Deep neck infections mortal complications:Intrathoracic complications and necrotising fasciitis

BACKGROUND We planned this study considering that complications of deep neck infections can be seriously life threatening.AIM To raise awareness that introthoracic complications and necrotizing fasciitis are causes of serious mortality and morbidity.METHODS This study was carried out with the participation of 188 patients who were treated at Mersin University Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at January 1,2024.When the patient files were retrospectively examined,16 of 188 patients(8.5%)were included in the study because they were observed to have necrotizing fasciitis and/or intrathoracic complications.RESULTS There were a total of 16 patients in this study,9 males(56.25%)and 7 females(43.75%).All patients were adults(>18 years)and the mean age was 50.37 years±15.37 years.Female patients had a mean age of 40.42 years±13.38 years,whereas for male patients was 58.11 years±12.44 years.CONCLUSION Patients with necrotizing fasciitis and/or intrathoracic complications require more complicated and serious surgeries,intensive care unit monitoring,and mechanical ventilator support.Higher rates of morbidity and mortality should be expected in Bal KK et al.Deep neck infections mortal complications WJCC https://www.wjgnet.com 6384 October 26,2024 Volume 12 Issue 30 these patients who are hospitalized for longer periods of time.

Role of nutrition in diabetes mellitus and infections

In this editorial,we have commented on the article that has been published in the recent issue of World Journal of Clinical Cases.The authors have described a case of unilateral thyroid cyst and have opined that the acute onset of infection may be linked to diabetes mellitus(DM).We have focused on the role of nutrition in the association between DM and infection.Patients with DM are at a high risk of infection,which could also be attributed to nutrition-related factors.Nutritional interventions for patients with diabetes are mainly based on a low-calorie diet,which can be achieved by adhering to a low-carbohydrate diet.However,dietary fiber supplementation is recommended to maintain the diversity of the gut microbiota.Furthermore,high-quality protein can prevent the increased risk of infection due to malnutrition.Supplementation of vitamins C,vitamins A,vitamins D,and folic acid improves blood sugar control and facilitates immune regulation.Mineral deficiencies augment the risk of infection,but the relationship with diabetes is mostly U-shaped and a good intake should be maintained.

Fatal complications in a patient with severe multi-space infections in the oral and maxillofacial head and neck regions: A case report

BACKGROUND Odontogenic infection is one of the common infectious diseases in oral and maxillofacial head and neck regions.Clinically,if early odontogenic infections such as acute periapical periodontitis,alveolar abscess,and pericoronitis of wisdom teeth are not treated timely,effectively and correctly,the infected tissue may spread up to the skull and brain,down to the thoracic cavity,abdominal cavity and other areas through the natural potential fascial space in the oral and maxillofacial head and neck.Severe multi-space infections are formed and can eventually lead to life-threatening complications(LTCs),such as intracranial infection,pleural effusion,empyema,sepsis and even death.CASE SUMMARY We report a rare case of death in a 41-year-old man with severe odontogenic multi-space infections in the oral and maxillofacial head and neck regions.One week before admission,due to pain in the right lower posterior teeth,the patient placed a cigarette butt dipped in the pesticide"Miehailin"into the"dental cavity"to relieve the pain.Within a week,the infection gradually spread bilaterally to the floor of the mouth,submandibular space,neck,chest,waist,back,temporal and other areas.The patient had difficulty breathing,swallowing and eating,and was transferred to our hospital as an emergency admission.Following admission,oral and maxillofacial surgeons immediately organized consultations with doctors in otolaryngology,thoracic surgery,general surgery,hematology,anesthesia and the intensive care unit to assist with treatment.The patient was treated with the highest level of antibiotics(vancomycin)and extensive abscess incision and drainage in the oral,maxillofacial,head and neck,chest and back regions.Unfortunately,the patient died of septic shock and multiple organ failure on the third day after admission.CONCLUSION Odontogenic infection can cause serious multi-space infections in the oral and maxillofacial head and neck regions,which can result in multiple LTCs.The management and treatment of LTCs such as multi-space infections should be multidisciplinary led by oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

Influencing factors and preventive measures of infectious complications after intestinal resection for Crohn’s disease

The incidence of Crohn’s disease(CD)has increased in recent years,with most patients requiring intestinal resection.Complications after intestinal resection for CD can lead to poor prognosis and recurrence,among which infectious complic-ations are the most common.This study aimed to investigate the common risk factors,including medications,preoperative nutritional status,surgery-related factors,microorganisms,lesion location and type,and so forth,causing infectious complications after intestinal resection for CD,and to propose corresponding preventive measures.The findings provided guidance for identifying suscept-ibility factors and the early intervention and prevention of infectious complic-ations after intestinal resection for CD in clinical practice.

