BackgroundAcute kidney injury (AKI) complicating severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria occurs in up to 40% of adult patients. The case fatality rate reaches 75% in the absence of renal replacement therapy (RRT). The precise pathophysiology of AKI in falciparum malaria remains unclear. Histopathology shows acute tubular necrosis with localization of host monocytes and parasitized red blood cells in the microvasculature. This study explored the relationship of plasma soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), as a proxy-measure of mononuclear cell activation, and plasma P. falciparum histidine rich protein 2 (PfHRP2), as a measure of sequestered parasite burden, with AKI in severe malaria.MethodsAdmission plasma suPAR and PfHRP2 concentrations were assessed in Bangladeshi adults with severe falciparum malaria (n = 137). Patients were stratified according to AKI severity based on admission creatinine clearance.ResultsA total of 106 (77%) patients had AKI; 32 (23%), 42 (31%) and 32 (23%) were classified into ‘mild, ‘moderate’ and ‘severe’ AKI groups, respectively. Plasma suPAR and PfHRP2 concentrations increased with AKI severity (test-for-trend P <0.0001) and correlated with other markers of renal dysfunction. Admission plasma suPAR and PfHRP2 concentrations were higher in patients who later required RRT (P <0.0001 and P = 0.0004, respectively). In a multivariate analysis, both increasing suPAR and PfHRP2 were independently associated with increasing urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin concentration, a marker of acute tubular necrosis (β = 16.54 (95% CI 6.36-26.71) and β = 0.07 (0.02-0.11), respectively).ConclusionsBoth sequestered parasite burden and immune activation contribute to the pathogenesis of AKI in severe falciparum malaria.

ObjectiveTo develop a CT-based prediction score for anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy and compare it to subjective CT interpretation.MethodsConsecutive patients who underwent a CT scan for a clinical suspicion of anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis between 2003 and 2014 were analyzed. The CT scans were systematically re-evaluated by two radiologists for the presence of specific CT findings and presence of an anastomotic leak. Also, the original CT interpretations were acquired. These results were compared to patients with and without a clinical confirmed leak.ResultsOut of 122 patients that underwent CT for a clinical suspicion of anastomotic leakage; 54 had a confirmed leak. In multivariable analysis, anastomotic leakage was associated with mediastinal fluid (OR = 3.4), esophagogastric wall discontinuity (OR = 4.9), mediastinal air (OR = 6.6), and a fistula (OR = 7.2). Based on these criteria, a prediction score was developed resulting in an area-under-the-curve (AUC) of 0.86, sensitivity of 80%, and specificity of 84%. The original interpretation and the systematic subjective CT assessment by two radiologists resulted in AUCs of 0.68 and 0.75 with sensitivities of 52% and 69%, and specificities of 84% and 82%, respectively.ConclusionThis CT-based score may provide improved diagnostic performance for diagnosis of anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy.Key Points• A CT-based score provides improved diagnostic performance for diagnosis of anastomotic leakage.• Leakage associations include mediastinal fluid, mediastinal air, wall discontinuity, and fistula.• A scoring system yields superior diagnostic accuracy compared to subjective CT assessment.• Radiologists may suggest presence of anastomotic leakage based on a prediction score.

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Introduction: Confirming the diagnosis, invasiveness, and extent of disease of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) of the pancreas is challenging. The aim of this study is to summarize the literature on the efficacy and safety of peroral pancreatoscopy (POP) in the diagnosis of IPMN, including the impact of pre- and intraoperative POP on the management of IPMN. Methods: The EMBASE, Medline Ovid, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL and Google Scholar databases were systematically searched for articles. Eligible articles investigated cohorts of patients who underwent POP for (suspected) IPMN. Results: Twenty-five articles were identified and included in this review. Twenty-two articles reported on the diagnostic yield of POP in IPMN and eleven articles reported on the effect of pre- or intraoperative POP on clinical decision making. Cannulation, observation rates and overall diagnostic accuracy were high across all studies. Frequently reported visual characteristics of IPMN were intraductal fish-egg-like lesions, hypervascularity, and granular mucosa. Overall, the adverse event rate was 12%, primarily consisting of post-ERCP pancreatitis with a pooled rate of 10%, most of mild severity. Regarding the impact of POP on clinical decision making, in 13-62% of patients POP findings altered the surgical approach. Conclusion: POP is technically successful in the vast majority of patients with (suspected) IPMN, has a considerably high diagnostic accuracy, but an adverse event rate of 12%. Data on intraoperative pancreatoscopy is scarce, but small studies suggest its use can alter surgical management. Future studies are needed to better define the role of POP in the diagnostic work-up of IPMN.

Background. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in serum and urine have been suggested as potential early predictive biological markers of acute kidney injury (AKI) in selected critically ill patients. Methods. We performed a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective observational cohort study of unselected critically ill patients. Results. The analysis included 140 patients, including 57 patients who did not develop AKI, 31 patients who developed AKI, and 52 patients with AKI on admission to the ICU. Levels of sNGAL and uNGAL on non-AKI days were significantly lower compared to levels of sNGAL on RIFLERISK days, RIFLEINJURY days, and RIFLEFAILURE days. The AUC of sNGAL for predicting AKI was low: 0.45 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.27–0.63) and 0.53 (CI 0.38–0.67), 2 days and 1 day before development of AKI, respectively. The AUC of uNGAL for predicting AKI was also low: 0.48 (CI 0.33–0.62) and 0.48 (CI 0.33–0.62), 2 days and 1 day before development of AKI, respectively. AUC of sNGAL and uNGAL for the prediction of renal replacement therapy requirement was 0.47 (CI 0.37–0.58) and 0.26 (CI 0.03–0.50). Conclusions. In unselected critically ill patients, sNGAL and uNGAL are poor predictors of AKI or RRT.

Background and study aims The safety of transpapillary biliary drainage by stent placement through endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) may be compromised by the occurrence of stent migration-induced perforation of the duodenal wall (SMDP). We aimed to assess the prevalence rate, risk factors and clinical course of SMDP. Patients and methods This retrospective cohort study included all patients who underwent an ERC with biliary plastic stent placement, between January 2014 and December 2018. Patients with an SMDP were identified from our endoscopy complication registry. Results 1227 patients underwent an ERC, of whom 629 patients (51 %) with biliary plastic stent placement; in 304 patients (25 %) stents were placed for perihilar strictures. Thirteen patients with SMDP were identified. The prevalence was 2.1 % for patients with biliary plastic stent placement and 4.3 % for patients stented for a perihilar stricture. All SMDPs occurred in patients with a perihilar stricture and with stents ≥ 12 cm (range 12–20 cm). Another potential risk factor was stent insertion into the left liver lobe, which was present in 10 of 13 patients. In 10 of 13 patients, SMDP was clinically suspected. Three of 13 patients were asymptomatic and diagnosed at elective stent retrieval. Eight patients could be endoscopically treated with an over-the-scope clip. Four patients died due to abdominal sepsis despite repeated interventions. Conclusion SMDP is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of ERC after transpapillary drainage for perihilar biliary strictures. Stents ≥ 12 cm and stent insertion into the left liver lobe may be associated risk factors.