Preoperative Physical Activity Predicts Surgical Outcomes Following Lung Cancer Resection.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether preoperative levels of physical activity predict the incidence of post-operative complications following anatomical lung resection. METHODS: Levels of physical activity (daily steps) were measured for 15 consecutive days using pedometers in 90 consecutive patients (prior to admission). Outcomes measured were cardiac and respiratory complications, length of stay, and 30-day re-admission rate. RESULTS: A total of 78 patients' datasets were analysed (12 patients were excluded due to non-compliance). Based on steps performed they were divided into quartiles; 1 (low physical activity) to 4 (high physical activity). There were no significant differences in age, smoking history, COPD, BMI, percentage predicted FEV1 and KCO and cardiovascular risk factors between the groups. There were significantly fewer total complications in quartiles 3 and 4 (high physical activity) compared to quartiles 1 and 2 (low physical activity) (8 vs 22; P = .01). There was a trend (P > .05) towards shorter hospital length of stay in quartiles 3 and 4 (median values of 4 and 5 days, respectively) compared to quartiles 1 and 2 (6 days for both groups). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative physical activity can help to predict postoperative outcome and can be used to stratify risk of postoperative complications and to monitor impact of preoperative interventions, ultimately improving short term outcomes.

Benign hereditary chorea: a case report and brief review of inherited choreas.

BACKGROUND: Chorea as a nonprogressive abnormality is often associated with Sydenham chorea in the pediatric population. Benign hereditary chorea is a condition where chorea presents before age 5 years and runs a very slowly progressive course. PATIENTS: We present a family that was thought to have a variant of Huntington disease but on genetic testing was confirmed to have benign hereditary chorea. We describe a 7-year-old girl in this family who presented with involuntary movements and hyperactivity. RESULTS: Our family was determined to have benign hereditary chorea after extensive genetic testing and follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: When chorea presents as a familial entity, the differential diagnosis is limited and is often misdiagnosed as Huntington disease. In this family benign hereditary chorea was found to be the cause.