Olanzapine as an add-on, pre-operative anti-emetic drug for postoperative nausea or vomiting:a randomised controlled trial

Postoperative nausea or vomiting occurs in up to 40% in patients with multiple risk factors, despite prophylaxis. Olanzapine is an antipsychotic drug that is used to prevent nausea and vomiting in palliative care and to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. This study aimed to examine whether pre-operative olanzapine, as a prophylactic anti-emetic added to intra-operative dexamethasone, ondansetron and total intravenous anaesthesia, reduced the incidence of postoperative nausea or vomiting. We performed a multiply-blinded randomised controlled trial in patients aged 18-60 years with cancer at high risk of postoperative nausea or vomiting (three or four risk factors according to the Apfel criteria) plus a previous history of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Patients were allocated at random to receive 10 mg olanzapine or placebo orally 1 h before surgery in addition to a two-drug regimen (dexamethasone and ondansetron) and propofol anaesthesia to prevent postoperative nausea or vomiting. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative nausea or vomiting in the first 24 h after surgery. In total, 100 patients were enrolled; 47 in the olanzapine group and 49 in the control group completed the study. The baseline characteristics of the groups were similar. The incidence of postoperative nausea or vomiting in the first 24 h after surgery was lower in the olanzapine group (12/47, 26%) than in the control group (31/49, 63%) (p = 0.008, RR 0.40 (95%CI 0.21-0.79)). Adding pre-operative oral olanzapine to intra-operative dexamethasone and ondansetron was highly effective in reducing the risk of postoperative nausea or vomiting in the first 24 hours after surgery in patients with a previous history of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and at least three Apfel risk factors for postoperative nausea or vomiting.</p

Olanzapine as an add-on, pre-operative anti-emetic drug for postoperative nausea or vomiting:a randomised controlled trial

Postoperative nausea or vomiting occurs in up to 40% in patients with multiple risk factors, despite prophylaxis. Olanzapine is an antipsychotic drug that is used to prevent nausea and vomiting in palliative care and to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. This study aimed to examine whether pre-operative olanzapine, as a prophylactic anti-emetic added to intra-operative dexamethasone, ondansetron and total intravenous anaesthesia, reduced the incidence of postoperative nausea or vomiting. We performed a multiply-blinded randomised controlled trial in patients aged 18-60 years with cancer at high risk of postoperative nausea or vomiting (three or four risk factors according to the Apfel criteria) plus a previous history of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Patients were allocated at random to receive 10 mg olanzapine or placebo orally 1 h before surgery in addition to a two-drug regimen (dexamethasone and ondansetron) and propofol anaesthesia to prevent postoperative nausea or vomiting. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative nausea or vomiting in the first 24 h after surgery. In total, 100 patients were enrolled; 47 in the olanzapine group and 49 in the control group completed the study. The baseline characteristics of the groups were similar. The incidence of postoperative nausea or vomiting in the first 24 h after surgery was lower in the olanzapine group (12/47, 26%) than in the control group (31/49, 63%) (p = 0.008, RR 0.40 (95%CI 0.21-0.79)). Adding pre-operative oral olanzapine to intra-operative dexamethasone and ondansetron was highly effective in reducing the risk of postoperative nausea or vomiting in the first 24 hours after surgery in patients with a previous history of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and at least three Apfel risk factors for postoperative nausea or vomiting.</p

Are there any risk factors for developing complications with the use of retrievable vena cava filters in orthopaedic surgery?

Background: In high-risk patients, common prophylaxis may be insufficient to prevent thromboembolic events after orthopaedic procedures. In this scenario, a retrievable vena cava filter (VCF) could be considered as an alternative, although it's use remains controversial. Therefore, we asked: (1) what is the overall mechanical complication rate associated with the use of retrievable VCFs in orthopaedic surgery?, (2) what is the association with thromboembolic disease (TED) recurrence, post-thrombotic syndrome and/or major bleeding according to different surgical characteristics?, (3) What is the overall mortality rate attributed to VCF use?Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 68 patients who underwent orthopaedic surgery with a previous diagnosis of TED, in whom a retrievable VCF was placed. Permanent filters were excluded. We studied the filter’s mechanical complications and considered as possible outcomes death and 3 hematologic complications: TED recurrence, post-thrombotic syndrome and major bleeding. To estimate association with risk factors, we subclassified surgeries into 5 groups: 1, arthroplasty/non-arthroplasty; 2, primary/revision; 3, elective/urgent; 4, oncologic/non-oncologic; 5, preoperative/postoperative filter.Results: Mechanical complications were 16% and required a filter revision. Sixty-four percent of the revised VCFs developed a mechanical failure and could not be retrieved. Overall prevalence of TED recurrence, post-thrombotic syndrome and hemorrhage was 33%, 15% and 4.5%, respectively. Spinal surgeries were a risk factor for developing TED recurrences.  Only 4% of patients died of a TED recurrence.Conclusions: Orthopaedic procedures had a high risk of mechanical and hematologic complications after using a retrievable VCF. However, mortality was low due to these complications.</p