Repeated lumps and infections: A case report on breast augmentation complications

BACKGROUND Polyacrylamide hydrogel(PAAG)injections were once common in breast augmentation and have been prohibited for augmentation mammaplasty in China since a large number of patients who underwent breast augmentation with PAAG injections have continued to seek medical advice as a result of related complications.Among all these complications,distant migration is relatively rare.CASE SUMMARY A 49-year-old female presented at the hospital with a one-year history of a vulvar lump.The sonography of the lump showed several subcutaneous fluid-filled regions from the left vulva to the pubic symphysis,which suggested possible fat liquefaction.An enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)revealed a cystic area,which was considered a benign lesion.Intraoperative observations showed that the mass did not have an obvious capsule,the subcutaneous tissue presented as a cavity,and some yellow material came out of this cavity.A culture of the drainage did not show bacterial contamination.Histopathology revealed a foreign body granuloma.After resection and closed drainage,lumps were successively observed in the left lower abdomen and the bilateral hypochondriac region with infections.Sonography found that the hypoechoic areas in the bilateral hypochondriac region seemed continuous with deep in the breasts.The patient reported that she had undergone surgery with PAAG injections 20 years ago after she was repeatedly asked about her past history.Finally,a diagnosis of distant migration of PAAG was made.CONCLUSION PAAG gel can migrate after long periods of time.A diagnosis should not be limited to the area where the symptom develops.

Associations between SARS-CoV-2 infections and thrombotic complications necessitating surgical intervention:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Several unique clinical features of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),the cause of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)infection,have been identified and characterized.One such feature,mostly among patients with severe COVID-19 infection,has become known as COVID-19-induced coagulopathy.Surgical patients with a history of or active COVID-19 infection bear a significantly higher risk for postoperative thrombotic complications.These patients may require surgical intervention to treat severe thrombotic complications.Few studies have been carried out to better characterize this association.The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on COVID-19 infections that led to thrombotic complications necessitating surgical intervention.We hypothesized that patients with recent or active COVID-19 infection would have high rates of thromboembolic complications both arterial and venous in origin.AIM To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on COVID-19 infections that led to thrombotic complications necessitating surgical intervention.METHODS The current systematic review implemented an algorithmic approach to review all the currently available English medical literature on surgical interventions necessitated by COVID-19 thrombotic complications using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and metaanalysis principles.A comprehensive search of the medical literature in the“PubMed”,“Scopus”,“Google Scholar”top 100 results,and archives of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was performed using the key words“COVID-19”AND“surgery”AND“thromboembolism”AND“complication”.The search string was generated and the records which were not specific about surgical interventions or thrombotic complications due to COVID-19 infection were excluded.Titles and abstracts were screened by two authors and full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and inclusion.Finally,results were further refined to focus on articles that focused on surgical interventions that were necessitated by COVID-19 thrombotic complications.RESULTS The database search resulted in the final inclusion of 22 retrospective studies,after application of the inclusion/exclusion criteria.Of the included studies,17 were single case reports,3 were case series and 2 were cross sectional cohort studies.All studies were retrospective in nature.Twelve of the reported studies were conducted in the United States of America,with the remaining studies originating from Italy,Turkey,Pakistan,France,Serbia,and Germany.All cases reported in our study were laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positive.A total of 70 cases involving surgical intervention were isolated from the 22 studies included in this review.CONCLUSION There is paucity of data describing the relationship between COVID-19 infection and thrombotic complications necessitating the need for surgical intervention.Intestinal ischemia and acute limb ischemia are amongst the most common thrombotic events due to COVID-19 that required operative management.An overall postoperative mortality of 30%was found in those who underwent operative procedures for thrombotic complications,with most deaths occurring in those with bowel ischemia.Physicians should be aware that despite thromboprophylaxis,severe thrombotic complications can still occur in this patient population,however,surgical intervention results in relatively low mortality apart from cases of ischemic bowel resection.

