Objective. This is a cross-sectional study aimed to determine the time intervals from the first symptom to surgery of 37 patients with ovarian malignancies who underwent surgery at a tertiary government hospital from June to October 2019.

Methods. Structured interviews of patients and chart reviews were conducted to identify the intervals and the reasons behind such. The data were analyzed using Stata/SE 14.1, with the time intervals presented as medians and the reasons as frequencies. Multinomial logistic regression analysis established the association of time intervals with the extent of surgery and final stage of ovarian malignancies.

Results. The median Total Time Interval from the first symptom to surgery was 214 days. The longest delay was the Total System Interval (from the first visit at the tertiary hospital to surgery) with a median of 70 days. This was followed closely by Patient Interval (from the first symptom to consult with the initial physician) with a median of 64 days. A distant third was the Initial Physician Interval (from the consult with the initial physician to the first visit at the tertiary hospital) with a median of 29 days. Most common reasons for the delays were the patients not acknowledging the gravity of their condition for the Patient Interval; choice to go to other hospitals, distance and laboratory works or diagnostics for the Initial Physician Interval; waiting for laboratory work-ups for the First System Interval; and waiting for other departments' clearance for the Second System Interval. The most common first symptom was abdominal enlargement. The length of interval and the final stage (p=0.056 for Stage III and p=0.162 for Stage IV)) as well as extent of surgery (p=0.093) did not show significant association.

Conclusion. The time interval from first symptom to surgery showed a median of 214 days. The greatest delay is contributed by Total System Interval followed by Patient Interval due to varying reasons. Length of time intervals, however, was not found to be significantly associated with the extent of surgery and final stage

Time-to-Treatment

Objective: To investigate the association between the time intervals of key clinical time points and tumor progression (increase in clinical staging) in head and neck cancer patients before and during the pandemic. Methods: Design: Retrospective Cohort Study. Setting: Tertiary Government Training Hospital. Participants: A total of 81 head and neck cancer patients who consulted at the OPD and underwent elective surgery between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022, under the Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery of East Avenue Medical Center were included in the study; 40 patients comprised the pre-pandemic group and 41 patients-the pandemic group. Results: Majority of patients were men (61.73%), and the mean age was 54 years. The most prevalent tumor site was the oral cavity (37.04%). Most patients were Clinical Stage IV at the time of diagnosis (32.10%) and at the time of surgery (58.02%). In the pre-pandemic period, median time-to-consult was 180 days, time-to-diagnosis was 14 days, and time-to-treatment was 57 days. During the pandemic, median time-to-consult significantly increased to 365 days (Mann-Whitney test, U = 589, p = .028), but time-to-diagnosis decreased to 10 days, and time to-treatment decreased to 43 days, although these were not significant (U = 775, p = .667; U = 809, p = .917). Among the 81 patients in the study, 14 (17.28%) showed tumor progression (pre-pandemic: 6; 15%; pandemic: 8; 19.51%), but there was no significant association between time-to-consult and increase in clinical staging for both pre-pandemic (χ2(38) = 34.2, p = .646) and pandemic groups (χ2(16) = 23.1, p = .110) or between time-to-diagnosis and increase in clinical staging for pre-pandemic (χ2(56) = 36.8, p = .978) and pandemic groups (χ2(23) = 28.3, p = .267). Overall, there was no significant association between time-to-treatment and increase in clinical staging for both pre-pandemic (χ2(62) = 80.00, p = .062) and pandemic groups (χ2(32) = 30.4, p = .548), but a subset of patients with larynx primary tumor site had a statistically significant association between time-to-treatment and tumor progression (χ2(5) = 12.00, p = .035). Conclusion This study revealed that there was an increase in time to-consult for head and neck cancer patients during the pandemic. However, there was no significant difference in time-to-diagnosis and time-to-treatment. This shows that the Department of ORL-HNS, East Avenue Medical Center has provided pandemic head and neck cancer care similar to before the pandemic. No significant associations were found between tumor progression and time intervals of the key clinical time points but patients who had an increase in clinical stage were noted with longer time-to treatment. It was also observed that more patients were in advanced clinical stages during the pandemic.
Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Time-to-Treatment ; COVID-19

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy/*methods ; *Time-to-Treatment ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*surgery

