Benefits of a clinical pharmacokinetic service in optimising phenytoin use in the Western Cape

Objectives. To study the benefits of a clinical pharmacokinetic service in optimising phenytoin use in the Western Cape.Design. Assessment of the response to treatment was based on the number of seizures during the 3 months before entering the study (first baseline period), 3 months after entering the study (second baseline period) and 3 monthsbefore the termination of the study (test period). Patients kept a seizure diary throughout the study. The MichaelisMenten model was used to calculate doses and predict steady-state serum concentrations.Setting. ine epilepsy clinics.Subjects. One hundred and ninety-five (113 black and 82 coloured) compliant people with epilepsy receiving generic phenytoin monotherapy.Outcome measures. Reduction in seizure frequency and adverse effects.Results. A reduction in seizure frequency (64.8% compared with pre-optimisation) was experienced by 64.9% of patients. Mean seizure frequency was reduced from 3.39 to 1.18 per month. Reductions in seizure frequency of 100% and morethan 50% were reported by 39.2% and 58.7% of patients, respectively. Adverse effects of phenytoin were reduced from 20.5% at the first visit to 3.2% at the last visit.Conclusion. The clinical pharrnacokinetic dosing service for phenytoin applied in this study contributed significantly to the success of epilepsy management

Acute hospitalisation needs of adults admitted to public facilities in the Cape Town Metro district

Introduction. Public health care delivery in South Africa aims to provide equitable access at the most appropriate level of care. We studied to what extent the acute health care needs of adults admitted to public hospitals in the Cape Town Metropole were being appropriately met. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted of the hospital records of adults admitted to medical beds in public hospitals in Cape Town between August and November 2008. Intensive care unit patients were not included. Results. Of 802 beds in use, the estimated occupancy was at least 95%. The average time elapsed since admission was 7.9 days; 94.3% of medical admissions were acute; 45% were severely to critically ill on admission; and co-morbid disease was present in 78.1%. Of all admissions, 31.9% were HIV-positive, and 17% had active tuberculosis. At least 396 (51.6%) patients were deemed to have required specialist or subspecialist consultation to expedite appropriate care; 386 (50.3%) accessed the appropriate level of medical care required; 339 (44.2%) accessed a more sophisticated level of care than required; and 42 (5.5%) did not access an adequate level of care. CT scan and ultrasound accounted for 59% of all restricted tests done. Conclusions. Our findings support the plan to provide more primary care hospital facilities in the metropolitan area. Most patients needing specialised care are accessing such care, and most patients accessing a higher level of care than needed can be addressed by ensuring that they first access primary care and are referred according to protocols

Acute hospitalisation needs of adults admitted to public facilities in the Cape Town Metro district

INTRODUCTION: Public health care delivery in South Africa aims to provide equitable access at the most appropriate level of care. We studied to what extent the acute health care needs of adults admitted to public hospitals in the Cape Town Metropole were being appropriately met. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of the hospital records of adults admitted to medical beds in public hospitals in Cape Town between August and November 2008. Intensive care unit patients were not included. RESULTS: Of 802 beds in use, the estimated occupancy was at least 95%. The average time elapsed since admission was 7.9 days; 94.3% of medical admissions were acute; 45% were severely to critically ill on admission; and co-morbid disease was present in 78.1%. Of all admissions, 31.9% were HIV-positive, and 17% had active tuberculosis. At least 396 (51.6%) patients were deemed to have required specialist or subspecialist consultation to expedite appropriate care; 386 (50.3%) accessed the appropriate level of medical care required; 339 (44.2%) accessed a more sophisticated level of care than required; and 42 (5.5%) did not access an adequate level of care. CT scan and ultrasound accounted for 59% of all restricted tests done. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the plan to provide more primary care hospital facilities in the metropolitan area. Most patients needing specialised care are accessing such care, and most patients accessing a higher level of care than needed can be addressed by ensuring that they first access primary care and are referred according to protocols

A new concurrent chemotherapy with vinorelbine and mitomycin C in combination with radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and toxicity of concurrent chemotherapy with vinorelbine and mitomycin C in combination with accelerated radiotherapy (RT) in patients with locally advanced cancer of the head and neck. Patients and Methods: Between January 2003 and March 2004, 15 patients with T4/N2-3 squamous cell carcinoma (12/15) and with N3 cervical lymph node metastases of carcinoma of unknown primary (3/15) were treated with chemotherapy and simultaneous accelerated RT. Results: 11 patients completed therapy without interruption or dose reduction. Grade 3 - 4 acute mucosal toxicity was observed in 9/15 patients, grade 4 hematologic toxicity in 6/15 patients. At a median follow-up of 7.5 months, 2 patients have died of intercurrent disease, 2 patients have experienced local relapse; 5 patients are alive with no evidence of disease at the primary tumor site. Discussion: The described regimen is highly effective, but led to remarkable side effects