Urgent call for attention to diabetes-associated hospital infections

In this editorial,we discuss the recent article by Zhao et al published in the World Journal of Diabetes,which highlights the importance of recognizing the risk indicators associated with diabetes mellitus(DM).Given the severe implications of healthcare-associated infections(HAIs)in hospitalized individuals-such as heightened mortality rates,prolonged hospitalizations,and increased costs-we focus on elucidating the connection between DM and nosocomial infections.Diabetic patients are susceptible to pathogenic bacterial invasion and subsequent infection,with some already harboring co-infections upon admission.Notably,DM is an important risk factor for nosocomial urinary tract infections and surgical site infections,which may indirectly affect the occurrence of nosocomial bloodstream infections,especially in patients with DM with poor glycemic control.Although evidence regarding the impact of DM on healthcare-associated pneumonias remains inconclusive,attention to this potential association is warranted.Hospitalized patients with DM should prioritize meticulous blood glucose management,adherence to standard operating procedures,hand hygiene practices,environmental disinfection,and rational use of drugs during hospitalization.Further studies are imperative to explore the main risk factors of HAIs in patients with DM,enabling the development of preventative measures and mitigating the occurrence of HAIs in these patients.

Predicting short-term major postoperative complications in intestinal resection for Crohn’s disease:A machine learning-based study

BACKGROUND Due to the complexity and numerous comorbidities associated with Crohn’s disease(CD),the incidence of postoperative complications is high,significantly impacting the recovery and prognosis of patients.Consequently,additional stu-dies are required to precisely predict short-term major complications following intestinal resection(IR),aiding surgical decision-making and optimizing patient care.AIM To construct novel models based on machine learning(ML)to predict short-term major postoperative complications in patients with CD following IR.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data derived from a patient cohort that underwent IR for CD from January 2017 to December 2022.The study participants were randomly allocated to either a training cohort or a validation cohort.The logistic regression and random forest(RF)were applied to construct models in the training cohort,with model discrimination evaluated using the area under the curves(AUC).The validation cohort assessed the performance of the constructed models.RESULTS Out of the 259 patients encompassed in the study,5.0%encountered major postoperative complications(Clavien-Dindo≥III)within 30 d following IR for CD.The AUC for the logistic model was 0.916,significantly lower than the AUC of 0.965 for the RF model.The logistic model incorporated a preoperative CD activity index(CDAI)of≥220,a diminished preoperative serum albumin level,conversion to laparotomy surgery,and an extended operation time.A nomogram for the logistic model was plotted.Except for the surgical approach,the other three variables ranked among the top four important variables in the novel ML model.CONCLUSION Both the nomogram and RF exhibited good performance in predicting short-term major postoperative complic-ations in patients with CD,with the RF model showing more superiority.A preoperative CDAI of≥220,a di-minished preoperative serum albumin level,and an extended operation time might be the most crucial variables.The findings of this study can assist clinicians in identifying patients at a higher risk for complications and offering personalized perioperative management to enhance patient outcomes.

Prospects and challenges for the application of tissue engineering technologies in the treatment of bone infections

Osteomyelitis is a devastating disease caused by microbial infection in deep bone tissue.Its high recurrence rate and impaired restoration of bone deficiencies are major challenges in treatment.Microbes have evolved numerous mechanisms to effectively evade host intrinsic and adaptive immune attacks to persistently localize in the host,such as drug-resistant bacteria,biofilms,persister cells,intracellular bacteria,and small colony variants(SCVs).Moreover,microbial-mediated dysregulation of the bone immune microenvironment impedes the bone regeneration process,leading to impaired bone defect repair.Despite advances in surgical strategies and drug applications for the treatment of bone infections within the last decade,challenges remain in clinical management.The development and application of tissue engineering materials have provided new strategies for the treatment of bone infections,but a comprehensive review of their research progress is lacking.This review discusses the critical pathogenic mechanisms of microbes in the skeletal system and their immunomodulatory effects on bone regeneration,and highlights the prospects and challenges for the application of tissue engineering technologies in the treatment of bone infections.It will inform the development and translation of antimicrobial and bone repair tissue engineering materials for the management of bone infections.

