Apple Watch-assisted supraventricular tachycardia detection and qualification for electrophysiological study

Zaburzenia rytmu są częstą przyczyną odczuwanych kołatań serca. Najczęściej objawy występują jedynie okresowo, dlatego też postawienie prawidłowego rozpoznania niejednokrotnie może stanowić wyzwanie. Na rynku dostępnych jest obecnie szereg zakładanych na nadgarstek urządzeń monitorujących czynność rytmu serca. W przedstawionym przypadku, nowoczesna technologia — AppleWatch®, wykryła epizod AVNRT. Przyczyniło się to do szybszej kwalifikacji pacjentki do badania elektrofizjologicznego i wcześniejszego wykonania skutecznej ablacji. Dzięki temu nie dopuszczono do dalszego pogarszania się jakości życia pacjentki oraz rozwoju potencjalnych poważnych powikłań, w tym kardiomioptaii tachyarytmicznej. W przedstawionym przypadku zilustrowano przydatność kliniczną aplikacji mobilnych wykonujących badanie EKG w monitorowaniu rytmu serca pacjentów w codziennej praktyce. Możliwość wykorzystania AppleWatcha® w innych typach zaburzeń rytmu serca wymaga dalszych badań. Poszerzenie obecnych wytycznych, dotyczących wykorzystania nowoczesnych technologii w zaburzeniach rytmu serca, pozostaje tematem dalszych dyskusji.Cardiac arrhythmias are a common cause of heart palpitations. As symptoms usually occur only temporarily, diagnosis is often challenging. The current market offers a variety of wearable heart rhythm monitors. In the presented case, a novel technology, the AppleWatch®, detected an episode of AVNRT. It contributed to faster qualification for electrophysiological study and subsequent successful ablation. As a result, a further decrease in patients’ quality of life was halted. The development of potentially severe complications, including tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy, was prevented. This case exemplifies the clinical utility of ECG-based mobile applications in monitoring patients’ heart rhythms in everyday clinical practice. The feasibility of AppleWatch® in other types of arrhythmias remains underinvestigated. Broadening current guidelines for the use of digital health solutions in cardiac rhythm abnormalities should be further discussed

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol for Pain Treatment—An Update on the Evidence

In light of the current International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) guidelines, the topic of cannabinoids in relation to pain remains controversial, with insufficient research presently available. Cannabinoids are an attractive pain management option due to their synergistic effects when administered with opioids, thereby also limiting the extent of respiratory depression. On their own, however, cannabinoids have been shown to have the potential to relieve specific subtypes of chronic pain in adults, although controversies remain. Among these subtypes are neuropathic, musculoskeletal, cancer, and geriatric pain. Another interesting feature is their effectiveness in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Analgesic benefits are hypothesized to extend to HIV-associated neuropathic pain, as well as to lower back pain in the elderly. The aim of this article is to provide an up-to-date review of the existing preclinical as well as clinical studies, along with relevant systematic reviews addressing the roles of various types of cannabinoids in neuropathic pain settings. The impact of cannabinoids in chronic cancer pain and in non-cancer conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and headaches, are all discussed, as well as novel techniques of administration and relevant mechanisms of action