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

Evaluation of sleeping energy expenditure using the SenseWear Armband in patients with overt and subclinical hypothyroidism

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the average sleeping energy expenditure (EE) levels using the SenseWear Armband (SWA) in patients with overt and subclinical hypothyroidism. Methods: Sixty patients with hypothyroidism and 30 healthy individuals were recruited for the study. Hypothyroid patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 30) consisted of patients with overt hypothyroidism and group 2 (n = 30) consisted of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Lastly, group 3 (n = 30) consisted of healthy subjects. The average EE and metabolic equivalent of task (MET) values during sleep of all the hypothyroid participants were analyzed at baseline and at the end of the study. Data were also obtained from the healthy subjects at baseline. Results: The average sleeping EE and METs values were not significantly different at baseline. Similarly, these values did not change significantly after achieving a euthyroid state via thyroid hormone replacement (both p > 0.05). Conclusions: Contrary to what has been previously reported , the average sleeping EE and METs values in all hypothyroid patients and healthy individuals were similar at baseline and did not change in the patients with overt and subclinical hypothyroidism after achievement of a euthyroid state

Rare cause of weight loss in a kidney transplant recipient: iron overload

WOS: 000327875200025PubMed ID: 24059653Various reasons such as malignancies and chronic infections may cause weight loss in kidney transplant patients. In this report, iron overload as a rare cause of weight loss in a kidney transplant patient is presented. Forty-seven-year-old male patient who transplanted from a deceased donor 5 years ago was hospitalized because of 20 kg of weight loss. In medical history, he had history of hemodialysis for 89 months and received 100-300 mg of intravenous iron therapy per week before transplantation and transfused eight units of blood. In physical examination, weight and height were 45 kg and 185 cm, respectively. Respiratory and cardiac auscultation was normal. Laboratory results revealed as follow: glucose 76 mg/dL, urea 60 mg/dL, creatinine 1.35 mg/dL, aspartate aminotransferase 74 U/L, alanine aminotransferase 77 U/L, C-reactive protein 2.59 mg/dL, albumin 3.3 g/dL, globulin 3.4 g/dL, white blood cells 3200/mm(3), hemoglobin 13.1 g/dL and platelets 190,000/mm(3). Chest and abdominal tomography didn't reveal any pathology. Portal Doppler ultrasound showed signs of early cirrhosis. Viral and autoimmune hepatitis markers were negative. Ferritin was 5300 ng/mL and transferrin saturation was 82%. In liver biopsy, hemosiderosis was diagnosed and heterozygous H63D gene mutation was detected. Totally, 19 units of phlebotomy were performed. Liver function tests and serum ferritin decreased gradually. At outpatient follow-up in 6 months, he returned to former weight. In conclusion, there can be several causes of weight loss in kidney transplant patients. Iron overload can come across as a rare cause of weight loss. In these patients, ferritin levels should be checked and diagnosis should be clarified by liver biopsy and gene mutation analysis

Coexistence of atrioventricular accessory pathways and drug-induced type 1 Brugada pattern

WOS: 000444469600005PubMed ID: 29953624BackgroundAtrial arrhythmias, particularly atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia, can coexist with drug-induced type 1 Brugada electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern (DI-Type1-BrP). The present study was designed to determine the prevalence of DI-Type1-BrP in patients with atrioventricular accessory pathways (AV-APs) and to investigate the clinical, electrocardiographic, electrophysiologic, and genetic characteristics of these patients. MethodsOne-hundred twenty-four consecutive cases of AV-APs and 84 controls underwent an ajmaline challenge test to unmask DI-Type1-BrP. Genetic screening and analysis was performed in 55 of the cases (19 with and 36 without DI-Type1-BrP). ResultsPatientswith AV-APs were significantly more likely than controls to have a Type1-BrP unmasked (16.1vs 4.8%, P=0.012). At baseline, patients with DI-Type1-BrP had higher prevalence of chest pain, QR/rSr' pattern in V-1 and QRS notching/slurring in V-2 and aVL during preexcitation, rSr' pattern in V-1-V-2, and QRS notching/slurring in aVL during orthodromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) compared to patients without DI-Type1-BrP. Abnormal QRS configuration (QRS notching/slurring and/or fragmentation) in V-2 during preexcitation was present in all patients with DI-Type1 BrP. The prevalence of spontaneous preexcited atrial fibrillation (AF) and history of AF were similar (15%vs 18.3%, P=0.726) in patients with and without DI-Type1-BrP, respectively. The prevalence of mutations in Brugada-susceptibility genes was higher (36.8%vs 8.3%, P=0.02) in patients with DI-Type1-BrP compared to patients without DI-Type1-BrP. ConclusionsDI-Type1-BrP is relatively common in patients with AV-APs. We identify 12-lead ECG characteristics during preexcitation and orthodromic AVRT that point to an underlying type1-BrP, portending an increased probability for development of malignant arrhythmias.NIHUnited States Department of Health & Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA [HL47678]; Wistar and Martha Morris fund; National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University [NTUH106-S3469, NTUH106-S3458, NTUH 105-012, NTUH 106-018, NTUH 105-S2995]; Ministry of Science and TechnologyMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT) [MOST 104 - 2314 - B - 002 - 193 - MY3, MOST 106-2314-B-002 -047 -MY3, MOST 106-2314-B-002 -134 -MY2, MOST 106-2314-B-002-206]; Taiwan Health FoundationWe acknowledge support from the NIH (Grant # HL47678) and from the Wistar and Martha Morris fund. Financial support for this research was also provided partially through grants NTUH106-S3469, NTUH106-S3458, NTUH 105-012, NTUH 106-018, and NTUH 105-S2995 from National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, and MOST 104 - 2314 - B - 002 - 193 - MY3, MOST 106-2314-B-002 -047 -MY3, MOST 106-2314-B-002 -134 -MY2 and MOST 106-2314-B-002-206 from the Ministry of Science and Technology and Taiwan Health Foundation