Prognostic value of ultrasound in early arterial complications post liver transplant

Liver transplantation is the primary therapeutic intervention for end-stage liver disease.However,vascular complications,particularly those involving the hepatic artery,pose significant risks to patients.The clinical manifestations associated with early arterial complications following liver transplantation are often non-specific.Without timely intervention,these complications can result in graft fai-lure or patient mortality.Therefore,early diagnosis and the formulation of an op-timal treatment plan are imperative.Ultrasound examination remains the pre-dominant imaging modality for detecting complications post liver transplan-tation.This article comprehensively reviews common causes and clinical present-ations of early hepatic artery complications in the post-transplantation period and delineates abnormal sonographic findings for accurate diagnosis of these con-ditions.Overall,ultrasound offers the advantages of convenience,safety,effect-iveness,and non-invasiveness.It enables real-time,dynamic,and precise evalua-tion,making it the preferred diagnostic method for post-liver transplantation assessments.INTRODUCTION Liver transplantation stands as the primary therapeutic approach for end-stage liver disease.Continuous advancements in surgical techniques and the application of novel immunosuppressive agents contribute to ongoing improvements in the success rate and overall survival in patients undergoing liver transplantation procedures.Despite these advan-cements,vascular complications,particularly those involving the hepatic artery,pose significant risks to patients.During the early stages following liver transplantation(within the first 30 d),proper hepatic artery function is crucial for hepatic arterial blood flow.During later stages,collateral circulation,including arteries such as the phrenic artery,right gastric artery,and gastroduodenal artery,becomes important for maintaining hepatic blood supply.It is now understood that the establishment of effective collateral circulation is pivotal for determining the prognosis of hepatic artery complic-ations.The clinical manifestations of these complications are closely linked to factors such as timing,severity,and the specific type of onset.Insufficient hepatic arterial blood flow can lead to abnormal liver function,hepatic infarction,and the formation of hepatic abscesses.Additionally,since the hepatic artery is the sole blood supply to the biliary tract,hepatic artery-related ischemia may result in biliary stricture,obstruction,and the formation of bile ducts.Ultrasound examination remains the primary imaging modality for diagnosing complications post liver transplantation.This article comprehensively reviews common causes and clinical presentations of early hepatic artery complications in the post-transplantation period and outlines abnormal sonographic findings for accurately diagnosing these conditions.NORMAL HEPATIC ARTERY During the intraoperative phase,an ultrasound examination is typically conducted to evaluate the hepatic artery anas-tomosis.The normal internal diameter of the hepatic artery typically ranges from 2 to 5 mm.Two strong echo points are typically identified near the anastomosis.To assess blood flow dynamics,peak systolic velocity,end-diastolic velocity,and resistance index are measured at the donor and recipient sides of the anastomosis following angle correction.Anastomotic stenosis presence and severity can be evaluated by comparing the velocity at the anastomotic site with that at the recipient side.Postoperatively,direct visualization of the anastomosis site through gray ultrasound scans is often challenging.The surgical approach has a significant impact on the proper hepatic artery’s position,resulting in a lower overall success rate of continuous visualization.Color Doppler ultrasound is primarily employed to trace the artery’s path,and spectral measurements are taken at the brightest position of the Color Doppler blood flow signal,primarily used to identify the presence of high-speed turbulence.Hepatic artery spectrum examination plays a crucial role,as a favorable arterial spectral waveform and appropriate hepatic artery flow velocity typically indicate a successful anastomosis,even in cases where the hepatic artery anastomosis cannot be directly visualized by ultrasound.The hepatic artery runs alongside the portal vein,often selected as a reference due to its larger inner diameter.A normal hepatic artery spectrum displays a regular pulsation pattern with a rapid rise in systole and a slow decline in diastole.Parameters for assessing hepatic artery resistance include a resistance index between 0.5 to 0.8 and an artery systolic acceleration of less than 80 ms.Instantaneous increases in the resistance index(RI>0.8)often occur within 2 d after surgery,followed by a subsequent return to normal hepatic arterial parameters.It has been established that the maximum blood flow velocity during systole in the hepatic artery should not exceed 200 cm/s[1].

