INTRODUCTION: The use of periarticular (PA) tranexamic acid (TXA) and its efficacy in comparison with intra-articular (IA) TXA have not been well explored in the literature. This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare the effects of IA and PA TXA with analgesic components in reducing blood loss and improving immediate postoperative pain relief and functional outcomes in patients after unilateral primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: A total of 63 patients underwent TKA, and they were divided into the IA TXA delivery group ( n = 42) and PA TXA delivery group ( n = 21). All patients were administered 1 g of TXA. They also received pericapsular infiltration consisting of 0.5 mL of adrenaline, 0.4 mL of morphine, 1 g of vancomycin, 1 mL of ketorolac and 15 mL of ropivacaine. Outcomes for blood loss and surrogate markers for immediate functional recovery were measured. RESULTS: Of the 63 patients, 54% were female and 46% male. The mean drop in postoperative haemoglobin levels in the PA and IA groups was 2.0 g/dL and 1.6 g/dL, respectively, and this was not statistically significant ( P = 0.10). The mean haematocrit drop in the PA and IA groups was 6.1% and 5.3%, respectively, and this was also not statistically significant ( P = 0.58). The postoperative day (POD) 1 and discharge day flexion angles, POD 1 and POD 2 visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, gait distance on discharge and length of hospitalisation stay were largely similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION Our study showed that both IA and PA TXA with analgesic components were equally efficient in reducing blood loss and improving immediate postoperative pain relief and functional outcomes.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Tranexamic Acid/adverse effects* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/adverse effects* ; Antifibrinolytic Agents/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Blood Loss, Surgical/prevention & control* ; Administration, Intravenous ; Analgesia ; Analgesics/therapeutic use* ; Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy* ; Injections, Intra-Articular

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety of low-dose cyclophosphamide and high-dose cyclophosphamide in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: A total of 1 022 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus from 24 hospitals in China between March 2017 to July 2018 were enrolled. Their clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, adverse events, reasons for stopping receiving intravenous cyclophosphamide and comorbidities were collected. Among them, 506 SLE patients received short-interval low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy (SILD IV-CYC, 400 mg every two weeks), and 256 patients underwent high-dose cyclophosphamide therapy (HD IV-CYC, 500 mg/m² of body surface area every month), the side effects between the two groups were compared, the remaining 260 SLE patients were treated with IV-CYC irregularly. Moreover, a total of 377 patients in SILD IV-CYC group and 214 patients in HD IV-CYC group had medical records of the reasons for stopping recei-ving IV-CYC. The reasons for stopping receiving IV-CYC in these two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: In this study, only 40.27%(238/591)of the SLE patients stopped receiving intravenous cyclophosphamide for the causes of disease improvement, however, up to 33.67% (199/591) of the patients for the reason of drug-related side effects. There were 83 patients out of 214 (38.79%) with high-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide treatment who stopped receiving IV-CYC for the drug-related side effects, which was significantly higher than that in the low-dose cyclophosphamide group (30.77%, 116/337, P=0.048). Of theses 506 patients in SILD IV-CYC group, 88 (17.39%) patients experienced gastrointestinal reactions, 66 (13.04%) suffered from infections, 49 (9.68%) had myelosuppression and 68 (13.44%) had alopecia, respectively. Among the 256 patients in the HD IV-CYC group, 80 (31.25%) experienced gastrointestinal reactions, 57 (22.27%) suffered from infections, 51 (19.92%) had myelosuppression and 49 (19.14%) had alopecia. Moreover, 71 (25.18%) of 282 female patients with age between 16 to 45 years in SILD IV-CYC group had abnormal menstruation, while menstrual disorder occurred in 39.72% (56/141) patients of HD IV-CYC group. There was no difference of drug-induced hepatic injury, hemorrhagic cystitis and fatigue between the two groups. CONCLUSION Low-dose cyclophosphamide showed a lower prevalence of adverse events than high-dose cyclophosphamide in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.
Humans ; Female ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects* ; Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapy* ; Administration, Intravenous ; Alopecia/drug therapy*

