Short Takes

Comparison of the number of major complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus percutaneous catheter drainage in the treatment of acute cholecystitis

This randomized, controlled trial showed that 65% of high-risk patients (APACHE II score of at least 7) with acute cholecystitis experienced major complications after undergoing percutaneous catheter drainage, compared with 12% of patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Major complications included reintervention and recurrent biliary disease. The rate of death was the same in both groups.

Citation: Loozen CS et al. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus percutaneous catheter drainage for acute cholecystitis in high-risk patients (CHOCOLATE): Multicentre randomised clinical trial. BMJ. 2018 Aug 28;363:k3965.

Food and Drug Administration approves new drug to treat influenza

Two randomized, controlled trials showed that Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) taken as a single dose decreased symptoms in uncomplicated influenza, compared with placebo. The medication also was associated with a lower viral load on day 1 after administration, compared with both placebo and oseltamivir, the most commonly used medication to treat influenza.

Citation: Hayden FG et al. Baloxavir marboxil for uncomplicated influenza in adults and adolescents. N Eng J Med. 2018 Sep 6;379:913-23.

Effects of missed hemodialysis treatments

Researchers used a prospective cohort of 8,501 patients from hemodialysis (HD) centers in 20 countries to identify patients who missed one or more HD sessions in 4 months. In the United States, 24% of HD patients missed one or more sessions in 4 months, compared with 10% in Canada and 9% in the United Kingdom. Moreover, 12.2% of U.S. HD patients missed at least one session per month. All-cause mortality was 68% higher in patients who missed one or more sessions in 4 months. Risk factors associated with missing dialysis treatments were travel time of more than 1 hour to the facility, depression, younger age, being on dialysis for a shorter vintage, lower perceived burden of kidney disease, and shorter treatment times.

Citation: Al Salmi I et al. Missed hemodialysis treatments: International variation, predictors, and outcomes in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS). Am J Kidney Dis. 2018 Nov;72(5)634-43.

Do in situ mock codes affect in-hospital cardiac arrest mortality?

This ecological study included multiple hospital systems and showed that hospitals with a higher proportion of in situ mock codes had an in-hospital cardiac arrest survival rate of 42.8% versus 31.8% in hospitals with fewer mock codes (P greater than .0001).

Citation: Josey K et al. Hospitals with more-active participation in conducting standardized in-situ mock codes have improved survival after in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest. Resuscitation. 2018 Dec;133:47-52.

New oxygen guidelines

In patients admitted with acute stroke or MI, an international expert panel made a strong recommendation against initiating supplemental oxygen when the SpO₂ is greater than 92% and a weak recommendation against initiating supplemental oxygen when the SpO₂ is 90%-92%. In acutely ill medical patients receiving supplemental oxygen, the panel makes a strong recommendation to maintain an upper limit oxygen saturation of less than 96%.

Citation: Siemieniuk RAC et al. Oxygen therapy for acutely ill medical patients: A clinical practice guideline. BMJ. 2018 Oct 24;363:k4169.