Incidence of infectious complications is associated with a high mortality in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure

BACKGROUND In China,hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is the most common liver failure characterized by serious clinical syndromes of liver decompensation with a very high mortality.Bacterial and/or fungal infections are the most common complications that are associated with high short-term mortality.Bacterial translocation from the intestine,impaired hepatic clearance,and immune paralysis of circulating immune cells are thought to contribute to infectious complications in liver failure.The control of bacterial and fungal infections is the key to improving HBV-ACLF outcomes.Active prevention,early diagnosis,and timely treatment of bacterial and fungal infections are essential for treating HBV-ACLF.AIM To investigate the frequency and role of bacterial and fungal infections in patients with HBV-ACLF.METHODS Patients with HBV-ACLF hospitalized at Taihe Hospital,Hubei University of Medicine from January 2014 to December 2017 were retrospectively enrolled.Patient-related information was retrieved from the hospital case database,including general information,blood biochemistry,complications,etc.According to the occurrence of secondary infection or not,the patients were divided into an infection group and a non-infection group.The sites,types,and incidences of bacterial and fungal infections and the influence of infections on the prognosis of HBV-ACLF were statistically analyzed.The risk factors for infections were assessed by unconditional logistic regression.RESULTS There were 174 cases of HBV-ACLF that met the enrollment criteria,of which 114 (65.52%) were diagnosed with infectious complications.Infections occurred in the abdominal cavity (87 cases),respiratory tract (51 cases),urinary tract (18 cases),and biliary tract (10 cases).Patients with infectious complications had a significantly higher 28-d mortality (70.18%,80/114) than those without (40.00%,24/60)(70.18% vs 40.00%,P < 0.05).And patients with infectious complications had a much higher incidence of non-infectious complications (54.39%,62/114)(54.39% vs 15.00%,P < 0.05),leading to an extremely high 28-d mortality of 88.71%(55/62)(P < 0.05).The grade of liver failure,period of hospital stay ≥ 30 d,age ≥ 45 years,and percentage of neutrophils > 70% were identified as risk factors for infectious complications.CONCLUSION The high incidence of infectious complications in patients with HBV-ACLF is associated with severity and deterioration of the disease and may contribute to the extremely high mortality of these patients.

Preventing infective complications in inflammatory bowel disease

Over the past decade there has been a dramatic change in the treatment of patients with Crohn&#x02019;s disease and ulcerative colitis, which comprise the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). This is due to the increasing use of immunosuppressives and in particular the biological agents, which are being used earlier in the course of disease, and for longer durations, as these therapies result in better clinical outcomes for patients. This, however, has the potential to increase the risk of opportunistic and serious infections in these patients, most of which are preventable. Much like the risk for potential malignancy resulting from the use of these therapies long-term, a balance needs to be struck between medication use to control the disease with minimization of the risk of an opportunistic infection. This outcome is achieved by the physician&#x02019;s tailored use of justified therapies, and the patients&#x02019; education and actions to minimize infection risk. The purpose of this review is to explore the evidence and guidelines available to all physicians managing patients with IBD using immunomodulating agents and to aid in the prevention of opportunistic infections.

Machine learning identifies the risk of complications after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic radical gastrectomy is widely used,and perioperative complications have become a highly concerned issue.AIM To develop a predictive model for complications in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer to better predict the likelihood of complications in gastric cancer patients within 30 days after surgery,guide perioperative treatment strategies for gastric cancer patients,and prevent serious complications.METHODS In total,998 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer at 16 Chinese medical centers were included in the training group for the complication model,and 398 patients were included in the validation group.The clinicopathological data and 30-d postoperative complications of gastric cancer patients were collected.Three machine learning methods,lasso regression,random forest,and artificial neural networks,were used to construct postoperative complication prediction models for laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and laparoscopic total gastrectomy,and their prediction efficacy and accuracy were evaluated.RESULTS The constructed complication model,particularly the random forest model,could better predict serious complications in gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.It exhibited stable performance in external validation and is worthy of further promotion in more centers.CONCLUSION Using the risk factors identified in multicenter datasets,highly sensitive risk prediction models for complications following laparoscopic radical gastrectomy were established.We hope to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of preoperative and postoperative decision-making by using these models.

