Sigmoid volvulus: a rare but unique complication of enteric fever

We present a case of sigmoid volvulus in a young male patient with culture-proven Salmonella Typhi in the blood which was sensitive to Meropenem and Azithromycin only, presented with fever, vomiting, loose stools, hematochezia, abdominal distention and tenderness with no signs of perforation on erect chest x-ray. Further, radiological imaging showed signs of sigmoid volvulus. An urgent colonic decompression with untwisting of the mesentery was performed. In our case, it can be said that sigmoid volvulus was developed as a complication of multiple drug-resistant strains of Salmonella Typhi. The resistance is acquired by alteration in the genome sequence. Currently, it is important to control such an unknown outbreak of multiple drug-resistant strains of Salmonella Typhi as it is a serious health care issue of disease control and prevention in Pakistan

Early transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement versus conservative management in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The merits of conservative management versus early intervention in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis remain unknown. Digital databases (MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Embase) were searched for all relevant studies from inception through September 2022. Studies comparing conservative management with early intervention were compared using a random-effects model to calculate risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 11 studies comprising 5,030 patients (1,874 patients were in the early intervention i.e., surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) group, and 3,156 in the conservative group) were included in the analysis. The average follow-up time was 4.49 years. Early intervention was associated with a significantly reduced risk of heart failure hospitalization (RR 0.27, 95% CI 0.11- 0.67; P = 0.004), cardiac (RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.26 - 0.56; P \u3c 0.00001), non-cardiac (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.31-0.50; P \u3c 0.00001), and all-cause mortality (RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.27 - 0.44; P \u3c 0.00001) compared with conservative management. There was no significant difference in the 30-day mortality (RR 1.30, 95% CI 0.22 - 7.66; P = 0.77), 90-day mortality (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.12 - 2.02; P = 0.32) or myocardial infarction (RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.32 - 1.02; P = 0.06) between the two groups. This meta-analysis shows statistically significant reductions in the risk for all-cause mortality, cardiac specific mortality, non-cardiac mortality, sudden cardiac death, and heart failure hospitalizations in patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis who underwent early intervention as opposed to conservative management

Hematological parameters predicting severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients of Pakistan: a retrospective comparative analysis

Background and Objectives: COVID-19 is a global pandemic. In our study, we aimed to utilize the hematological parameters in predicting the prognosis and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Materials and methods: A retrospective, observational study was conducted to include all the admitted patients (n = 191) having COVID-19 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive, and evaluated those for prognosis and disease outcome by utilizing several biochemical and hematological markers. Results: Amongst the patients admitted in the ward versus in the intensive care unit (ICU), there were significant differences in mean hemoglobin (P = 0.003), total leukocyte count (P = 0.001), absolute neutrophil and lymphocyte counts (P < 0.001), absolute monocyte count (P = 0.019), Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte ratio (LMR) (P < 0.001), Platelet-to-Lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and Lymphocyte-to C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) (P = 0.002), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (P < 0.001). Amongst the deceased patients, there was significant leukocytosis (P = 0.008), neutrophilia and lymphopenia (P < 0.001), increased NLR (P = 0.001), decreased LMR (P < 0.001), increased PLR (p = 0.017), decreased LCR (p = 0.003), and elevated CRP level (P < 0.001). A receiver operating characteristic curve obtained for the above parameters showed NLR (AUC: 0.841, PPV: 83.6%) and PLR (AUC: 0.703, PPV: 81.8%) for ICU patients, while NLR (AUC: 0.860, PPV: 91.1%) and PLR (AUC: 0.677, PPV: 87.5%) for the deceased patients had significant accuracy for predicting the disease severity of COVID-19 in comparison to survivors. Conclusion: The inflammatory markers and hematological indices are a good guide for predicting the severity and disease outcome of coronavirus disease. NLR and PLR are elevated in severe disease while LMR and LCR are inversely correlating with disease severity

Early Transcatheter or Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement Versus Conservative Management in Asymptomatic Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The merits of conservative management versus early intervention in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis remain unknown. Digital databases (MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Embase) were searched for all relevant studies from inception through September 2022. Studies comparing conservative management with early intervention were compared using a random-effects model to calculate risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 11 studies comprising 5,030 patients (1,874 patients were in the early intervention i.e., surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) group, and 3,156 in the conservative group) were included in the analysis. The average follow-up time was 4.49 years. Early intervention was associated with a significantly reduced risk of heart failure hospitalization (RR 0.27, 95% CI 0.11- 0.67; P = 0.004), cardiac (RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.26 - 0.56; P \u3c 0.00001), non-cardiac (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.31-0.50; P \u3c 0.00001), and all-cause mortality (RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.27 - 0.44; P \u3c 0.00001) compared with conservative management. There was no significant difference in the 30-day mortality (RR 1.30, 95% CI 0.22 - 7.66; P = 0.77), 90-day mortality (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.12 - 2.02; P = 0.32) or myocardial infarction (RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.32 - 1.02; P = 0.06) between the two groups. This meta-analysis shows statistically significant reductions in the risk for all-cause mortality, cardiac specific mortality, non-cardiac mortality, sudden cardiac death, and heart failure hospitalizations in patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis who underwent early intervention as opposed to conservative management