Preoperative free access to water compared to fasting for planned cesarean under spinal anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Contemporary guidance for preoperative feeding allows solids up to 6 hours and clear fluids up to 2 hours before anesthesia. Clinical trial evidence to support this approach for cesarean delivery is lacking. Many medical practitioners continue to follow conservative policies of no intake from midnight to the time of surgery, especially in pregnant women. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the pragmatic approach of permitting free access to water up to the call to dispatch to the operating theater vs fasting from midnight in preoperative oral intake restriction for planned cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia on perioperative vomiting and maternal satisfaction. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the obstetrical unit of the University of Malaya Medical Centre from October 2020 to May 2022. A total of 504 participants scheduled for planned cesarean delivery were randomized: 252 undergoing preoperative free access to water up to the call to dispatch to the operating theater (intervention group) and 252 undergoing fasting from midnight (fasting arm). The primary outcomes were perioperative vomiting and maternal satisfaction. Analyses were performed using t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square test, as appropriate. RESULTS: Of note, 9 of 252 patients (3.6%) in the intervention group and 24 of 252 patients (9.5%) in the control group had vomiting at up to 6 hours after completion of cesarean delivery (relative risk, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.18-0.79; P=.007), and the maternal satisfaction scores (0-10 visual numerical rating scale) were 9 (interquartile range, 8-10) in the intervention group and 5 (interquartile range, 3-7) in the control group (P<.001). Assessed before dispatch to the operating theater, feeling of thirst was reported by 69 of 252 patients (27.4%) in the intervention group and 134 of 252 patients (53.2%) in the control group (relative risk, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.65; P<.001), capillary glucose levels were 4.8±0.7 mmol/L in the intervention group and 4.9±0.8 mmol/L in the control group (P=.048), and preoperative intravenous fluid hydration was commenced in 49 of 252 patients (19.4%) in the intervention group and 76 of 252 patients (30.2%) in the control group (relative risk, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.47-0.88; P=.005). In the operating theater, ketone was detected in the catheterized urine in 38 of 252 patients (15.1%) in the intervention group and 78 of 252 patients (31.0%) in the control group (relative risk, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-0.59; P<.001), and the numbers of doses of vasopressors needed to correct hypotension were 2.3±1.7 in the intervention group and 2.7±2.2 in the control (P=.009). The recommendation rates for preoperative oral intake regimen to a friend were 95.2% (240/252) in the intervention group and 39.7% (100/252) in the control group (relative risk, 2.40; 95% confidence interval, 2.06-2.80; P<.001), in favor of free access to water. Other assessed maternal and neonatal outcomes were not different. CONCLUSION: Compared with fasting, free access to water in planned cesarean delivery reduced perioperative vomiting and was strongly favored by women. In addition, several pre- and intraoperative secondary outcomes were improved. However, postcesarean delivery recovery and neonatal outcomes were not different.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy using the introducer method with ultra-slim endoscopy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients with respiratory compromise: A safe technique.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement is recommended in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but the procedure is considered high risk. In this study, we aimed to compare the outcome of ALS patients with and without PEG. The success of the procedure and complications of PEG insertion were also explored. METHODS: Patients with ALS who met the criteria for enteral feeding support were consecutively recruited. Patients who consented had PEG insertion using the modified technique of introducer method with transoral ultra-slim endoscopy. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients were recruited, of which 36 (56%) patients consented to PEG. The median age of all patients was 65 years and 59% were male. There was no difference in demographic and clinical characteristics between patients who agreed to a PEG and those who did not. The mortality rate at 6 and 12 months was lower in the PEG cohort compared with non-PEG, but this was not statistically significant (6 months: 28.6% vs 32.2%, P = 0.561; 12 months: 38.9% vs 50.0%, P = 0.374). Amongst the PEG cohort, 61% were stratified high risk and 31% moderate risk. Thirty-one percent of them required long-term home noninvasive ventilation. All patients (100%) underwent successful PEG insertion at single attempt using the modified approach. The complications reported over a period of 6 months were infected PEG site (17%), dislodged gastrostomy tube (14%), and minor bleeding (8%). CONCLUSION: In ALS patients with moderate to high risk of PEG insertion, the introducer technique utilizing ultra-slim endoscopy guidance was well tolerated and safe.

Natural history and clinical features of ALS in Malaysia.