Impact of comorbid subthreshold depressive symptoms on cancerrelated fatigue and complications in adults with leukemia

BACKGROUND Patients not only experience symptoms caused by cancer but also suffer from the accompanying psychological pain.Therefore,these patients do not have high quality of life.According to the World Health Organization,the incidence of leukemia in China in 2020 was 5.1/100000,the mortality rate was 3.3/100000,and the prevalence rate was 16.7/100000.Therefore,it is important to examine the influence of comorbid subthreshold depressive symptoms on leukemia patients.AIM To determine the impact of comorbid subthreshold depressive symptoms on cancer-related fatigue and complications in leukemia patients,thereby providing a basis for early diagnosis and treatment in clinical practice.METHODS A questionnaire survey was conducted among leukemia patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Xi'an,Shaanxi Province,China,from August 2022 to December 2023.Patients with a score>16 on the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders(CCMD-3)and a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score of 8-17 were classified as the subthreshold depressive group(n=95),while 100 leukemia patients admitted during the same period were classified as the control group.Data were collected using Epidata 3.1 software,and comparisons were made between the two groups regarding general clinical data,the Piper Fatigue Scale(PFS),the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI),the Numeric Rating Scale for pain assessment,laboratory indicators,and the occurrence of complications.RESULTS In this survey,120 leukemia patients with depression were preliminarily screened,95 patients with subthreshold depression were ultimately selected as the subthreshold depression group,and 100 leukemia patients admitted during the same period were enrolled as the normal group.Comparison of basic clinical data between the two groups revealed no significant differences in age,sex,body mass index,cognitive function,or comorbidity with other chronic diseases.However,there were statistically significant differences in the use of radiotherapy and regular exercise between the two groups(P<0.05).Comparisons of scales and laboratory indicators revealed no significant differences in albumin or PSQI scores between the two groups,but there were statistically significant differences in pain scores,PSQI scores,PFS scores,hemoglobin levels,and C-reactive protein levels(P<0.05).Spearman’s correlation analysis indicated that cancer-related fatigue was correlated with age,hemoglobin levels,C-reactive protein levels,pain,and regular exercise among leukemia patients with subthreshold depression.Multivariate regression analysis revealed that advanced age,combined radiotherapy,pain,and low hemoglobin levels were risk factors for cancer-related fatigue in leukemia patients with comorbid subthreshold depression,while regular exercise was a protective factor against cancer-related fatigue.Follow-up comparisons revealed a significantly lower overall incidence of complications in the control group(4%)than in the depressive group(24.21%;P<0.001).CONCLUSION Leukemia patients with comorbid subthreshold depressive symptoms experience more severe cancer-related fatigue and a higher incidence of complications.These findings may be related to advanced age,combined radiotherapy,pain,and low hemoglobin levels,while regular exercise may effectively alleviate symptoms.

Comparison of different preoperative objective nutritional indices for evaluating 30-d mortality and complications after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND The nutritional status is closely related to the prognosis of liver transplant re-cipients,but few studies have reported the role of preoperative objective nutri-tional indices in predicting liver transplant outcomes.AIM To compare the predictive value of various preoperative objective nutritional indicators for determining 30-d mortality and complications following liver transplantation(LT).METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 162 recipients who underwent LT at our institution from December 2019 to June 2022.RESULTS This study identified several independent risk factors associated with 30-d mor-tality,including blood loss,the prognostic nutritional index(PNI),the nutritional risk index(NRI),and the control nutritional status.The 30-d mortality rate was 8.6%.Blood loss,the NRI,and the PNI were found to be independent risk factors for the occurrence of severe postoperative complications.The NRI achieved the highest prediction values for 30-d mortality[area under the curve(AUC)=0.861,P<0.001]and severe complications(AUC=0.643,P=0.011).Compared to those in the high NRI group,the low patients in the NRI group had lower preoperative body mass index and prealbumin and albumin levels,as well as higher alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels,Model for End-stage Liver Disease scores and prothrombin time(P<0.05).Furthermore,the group with a low NRI exhibited significantly greater incidences of intraabdominal bleeding,primary graft nonfunction,and mortality.CONCLUSION The NRI has good predictive value for 30-d mortality and severe complications following LT.The NRI could be an effective tool for transplant surgeons to evaluate perioperative nutritional risk and develop relevant nutritional therapy.

