Harefuah最新文献

Introduction: Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is amongst the most common elective orthopedic surgeries. Since their introduction in 1951 there have been changes not only in prosthesis design and surgical approaches, but also in patient management, anesthesia, drug regimen and robotic arm assistance. These changes led to advancement in patient safety and shorter hospitalization. Today TJA is accessible for a wider age and function range of patients, which has led to an exponential growth in the number of procedures conducted.

Introduction: In February 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated Covid-19 as a global pandemic, resulting in a growing population of individuals with a wide range of persistent symptoms after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. According to the categories proposed by the WHO, the symptoms can be regarded as post-Covid if they developed during or after the Covid-19, continue >2 months and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis. Common persistent symptoms include fatigue, dyspnea, and decreased exercise capacity. Even though at diagnosis Covid- 19 has prominent hematologic manifestations, they mostly resolve after recovery from acute illness. We present a case of a 58-year-old male, without prior medical conditions, who developed a profound and prolonged anemia following mild Covid-19.

Introduction: Renal colic due to ureterolithiasis is a frequent reason for visiting the emergency departments (ED). The majority of those patients are managed non-surgically and will experience a spontaneous stone expulsion. The ED at our hospital works as a unified department, which is a well-established practice in Europe and North America.

Aims: Assess the outcome of urological consultation in the ED for patients with urolithiasis.

Methods: A retrospective cohort examined 402 ureterolithiasis patients proven by abdominal CT-scan at the ED. Patients were divided into 3 groups: Group1: patients were discharged after evaluation by ED physician alone. In Group 2: patients were discharged after being evaluated by an ED physician and urologist. In Group 3: patients who were admitted to the Urology Department. Clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters were examined as well as patients' outcomes: spontaneous stone expulsion, re-visit to ED and surgical intervention.

Results: There were not significant differences between group 1 and 2 regarding age, stone size, stone location, WBC levels, stone expulsion rate or surgical intervention. Group 1 had a significant higher rate of ED re-visits compared with group 2 (79 (43.3%) vs. 12 (17.9%). p=0.0002). Group 3 had significantly higher stone size, creatinine levels, inflammatory markers, proximal stone location and surgical interventions.

Conclusions: ED working as a unified department provides excellent management to patients with renal colic due to ureterolithiasis, with a high rate of spontaneous stone expulsion and urologist referral to admissions and surgical interventions. Nevertheless, urological consultation significantly decreases re-visits to ED.

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism, a common and potentially fatal clinical condition, occurs when a blood thrombus becomes lodged in the pulmonary vasculature and creates an acute increment in the pulmonary vascular resistance, which, in turn, creates a right ventricular strain. Among the more familiar electrocardiographic manifestations in acute pulmonary embolism is sinus tachycardia, right bundle branch block and ST-T abnormalities in the right precordium leads. Complete heart block or any type of bradycardia is uncommon. In our case report we present an 81 years old woman who was admitted to our institution with acute pulmonary embolism and complete atrioventricular block, which later resolved with appropriate anticoagulation therapy.

Introduction: The treatment of newly diagnosed metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) evolved dramatically with the approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) such as nivolumab, ipilimumab, and pembrolizumab for this indication. Herein, we describe the case of a 52-year old male patient, without chronic diseases and with a 30-pack-year smoking history, who was diagnosed with mRCC (clear cell carcinoma) including enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum, a mass in the pleura, and numerous metastases in both lungs. The patient was treated with a combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab, followed by nivolumab monotherapy, which is still ongoing (as of December 2021). The patient had a near-complete response (near resolution of the metastatic lesions) and did not experience adverse events. After 13 months of treatment, and in light of the near-complete response, the patient underwent a radical laparoscopic nephrectomy. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient was discharged from the hospital 3 days after surgery. Examining the excised kidney revealed no residual tumor, connective tissue, signs of inflammation and necrosis. As of December 2021 (approximately 23 months from immunotherapy initiation) the patient had no evidence of disease. This case report demonstrates a treatment approach involving deferred nephrectomy after (and during) ICI treatment. The response of the patient described herein to a combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab is consistent with the available data supporting the efficacy of this combination as a first-line therapy in mRCC. Currently, the evidence supporting deferred nephrectomy (after ICI) vs upfront nephrectomy and then ICI, or ICI alone without nephrectomy is limited to a few retrospective studies. Thus, prospective randomized studies are needed to elucidate the role of deferred nephrectomy in mRCC. Two phase 3 studies (PROBE and NORDIC-SUN) that were designed to address this issue are currently enrolling patients and their results are expected within several years.

Introduction: The use of vaginal mesh in pelvic surgery has previously demonstrated anatomical advantage combined with surgical complications that have called its effectiveness into question.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an anchorless implant for the repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in women with risk factors for recurrence.

Methods: Retrospective evaluation of the self-retaining support (SRS) implant in women with a ≥2 degree vaginal anterior and apical prolapse with an increased risk of prolapse recurrence. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and women suspected of recurrence, based on a telephone questionnaire, were re-examined.