BACKGROUND: Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is an effective way for treating acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, its effects have not been established among AIS patients with unclear stroke symptoms or with stroke onset for >4.5 h. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Google Scholar databases for randomized controlled trials that compared IVT (IVT group) and placebo or usual care (control group [CG]) in AIS patients with disease onset for >4.5 h. The outcomes of interest included the favorable functional outcome (defined as modified Rankin Scale [mRS] scores 0-1) at 90 days, the functional independence (defined as mRS scores 0-2) at 90 days, proportion of patients with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) and death at 90 days. We assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane tool. Pre-specified subgroup analyses were performed by age (≤70 years or >70 years), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS, ≤10 or >10) and time window (4.5-9.0 h or >9.0 h). RESULTS: Four trials involving 848 patients were eligible. The risk of bias of included trials was low. Patients in the IVT group were more likely to achieve favorable functional outcomes (45.8% vs. 36.7%; OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.12-1.96) and functional independence (63.8% vs. 55.7%; OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.08-1.90) at 90 days, but had higher risk of sICH (3.0% vs. 0.5%; OR 5.28, 95% CI 1.35-20.68) at 90 days than those in the CG. No significant difference in death at 90 days was found between the two groups (7.0% vs. 4.1%; OR 1.80; 95% CI 0.97-3.34). CONCLUSIONS Use of IVT in patients with extended time window may improve their functional outcomes at 90 days, although IVT may induce increased risk of sICH. Care of these patients should well balance the potential benefits and harms of IVT.
Administration, Intravenous ; Aged ; Brain Ischemia/drug therapy* ; Fibrinolytic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Ischemic Stroke ; Stroke/drug therapy* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Administration, Intravenous ; Ascorbic Acid/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19 ; Humans ; Pneumonia ; SARS-CoV-2

intravenous administration (RR=1.81) and previous AAD episodes (RR=1.87). Abdominal pain occurred in 27/289 (9.3%), particularly in children >6 years (RR=4.15), with previous abdominal pain (RR=7.2) or constipation (RR=4.06). Constipation was recorded in 23/289 (8.0%), with increased risk in children having surgery (RR=2.56) or previous constipation (RR=7.38). Probiotic supplementation significantly reduced AAD (RR=0.30) and abdominal pain (RR=0.36). Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and L. reuteri significantly reduced AAD (RR=0.37 and 0.35) and abdominal pain (RR=0.37 and 0.24).CONCLUSION: AAD occurred in 20.4% of children, with increased risk at younger age, lower respiratory and urinary tract infections, intravenous treatment and previous AAD. LGG and L. reuteri reduced both AAD and associated abdominal pain.]]>
Abdominal Pain ; Administration, Intravenous ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Constipation ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Lactobacillus reuteri ; Lactobacillus rhamnosus ; Probiotics ; Prospective Studies ; Protective Factors ; Urinary Tract Infections

BACKGROUND: The worldwide incidence of osteomyelitis is approximately 21.8 cases per 100,000 person-years. The cornerstone of treatment is prolonged (4-6 weeks) intravenous antibiotic administration. This entails additional cost, inconvenience, and added manpower from the healthcare system. Thus, studies have explored the possible use of oral antibiotics as alternatives to improve patient compliance and reduce costs. Our meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of oral versus intravenous antibiotics in treating adult patients with osteomyelitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electronic databases (PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar, and Research Gate) from 1966 to April 2020 were searched using the terms “oral antibiotics”, “osteomyelitis”, “randomized controlled trial”. Only studies that directly compared oral versus intravenous antibiotics and confirmed osteomyelitis through biopsy and/or imaging were included. Primary outcome is remission (resolution of symptoms with no relapse and bacteriologic eradication); secondary outcomes, (a) relapse (persistence of the pathogen after treatment) and (b) adverse events. The validity of included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. We performed a random-effects model in Review Manager Version 5.3 with 95% confidence interval. The I 2 test was used to assess heterogeneity. RESULTS: Seven of 89 trials comprised of 1,282 patients were included in the final analysis. All studies included patients with osteomyelitis of the lower extremities. Oral antibiotics used were Ciprofloxacin, Ofloxacin, and Co-trimoxazole; intravenous antibiotics used were deemed appropriate by the infectious disease specialist. Patients were only given either oral or intravenous antibiotics. Results showed an 8% increase in remission rates [RR 1.08 (0.81 to 1.44, 95% CI, Z = 0.52, p=0.60)] with no heterogeneity (I2 = 0%) in the intravenous antibiotics group. However, this was not statistically significant. Furthermore, there was a 62% decrease in relapse rates in the intravenous antibiotics group [RR 1.62 (0.85 to 3.07, 95% CI, Z = 1.47, p = 0.14)] with no heterogeneity (I2 = 0%) but was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Oral are comparable to intravenous antibiotics in treating osteomyelitis in terms of remission and relapse rates. However, larger and double-blinded trials should be done to generate more robust data to validate these claims.
Osteomyelitis ; Administration, Intravenous ' ; Parenteral Nutrition