Clinical nursing value of predictive nursing in reducing complications of pregnant women undergoing short-term massive blood transfusion during cesarean section

BACKGROUND Cesarean hemorrhage is one of the serious complications,and short-term massive blood transfusion can easily cause postoperative infection and physical stress response.However,predictive nursing intervention has important clinical significance for it.AIM To explore the effect of predictive nursing intervention on the stress response and complications of women undergoing short-term mass blood transfusion during cesarean section(CS).METHODS A clinical medical record of 100 pregnant women undergoing rapid mass blood transfusion during sections from June 2019 to June 2021.According to the different nursing methods,patients divided into control group(n=50)and observation group(n=50).Among them,the control group implemented routine nursing,and the observation group implemented predictive nursing intervention based on the control group.Moreover,compared the differences in stress res-ponse,complications,and pain scores before and after the nursing of pregnant women undergoing rapid mass blood transfusion during CS.RESULTS The anxiety and depression scores of pregnant women in the two groups were significantly improved after nursing,and the psychological stress response of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).The heart rate and mean arterial pressure(MAP)of the observation group during delivery were lower than those of the control group,and the MAP at the end of delivery was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).Moreover,different pain scores improved significantly in both groups,with the observation group considerably less than the control group(P<0.05).After nursing,complications such as skin rash,urinary retention,chills,diarrhea,and anaphylactic shock in the observation group were 18%,which significantly higher than in the control group(4%)(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Predictive nursing intervention can effectively relieve the pain,reduce the incidence of complications,improve mood and stress response,and serve as a reference value for the nursing of women undergoing rapid mass transfusion during CS.

Timing, distribution, and microbiology of infectious complications after necrotizing pancreatitis

BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis(AP)is a common acute abdominal disease worldwide,and its incidence rate has increased annually.Approximately 20%of AP patients develop into necrotizing pancreatitis(NP),and 40%to 70%of NP patients have infectious complications,which usually indicate a worse prognosis.Infection is an important sign of complications in NP patients.AIM To investigate the difference in infection time,infection site,and infectious strain in NP patients with infectious complications.METHODS The clinical data of AP patients visiting the Department of General Surgery of Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University from January 1,2014 to December 31,2018 were collected retrospectively.Enhanced computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with NP were included in the study.Statistical analysis of infectious bacteria,infection site,and infection time in NP patients with infectious complications was performed,because knowledge about pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns is essential for selecting an appropriate antibiotic.In addition,the factors that might influence the prognosis of patients were analyzed.RESULTS In this study,539 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 162 patients with NP infection,including 212 strains from pancreatic infections and 327 strains from extrapancreatic infections.Gram-negative bacteria were the main infectious species,the most common of which were Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.The extrapancreatic infection time(9.1±8.8 d)was earlier than the pancreatic infection time(13.9±12.3 d).Among NP patients with early extrapancreatic infection(<14 d),bacteremia(25.12%)and respiratory tract infection(21.26%)were predominant.Among NP patients with late extrapancreatic infection(>14 d),bacteremia(15.94%),respiratory tract infection(7.74%),and urinary tract infection(7.71%)were predominant.Drug sensitivity analysis showed that P.aeruginosa was sensitive to enzymatic penicillins,thirdand fourth-generation cephalosporins,and carbapenems.Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae were sensitive only to tigecycline;Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecium were highly sensitive to linezolid,tigecycline,and vancomycin.CONCLUSION In this study,we identified the timing,the common species,and site of infection in patients with NP.

