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Thursday 29 December 2016

WUTH publication: Robotic gynaecologic surgery: a tool or a toy?

Citation: BJOG. 2017, 124(2), 344
Author: Minas, V

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WUTH publication: On-scene treatment of spinal injuries in motor sports

Citation: European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery. 2017, 43(2), 191-200
Author: Kreinest M, Scholz M, Trafford P
Abstract: Because spinal cord injuries can have fatal consequences for injured race car drivers, prehospital treatment of spinal injuries is a major concern in motor sports. A structured procedure for assessing trauma patients and their treatment should follow established ABCDE principles. Only then, a stable patient could be further examined and appropriate measures can be undertaken. For patients in an acute life-threatening condition, rapid transport must be initiated and should not be delayed by measures that are not indicated. If a competitor must first be extricated from the racing vehicle, the correct method of extrication must be chosen. To avoid secondary injury to the spine after a racing accident, in-line extrication from the vehicle and immobilization of the patient are standard procedures in motor sports and have been used for decades. Since immobilization can be associated with disadvantages and complications, the need for immobilization of trauma patients outside of motor sports medicine has become the subject of an increasing number of reports in the scientific literature. Even in motor sports, where specific safety systems that offer spinal protection are present, the indications for spinal immobilization need to be carefully considered rather than being blindly adopted as a matter of course. The aim of this article is to use recent literature to present an overview about the treatment of spinal injuries in motor sports. Further, we present a new protocol for indications for immobilizing the spine in motor sports that is based on the ABCDE principles and takes into account the condition of the patient.
KEYWORDS: Emergency; Extrication; Immobilization protocol; Out-of-hospital; Prehospital

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Friday 16 December 2016

WUTH publication: The United Kingdom Diabetic Retinopathy Electronic Medical Record Users Group, Report 1: baseline characteristics and visual acuity outcomes in eyes treated with intravitreal injections of ranibizumab for diabetic macular oedema

Citation: The British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2017, 101(1), 75-80
Author: Egan C, Zhu H, Lee A, Sim D, Mitry D, Bailey C, Johnston R, Chakravarthy U, Denniston A, Tufail A, Khan R, Mahmood S, Menon G, Akerele T, Downey L, McKibbin M, Varma A, Lobo A, Wilkinson E, Fitt A, Brand C, Tsaloumas M, Mandal K, Kumar V, Natha S, Crabb D, UK AMD and DR EMR Users Group
Abstract: AIMS: To describe baseline characteristics and visual outcome for eyes treated with ranibizumab for diabetic macular oedema (DMO) from a multicentre database.METHODS: Structured clinical data were anonymised and extracted from an electronic medical record from 19 participating UK centres: age at first injection, ETDRS visual acuity (VA), number of injections, ETDRS diabetic retinopathy (DR) and maculopathy grade at baseline and visits. The main outcomes were change in mean VA from baseline, number of injections and clinic visits and characteristics affecting VA change and DR grade. RESULTS: Data from 12 989 clinic visits was collated from baseline and follow-up for 3103 eyes. Mean age at first treatment was 66 years. Mean VA (letters) for eyes followed at least 2 years was 51.1 (SD=19.3) at baseline, 54.2 (SD: 18.6) and 52.5 (SD: 19.4) at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Mean visual gain was five letters. The proportion of eyes with VA of 72 letters or better was 25% (baseline) and 33% (1 year) for treatment naïve eyes. Eyes followed for at least 6 months received a mean of 3.3 injections over a mean of 6.9 outpatient visits in 1 year.CONCLUSIONS: In a large cohort of eyes with DMO treated with ranibizumab injections in the UK, 33% of patients achieved better than or equal to 6/12 in the treated eye at 12 months compared with 25% at baseline. The mean visual gain was five letters. Eyes with excellent VA at baseline maintain good vision at 18 months.Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/KEYWORDS: Macula; Public health; Retina; Treatment Medical; Treatment Surgery


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