MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 39 patients with thalassemia major in one of the tertiary university hospitals for a 1-year period. Demographic data were collected from the patient's history. MRI T2* of the pancreas, liver, and heart were executed on all patients in the same setting. Objective values of iron overload in these organs were obtained using the MRI post-processing software from online software.
RESULTS: A total of 32 (82.1%) patients had pancreatic iron overload including 2 patients (5.1%) with severe iron overload and 15 patients (38.5%) with moderate and mild iron overload, respectively. Nine patients (23.1%) had myocardial iron overload, which included 3 patients (7.7%) who had severe cardiac haemosiderosis. Notably, 37 patients (94.9%) had liver iron overload, which included 15 patients (38.5%) who had severe liver haemosiderosis. There was a moderate positive correlation between the relaxation time of the pancreas and heart haemosiderosis (r = 0.504, P < 0.001). No significant correlation was found between the relaxation time of the pancreas with the liver and the heart with the liver.
CONCLUSION: Pancreatic haemosiderosis precedes cardiac haemosiderosis, which establishes a basis for initiating earlier iron chelation therapy to patients with thalassemia major.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: After a comprehensive search of RIRS-related literature published between 1 January 1964 and 1 October 2021 from the PubMed database, systematic review and assessment were performed to inform a series of recommendations, which were graded using modified GRADE methodology. Additionally, quality of evidence was classified using a modification of the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence system. Finally, related comments were provided.
RESULTS: A total of 36 recommendations were developed and graded that covered the following topics: indications and contraindications; preoperative imaging; preoperative ureteric stenting; preoperative medications; peri-operative antibiotics; management of antithrombotic therapy; anaesthesia; patient positioning; equipment; lithotripsy; exit strategy; and complications.
CONCLUSION: The series of recommendations regarding RIRS, along with the related commentary and supporting documentation, offered here should help provide safe and effective performance of RIRS.