scholarly journals A Rare Cause of Hydroenphrosis; Case Presentation of an Intrathoracic Herniated Ureter

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e23-e28
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Alkhafaji ◽  
Ehab Abusada ◽  
Adam Jones ◽  
Mooyad Ahmed ◽  
Talal Jabbar ◽  
...  

BackgroundThoracic ureteric herniation is an uncommon finding with a varying presentation. Since its first documen-tation in 1958, few case reports have been published, and there is no consensus on its management. This condition is typically asymptomatic, with most cases identified incidentally from cross-sectional imaging or discovered intra-operatively.As a result of differing presentations and a lack of consensus or evidence of best practice, this rare finding’s management is not defined. This can range from adopting a conservative approach to more invasive measures such as ureteric stenting or pyeloplasty to repair the thoracic hernia.The authors present a case of thoracic ureteric herniation in a 74-year-old male presenting with right-sided abdominal pain. This patient was known to have a diaphragmatic hernia following pulmonary fibrosis investigations and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). At presentation, there was acute kidney injury (AKI), and subsequent computed topography (CT) demonstrated right-sided hydronephrosis and perinephric fat stranding. This was caused by ureteric obstruction with a transition point at the site of thoracic herniation. The patient was successfully managed with retrograde ureteric stent insertion.This case report aims to highlight variance in the presentation of ureteric thoracic herniation and discuss management options. There is no consensus on management for this condition and choices dependant on specific symptoms and patient factors to the best of our knowledge.

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir H. Qureshi ◽  
Daniel J. Soberon ◽  
Arif Asif ◽  
Tushar Vachharajani ◽  
Ali Nayer

IntroductionMethemoglobinemia refers to the presence of increased levels of methemoglobin (Fe3+) in the blood. Methemoglobinemia can cause cyanosis, dyspnea, fatigue, seizure, arrhythmia, coma, and even death. Although methemoglobinemia is shown to cause acute kidney injury in experimental settings, human case reports are exceedingly rare. In addition, morphological features of methemoglobinemia-induced renal disease in humans remain undefined.Case PresentationA 76-year-old man with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease underwent bronchoscopy following local anesthesia with a benzocaine spray. The patient developed benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia and acute renal failure. Urinalysis disclosed numerous dysmorphic erythrocytes, erythrocyte casts, and granular casts. Urine protein excretion was approximately 1.1 g/day. Serologic tests were negative. Renal biopsy demonstrated minor glomerular abnormalities, severe acute tubular necrosis, and numerous erythrocyte casts in the tubules. Despite supportive care, renal function deteriorated necessitating hemodialysis. Four months later, the patient remained on hemodialysis. To exclude a superimposed pathology, renal biopsy was repeated and showed numerous erythrocyte casts in the tubules and severe tubular damage.ConclusionMethemoglobinemia can cause acute kidney injury in humans. Morphological features resemble those observed in methemoglobin-induced acute kidney injury in experimental settings. This case calls for a heightened awareness of potential adverse effects of methemoglobinemia on renal function.


Author(s):  
Melvin K Mathews ◽  
Abubaker Siddiq ◽  
Bharathi D R

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is preventable and treatable disease state characterized by air flow limitation that is not fully reversible. Severity of the symptoms is increased during exacerbations. Objectives: The purpose of the study is to assess and improve the knowledge regarding COPD among study subjects. Materials and Methods: A Cross-sectional interventional study was carried out among the peoples in selected areas of the Chitradurga city for a period of six months. Result: A total 207 subjects enrolled in the study in that 155 male and 52 females. In our study mean score of post test was more (5.87±1.68) when compare to pre-test (2.63±1.46) which show significant increase in their knowledge after educating them (p=0.000). A total of 207 subjects were enrolled into the study. SPSS Software was used to calculate the statistical estimation. Paired t-test was used to detect the association status of different variables. Conclusion: The relatively good level of COPD awareness needs to be maintained to facilitate future prevention and control of the disease. This study had identified that negative illness perceptions should be targeted, so that they will not avoid patients from seeking for COPD treatment and adhere to it. Key words: Cross sectional study, Knowledge, practice, COPD.


