Non-invasive mechanical ventilation as an alternative respiratory support during gastrostomy tube placement, in a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, 24/24 hours ventilation dependent.

Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy may benefit from gastrostomy tube feeding due to progressive dysphagia and malnutrition. However, due to concomitant pathologies, they are often at high risk for anesthesiologic complications. We describe how the non-invasive mechanical ventilation has been an alternative successful respiratory support option during the gastrostomy tube placement in a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, on continuous NIV treatment. This report confirms how the use of NIV can support alveolar ventilation, before, during and after mini-invasive procedures, and prevent respiratory complications.

Intraarticular STP Radiofrequency for Painful Osteoarthritis in the Knee: A Retrospective Single Center Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of chronic knee pain, often a debilitating condition that can cause a significant reduction in functional capacity. Radiofrequency is a form of neuromodulation that modulates pain signal transmission and has become progressively more common as a treatment for knee pain. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the efficacy of intraarticular radiofrequency in patients with chronic knee OA pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we included 129 patients undergoing intraarticular pulsed radiofrequency using the Poisson curve for energy distribution (Sluijter-Teixeira Poisson radiofrequency) (STP) from March 2018 to November 2019. Knee osteoarthritis severity was assessed prior to the procedure using the Lequesne Index, classifying patients into six groups based on level of severity. Pain intensity was assessed through a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS), and level of patient satisfaction was assessed through a questionnaire. RESULTS: In the sample, pain reduction as measured by VAS compared to baseline prior to the procedure was statistically significant immediately following the procedure, at 30 days and at 90 days (p<0.001); this difference was less significant at 180 days (p<0.005). Efficacy in patients with moderate to severe disability was considerably greater than in patients with very severe to extremely severe disability. 57.36% reported that they were very satisfied, 29.46% satisfied, 9.3% neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 2.33% dissatisfied, and 1.55% very dissatisfied. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that STP radiofrequency may be a safe and effective procedure for knee OA, able to significantly reduce VAS scores at 1 month and 3 months compared to baseline. Based on our results, a key factor to consider when treating knee OA with STP radiofrequency is that it is more effective among patients with a lower level of disability. Due to the retrospective observational study design, prospective longitudinal investigation is required to further support the recommendation of STP radiofrequency for knee OA.

Efficacy of wound analgesia for controlling post-thoracotomy pain: a randomized double-blind study†.

OBJECTIVES: Continuous wound infusion of local anaesthetics has been successfully applied for postoperative pain control in several procedures but, surprisingly, it is underused in thoracic surgery. We aimed to investigate the effects of wound analgesia associated with systemic patient-controlled analgesia in patients undergoing lung cancer resection with muscle-sparing thoracotomy. METHODS: Sixty consecutive patients undergoing lung cancer resection via standard muscle-sparing thoracotomy were randomized into two groups (wound analgesia and placebo groups). Bupivacaine in the wound group and free-saline solution in the placebo group were injected using a multiholed catheter connected to an elastomeric pump inserted at the end of operation between the pericostal sutures and the serratus muscle and removed 48 h after. The inter-group differences were assessed by the following criteria: (i) level of cytokines [IL-6, IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)]; (ii) pain on a visual analogue scale at rest and after coughing; (iii) recovery of respiratory functions (flow expiratory volume in 1 s % and forced vital capacity %) and (iv) narcotic medication consumption at different time points of the postoperative course. RESULTS: Five out of a total of 60 patients were excluded from the final analysis. Thus, the wound and placebo groups comprised 27 and 28 patients, respectively. The wound group compared with the placebo group had a significant decrease of IL-6 (P < 0.001), IL-10 (P < 0.001) and TNF-alpha (P < 0.001) blood concentration levels, pain scores at rest (P < 0.001) and after coughing (P = 0.01), and a reduction of additional morphine intake (P = 0.03) and Ketorolac (P = 0.01) during the entire postoperative course. The recovery of the flow expiratory volume in one second % (P = 0.01) and the forced vital capacity % (P = 0.02) was also better in the wound than in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data prove that wound analgesia is an effective, easy and safe procedure. It significantly reduces systemic inflammatory markers, pain scores and opioid intake; and accelerates the recovery of respiratory function. Catheter placement does not require particular manoeuvres by the surgeon nor does the elastomeric pump need any adjustment or care by physicians or nurses.

Bronchoscopic treatment of complex persistent air leaks with endobronchial one-way valves.

We reported a case series including 5 patients with persistent air-leaks refractory to standard treatment. All patients were unfit for surgery for the presence of co-morbidities and/or severe respiratory failure due to underlying lung diseases. They were successfully treated with bronchoscopic placement of endobronchial one-way valves. Air-leaks stopped in the first 24 h after the procedure in three patients and 3 and 5 days later, respectively, in the remaining two. No complications were observed and follow-up was uneventful in all patients but one died 25 days after the procedure for systemic sepsis due to peritonis. Patients with important, refractory air leaks having clinical repercussions and unfit for surgery should be early reviewed for bronchoscopic valves treatment.

Detección precoz de cáncer de pulmón durante el seguimiento de pacientes tratados con válvulas endobronquiales unidireccionales para el tratamiento del enfisema / The Early Detection of Lung Cancer During Follow-Up of Patients Undergoing Endobronchial One-Way Valve Treatment for Emphysema

Describimos la detección precoz de cáncer de pulmón durante la revisión de 2 pacientes enfisematosos con tratamiento endobronquial mediante válvulas unidireccionales para la disnea grave. En ambos casos el tratamiento quirúrgico fue posible gracias a la mejora de la actividad pulmonar conseguida tras la colocación de las válvulas. Además del seguimiento convencional para evaluar la evolución del enfisema, dichos pacientes deberían incluirse en un programa de detección sistemática. Podría conseguirse la detección precoz del cáncer de pulmón y, por lo tanto, la posibilidad de operar al paciente en función de su capacidad respiratoria

We describe the early detection of lung cancer during the follow-up of two emphysematous patients undergoing endobronchial treatment with one-way valves for severe dyspnea. In both cases, the lung function improvement achieved after the valves placement allowed their surgicaltreatment. In additional to standard follow-up for evaluating the progression of emphysema, such patients should be enrolled in a screening program. It may allow the early detection of lung cancer with the possibility for surgery in accordance with respiratory function of patient

The early detection of lung cancer during follow-up of patients undergoing endobronchial one-way valve treatment for emphysema.

We describe the early detection of lung cancer during the follow-up of two emphysematous patients undergoing endobronchial treatment with one-way valves for severe dyspnea. In both cases, the lung function improvement achieved after the valves placement allowed their surgical treatment. In additional to standard follow-up for evaluating the progression of emphysema, such patients should be enrolled in a screening program. It may allow the early detection of lung cancer with the possibility for surgery in accordance with respiratory function of patient.