Two-year outcomes data on Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) in low-risk patients were recently presented at the American College of Cardiology 2020 Annual Scientific Session. PARTNER 3 demonstrated that TAVR with the Sapien 3 valve was as safe and effective as traditional open surgical replacement for low risk patients with aortic stenosis (AS). The primary outcome of the study—the risk of death, stroke or rehospitalization at two years—was comparable between the two groups.
Approximately one third of patients with cirrhosis who are admitted to the hospital present with altered mental status (AMS). Of those, about 50 percent will have hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a spectrum of reversible neuropsychiatric disorders in patients with chronic liver disease. Other potential causes of AMS include sepsis/infection, metabolic disturbances, drugs/toxins or structural brain lesions.
The obesity epidemic in the United States continues to grow. Estimates are that currently 70 percent of the U.S. population is either overweight or obese. In 2013, the American Medical Association recognized obesity as a disease defined as chronic, relapsing, multifactorial and neurobehavioral where an increase in body fat promotes tissue dysfunction and abnormal physical stress to the body because of fat mass.
The impact of frailty on outcomes for liver transplant recipients is gaining widespread attention in transplant programs around the world. In numerous studies, frailty has been associated with increased length of stay, increased hospitalizations, increased costs, and increased mortality. Frailty has even been shown to have as much of an impact on patient survival as a high MELD (Model for End Stage Liver Disease).
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented increase in the need for emergency and critical care services. People across the globe are experiencing heightened stress. Front-line workers, who have stressful jobs even during the calmest of times, are facing new challenges both at work and at home.
