Severe back labor pain masks a scald caused by shower hydrotherapy: a case report.

Shower hydrotherapy is generally considered benign during labor. We report a case of extensive scalds in a primigravida who used shower hydrotherapy to treat severe back labor pain from fetal malposition. Interestingly, her back pain was so severe that she felt no pain as her scald developed, describing the hot water from the showerhead as the only measure which "soothed" her pain. Her scald was diagnosed presumptively during assessment for epidural analgesia. The nature of her back labor pain, associated with occiput posterior fetal head position and her management are described. Severe pain from persistent fetal malposition may alter somatic pain perception during labor, increasing burn risks during shower hydrotherapy. These women are also at increased risk of operative delivery and infection risks from inadvertent neuraxial blockade after burns. Improved prevention strategies and vigilance for scalds are warranted in women with severe back labor undergoing shower hydrotherapy, including by anesthesiologists assessing them for neuraxial blockade.

Planned oocyte cryopreservation (Planned OC): systematic review and meta-analysis of cost-efficiency and patients' perspective.

BACKGROUND: Advances in vitrification techniques have enabled planned oocyte cryopreservation ('Planned OC'). OBJECTIVES: To explore the cost-efficiency and utilisation of planned OC, as well as patients' perspectives on the process. SEARCH STRATEGY: A systematic search in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Database and PsychINFO, for all relevant studies published between January 2007 and December 2019. SELECTION CRITERIA: The protocol followed PRISMA guidelines in PECO format, and was registered with PROSPERO. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two independent reviewers evaluated all manuscripts for inclusion eligibility. Authors were contacted for missing data. Included studies were assessed for risk of bias and for heterogeneity. Weighted effects were measured and plotted. MAIN RESULTS: The search yielded 12 545 records, of which 43 were included. Planned OC is cost-efficient at 35, assuming 60% utilisation; and at 37 assuming utilising donor sperm when necessary. At 38 it is cost-efficient to defer planned OC in favour of undergoing 2 IVF cycles. Currently, utilisation of banked-oocytes within 22-58 months, is up to 15%. Nine percent of warmed banked oocytes result in life births. Online resources and treating physicians are equally important sources of information regarding planned OC. Most patients think planned OC is ideal before age 35 and are not fully aware of what the process entails and tend to overestimate the success rates. The main barrier to wider endorsement of planned OC is being wary of potential health implications or of limited success. CONCLUSION: Planned OC is an adequate method for preserving fertility. However, knowledge gaps result in under-utilisation leading to reduced cost-efficiency. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Identifying facilitators and barriers for wider adoption of banking oocytes can enhance the cost-efficiency of this modality.

Using a multimedia presentation to improve patient understanding and satisfaction with informed consent for minimally invasive vascular procedures.

OBJECTIVE: As vascular procedures become more complex, patient understanding of their treatment(s) can become more difficult. We wished to evaluate the utility of multimedia presentations (MPs) to improve patient understanding of their vascular interventions. METHODS: Patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), peripheral angioplasty, Hickman catheter and peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) insertion were randomized into a control group receiving traditional verbal consent, and a MP group that were shown a two minute simplified video of their procedure on an iPad™ computer in addition to the traditional verbal consent. After obtaining consent, all patients completed a questionnaire assessing their comprehension of the procedure, and satisfaction with the consent process. Satisfaction was rated on a 5 point Likert scale with 5 being 'very helpful' in understanding the procedure. RESULTS: Ninety-three patients were recruited for this study, 62% of which were male. The intervention significantly increased total comprehension in all procedure types controlling for procedure type (multimedia vs. control; F = 9.14, P = .003). A second ANOVA showed there was a significant main effect by intervention (F = 44.06, p < .000) with those in the intervention group showing higher overall satisfaction scores after controlling for surgery type. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that patients find the use of MP during the consent process to be helpful in patient understanding and that there is improved satisfaction. Given the rapid rate of innovation in vascular interventions, increased regular use of MPs to help patients understand their procedures would be beneficial in the care of patients undergoing vascular interventions.

Continuous regional anaesthesia provides effective pain management and reduces opioid requirement following major lower limb amputation.

