ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Aside from an impact on health, obesity is also associated with higher social and economic costs such as impaired productivity, increased work absenteeism, and higher rates of unemployment. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of bariatric surgery on employment status in a large nationwide database, using data from all patients that underwent bariatric surgery in Belgium. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of all Belgian patients that underwent bariatric surgery between 2014 and 2015. The work status of these patients was examined yearly: 4 years before and 3 years after surgery. Increased employment after surgery was defined (1) as a reduction in days of unemployment and incapacity and (2) as the resumption of work among the unemployed. RESULTS: In total, 16,276 patients were included. The number of working people rose from 49.7% before to 61.2% 3 years after bariatric surgery, i.e., an increase of 11.5% between pre- and post-surgery. The largest improvement in reduction in unemployment was found in individuals who were absent from work for more than 9 months, namely, a reduction from 13.4 to 7.2%. In the population of unemployed patients, 20.9% became employed after bariatric surgery. CONCLUSION: We found an increase in employment rate and a decrease in work incapacity and unemployment after bariatric surgery. Higher rates of employment after bariatric surgery may also contribute to an increased cost-effectiveness of bariatric surgery. It would be interesting to research possible targeting strategies to increase the employment rate even more after bariatric surgery.
Subject(s)
Bariatric Surgery , Obesity, Morbid , Belgium/epidemiology , Humans , Obesity, Morbid/surgery , Retrospective Studies , Return to Work , UnemploymentSubject(s)
Long QT Syndrome/surgery , Sympathectomy/methods , Adult , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Survival after prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is often associated with neurological and other sequelae. We describe a patient who survived prolonged cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation neurologically intact but suffered colon ischaemia and necrosis in the post-resuscitation period. Subtotal colectomy was performed. We wonder whether this complication was related to the use of vasopressin.
Subject(s)
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/adverse effects , Colon/blood supply , Colon/pathology , Ischemia/etiology , Adrenergic Agonists/therapeutic use , Adult , Amiodarone/therapeutic use , Anti-Arrhythmia Agents/therapeutic use , Colectomy , Colon/surgery , Electric Countershock , Epinephrine/therapeutic use , Female , Heart Arrest/therapy , Humans , Ischemia/surgery , Necrosis/etiology , Necrosis/surgery , Time Factors , Vasoconstrictor Agents/therapeutic use , Vasopressins/therapeutic use , Ventricular Fibrillation/therapyABSTRACT
Pulsed radiofrequency treatment has been described as a minimal invasive alternative to radiofrequency thermocoagulation for the management of chronic pain syndromes. We present here our first five high-risk patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia who were treated with pulsed radiofrequency after multidisciplinary assessment; with a mean follow-up of 19.2 months (range 10-26). These patients were at high risk due to age, co-morbidities or previous interventional and surgical treatments. An excellent long-term effect was achieved in three of the five patients, a partial effect in one patient and a short-term effect in one patient. No neurological side effects or complications were reported.
