The utility of myocardial perfusion imaging before renal transplantation: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Renal transplantation (RT) reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal failure. Myocardial perfusion imaging provides prognostic information in patients with renal failure, but its role before transplantation remains unclear. We performed a retrospective review assessing the prognostic value of technetium-99m sestamibi myocardial perfusion imaging at a tertiary UK centre. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included scans performed between 2005 and 2012. Available scans were reanalysed to calculate the semiquantitative summed scores: sum rest score (SRS), sum stress score (SSS), sum difference score and sum motion score (SMS). Kaplan-Meier survival estimates assessed all-cause mortality and cardiac events according to scan findings, transplant decision and SSS. Cox-proportional hazards tested for an association between clinical/scan variables and all-cause mortality, and combined all-cause mortality/cardiovascular (CV) events. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-eight scans were identified with complete follow-up. During a median 40.4-month follow-up, 21 patients died, with 11 nonfatal CV events. There was no significant difference between groups according to scan findings for mortality (log-rank P=0.17) or mortality/CV events (P=0.06). An SSS greater than 8 was associated with higher mortality and CV events combined (P=0.028). An abnormal baseline ECG [hazard ratio (HR): 16.1] and higher SRS (HR: 2.3) were associated independently with higher mortality; an abnormal ECG (HR: 3.4) also predicted higher cardiac events/mortality. CONCLUSION: Moderate to severe perfusion defects by SSS were associated with higher mortality and CV events. Higher SRS was associated independently with increased mortality on multivariable analysis, highlighting a key role for semiquantitative analysis methods for risk stratification. An abnormal ECG was associated strongly with both endpoints, and may be a useful screening tool to select patients for further investigation.

Wireless electrical stimulation: an innovative powerful tool for the treatment of a complicated chronic ulcer.

High-voltage electrical stimulation has been long proposed as a method of accelerating the wound healing process. Its beneficial effect has been successfully evaluated in the treatment of a number of chronic ulcers and burns. We present here the implementation of a new wireless electrical stimulation technique for the treatment of a complicated chronic ulcer of the lower limb. The device is transferring charges to the wound, without any contact with it, creating a microcurrent that is able to generate the current of injury. The results suggest that this easy-to-use method is an effective therapeutic option for chronic ulcers.

Electrical muscle stimulation: an effective form of exercise and early mobilization to preserve muscle strength in critically ill patients.

Purpose. This is a secondary analysis of previously published data to investigate the effects of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) on strength of various muscle groups in critically ill patients. Methods. One hundred forty-two consecutive patients, with APACHE II score ≥ 13, were randomly assigned to the EMS or the control group. EMS sessions were applied daily on vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and peroneus longus of both lower extremities. Various muscle groups were evaluated with the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale for muscle strength. Handgrip strength assessment was also employed. Results. Twenty four patients in the EMS group and 28 patients in the control group were finally evaluated. EMS patients achieved higher MRC scores than controls (P ≤ 0.05) in wrist flexion, hip flexion, knee extension, and ankle dorsiflexion. Collectively, the EMS group performed higher (P < 0.01) in the legs and overall. Handgrip strength correlated (P ≤ 0.01) with the upper and lower extremities' muscle strength and the overall MRC scores. Conclusions. EMS has beneficial effects on the strength of critically ill patients mainly affecting muscle groups stimulated, while it may also affect muscle groups not involved presenting itself as a potential effective means of muscle strength preservation and early mobilization in this patient population.