OBJECTIVES: Postoperative stump pain after major lower limb amputation is a significant impediment to the recovery of amputees. The vast majority of patients require opioid analgesics following surgery, which are associated with opioid-related side-effects. Here, we investigate whether intraoperative placement of a peripheral nerve stump catheter followed by continuous infusion of local anesthetic is as effective at pain control as current analgesic practices. If beneficial, this procedure could potentially reduce post-amputation opioid consumption and opioid-related adverse effects. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 198 patients over a 4-year period who had undergone a major lower limb amputation for indications related to peripheral vascular disease. Postoperatively, 102 patients received a perineural catheter were compared to 96 patients who did not. The primary outcomes of this study were the amount of morphine equivalents used in the first 72 hours postoperatively and postoperative pain intensity in the first 24 hours. RESULTS: A total of 198 lower-limb amputations were selected for analyses. Multiple regression analyses indicated that perineural catheter use was associated with a lower cumulative postoperative opioid consumption over the first 72 hours but not postoperative pain scores at 24 hours. Perineural catheter use led to a 40% reduction in opioid use during the first 72 hours postoperatively. Mixed model repeated measures analysis demonstrated that this opioid reduction was consistent over time. Other variables related to total opioid use included age, pre-surgical chronic pain, pre-surgical opioid use, patient-controlled analgesia. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous perineural infusions of local anesthetic are a safe and effective method for reducing post-amputation opioid analgesic medications after major lower limp amputation.

Intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor of the pancreas: presentation in a young adult.

Intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor (IPMT) of the pancreas is a premalignant lesion that can result in the hypersecretion of mucous and subsequent pancreatitis. In this report, one of the youngest cases of IPMT is described. Initial pancreaticogram was normal. Pathognomonic changes of the pancreatic duct were found only years later; otherwise, the recurrent pancreatitis seen in this patient might have been repeatedly misdiagnosed as idiopathic. Pre- and perioperative evaluation resulted in pancreaticoduodenectomy for what was felt to be a curative resection. However, the patient suffered an aggressive metastatic course. More extensive surgery may be needed in IPMT, such as total pancreatectomy, especially in cases of diffuse ductal dilation of the pancreas.

Treatment of Campylobacter pylori does not alter gastric acid secretion.

The effect of treatment of Campylobacter pylori-associated gastritis on acid secretion was studied to examine further the strong association between C. pylori and peptic diseases. Twelve symptomatic patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia and C. pylori-associated histologic gastritis had basal and pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid analysis before and after a 14-day course of amoxicillin 250 mg qid and bismuth subsalicylate 524 mg qid. Endoscopy, antral biopsies, and symptom questionnaires were obtained at entry and at the conclusion of the study. C. pylori was identified by Warthin-Starry stain. Biopsy specimens were also graded for the severity of chronic inflammation and the presence of neutrophils in the epithelium. The treatment regimen cleared C. pylori in 10 of 12 patients. Dyspeptic symptoms improved in 10 of 12 patients, two of whom did not clear the organism, and were unchanged in the remaining two patients, both of whom cleared the bacteria. Neutrophil infiltration in the antral biopsies resolved in 10 patients, including nine with C. pylori clearance and one with persistence of the organism. The severity of the underlying chronic inflammation improved in only one of the 10 organism-free patients and one of the two persistently infected individuals. Pretreatment gastric acid analysis demonstrated hypochlorhydria in three of 12 patients, mild hyperchlorhydria in three of 12 patients, mild hyperchlorhydria in two of 12, and normal acid secretion in the remaining seven patients. Posttreatment acid studies revealed that four of 12 patients were hypochlorhydric, one of 12 had hyperchlorhydria, and seven of 12 were normochlorhydric. After treatment, there was no significant change in basal or maximal acid secretion in the 10 patients who cleared the organism. The two patients who failed to clear C. pylori had insignificant increases in acid secretion after treatment. Our data show no consistent pretreatment pattern of acid secretion in patients with C. pylori-associated gastritis. In addition, gastric acid output did not show a consistent change after treatment for C. pylori. This suggests that the association between C. pylori infection and peptic diseases does not occur via altered acid secretion.