Author(s):  
Karen Detering ◽  
Elizabeth Sutton ◽  
Scott Fraser

People are living longer lives with a greater burden of disease. Diseases which contribute significantly to this burden are chronic kidney disease; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure. Technologies exist that can sustain life for patients with these disease, however patients and their families/loved ones need to know the likely outcome of their disease, its course, and all management options. Advance care planning (ACP) can assist with this process as well as ensuring that patients, families, and health care teams are aware of what treatment a patient wants—or does not want. ACP also enables the appointment of a decision maker to act on behalf of the patient should they lose capacity to make medical decisions. This chapter discusses the benefits of ACP and why it needs to be introduced early in the course of any life-limiting illness.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7580
Author(s):  
Sheila Sánchez Castillo ◽  
Lee Smith ◽  
Arturo Díaz Suárez ◽  
Guillermo Felipe López Sánchez

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are important conditions which often coexist. Higher rates of comorbidities among people with asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) may complicate clinical management. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of 30 different comorbidities and to analyze associations between these comorbidities and physical activity (PA) in Spanish people with ACO. Cross-sectional data from the Spanish National Health Survey 2017 were analyzed. A total of 198 Spanish people with ACO aged 15–69 years (60.6% women) were included in this study. PA was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form. Diagnosis of chronic conditions were self-reported. Associations between PA and comorbidities were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models. The most prevalent comorbidities were chronic allergy (58.1%), chronic lumbar pain (42.4%), chronic cervical pain (38.4%), hypertension (33.3%) and arthrosis (31.8%). A PA level lower than 600 MET·min/week was significantly associated with urinary incontinence (OR = 3.499, 95% CI = 1.369–8.944) and osteoporosis (OR = 3.056, 95% CI = 1.094–8.538) in the final adjusted model. Therefore, the potential influence of PA on reducing the risk of these conditions among people with ACO should be considered, not only because of the health benefits, but also because PA can contribute to a more sustainable world.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352110076
Author(s):  
Hyllore Imeri ◽  
Erin Holmes ◽  
Shane Desselle ◽  
Meagen Rosenthal ◽  
Marie Barnard

Chronic conditions (CCs) management during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the pandemic on patient activation (PA) and health locus of control (HLOC) remain unknown. This cross-sectional online survey study examined the role of COVID-19 pandemic-related worry or fear in PA and HLOC among patients with CCs. Individuals with CCs (n = 300) were recruited through MTurk Amazon. The questionnaire included sociodemographic questions, the Patient Activation Measure, and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control–Form B. Out of the 300 participants, 9.7% were diagnosed with COVID-19, and 7.3% were hospitalized. Patients with cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, drug abuse/substance abuse, and stroke reported significant difficulties in managing their CCs due to worry or fear because of COVID-19. More than half of the sample (45.7%) reported COVID-19-related worry or fear about managing their CCs, and these patients had lower PA and lower external HLOC compared to patients not affected by COVID-19-related worry or fear. Health professionals should provide more support for patients facing difficulties in managing their CCs during the COVID-19 pandemic.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e044600
Author(s):  
Jessica Y. Islam ◽  
Denise C. Vidot ◽  
Marlene Camacho-Rivera