BACKGROUND: Because of the high complication rate of anatomical reconstruction after periacetabular resection, the strategy of resection alone has been revisited. However, in terms of complications and functional outcome, whether resection hip arthroplasty (RHA) shows a superior result to that of pelvic ring reconstruction remains controversial. METHODS: We compared 24 RHAs and 16 pasteurized autograft-prosthesis composite (PPC) reconstructions regarding the complication rates, operative time, blood loss, and functional outcome. RESULTS: Compared to 16 PPC hips, 24 RHA hips showed lower major and minor complication rates (p < 0.001), shorter surgical time (p < 0.001), and superior Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scores (p < 0.001). Of the 24 RHA hips, bony neo-acetabulum was identified in 7 on computed tomography and partial neo-acetabulum in 9; the remaining 8 had no bony acetabular structure. The average time to bony neo-acetabulum formation was 7 months (range, 4 to 13 months). CONCLUSIONS: RHA for periacetabular tumors can be an excellent alternative to anatomical reconstruction. It offers short surgical time, low complication rates, and functional results comparable to those of other reconstruction methods. However, this procedure is indicated for patients who can accept some limb shortening, and a tumor should be confined to the periacetabular area.
Acetabulum ; Arthroplasty* ; Extremities ; Hip* ; Humans ; Operative Time ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to determine the clinical and therapeutic characteristics of women with a primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective clinical study was conducted to evaluate 22 women diagnosed with a PPC from 1993 to 2007 at the Hospitals of The Catholic University of Korea. Diagnoses were based on the Gynecologic Oncology Group criteria and clinical data. We collected patient clinicopathological data including age, presenting symptoms, pretreatment CA-125 values (U/ml), clinical stage (based on the FIGO stage), performance status (using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scale), whether cytoreductive surgery was optimal or not, types of chemotherapy and response to treatment. We evaluated the clinical characteristics and response to treatment, time to treatment failure and overall survival. RESULTS: The median overall survival of all patients was 23.1 months. The estimated 3-year survival rate was 29% (SE, 13%). The response rate to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy was 79% and the median time to treatment failure was 9.9 months (95% confidence interval, 1.38~18.4 months). By univariate and multivariate analysis, performance status was the only significant factor associated with overall survival (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We evaluated the clinical characteristics and treatment response of patients with a primary peritoneal carcinoma. Our results showed that it is possible to achieve long-term survival in patients with PPC. A further clinical study is to need to establish clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes.
Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Time-to-Treatment ; Treatment Failure

Timing of surgery is important for prognosis. In patients with acute abdomen, the urgency means timing of surgery is even more important. However early emergency surgery is often logistically daunting because of constraints on resources such as operating room, supporting anesthesiologist, and nurses. Therefore it is worthwhile reviewing the timing of surgery in the patient with acute abdomen. The authors discuss the ideal time to surgery based on their experience and a review of the literature. For appendicitis and for peptic ulcer perforation, the authors recommend surgery within 24 hours from symptom onset. However, for other acute abdomen disease, evidence for a consensus is not as strong. If a surgeon faces a large number of emergent patients, if resources are limited, the surgeon must decide priorities for surgery. Therefore, an emergency triage system is needed, based on expert opinion and evidence. Although several triage systems are described in the literature, there is some controversy. If we follow a triage system, utilization of resources will be more efficient and acute care surgery might be performed within the ideal time.
Abdomen, Acute* ; Appendicitis ; Consensus ; Emergencies ; Expert Testimony ; Humans ; Operating Rooms ; Peptic Ulcer Perforation ; Prognosis ; Time Management ; Time-to-Treatment ; Triage

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the success rates of immediate and delayed placement of implants with respect to the causes of tooth extraction and implant positions.

METHODSA total of 310 dental implants (immediate implants:delayed implants = 76:234) were inserted into 80 patients. The types, sizes and positions of the implants and the causes of tooth extraction were recorded. We then investigated the relationship of implant loss with the causes of tooth extraction and placement methods.

RESULTSA higher failure rate was found for the implants in the posterior region of the maxilla, and when periodontitis was cited as a reason for tooth extraction. The overall success rates were 93.4% and 95.7% in the immediate and delayed implant placement groups, respectively, after a 2-year follow-up. No obvious relationship of success rate was observed with the implant placement method, cause of tooth extraction, and implants' position.