The impacts of infectious complications on outcomes in acute pancreatitis: a retrospective study

Background: The occurrence of infectious complications characterizes the more severe forms of acute pancreatitis(AP) and is associated with high mortality. We investigated the effects of infection at different sites in patients with AP, including those with necrotizing pancreatitis(NP).Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 285 patients who met the inclusion criteria for AP and were admitted to Tianjin Nankai Hospital between January 2016 and September 2019. According to the source of the culture positivity during hospitalization, patients were divided into four groups: sterile group(n=148), pancreatic infection group(n=65), extrapancreatic infection group(n=22) and combined infection group(n=50). The source of infection, microbiology, biochemical parameters and prognostic indicators were analyzed.Results: In terms of baseline characteristics, the four groups were similar in age, sex, aetiology, previous pancreatitis and diabetes. Compared with the severity of the disease in the other groups, the APACHE II scores(9.91±4.65, 9.46±5.05, respectively) and organ failure rate(40.9% and 50%, respectively)were higher in the extrapancreatic infection group and the combined infection group(P<0.05). The frequency of surgical intervention and hospitalization time in patients with NP complicated with extrapancreatic infection was greatly increased(P<0.05). Regarding the primary outcome, patients in the combined infection group had longer hospital stays(68.28±51.80 vs. 55.58±36.24, P<0.05) and higher mortality(24.0% vs. 9.2%, P<0.05) than patients in the pancreatic infection group. In addition, patients in the extrapancreatic infection group also showed high intensive care utilization(59.1%) and mortality rates(18.2%). Among the 137 AP patients with infection complications, 89 patients exhibited multidrug-resistant(MDR) microorganisms, and the mortality rate of patients with MDR bacterial infection was higher than that of patients with non-MDR bacterial infection(24.7% vs. 3.6%, P=0.001).Conclusions: Clinicians should be aware that extrapancreatic infection(EPI) significantly aggravates the main outcome in pancreatic infection patients. Infection with MDR bacteria is also associated with AP mortality.

Klebsiella pneumoniae infections after liver transplantation:Drug resistance and distribution of pathogens,risk factors,and influence on outcomes

BACKGROUND Liver transplantation(LT)is the only curative treatment for end-stage liver disease.However,LT recipients are susceptible to infection,which is the leading cause of early mortality after LT.Klebsiella pneumoniae infections(KPIs)in the bloodstream are common in LT recipients.We hypothesized that KPIs and carbapenemresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)infections may affect the outcomes of LT recipients.AIM To assess KPI incidence,timing,distribution,drug resistance,and risk factors following LT and its association with outcomes.METHODS This retrospective study included 406 patients undergoing LT at The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University,a tertiary hospital,from January 2015 to January 2023.We investigated the risk factors for KPIs and assessed the impact of KPIs and CRKP infections on the prognosis of LT recipients using logistic regression analysis.RESULTS KPI incidence was 7.9%(n=32),with lung/thoracic cavity the most frequent site of infection;the median time from LT to KPI onset was 7.5 d.Of 44 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates,43(97.7%)and 34(77.3%)were susceptible to polymyxin B or ceftazidime/avibactam and tigecycline,respectively;>70%were resistant to piperacillin/tazobactam,ceftazidime,cefepime,aztreonam,meropenem,and levofloxacin.Female sex[odds ratio(OR)=2.827,95%confidence interval(CI):1.256-6.364;P=0.012],pre-LT diabetes(OR=2.794,95%CI:1.070-7.294;P=0.036),day 1 post-LT alanine aminotransferase(ALT)levels≥1500 U/L(OR=3.645,95%CI:1.671-7.950;P=0.001),and post-LT urethral catheter duration over 4 d(OR=2.266,95%CI:1.016-5.054;P=0.046)were risk factors for KPI.CRKP infections,but not KPIs,were risk factors for 6-month all-cause mortality post-LT.CONCLUSION KPIs occur frequently and rapidly after LT.Risk factors include female sex,pre-LT diabetes,increased post-LT ALT levels,and urethral catheter duration.CRKP infections,and not KPIs,affect mortality.

Tenosynovitis of hand: Causes and complications

Tenosynovitis represents a common clinical condition characterized by inflam-mation of the synovium that encases the tendon sheath.Although tenosynovities may be noted in any tendon in the body,extremities such as hand,and foot remain the sites of high predilection to acquire this condition.The predominant cause of this predilection rests in the intricate tendon arrangements in these extremities that permit fine motor actions.This editorial explores the common causes and the complications associated with this condition to improve the understanding of the readers of this common condition encountered in our everyday clinical practice.