scholarly journals O1 Admission avoidance in tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess: a prospective national audit during the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic

BJS Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
John Rocke

Abstract Introduction During the COVID-19 outbreak, the collaborative network for ENT trainees in the UK (INTEGRATE), conducted a multi-centre prospective audit on the management of Tonsillitis and Quinsy. This was in response to the implementation of new COVID-19 specific guidelines released by ENT UK and to explore factors relating to unscheduled re-presentations discharges direct from the Emergency Department (ED). Methods Consecutive patients with suspected tonsillitis or quinsy, aged 18 or over, and referred to ENT in secondary care were eligible for inclusion. Data was collected, using a standardised electronic case report form, relating to patient demographics, COVID-19 status, clinicians’ grade, assessment and interventions. Each case was followed-up for 10 days to assess predictors of unscheduled re-presentation after discharge direct from the ED. Results 83 centres submitted 765 tonsillitis and 416 quinsy cases. 54.4% of tonsillitis cases and 45.3% of quinsy were discharged directly from the ED. 9.6% of tonsillitis and 10.3% of quinsy discharges re-presented within 10 days, compared to 9.7% and 10.6% for those initially admitted. IV steroids were given to 67.0% of tonsillitis patients and 73.6% of quinsy. 77.2% of quinsy patients underwent drainage during their initial presentation, but there was no significant difference in re-presentation rate in those drained vs not-drained (p = 0.85). Univariable logistic regression showed no significant predictors of re-presentation within 10 days. Conclusion Management of tonsillitis and quinsy was affected during the initial peak of the pandemic, with a shift towards outpatient care. Some patients who may previously have been admitted to hospital may be safely discharged from the ED.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix C Koehler ◽  
Linda Blomberg ◽  
Thomas Theo Brehm ◽  
Stefan Büttner ◽  
Oliver A Cornely ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Frequent outbreaks around the globe and endemic appearance in different parts of the world emphasize the substantial risk of hantavirus diseases. Increasing incidence rates, trends of changing distribution of hantavirus species and new insights into clinical courses of hantavirus diseases call for multinational surveillance. Furthermore, evidence-based guidelines for the management of hantavirus diseases and scoring systems, which allow stratification of patients into risk categories, are lacking. Methods Hantavirus registry (HantaReg) is a novel registry platform facilitating multinational research of hantavirus-caused diseases, such as haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS). HantaReg provides an electronic case report form and uses the General Data Protection Regulation compliant platform clinicalsurveys.net, which can be accessed from any internet browser in the world. Having a modular structure, the registry platform is designed to display or hide questions and items according to the documented case (e.g. patient with HFRS versus HCPS) to facilitate fast, but standardized, data entry. Information categories documented in HantaReg are demographics, pre-existing diseases, clinical presentation, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, as well as outcome. Conclusions HantaReg is a novel, ready-to-use platform for clinical and epidemiological studies on hantavirus diseases and facilitates the documentation of the disease course associated with hantavirus infections. HantaReg is expected to promote international collaboration and contributes to improving patient care through the analysis of diagnostic and treatment pathways for hantavirus diseases, providing evidence for robust treatment recommendations. Moreover, HantaReg enables the development of prognosis-indicating scoring systems for patients with hantavirus disease.


2021 ◽  
pp. archdischild-2020-321277
Author(s):  
Matko Marlais ◽  
Kate Martin ◽  
Stephen D Marks

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate whether being on dialysis at the time of renal transplantation affected renal allograft survival in paediatric renal transplant recipients (pRTRs).MethodsRetrospective study of UK Transplant Registry (National Health Service Blood and Transplant) data on all children (aged <18 years) receiving a kidney-only transplant from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2015. Kaplan-Meier estimates of patient and renal allograft survival calculated and Cox regression modelling accounting for donor type. The relationship between time on dialysis and renal allograft survival was examined.Results2038 pRTRs were analysed: 607 (30%) were pre-emptively transplanted, 789 (39%) and 642 (32%) on peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis, respectively, at the time of transplantation. Five-year renal allograft survival was significantly better in the pre-emptively transplanted group (90.6%) compared with those on peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis (86.4% and 85.7%, respectively; p=0.02). After accounting for donor type, there was a significantly lower hazard of 5-year renal allograft failure in pre-emptively transplanted children (HR 0.742, p=0.05). Time spent on dialysis pre-transplant negatively correlated with renal allograft survival (p=0.002). There was no significant difference in 5-year renal allograft survival between children who were on dialysis for less than 6 months and children transplanted pre-emptively (87.5% vs 90.5%, p=0.25).ConclusionsPre-emptively transplanted children have improved 5-year renal allograft survival, compared with children on dialysis at the time of transplantation. Although increased time spent on dialysis correlated with poorer renal allograft survival, there was no evidence that short periods of dialysis pre-transplant affected renal allograft survival.


2021 ◽  
pp. flgastro-2020-101713
Author(s):  
Mathuri Sivakumar ◽  
Akash Gandhi ◽  
Eathar Shakweh ◽  
Yu Meng Li ◽  
Niloufar Safinia ◽  
...  