BackgroundPreventive behaviours have been recommended to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Adults with chronic diseases (CDs) are at higher risk of COVID-19-related mortality compared to the general population. Our objective was to evaluate adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviours among adults without CDs compared with those with CDs and identify determinants of non-adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviours.Study designCross-sectional.Setting and participantsWe used data from the nationally representative COVID-19 Impact Survey (n=10 760) conducted in the USA.Primary measuresAdults with CDs were categorised based on a self-reported diagnosis of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease/heart attack/stroke, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis or emphysema, cystic fibrosis, liver disease, compromised immune system, or cancer (54%).ResultsCompared with adults without CDs, adults with CDs were more likely to adhere to preventive behaviours including wearing a face mask (χ2-p<0.001), social distancing (χ2-p<0.001), washing or sanitising hands (χ2-p<0.001), and avoiding some or all restaurants (χ2-p=0.002) and public or crowded places (χ2-p=0.001). Adults with a high school degree or below [Adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR):1.82, 95% Confidence interval (CI)1.04 to 3.17], household income <US$50 000 (aPR:2.03, 95% CI 1.34 to 2.72), uninsured (aPR:1.65, 95% CI1.09 to 2.52), employed (aPR:1.48, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.17), residing in rural areas (aPR:1.70, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.85) and without any CD (aPR:1.78, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.55) were more likely to not adhere to COVID-19 preventive behaviours.ConclusionAdults with CDs are more likely to adhere to recommended COVID-19 preventive behaviours. Public health messaging targeting specific demographic groups and geographic areas, such as adults without CD or adults living in rural areas, should be prioritised.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Tzanakis ◽  
Nikolaos Koulouris ◽  
Katerina Dimakou ◽  
Konstantinos Gourgoulianis ◽  
Epameinondas Kosmas ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a multifactorial clinical condition, characterized by chronic progressive (or worsening) respiratory symptoms, structural pulmonary abnormalities, and impaired lung function, and is often accompanied by multiple, clinically significant comorbid disorders. In 2017, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) issued a new report on COPD prevention, diagnosis and management, aiming at personalizing the maintenance therapeutic approach of the stable disease, based on the patients’ symptoms and history of exacerbations (ABCD assessment approach). Our objective was to evaluate the implementation of GOLD suggestions in everyday clinical practice in Greece. Methods This was a cross-sectional observational study. Sixty-five different variables (demographics, vital sign measurements, COPD-related medical history parameters, comorbidities, vaccination data, COPD severity based on spirometry measurements, COPD stage based on the ABCD assessment approach, COPD treatments) were collected from 3615 nation-wide COPD patients (Greece). Results The mean age at the time of initial COPD diagnosis was 63.8 (± 10.2). Almost 60% of the subjects were classified into group B, while the remaining patients were falling into groups A (18%) and D (21%), and only a small minority of patients belonged to Group C, according to the ABCD assessment approach. The compliance of respiratory physicians to the GOLD 2017 therapeutic suggestions is problematic, especially when it comes to COPD patients belonging to Group A. Conclusion Our data provide valuable information regarding the demographic and medical profile of COPD patients in Greece, the domains which the revised ABCD assessment approach may show some clinical significance on, and the necessity for medical practitioners dealing with COPD patients to adhere closer to international recommendations for the proper management of the disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 00299-2019
Author(s):  
David C. Currow ◽  
Miriam J. Johnson ◽  
Allan Pollack ◽  
Diana H. Ferreira ◽  
Slavica Kochovska ◽  
...  

Chronic breathlessness is a disabling syndrome, prevalent in people with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Regular, low-dose, oral sustained-release morphine is approved in Australia to reduce symptomatic chronic breathlessness. We aimed to determine the current prescribing patterns of opioids for chronic breathlessness in COPD in Australian general practice and to define any associated patient and practitioner characteristics.Five years (2011 to 2016) of the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health database, an Australian national, continual, cross-sectional study of clinical care in general practice were used. The database included 100 consecutive clinical encounters from almost 1000 general practitioners annually (n=488 100 encounters). Descriptive analyses with subsequent regression models were generated.Breathlessness as a patient-defined reason for encounter was identified in 621 of 4522 encounters where COPD was managed. Opioids were prescribed in 309 of 4522 encounters where COPD was managed (6.8%; (95% CI) 6.1–7.6), of which only 17 were prescribed for breathlessness, and the rest for other conditions almost entirely related to pain. Patient age (45–64 years versus age 80+ years, OR 1.68; 1.19–2.36), Commonwealth Concession Card holders (OR 1.70; 1.23–2.34) and socioeconomic disadvantage (OR 1.30; 1.01–1.68) were associated with increased likelihood of opioid prescription at COPD encounters. The rate of opioid prescriptions rose over the 5 years of study.In primary care encounters for COPD, opioids were prescribed in 6.8% of cases, but almost never for breathlessness. These data create a baseline against which to compare changes in prescribing as the treatment of chronic breathlessness evolves.


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