Coronary anomalies in tetralogy of Fallot - a meta-analysis

Background: An anomalous coronary artery is reported in 2% to 23% of patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Knowledge of coronary anatomy prior to corrective surgery is vital to avoid damage to vessels crossing the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). A meta-analysis on the prevalence of anomalous coronary arteries in TOF is lacking to date. Here, an overview of coronary anomalies in TOF is provided and implications for patient management are discussed.Methods: PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched. Analysis was done using Revman 5.3 (Cochrane Community, London). The primary analysis focused on the origin and proximal course of the right and left coronary arteries. In addition, the prevalence of large conus arteries and coronary arteriovenous fistulas (CAVF) was calculated.Results: Twenty-eight studies, encompassing 6956 patients, were included; 6% of TOF patients have an anomalous coronary artery. Hereof, 72% cross the RVOT; the majority of the remaining 28% courses behind the aorta. Six percent of patients have a large conus artery and 4% a CAVF. Other coronary anomalies include a left or right coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk or left or right pulmonary artery, coronary tree hypoplasia and anastomoses between coronary and bronchial arteries.Conclusions: The prevalence of coronary anomalies in TOF is 4-6%. In patients with an anomalous coronary artery, 72% cross the RVOT. The combined risk of encountering an anomalous coronary artery or a large conus artery crossing the RVOT is 10.3%. Coronary anatomy should be defined before surgery and the surgical approach adapted accordingly. (c) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Cardiolog

Computed tomography derived coronary triangulated orifice area-deduction of a new parameter for follow-up after surgical correction of anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries and call for validation

Introduction: Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) from the opposite sinus of Valsalva is a rare congenital abnormality. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is primarily used as a diagnostic tool to evaluate the anatomy and identify potentially malignant AAOCA variants. Limited data is available on the role of CTA during postoperative follow-up. We aimed to develop an objective CTA derived parameter for diagnostic evaluation and follow-up after surgical correction of AAOCA and correlate the anatomical features to the postoperative outcome.Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent surgical repair of AAOCA from 2001 to 2018 and had pre and postoperative CTA imaging available were included. A retrospective analysis of the pre- and postoperative CTA and the outcomes was performed. The origin and course of the anomalous coronary artery and the ostial dimensions were evaluated and correlated with restenosis of operated coronary artery. To allow an accurate evaluation of the effective orifice area at diagnosis and after surgical repair we deduce and propose a new parameter-the coronary triangulated orifice area (CTOA).Results: Out of the 54 patients who underwent surgical treatment for AAOCA, 11 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The median follow-up was 19 months [IQR 3;42]. The mean age at surgery was 41 +/- 16 years, with six patients (55%) being male. Postoperatively, the angle between the proximal coronary artery and the aortic wall increased from 20 +/- 5 degrees to 28 +/- 9 degrees (p < 0.01) and ostial diameter in the transversal plane increased from 4.1 +/- 2.5 mm to 6.2 +/- 2.7 mm (p < 0.01). The median CTOA increased significantly from 1.6 mm(2) [IQR 0.9;4.9] to 5.5 mm(2) [IQR 3;11.8] (p < 0.005). During follow-up, in three patients a restenosis of the operated coronary artery was suspected. In these patients, the CTOA only showed a limited postoperative increase of <= 1.4 mm(2).Conclusions: CTA can play an important role in the evaluation of the pre- and postoperative anatomy in AAOCA patients. CTOA may be of use in conjunction with the acute angle take-off and ostial diameter order to comprehensively evaluate the operated ostium after unroofing or patch angioplasty.Cardiolog

Gender plays no role in student ability to perform on computer-based examinations

BACKGROUND: To see if there is a difference in performance when students switch from traditional paper-and-pencil examinations to computer-based examinations, and to determine whether there are gender differences in student performance in these two examination formats. METHODS: This study involved first year medical students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign over three Academic Years 2002–03/2003–04 and 2003–05. Comparisons of student performance by overall class and gender were made. Specific comparisons within courses that utilized both the paper-and-pencil and computer formats were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall performance scores for students among the various Academic Years revealed no differences between exams given in the traditional pen-and-paper and computer formats. Further, when we looked specifically for gender differences in performance between these two testing formats, we found none. CONCLUSION: The format for examinations in the courses analyzed does not affect student performance. We find no evidence for gender differences in performance on exams on pen-and-paper or computer-based exams

The potential of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors for the treatment of systemic right ventricular failure in adults with congenital heart disease

