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OBJECTIVES: International guidelines recommend IV crystalloid as the primary fluid for sepsis resuscitation, with 5% human albumin solution (HAS) as the second line. However, it is unclear which fluid has superior clinical effectiveness. We conducted a trial to assess the feasibility of delivering a randomized controlled trial comparing balanced crystalloid against 5% HAS as sole early resuscitation fluid in patients with sepsis presenting to hospital. DESIGN: Multicenter, open, parallel-group randomized feasibility trial. SETTING: Emergency departments (EDs) in 15 U.K. National Health Service (NHS) hospitals. PATIENTS: Adult patients with sepsis and a National Early Warning Score 2 greater than or equal to five requiring IV fluids withing one hour of randomization. INTERVENTIONS: IV fluid resuscitation with balanced crystalloid or 5% HAS for the first 6 hours following randomization. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Primary feasibility outcomes were recruitment rate and 30-day mortality. We successfully recruited 301 participants over 12 months. Mean (SD) age was 69 years (+/- 16 yr), and 151 (50%) were male. From 1303 participants screened; 502 participants were potentially eligible and 300 randomized to receive trial intervention with greater than 95% of participants receiving the intervention. The median number of participants per site was 19 (range, 1-63). Thirty-day mortality was 17.9% (n = 53). Thirty-one participants died (21.1%) within 30 days in the 5% HAS arm, compared with 22 participants (14.8%) in the crystalloid arm (adjusted odds ratio, 1.50; 95% CIs, 0.84-2.83). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest it is feasible to recruit critically ill patients to a fluid resuscitation trial in U.K. EDs using 5% HAS as a primary resuscitation fluid. There was lower mortality in the balanced crystalloid arm. Given these findings, a definitive trial is likely to be deliverable, but the point estimates suggest such a trial would be unlikely to demonstrate a significant benefit from using 5% HAS as a primary resuscitation fluid in sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Less-invasive thoracotomies may reduce early postoperative pain. The aims of this study were to identify pain trajectories from postoperative days 0–5 after posterolateral and axillary thoracotomies and to identify potential factors related to the worst trajectory. Patients undergoing a posterolateral (92 patients) or axillary (89 patients) thoracotomy between July 2014 and November 2015 were analyzed in this prospective monocentric cohort study. The best-fitting model resulted in four pain trajectory groups: trajectory 1, the "worst", with 29.8% of the patients with permanent significant pain; trajectory 2 with patients with low pain (32.6%); trajectory 3 with patients with a steep decrease in pain (22.7%); and trajectory 4 with patients with a steep increase (14.9%). According to a multinomial logistic model multivariable analysis, some predictive factors allow for differentiation between trajectory groups 1 and 2. Risk factors for permanent pain are the existence of preoperative pain (OR = 6.94, CI 95% (1.54–31.27)) and scar length (OR = 1.20 (1.05–1.38)). In contrast, ASA class III is a protective factor in group 1 (OR = 0.02 (0.001–0.52)). In conclusion, early postoperative pain can be characterized by four trajectories and preoperative pain is a major factor for the worst trajectory of early postoperative pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, our interest was to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 during pregnancy on placenta and coagulation factors. Methods: a prospective cohort study between January and July 2021 of 55 pregnant women stratified into: Group O, 16 patients with ongoing SARS-CoV-2 infection at delivery; Group R, 21 patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy but who recovered prior to delivery; Group C, 18 control patients with no infection at any time. All women had nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests performed within 72 h of delivery. Obstetrical complications were recorded and two physiological inhibitors of coagulation, protein Z (PZ) and dependent protease inhibitor (ZPI), were analyzed in maternal and cord blood. All placentae were analyzed by a pathologist for vascular malperfusion. Results: No patient in any group had a severe COVID-19 infection. More obstetrical complications were observed in Group O (O: n = 6/16 (37%), R: n = 2/21 (10%), C: n = 1/18 (6%), p = 0.03). The incidence of placental vascular malperfusion was similar among the groups (O: n = 9/16 (56%), R: n = 8/21 (42%), C: n = 8/18 (44%), p = 0.68). No PZ or ZPI deficiency was associated with COVID-19. However, an increased ZPI/PZ ratio was observed in neonates of Group R (O: 82.6 (min 41.3–max 743.6), R: 120.7 (29.8–203.5), C: 66.8 (28.2–2043.5), p = 0.04). Conclusion: COVID-19 was associated with more obstetrical complications, but not an increased incidence of placental lesions or PZ and ZPI abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of our work was to assess the independent and incremental value of AI-derived quantitative determination of lung lesions extent on initial CT scan for the prediction of clinical deterioration or death in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia. 323 consecutive patients (mean age 65 ± 15 years, 192 men), with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and an abnormal chest CT scan, were admitted to the hospital between March and December 2020. The extent of consolidation and all lung opacities were quantified on an initial CT scan using a 3D automatic AI-based software. The outcome was known for all these patients. 85 (26.3%) patients died or experienced clinical deterioration, defined as intensive care unit admission. In multivariate regression based on clinical, biological and CT parameters, the extent of all opacities, and extent of consolidation were independent predictors of adverse outcomes, as were diabetes, heart disease, C-reactive protein, and neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio. The association of CT-derived measures with clinical and biological parameters significantly improved the risk prediction (p = 0.049). Automated quantification of lung disease at CT in COVID-19 pneumonia is useful to predict clinical deterioration or in-hospital death. Its combination with clinical and biological data improves risk prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis: To evaluate vaginal hysterectomy (VH) associated with vaginal native tissue repair (VNTR) using Campbell uterosacral ligament suspension (C-USLS) for the treatment of predominant uterine prolapse associated with cystocele. Methods: We conducted a retrospective monocentric study including patients who underwent VH and C-USLS, without concomitant mesh, for primary urogenital prolapse between January 2011 and June 2018. We evaluated the anterior and apical prolapse recurrence rate, using a composite criterion (symptomatic, asymptomatic recurrence, POP-Q stage ≥ 2). We analyzed 2-year recurrence-free survival using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify variables associated with recurrence. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and sexual satisfaction. Results: Ninety-four patients were included. Eighty-three (88.3%) and 65 (69.1%) patients had stage ≥ 3 uterine prolapse and cystocele, respectively. Mean follow-up was 36 months. Prolapse recurrence rate was 21.3% including 3.2% of cystocele. Two-year recurrence-free survival was 80%. Age, body mass index, POP-Q stage and associated surgical procedure were not significantly associated with recurrence. Early complications were reported for 20 patients (21.2%), mostly grade ≤ 2 (95%). De novo LUTS were reported in 11 cases (11.7%). Preoperative stress urinary incontinence and urgency were cured for 12 (80%) and 29 (80.6%) patients, respectively. Sexual satisfaction rate for patients with preoperative sexual activity was 95.8%. Conclusion: C-USLS following VH as primary treatment for predominant uterine prolapse with associated cystocele is a safe procedure with satisfying mid-term functional results. This VNTR could be an alternative in light of the worldwide market withdrawal of actual vaginal mesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postoperative physical therapy and early mobilization are major elements for enhanced recovery after surgery. In contrast with supervised physical therapy sessions that can be monitored, self-mobilization is not easily quantifiable and has so far been estimated mainly through patient auto-reports. This study aimed to perform a comprehensive and objective evaluation of postoperative mobility. Prospective observational study. Postoperative setting. Patients undergoing mini-invasive lung surgery. Measurement of postoperative mobility during the first five postoperative days using an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X). The primary outcome was the number of daily steps. Secondary outcomes included physical activity duration and intensity, sedentary time, number of breaks in sedentary time, sedentary patterns, daily evaluation by physiotherapists, postoperative complications, and acceptability of wearing the accelerometer. Sixty patients were included in the study, of whom 56 provided at least one day of valid accelerometry data. There was no significant change during the first four PODs concerning the number of daily steps nor the mean cadence. One-minute cadence peak, total activity counts, and duration of light-intensity physical activity increased over time (p = 0.032, p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Sedentary patterns changed favorably over time, with a decrease in prolonged sedentary bouts (≥ 60 consecutive min) (p < 0.001), and an increase in shorter bouts (< 10 min) (p = 0.001). Similar results were observed when analysis was adjusted for the day of the week when the surgery took place. The median acceptability of wearing the accelerometer was excellent (median 10 [9‐10] on a 10-point Likert scale). Three patients had major complications. Our findings suggest that daily steps may not be the only relevant indicator of early mobility following thoracic surgery and that accelerometry is suitable to follow patients' early postoperative activity. [Display omitted] • Early postoperative days after thoracic surgery: daily step count is stable. • Early postoperative days after thoracic surgery: light-activity time increases. • Steps are not the only relevant indicator of early mobility after surgery. • Accelerometry is suitable to assess patient's early postoperative activity. • Complete analysis of accelerometry opens a new field of postoperative evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to demonstrate the antalgic effectiveness of ScenarTM (Self-Controlled Electro Neuro Adaptative Regulation) in patients experiencing low back and neck pain. Sixty patients were included and equally assigned by randomization to a Scenar-On group and to a Scenar-Off group (sham group). All patients received a 20 min application of ScenarTM on the area where they experienced pain. The pain at rest and during movement and the sensation of stiffness were assessed using a numeric rating scale at baseline, immediately after the session and 24 h after the session. The patients' characteristics at entry were similar between groups. The pain at rest decreased after the session in both groups (from 8 (4) to 5.0 (3) in the Scenar-Off group, p = 0.0001, and from 7 (3) to 4 (4) in the Scenar-On group, p < 0.0001). The difference was not statistically significant for the groups (p = 0.22). Similar results were observed during movement, but the sensation of stiffness was not modified. Such beneficial results did not last until the next day. No undesirable major effects were noticed. Our study does not support the fact that one ScenarTM session improves low back and neck pain better than a sham session. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preoperative period may be an opportune period to optimize patients' physical condition with a multimodal preoperative program. The impact of a "prehabilitation" program on elderly patients is discussed. This mono-center observational cohort study included consecutively 139 patients planned for major abdominal and thoracic surgery, with 44 in the control group (age < 65) and 95 in the elderly group (age > 65). All patients followed a "prehabilitation" program including exercise training, nutritional optimization, psychological support, and behavioral change. Seventeen patients in the control group and 45 in the elderly group completed the study at six months. The 6-minute walk test (6 MWT) increased in both groups from the initial evaluation to the last (median value of 80 m (interquartile range 51) for those under 65 years; 59 m (34) for the elderly group; p = 0.114). The 6 MWT was also similar after one month of prehabilitation for both populations. The rate of postoperative complications was similar in the two groups. Prehabilitation showed equivalence in patients over 65 years of age compared to younger patients in terms of increase in functional capabilities and of postoperative evolution. This multimodal program represents a bundle of care that can benefit a frailer population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]