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effect of vitamin C on post-laparoscopic shoulder pain (PLSP) in patients undergoing benign gynecological surgery during the first 72 h. METHODS: Sixty patients (aged 20 to 60 years, with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification I or II) scheduled for elective laparoscopic hysterectomy were enrolled in this study. The vitamin C group (Group C) received 500 mg of vitamin C in 50 ml of isotonic saline infusion intravenously twice a day from the day of surgery to the third day after surgery. Patients in the saline group (Group S) received the same volume of isotonic saline over the same period. Post-operative analgesic consumption, pain scores of the incision site and the shoulder, and the incidence of PLSP were all evaluated at 1, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h following surgery. RESULTS: Cumulative post-operative fentanyl consumption was significantly less in Group C at 24 and 48 h after surgery (P = 0.002, P = 0.012, respectively). The pain intensity of PLSP was also significantly lower in Group C 24 h after the operation (P = 0.002). Additionally, the incidence of PLSP was significantly lower in Group C 24 and 48 h after the operation (P = 0.002, P = 0.035, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative intravenous administration of vitamin C (500 mg, twice a day) reduced post-operative analgesic consumption and significantly lowered the pain intensity and incidence of PLSP.
Administration, Intravenous ; Ascorbic Acid ; Classification ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy ; Pain, Postoperative ; Shoulder Pain ; Shoulder ; Vitamins

BACKGROUND: Sevoflurane is widely used to anesthetize children because of its rapid action with minimal irritation of the airways. However, there is a high risk of agitation after emergence from anesthesia. Strabismus surgery, in particular, can trigger agitation because patients have their eyes covered in the postoperative period. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not esmolol and lidocaine could decrease emergence agitation in children. METHODS: Eighty-four patients aged 3 to 9 years undergoing strabismus surgery were randomly assigned to a control group (saline only), a group that received intravenous lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg, and a group that received intravenous esmolol 0.5 mg/kg and lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg. Agitation was measured using the objective pain score, Cole 5-point score, and Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale score at the end of surgery, on arrival in the recovery room, and 10 and 30 min after arrival. RESULTS: The group that received the combination of esmolol and lidocaine showed lower OPS and RASS scores than the other two groups when patients awoke from anesthesia (OPS = 0 (0-4), RASS = -4 [(-5)-1]) and were transferred to the recovery room (OPS = 0 (0-8), RASS = -1 [(-5)-3]) (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the severity of agitation among the three groups at other time points (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: When pediatric strabismus surgery is accompanied by sevoflurane anesthesia, an intravenous injection of esmolol and lidocaine could alleviate agitation until arrival in the recovery room. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Research Information Service, No. KCT0002925; https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/en/search/search_result_st01.jsp?seq=11532.
Anesthesia ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Double-Blind Method ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Lidocaine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Propanolamines ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Sevoflurane ; therapeutic use ; Strabismus ; surgery ; Wakefulness ; drug effects

OBJECTIVE: Patients suspected as having acute ischemic stroke usually undergo blood tests, including coagulation-related indexes, because thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy are contraindications for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) administration. We aimed to identify blood test indexes associated with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) in patients with acute ischemic stroke who received intravenous rtPA.METHODS: This retrospective observational study included patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke who were treated with intravenous rtPA at the emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Seoul between February 2008 and January 2018. Blood test indexes were compared between the sICH and non-sICH groups. Logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic curve analyses were performed.RESULTS: In this study, 375 patients were finally included. Of 375 patients, 42 (11.2%) showed new intracranial hemorrhage on follow-up brain computed tomography, of whom 14 (3.73%) had sICH. Platelet count, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly different between the sICH and non-sICH groups, and platelet count showed statistical significance in the regression analysis. Significantly lower platelet counts were observed in the sICH group than in the non-sICH group (174,500 vs. 228,000/mm³, P=0.020). The best cutoff platelet count was 195,000/mm³, and patients with platelet counts of < 195,000/mm³ had a 5.4- times higher risk of developing sICH than those with platelet counts of ≥195,000/mm³.CONCLUSION: Platelet count was the only independent parameter associated with sICH among the blood test indexes. Mild thrombocytopenia may increase the risk of sICH after intravenous administration of rtPA.
Administration, Intravenous ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Brain ; Cerebral Infarction ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Logistic Models ; Observational Study ; Platelet Count ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Stroke ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a relatively infrequent complication of heparin administration. HIT can cause devastating thrombosis, making it one of the most serious adverse drug reactions encountered in clinical practice. We successfully treated a case of severe HIT presenting with thrombosis and life-threatening bleeding complications with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), platelet transfusion and oral anticoagulant Rivaroxaban. In this case, we considered that IVIG played the most important role by preventing further thrombosis, increasing the platelet count, and ensuring the efficacy of Rivaroxaban. We therefore suggest that IVIG might be the optimal treatment for patients with this urgent condition.
Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Heparin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; Platelet Transfusion ; Rivaroxaban ; administration & dosage ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced ; therapy