AimsGiven the compelling evidence on the effectiveness of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in the conventional heart failure population, SGLT2i deserve exploration in systemic right ventricular (sRV) failure. The initial experience with dapagliflozin in sRV failure patients is described, with a focus on tolerability and short-term effects on clinical outcomes.Methods and resultsTen patients (70% female, median age 50 years [46.5-52]) with symptomatic sRV failure who received dapagliflozin 10 mg per day on top of optimal medical therapy between 04-2021 and 01-2023 were included. Within 4 weeks, no significant changes in blood pressure, electrolytes, or serum glucose occurred. Creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) showed a slight decline (88 & PLUSMN; 17 to 97 & PLUSMN; 23 & mu;mol/L, p = 0.036, and 72 & PLUSMN; 14 vs. 66 & PLUSMN; 16 ml/min/1.73m(2), p = 0.020, respectively). At 6 months follow-up (n = 8), median NT-proBNP decreased significantly from 736.6 [589.3-1193.3] to 531.6 [400.8-1018] ng/L (p = 0.012). Creatinine and eGFR recovered to baseline levels. There were no significant changes in echocardiographic systolic sRV or left ventricular function. New York Heart Association class improved significantly in 4 out of 8 patients (p = 0.046), who also showed an improvement in the 6-minute walk test or bicycle exercise test performance. One female patient developed an uncomplicated urinary tract infection. No patients discontinued treatment.ConclusionDapagliflozin was well-tolerated in this small cohort of sRV failure patients. While the early results on the reduction of NT-proBNP and clinical outcome parameters are encouraging, large-scale prospective studies are warranted to thoroughly evaluate the effects of SGLT2i in the growing sRV failure population

The coronary arteries in adults after the arterial switch operation: a systematic review

Coronary artery status in adults long after the arterial switch operation (ASO) is unclear. We conducted a systematic review to provide an overview of coronary complications during adulthood and to evaluate the value of routine coronary imaging in adults after ASO, in light of current guidelines. Articles were screened for the inclusion of adult ASO patients and data on coronary complications and findings of coronary imaging were collected. A total of 993 adults were followed with a median available follow-up of only 2.0 years after reaching adulthood. Myocardial ischemia was suspected in 17/192 patients (8.9%). The number of coronary interventions was four (0.4%), and coronary death was reported in four (0.4%) patients. A lack of ischemia-related symptoms cannot be excluded because innervation studies indicated deficient cardiac innervation after ASO, although data is limited. Anatomical high-risk features found by routine coronary computed tomography (cCT) included stenosis (4%), acute angle (40%), kinking (24%) and inter-arterial course (11%). No coronary complications were reported during pregnancy (n = 45), although, remarkably, four (9%) patients developed heart failure. The 2020 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines state that routine screening for coronary pathologies is questionable. Based on current findings and in line with the 2018 American ACC/AHA guidelines a baseline assessment of the coronary arteries in all ASO adults seems justifiable. Thereafter, an individualized coronary follow-up strategy is advisable at least until significant duration of follow-up is available.Cardiolog

The clinical spectrum of Kommerell's diverticulum in adults with a right-sided aortic arch: a case series and literature overview

Background: Kommerell's diverticulum is a rare vascular anomaly characterized as an outpouch at the onset of an aberrant subclavian artery. In the variant of a right-sided aortic arch, the trachea and esophagus are enclosed dorsally by the arch. In the configuration of an aberrant left subclavian artery, a Kommerell's diverticulum and persisting ductus arteriosus or ductal ligament enclose the lateral side, forming a vascular ring which may result in (symptomatic) esophageal or tracheal compression. Spontaneous rupture of an aneurysmatic Kommerell's diverticulum has also been reported. Due to the rarity of this condition and underreporting in the literature, the clinical implications of a Kommerell's diverticulum are not well defined. Case summary: We describe seven consecutive adult patients with a right-sided aortic arch and an aberrant course of the left subclavian artery (arteria lusoria), and a Kommerell's diverticulum, diagnosed in our tertiary hospital. One patient had severe symptoms related to the Kommerell's diverticulum and underwent surgical repair. In total, two of the patients experienced mild non-limiting dyspnea complaints and in four patients the Kommerell's diverticulum was incidentally documented on a computed tomography (CT) scan acquired for a different indication. The size of the Kommerell's diverticulum ranged from 19 x 21 mm to 30 x 29 mm. In the six patients that did not undergo surgery, a strategy of periodic follow-up with structural imaging was pursued. No significant growth of the Kommerell's diverticulum was observed and none of the patients experienced an acute aortic syndrome to date. Discussion: Kommerell's diverticulum in the setting of a right-sided aortic arch with an aberrant left subclavian artery is frequently associated with tracheal and esophageal compression and this may result in a varying range of symptoms. Guidelines on management of Kommerell's diverticulum are currently lacking. This case series and literature overview suggests that serial follow-up is warranted in adult patients with a Kommerell's diverticulum with small dimensions and no symptoms, however, that surgical intervention should be considered when patients become symptomatic or when the diameter exceeds 30 mm in the absence of symptoms.Cardiolog