No abstract

The combined results of observational studies show a statistically non-significant reduction in mortality for the on-demand relaparotomy strategy compared with the planned relaparotomy strategy when corrected for heterogeneity in a random-effects model. Owing to the non-randomized nature of the studies, the limited number of patients per study, and the heterogeneity between studies, the overall evidence generated by the eight studies was inconclusive.

This review generated a hierarchy (weighted ranking) of published variables that could play a role in the decision to perform a relaparotomy in patients with secondary peritonitis. The top sixtile of ranked variables (10 variables) showed promising results in the discrimination between patients having a positive and negative relaparotomy when tested on a peritonitis patient database. This ranking of variables provides evidence for potential inclusion of variables in future predictive scores, although improvement in overall predictive strength of a set of variables in such a score is needed.

Introduction The aim of this study was to determine the longterm prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology in patients following secondary peritonitis and to determine whether the prevalence of PTSD-related symptoms differed between patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and patients admitted only to the surgical ward.

Since lung transplant recipients are susceptible to infections and inhaled pollution, many centers warn against pets. However, data supporting this recommendation are lacking. Our program is less restrictive regarding pets. This study, for the first time, investigates the association of pets with physiological and psychological parameters in these patients. A questionnaire concerning pets was sent to 104 lung transplant recipients. Lung function tests, levels of exhaled nitric oxide (FE NO ), need for antibiotic treatments and hospitalizations, creatinine clearance, body mass index (BMI) and demographic data were assessed. Additionally, the questionnaire of life satisfaction (FLZ), a question on summarized life satisfaction (LS), the life orientation test (LOT), the hospital anxiety depression scale (HADS) and the social support questionnaire (FSozU) were assessed.Response rate was 86%. Fifty-two percent defined themselves as pet owners, whereas 48% did not. The two groups did not differ in demographic or physiological data. Significant differences in FLZ (79/65, p = 0.04), in LS (4.3/3.9, p = 0.01), LOT (32/29, p = 0.006) and F-SozU (4.5/4.2, p = 0.04) were found in favor of pet owners. In lung transplant recipients keeping pets the frequency of somatic complications is not higher compared to lung transplant recipients without pets. After lung transplantation, pets are associated with a better quality of life.