Prediction of 3-dimensional coverage surface area of the femoral head in hip dysplasia through conventional computed tomography

BACKGROUND: Assessment of 3-dimensional (3D) femoral head coverage is critical in evaluating, preoperative planning, and treating hip dysplasia. PURPOSE: To (1) propose a mathematical model to establish 3D femoral head coverage using conventional computed tomography (CT), (2) determine the correlation of 2D parameters with 3D coverage, and (3) characterize the patterns of dysplasia based on 3D morphology. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: We identified 30 patients (n = hips) with symptomatic dysplasia and 30 patients (n = hips) without dysplasia. Patients with dysplastic hips were matched with regard to sex, age, and body mass index to those with nondysplastic hips. Preoperative CTs were analyzed using 3D software, and 3D femoral head surface area coverage (FHSAC; in %) was assessed in 4 quadrant zones: anteromedial, anterolateral, posteromedial, and posterolateral. To assess lateral coverage of the femoral head, we introduced the anterolateral femoral head coverage angle (ALFC) and the posterolateral femoral head coverage angle (PLFC). RESULTS: Reduced femoral head coverage was more pronounced in dysplastic versus nondysplastic hips in the anterolateral quadrant (18% vs 40.7%, respectively) and posterolateral quadrant (35.8% vs 56.9%, respectively) ( CONCLUSION: The ALFC and The PLFC were strongly correlated with 3D lateral FHSAC and were able to predict 3D coverage accurately

Vástagos femorales cortos para el reemplazo total de cadera primario en pacientes jóvenes. Resultados clínicos y biomecánicos*

La artroplastia total de cadera es una cirugía eficaz para tratar la artrosis. Con el aumento de la necesidad de una mejor calidad de vida, este procedimiento se está realizando en pacientes más jóvenes. Pero, con la mayor expectativa de vida, también crece la demanda de múltiples cirugías de revisión para el mismo paciente. Esto plantea desafíos técnicos debido a la pérdida de hueso. Existe una necesidad creciente de identificar implantes duraderos y altamente funcionales que sean adecuados para la revisión futura. Aunque los vástagos femorales cementados eran la opción principal en el pasado, los vástagos femorales no cementados han logrado una fijación a largo plazo y excelentes resultados. Sin embargo, aún se pueden mejorar algunos problemas relacionados con la fijación. Los vástagos femorales cortos han sido desarrollados para abordar algunos de estos desafíos, mientras se mantienen los buenos resultados obtenidos con los vástagos convencionales. En este artículo, se analiza la experiencia tras 10 años de uso de vástagos femorales cortos en cirugías de cadera en pacientes jóvenes. Se comparan los resultados biomecánicos y la preservación ósea femoral, se reportan los resultados posoperatorios en relación con el regreso al deporte, y se evalúan las complicaciones relacionadas con su uso. El empleo de vástagos cortos en cirugía primaria de cadera brinda múltiples ventajas. La indicación de este tipo de implante está justificada en pacientes jóvenes y activos, con el objetivo de reproducir los resultados de los implantes convencionales con un menor consumo de hueso y la posibilidad de una revisión futura

Latin American anaphylaxis registry

Background: Recent data about clinical features, triggers and management of anaphylaxis in Latin America is lacking. Objective: To provide updated and extended data on anaphylaxis in this region. Method: An online questionnaire was used, with 67 allergy units involved from 12 Latin-American countries and Spain. Among data recorded, demographic information, clinical features, severity, triggering agents, and treatment were received. Results: Eight hundred and seventeen anaphylactic reactions were recorded. No difference in severity, regardless of pre-existing allergy or asthma history was found. Drug induced anaphylaxis (DIA) was most frequent (40.6%), followed by food induced anaphylaxis (FIA) (32.9%) and venom induced anaphylaxis (VIA) (12%). FIA and VIA were more common in children-adolescents. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and beta-lactam antibiotics (BLA) were the most frequent drugs involved. Milk (61.1% of FIA) and egg (15.4% of FIA) in children, and shellfish (25.5% of FIA), fresh fruits (14.2% of FIA), and fish (11.3% of FIA) in adults were the most common FIA triggers. Fire ants were the most frequent insect triggers, and they induced more severe reactions than triggers of FIA and DIA (p < 0.0001). Epinephrine was used in 43.8% of anaphylaxis episodes. After Emergency Department treatment, epinephrine was prescribed to 13% of patients. Conclusions: Drugs (NSAIDs and BLA), foods (milk and egg in children and shellfish, fruits and fish in adults) and fire ants were the most common inducers of anaphylaxis. Epinephrine was used in less than half of the episodes emphasizing the urgent need to improve dissemination and implementation of anaphylaxis guidelines.Revisión por pare