OBJECTIVE: Studies from multiethnic populations are rarely reported but do indicate differences in phenotypic presentation and survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this study, we aimed to investigate the natural history of a cohort of ALS patients from a multiethnic population. Methods: Data from ALS patients presenting to our multidisciplinary ALS clinic were prospectively collected from January 2015 to June 2020 as part of an ongoing hospital-based patient registry. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression model were performed to identify potential prognostic factors. Results: A total of 144 ALS patients were recruited. We estimated the crude ALS incidence as 0.53 per 100,000 for 2019 but rises to 2 per 100,000 in patients aged 60-74 years. The majority of patients were of Chinese ethnicity (59.7%), followed by Malay (24.3%), Indian (11.1%), and others (4.9%). Malaysian Indians had a significantly steeper ALSFRS-R slope at diagnosis (p = 0.040). We found a worse prognosis in patients with bulbar-onset (HR = 1.915, p = 0.019), older age (HR = 1.052, p = 0.000), and who were fast-progressors (HR = 1.274, p = 0.000). In contrast, a higher body mass index (HR = 0.921, p = 0.007) and a longer time to diagnosis (HR = 0.967, p = 0.006), noninvasive ventilation (HR = 0.820, p = 0.000) and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy insertion (HR = 0.823, p = 0.000) were associated with better survival. On multivariate analysis, diagnostic delay and slow disease progression were associated with better survival. Conclusions: In our cohort, diagnostic delay and a slow disease progression were significantly associated with better survival in ALS. We also found ethnic variation with Chinese preponderance and more rapid disease progression in patients of Indian descent.

Robotic-assisted thermal ablation of liver tumours.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the technical success, radiation dose, safety and performance level of liver thermal ablation using a computed tomography (CT)-guided robotic positioning system. METHODS: Radiofrequency and microwave ablation of liver tumours were performed on 20 patients (40 lesions) with the assistance of a CT-guided robotic positioning system. The accuracy of probe placement, number of readjustments and total radiation dose to each patient were recorded. The performance level was evaluated on a five-point scale (5-1: excellent-poor). The radiation doses were compared against 30 patients with 48 lesions (control) treated without robotic assistance. RESULTS: Thermal ablation was successfully completed in 20 patients with 40 lesions and confirmed on multiphasic contrast-enhanced CT. No procedure related complications were noted in this study. The average number of needle readjustment was 0.8 ± 0.8. The total CT dose (DLP) for the entire robotic assisted thermal ablation was 1382 ± 536 mGy.cm, while the CT fluoroscopic dose (DLP) per lesion was 352 ± 228 mGy.cm. There was no statistically significant (p > 0.05) dose reduction found between the robotic-assisted versus the conventional method. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that robotic-assisted planning and needle placement appears to be safe, with high accuracy and a comparable radiation dose to patients. KEY POINTS: • Clinical experience on liver thermal ablation using CT-guided robotic system is reported. • The technical success, radiation dose, safety and performance level were assessed. • Thermal ablations were successfully performed, with an average performance score of 4.4/5.0. • Robotic-assisted ablation can potentially increase capabilities of less skilled interventional radiologists. • Cost-effectiveness needs to be proven in further studies.

Robot-assisted radiofrequency ablation of primary and secondary liver tumours: early experience.

OBJECTIVE: Computed tomography (CT)-compatible robots, both commercial and research-based, have been developed with the intention of increasing the accuracy of needle placement and potentially improving the outcomes of therapies in addition to reducing clinical staff and patient exposure to radiation during CT fluoroscopy. In the case of highly inaccessible lesions that require multiple plane angulations, robotically assisted needles may improve biopsy access and targeted drug delivery therapy by avoidance of the straight line path of normal linear needles. METHODS: We report our preliminary experience of performing radiofrequency ablation of the liver using a robotic-assisted CT guidance system on 11 patients (17 lesions). RESULTS/CONCLUSION: Robotic-assisted planning and needle placement appears to have high accuracy, is technically easier than the non-robotic-assisted procedure, and involves a significantly lower radiation dose to both patient and support staff. KEY POINTS: • An early experience of robotic-assisted radiofrequency ablation is reported • Robotic-assisted RFA improves accuracy of hepatic lesion targeting • Robotic-assisted RFA makes the procedure technically easier with significant lower radiation dose.