CONCLUSIONThe immediate placement of implants into fresh extraction sockets could offer advantages over the delayed implant placement. It seems to be a safe and predictable method for patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dental Implants ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors ; Tooth Extraction ; Treatment Failure ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To identify in what phases in the treatment of head and neck cancer do delays happen at a tertiary hospital and to determine the association between the length of treatment delays and the oncologic outcomes (disease-free survival and overall survival) for patients with head and neck cancer. : Methods Design: Retrospective Cohort Study Setting: Tertiary National University Hospital Participants: Sixty-eight (68) patients who had surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy for invasive head and neck cancer at the Philippine General Hospital during the 5-year period of January 2014 to December 2019 were included in the initial consideration. Only 15 had survival data and were thus eligible for inclusion in this study. Results: The median treatment package time for head and neck cancers in our institution was 27.6 weeks or 193 days. The treatment package time statistically correlated with both overall survival, F(1,13)=12.952, p <0.005, R2=0.499, and disease-free survival, F(1-13)=12.823, p <0.005, R2= 0.497. However, the independent effects of other predictors such as time interval between first consult to histopathologic diagnosis, diagnosis to surgery, and surgery to post-operative radiotherapy, showed no statistically significant association with overall survival and disease free survival. Conclusion All study patients experienced treatment delays from diagnosis to surgery, and surgery to adjuvant radiation therapy, and in their total treatment package time. The positive correlation among treatment package time, and disease-free and overall survival in this study must be further investigated in order to elucidate the true effect of delays across time intervals in the treatment of head and neck cancer in the Philippine General Hospital. Every effort should be made towards timely management of these patients.
Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Time-to-Treatment ; Surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Postoperative Care

BACKGROUND: We assessed the effects of stroke community-based education and advocacy on the time from stroke onset to hospital arrival in ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: Stroke community-based education and advocacy were implemented between May 2014 and December 2014 in Iksan, Jeollabukdo. The extent of ambulance utilization, time from stroke onset to hospital arrival, and proportions of arrivals within certain golden-time windows were compared with those of patients admitted from May to December 2013 (before vs. after intervention). RESULTS: The demographic and clinical characteristics did not differ significantly between the patients admitted in 2013 and 2014, nor did the proportion of ambulance utilization (33.6% and 39.4%, respectively; p=0.195). The median time from stroke onset to hospital arrival changed from 582 min in 2013 to 367 min in 2014, although not statistically significant (p=0.062). The proportion of hospital arrivals within 3 hours from stroke onset increased significantly from 28.5% in 2013 to 42.3% in 2014 (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive community-based stroke intervention may increase the probability of hospital arrival within the golden-time window, thereby leading to a better prognosis.
Ambulances ; Education* ; Health Education ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Prognosis ; Stroke* ; Time-to-Treatment

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical effects of intracameral voriconazole injection in fungal keratitis refractory to conventional therapy. METHODS: Thirty-eight eyes of 38 patients with fungal keratitis were included in this study. The patients were divided into 3 groups: 13 patients with intracameral voriconazole injection (50 microg/0.1 ml; group A), 11 patients with intracameral amphotericin B injection (10 microg/0.1 ml; group B), and 14 patients with conventional therapy only (group C). Clinical factors including treatment success rate and time to successful treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: Treatment success was accomplished in 12 eyes in group A (92.3%), 10 eyes in group B (90.9%), and 12 eyes in group C (85.7%). Time to treatment success in group A, B, and C was 36.1 +/- 10.4 days (p = 0.04), 34.2 +/- 7.8 days (p = 0.03), and 49.5 +/- 16.7 days, respectively. Patients who had received intracameral voriconazole injection or amphotericin B showed faster fungal keratitis improvement than patients who received conventional treatment. Time to re-epithelialization and time to disappearance of hypopyon showed a similar clinical course. CONCLUSIONS: Intracameral voriconazole injection, which has a similar therapeutic effect as intracameral amphotericin B injection in the management of fungal keratitis, can be helpful in the treatment of intractable fungal keratitis.
Amphotericin B ; Eye ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Pyrimidines ; Re-Epithelialization ; Time-to-Treatment ; Triazoles