Results: Sixty women were evaluated. Four (6.6%) underwent reoperation due to prolapse recurrence of the posterior and vaginal apex. No intra-operative complications were documented; 4 (6.6%) women had surgical field hematoma treated conservatively. No chronic pelvic pain or dyspareunia were documented. Six (10%) women who reported bulging sensation in the telephone questionnaire were examined and found to have prolapse of the posterior compartment and not of the anterior or apical compartment treated by the SRS.

Conclusions: Use of the SRS demonstrated 93.3% success rate at a mean follow-up of 14 months postoperatively without intra-operative complications and mild post-op complications at follow-up.

Discussion: Short term data on the use of the SRS demonstrate that anchorless mesh technique may preserve the benefits of vaginal mesh while eliminating surgical complications. The SRS is a safe and effective surgical alternative for the repair of anterior and apical vaginal prolapse in women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse and risk factors for relapse.

Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumors (NEN) originate from hormone producing cells located in various organs and tissues. NEN are unique tumors in terms of their diverse and particular clinical presentations, growth pattern, location and relatively good prognosis. NEN can be either secreting or non-secreting tumors. The clinical presentation and symptoms are according to the specific hormone produced by the tumor. A non-secreting tumor will eventually cause symptoms that relate to a mass-effect or a metastatic disease. There are various familial and genetic syndromes that are related to NEN. The most common neuroendocrine genetic syndrome is Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 1 (MEN 1). The clinical approach and treatment of NEN are unlike any other cancer. The gold standard management is surgery but unlike other cancerous diseases, surgical intervention is also indicated in cases of metastatic disease. There are several surgical approaches, and they all depend on tumor size, location, grade, stage, lymph node involvement, remote metastases and patients' age and comorbidities. Besides surgery, some cases are also treated with systemic therapies such as Somatostatin analogues, chemotherapy, immunotherapies, targeted therapies and occasionally radiation therapy is used. In the last decade there is a significant increase in the number of patients diagnosed with small non-secreting pancreatic tumors (PNET) due to advanced imaging techniques and diagnostic tools. This incidental increase is the reason for the emerging dilemma of whether to operate or merely conduct a watchful waiting policy. Small non-secreting tumors are commonly not considered malignant and thus the question is if surgery is always the right approach. The benefits of surgery must be carefully considered against the potential damage that may occur during these complex and radical procedures. Moreover, new and progressive systemic pharmacological therapies are now available to efficiently suppress tumor hormonal secretion. Recent studies have challenged surgery as the only treatment of choice, and in some cases suggest conservative treatment and follow up. The aim of this present literature review is to describe PNET diagnostic tools and evaluation, and to examine the different approaches of PNET treatment.

Introduction: The goal of the medical staff is to provide proper, effective and efficient treatment to the patient and to take care of his well-being. An error in medical care that causes a serious outcome or mortality, can be considered negligence when the caregiver did not meet the requirements of a reasonable physician for reasonable care and did not take the necessary precautions in providing the treatment, in light of the information available to him. The perception of punishment and compensation due to harm, caused to a patient as a result of a medical error, changed dramatically over the years. Starting with direct and severe punishment according to Hammurabi laws and ending with the "no fault" approach that is accepted widely in some countries. Following an adverse event that occurred in medical treatment, a process should be conducted in order to draw lessons to reduce the likelihood of recurrence of similar incidents in the future, by answering 4 questions: What happened? How did it happen? Why did it happen? and What should be done to prevent similar incidents in the future? The Patient Rights Act does not suggest conducting a safety investigation but recommends an examination board in cases of negligence or error in treatment. By law, the protocols of the examination board are confidential and can be removed by the court in case the protocol contains evidence of importance that is unlikely to be found in the medical record. Lack of confidentiality may cause medical staff to be reluctant of conducting a safety investigation due to fear of using its findings for a lawsuit or appointing an examination board whose conclusions will be reported to the victim and his family. The "no fault" method overcomes these barriers by enabling a thorough safety investigation and has important professional, economic and social aspects with a direct impact on the quality and safety of treatment. The method expands the accessibility of victims to compensation, reduces the number of claims and the burden on the courts. Among additional benefits are transparency and consistency in decisions, promoting patient safety due to physicians' willingness to report failures, reduction in "defensive medicine" and spending in the health care system.

Introduction: During the late 19th century and the 20th century, many allied health and technical professions, joined physicians and nurses in their formal medical and surgical comprehensive work. The professionalization process of the various medical and surgical fields demanded true incorporation of allied health professions into the medical infrastructure. Non-academic professions such as the "feldsher ", barber-surgeon, bone-setters and the midwife, transferred into realms of the academic medical and the health professions fields.

Introduction: This paper describes the difficulties to create a new Israeli annual meeting, 25 years ago, with the annual participation of the world's best neuro-ophthalmologists. This meeting contributed to the increase in the number of neuro-ophthalmologists in Israel, improved local knowledge, as well as the scientific research in this particular field, and changed the status of the Israeli neuro-ophthalmology on the international neuro-ophthalmology map.