ObjectivePrimary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a progressive, autoimmune, cholestatic liver disease affecting approximately 15 000 individuals in the UK. Updated guidelines for the management of PBC were published by The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in 2017. We report on the first national, pilot audit that assesses the quality of care and adherence to guidelines.DesignData were collected from 11 National Health Service hospitals in England, Wales and Scotland between 2017 and 2020. Data on patient demographics, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) dosing and key guideline recommendations were captured from medical records. Results from each hospital were evaluated for target achievement and underwent χ2 analysis for variation in performance between trusts.Results790 patients’ medical records were reviewed. The data demonstrated that the majority of hospitals did not meet all of the recommended EASL standards. Standards with the lowest likelihood of being met were identified as optimal UDCA dosing, assessment of bone density and assessment of clinical symptoms (pruritus and fatigue). Significant variations in meeting these three standards were observed across UK, in addition to assessment of biochemical response to UDCA (all p<0.0001) and assessment of transplant eligibility in high-risk patients (p=0.0297).ConclusionOur findings identify a broad-based deficiency in ‘real-world’ PBC care, suggesting the need for an intervention to improve guideline adherence, ultimately improving patient outcomes. We developed the PBC Review tool and recommend its incorporation into clinical practice. As the first audit of its kind, it will be used to inform a future wide-scale reaudit.


Author(s):  
Ganesh Vigneswaran ◽  
Drew Maclean ◽  
Mohammed Hadi ◽  
Benjamin Maher ◽  
Sachin Modi ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To compare the relative IPSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) improvement in storage and voiding symptoms between prostatic artery embolization (PAE) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Method Retrospective analysis of the UK-ROPE (UK Register of Prostate Embolization) multicentre database was conducted with inclusion of all patients with full IPSS questionnaire score data. The voiding and storage subscore improvement was compared between interventions. Student’s t-test (paired and unpaired) and ANOVA (Analysis of variance) were used to identify significant differences between the groups. Results 146 patients (121 PAE, 25 TURP) were included in the analysis. Storage symptoms were more frequently the most severe symptom (‘storage’ in 75 patients vs ‘voiding’ in 17 patients). Between groups, no significant difference was seen in raw storage subscore improvement (TURP 4.9 vs PAE 4.2; p = 0.34) or voiding subscore improvement (TURP 8.4 vs PAE 6.7; p = 0.1). ANOVA demonstrated a greater proportionate reduction (relative to total IPSS) towards voiding symptoms in the TURP group (27.3% TURP vs 9.9% PAE, p = 0.001). Conclusion Although both TURP and PAE improve voiding symptoms more than storage, a significantly larger proportion of total symptom reduction is due to voiding in the TURP cohort, with PAE providing a more balanced improvement between voiding and storage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  

Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to re-audit the rates of acute kidney injury (AKI) after elective colorectal surgery, following local presentations of results. Method Outcomes After Kidney injury in Surgery (OAKS) and Ileus Management International (IMAGINE), were prospective multicentre audits on consecutive elective colorectal resections, in the UK and Ireland. These were performed over 3-month periods in 2015 and 2018 respectively. During the interim period, results were presented at participating centres to stimulate local quality improvement initiatives. Risk-adjusted 7-day postoperative AKI rates were calculated through multilevel logistic regression based on the OAKS prognostic score. Result Of the 4,917 patients included, 3,133 (63.7%) originated from OAKS and 1,784 (36.3%) from IMAGINE. On univariate analysis, there was no significant difference (p=0.737) in the 7-day AKI rate between OAKS (n=346, 11.8%) and IMAGINE (n=205, 11.5%). However, the risk-adjusted AKI rate in IMAGINE was significantly lower compared to OAKS (-1.8%, 95% CI: -2.3% to -1.3%, p&lt;0.001). Of 47 centres (40.1%) with a recorded local presentation, there was no significant difference in the subsequent AKI rate in IMAGINE (-0.7%, -2.0% to 0.6%, p=0.278). Conclusion Rates of AKI after elective colorectal surgery significantly reduced on re-audit. However, this may be related to increased awareness from participation or national quality improvement initiatives, rather than local presentation of results. Abbrev. AKI - Acute Kidney Injury, OAKS - Outcomes After Kidney injury in Surgery, IMAGINE - Ileus Management International Take-home message Risk-adjusted AKI rates significantly reduced on re-audit, however, this was most likely due to factors separate from the local presentation of initial results.


Open Heart ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e001600
Author(s):  
Joanne Kathryn Taylor ◽  
Haarith Ndiaye ◽  
Matthew Daniels ◽  
Fozia Ahmed

AimsIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK was placed under strict lockdown measures on 23 March 2020. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects on physical activity (PA) levels using data from the prospective Triage-HF Plus Evaluation study.MethodsThis study represents a cohort of adult patients with implanted cardiac devices capable of measuring activity by embedded accelerometery via a remote monitoring platform. Activity data were available for the 4 weeks pre-implementation and post implementation of ‘stay at home’ lockdown measures in the form of ‘minutes active per day’ (min/day).ResultsData were analysed for 311 patients (77.2% men, mean age 68.8, frailty 55.9%. 92.2% established heart failure (HF) diagnosis, of these 51.2% New York Heart Association II), with comorbidities representative of a real-world cohort.Post-lockdown, a significant reduction in median PA equating to 20.8 active min/day was seen. The reduction was uniform with a slightly more pronounced drop in PA for women, but no statistically significant difference with respect to age, body mass index, frailty or device type. Activity dropped in the immediate 2-week period post-lockdown, but steadily returned thereafter. Median activity week 4 weeks post-lockdown remained significantly lower than 4 weeks pre-lockdown (p≤0.001).ConclusionsIn a population of predominantly HF patients with cardiac devices, activity reduced by approximately 20 min active per day in the immediate aftermath of strict COVID-19 lockdown measures.Trial registration numberNCT04177199.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Ursula Henz

Abstract Increasing longevity has led to a rising number of adult children who are at higher ages when they provide care for their parents. Drawing on the lifecourse approach and exchange theory, the paper addresses similarities and differences in parent care between late middle-aged and older adult children. The study uses the UK Household Longitudinal Study, restricting the analysis sample to individuals aged 50 and older with a living parent or parent-in-law. It presents multivariate models to examine differences between late middle-aged (aged 50–64) and older (aged 65+) children in being a parent carer, providing intensive care, the duration of parent care and providing selected types of help to parents. The involvement in parent care increases among women up to the end of their seventh decade of life and for men up to their eighth decade of life. At higher ages, the proportion of parent carers decreases more strongly for women than men. Older carers have shorter care-giving episodes than younger carers, but there is no significant difference in the type of care provided. Even past retirement age, parent care remains classed and gendered, with women from lower social classes having the highest likelihood of providing intensive parent care in old age. Having dependent children or living in a non-marital union depress the likelihood of caring for a parent even past retirement age.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-53
Author(s):  
Steven Lehrer ◽  
Peter H. Rheinstein

Background: Cognitive problems are common in breast cancer patients. The apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) gene, a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), may be associated with cancer-related cognitive decline. Objective: To further evaluate the effects of the APOE4 allele, we studied a cohort of patients from the UK Biobank (UKB) who had breast cancer; some also had AD. Methods: Our analysis included all subjects with invasive breast cancer. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for rs 429358 and rs 7412 was used to determine APOE genotypes. Cognitive function as numeric memory was assessed with an online test (UKB data field 20240). Results: We analyzed data from 2,876 women with breast cancer. Of the breast cancer subjects, 585 (20%) carried the APOE4 allele. Numeric memory scores were significantly lower in APOE4 carriers and APOE4 homozygotes than non-carriers (p = 0.046). 34 breast cancer subjects (1.1%) had AD. There was no significant difference in survival among genotypes ɛ3/ɛ3, ɛ3/ɛ4, and ɛ4/ɛ4. Conclusion: UKB data suggest that cognitive problems in women with breast cancer are, for the most part, mild, compared with other sequelae of the disease. AD, the worst cognitive problem, is relatively rare (1.1%) and, when it occurs, APOE genotype has little impact on survival.


2021 ◽  
Vol 135 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Sawhney ◽  
R Bidaye ◽  
A Khanna

AbstractBackgroundPeritonsillar abscess, or quinsy, is one of the most common emergency presentations to ENT departments, and is the most common deep tissue infection of the head and neck. In the UK, junior members of the ENT team are regularly required to independently assess, diagnose and treat patients with peritonsillar aspiration or incision and drainage.IssueInexperienced practitioners can stumble at several obstacles: poor access due to trismus; poor lighting; difficulty in learning the therapeutic procedure; and difficulty in accurately documenting findings and treatment.SolutionTo counter these and other difficulties, the authors describe the routine use of video endoscopy as a training tool and therapeutic adjunct in the management of quinsy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuhei Okazaki ◽  
Haruko Yamamoto ◽  
Lydia D. Foster ◽  
Mayumi Fukuda-Doi ◽  
Masatoshi Koga ◽  
...  

Background: Neurological deterioration (ND) has a major influence on the prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH); however, factors associated with ND occurring after 24 h of ICH onset are unknown. Methods: We performed exploratory analyses of data from the Antihypertensive Treatment of Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage 2 trial, which compared intensive and standard blood pressure lowering treatment in ICH. NDs were captured on the adverse event case report form. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the independent predictors of late ND. Results: Among 1,000 participants with acute ICH, 82 patients (8.2%) developed early ND (≤24 h), and 64 (6.4%) had late ND. Baseline hematoma volume (adjusted OR [aOR] per 1-cm3 increase 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.06, p < 0.0001), hematoma volume increase in 24 h (aOR 2.24, 95% CI 1.23–4.07, p = 0.008), and the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH; aOR 2.38, 95% CI 1.32–4.29, p = 0.004) were independent predictors of late ND (vs. no late ND). Late ND was a significant risk factor for poor 90-day outcome (OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.82–6.56). No statistically significant difference in the incidence of late ND was noted between the 2 treatment groups. Conclusions: Initial hematoma volume, early hematoma volume expansion, and IVH are independent predictors of late ND after ICH. Intensive reduction in the systolic blood pressure level does not prevent the development of late ND.


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