, roles of judicial and legislative bodies, role of the military, and the like. Some studies have touched upon a few of these elements. Scholarship has yet to cover all of them. The present paper will confine itself to a further aspect of Costa Rican political life—that is, the presidential history of the country. By what means and under what circumstances have presidents secured and left office? How many have been long-term dictators? What have been the backgrounds and characteristics of leading Costa Rican presidents? How many have come from the military profession, and how many from civilian life?


2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 209
Author(s):  
Luis A. Rojas

In the present the agriculture and livestock field and specifically the basic grains producer, goes throught the worst crisis in the whole history of Costa Rica. The strong degradation of the natural resourses, linked to the important low yield of the crops, which also coincide with the high cost of production, have been increasing the problem. On the other hand, the lack of policies of the last Costa Rica government hastens the crisis. Right now, the basic grain crops do not produce economic profit, so it’s impossible to contonue producing with high costs, as machinery, excessive use of chemical and other inputs. We are looking for a system to approach and to assess lower cost alternative with high agricultural return. The basic grain sowing within of non-tillage system, conservation tillage o direct sowing, is a great production alternative, with high income and profit in the short, medium and long term; which includes physical, chemical and biological improvement of the soil and reduce the production cost. The Agronomy School at the Costa Rican Tecnological Institute are currently working in the project with different non- tillage activities like research, technological transfer, and non-tillage cropping system in basic grain, as sustainable alternative in the Huetar Norte region of Costa Rica and others parts of the country.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
W Van Der Stuijt ◽  
K.C De Wilde ◽  
S.W.E Baalman ◽  
A.B.E Quast ◽  
N.A Blom ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Inherited channelopathies, cardiomyopathies and structural heart diseases are known to increase the risk of sudden cardiac death in children and are occasionally treated with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Due to their physical growth and higher level of activity, children experience more adverse events than adults, such as lead fractures, vascular problems and infections. The subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) was introduced to avoid these lead-related complications and is expected to be especially beneficial for children who require ICD therapy. However, long-term follow-up data of this population are lacking. Purpose To evaluate long-term clinical outcomes of the S-ICD in the paediatric population. Methods Follow-up data were prospectively collected of all paediatric patients (age &lt;18 years) who received their S-ICD in our tertiary centre between November 2009 and June 2019. Clinical outcomes that were assessed were appropriate or inappropriate shocks and complications that required surgical intervention. Results A total of 21 paediatric patients received an S-ICD, with a median age of 15 years (ranged 8–17) and a median body mass index of 18.8 kg/m2 (ranged 15.5–28.8, lowest weight 30kg). The indication for ICD implantation was mostly idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (38.1%) or genetic arrhythmic disease (28.6%). The subcutaneous lead was implanted in an S-shape to accommodate for growth in small patients, and straightening of the lead could be observed on successive chest X-rays (see figure). There was no need for lead or device revisions in this cohort. After a median follow-up of 4.3 years (IQR 2.7–6.5), five patients (23.8%) received an appropriate shock for ventricular arrhythmias and six patients (28.6%) received an inappropriate shock for supraventricular tachycardia (n=4) or double-counting (n=2). Complications that required device extraction occurred in three patients after 0.8±1.1 years and was the result of inappropriate shocks (n=1) and pocket infection (n=2). In two patients the S-ICD was extracted due to progression of their cardiac disease, of whom one needed biventricular pacing and one underwent heart transplantation. Conclusions The S-ICD appears efficacious in this heterogeneous paediatric population. Although higher than reported in adults, the long-term complication rate in paediatric S-ICD recipients is similar to the paediatric transvenous ICD population. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayesha Shaikh ◽  
Natasha Shrikrishnapalasuriyar ◽  
Giselle Sharaf ◽  
David Price ◽  
Maneesh Udiawar ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Huang ◽  
C Liu

Abstract Background Lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) at admission or discharge was associated with poor outcomes in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, the optimal long-term SBP for HFpEF was less clear. Purpose To examine the association of long-term SBP and all-cause mortality among patients with HFpEF. Methods We analyzed participants from the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) study. Participants had at least two SBP measurements of different times during the follow-up were included. Long-term SBP was defined as the average of all SBP measurements during the follow-up. We stratified participants into four groups according to long-term SBP: &lt;120mmHg, ≥120mmHg and &lt;130mmHg, ≥130mmHg and &lt;140mmHg, ≥140mmHg. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all-cause mortality associated with SBP level. To assess for nonlinearity, we fitted restricted cubic spline models of long-term SBP. Sensitivity analyses were conducted by confining participants with history of hypertension or those with left ventricular ejection fraction≥50%. Results The 3338 participants had a mean (SD) age of 68.5 (9.6) years; 51.4% were women, and 89.3% were White. The median long-term SBP was 127.3 mmHg (IQR 121–134.2, range 77–180.7). Patients in the SBP of &lt;120mmHg group were older age, less often female, less often current smoker, had higher estimated glomerular filtration rate, less often had history of hypertension, and more often had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and atrial fibrillation. After multivariable adjustment, long-term SBP of 120–130mmHg and 130–140mmHg was associated with a lower risk of mortality during a mean follow-up of 3.3 years (HR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.49–0.85, P=0.001; HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50–0.88, P=0.004, respectively); long-term SBP of &lt;120mmHg had similar risk of mortality (HR 1.03, 95% CI: 0.78–1.36, P=0.836), compared with long-term SBP of ≥140mmHg. Findings from restricted cubic spline analysis demonstrate that there was J-shaped association between long-term SBP and all-cause mortality (P=0.02). These association was essentially unchanged in sensitivity analysis. Conclusions Among patients with HFpEF, long-term SBP showed a J-shaped pattern with all-cause mortality and a range of 120–140 mmHg was significantly associated with better outcomes. Future randomized controlled trials need to evaluate optimal long-term SBP goal in patients with HFpEF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Grant (2019M660229 and 2019TQ0380)


Author(s):  
Shinwan Kany ◽  
Johannes Brachmann ◽  
Thorsten Lewalter ◽  
Ibrahim Akin ◽  
Horst Sievert ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Non-paroxysmal (NPAF) forms of atrial fibrillation (AF) have been reported to be associated with an increased risk for systemic embolism or death. Methods Comparison of procedural details and long-term outcomes in patients (pts) with paroxysmal AF (PAF) against controls with NPAF in the prospective, multicentre observational registry of patients undergoing LAAC (LAARGE). Results A total of 638 pts (PAF 274 pts, NPAF 364 pts) were enrolled. In both groups, a history of PVI was rare (4.0% vs 1.6%, p = 0.066). The total CHA2DS2-VASc score was lower in the PAF group (4.4 ± 1.5 vs 4.6 ± 1.5, p = 0.033), while HAS-BLED score (3.8 ± 1.1 vs 3.9 ± 1.1, p = 0.40) was comparable. The rate of successful implantation was equally high (97.4% vs 97.8%, p = 0.77). In the three-month echo follow-up, LA thrombi (2.1% vs 7.3%, p = 0.12) and peridevice leak > 5 mm (0.0% vs 7.1%, p = 0.53) were numerically higher in the NPAF group. Overall, in-hospital complications occurred in 15.0% of the PAF cohort and 10.7% of the NPAF cohort (p = 0.12). In the one-year follow-up, unadjusted mortality (8.4% vs 14.0%, p = 0.039) and combined outcome of death, stroke and systemic embolism (8.8% vs 15.1%, p = 0.022) were significantly higher in the NPAF cohort. After adjusting for CHA2DS2-VASc and previous bleeding, NPAF was associated with increased death/stroke/systemic embolism (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.02–2.72, p = 0.041). Conclusion Atrial fibrillation type did not impair periprocedural safety or in-hospital MACE patients undergoing LAAC. However, after one year, NPAF was associated with higher mortality. Graphic abstract


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Alraddadi ◽  
A Alsagheir ◽  
S Gao ◽  
K An ◽  
H Hronyecz ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Managing endocarditis in intravenous drug use (IVDU) patients is challenging: unless patients successfully quit IVDU, the risk of re-infection is high. Clinicians often raise concerns with ethical and resource allocation principles when considering valve replacement surgery in this patient population. To help inform practice, we sought to determine the long-term outcomes of IVDU patients with endocarditis who underwent valve surgery in our center. Method After research ethics board approval, infective endocarditis cases managed surgically at our General Hospital between 2009 and 2018 were identified through the Cardiac Care Network. We reviewed patients' charts and included those with a history of IVDU in this study. We abstracted data on baseline characteristics, peri-operative course, short- and long-term outcomes. We report results using descriptive statistics. Results We identified 124 IVDU patients with surgically managed endocarditis. Mean age was 37 years (SD 11), 61% were females and 8% had redo surgery. During admission, 45% (n=56) of the patients had an embolic event: 63% pulmonary, 30% cerebral, 18% peripheral and 11% mesenteric. Causative organisms included Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus (51%, n=63), Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (15%, n=19), Streptococcus Viridans (2%, n=2), and others (31%, n=38). Emergency cardiac surgery was performed for 42% of patients (n=52). Most patients (84%) had single valve intervention: 53% tricuspid, 18% aortic and 13% mitral. Double valve interventions occurred in 15% (n=18). Overall, bioprosthetic replacement was most commonly chosen (79%, n=98). In-hospital mortality was 7% (n=8). Median length of stay in hospital was 13 days (IQR 8,21) and ICU 2 days (IQR 1,6). Mortality at longest available follow-up was 24% (n=30), with a median follow-up of 129 days (IQR 15,416). Valve reintervention rate was 11% (n=13) and readmission rate was 14% (n=17) at a median of 275 days (IQR 54,502). Conclusion Despite their critical condition, IVDU patients with endocarditis have good intra-hospital outcomes. Challenges occur after hospital discharge with loss of follow-up and high short-term mortality. IVDU relapse likely accounts for some of these issues. In-hospital and community comprehensive addiction management may improve these patients' outcomes beyond the surgical procedure. Annual rate 2009–2018 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


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