ORCID Profile
0000-0002-8029-1586
Current Organisations
Universidade de São Paulo
,
University of Maribor
,
Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz
,
University Medical Centre Maribor
,
Landeskrankenhaus-Universitätsklinikum Graz
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-03-2021
DOI: 10.1111/ANAE.15458
Abstract: Peri‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 infection increases postoperative mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal duration of planned delay before surgery in patients who have had SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study included patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery during October 2020. Surgical patients with pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 infection were compared with those without previous SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. The primary outcome measure was 30‐day postoperative mortality. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted 30‐day mortality rates stratified by time from diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection to surgery. Among 140,231 patients (116 countries), 3127 patients (2.2%) had a pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis. Adjusted 30‐day mortality in patients without SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was 1.5% (95%CI 1.4–1.5). In patients with a pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis, mortality was increased in patients having surgery within 0–2 weeks, 3–4 weeks and 5–6 weeks of the diagnosis (odds ratio (95%CI) 4.1 (3.3–4.8), 3.9 (2.6–5.1) and 3.6 (2.0–5.2), respectively). Surgery performed ≥ 7 weeks after SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis was associated with a similar mortality risk to baseline (odds ratio (95%CI) 1.5 (0.9–2.1)). After a ≥ 7 week delay in undertaking surgery following SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, patients with ongoing symptoms had a higher mortality than patients whose symptoms had resolved or who had been asymptomatic (6.0% (95%CI 3.2–8.7) vs. 2.4% (95%CI 1.4–3.4) vs. 1.3% (95%CI 0.6–2.0), respectively). Where possible, surgery should be delayed for at least 7 weeks following SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Patients with ongoing symptoms ≥ 7 weeks from diagnosis may benefit from further delay.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-09-2021
DOI: 10.1111/BJU.15483
Abstract: To evaluate the contemporary prevalence of urinary tract cancer (bladder cancer, upper tract urothelial cancer [UTUC] and renal cancer) in patients referred to secondary care with haematuria, adjusted for established patient risk markers and geographical variation. This was an international multicentre prospective observational study. We included patients aged ≥16 years, referred to secondary care with suspected urinary tract cancer. Patients with a known or previous urological malignancy were excluded. We estimated the prevalence of bladder cancer, UTUC, renal cancer and prostate cancer stratified by age, type of haematuria, sex, and smoking. We used a multivariable mixed‐effects logistic regression to adjust cancer prevalence for age, type of haematuria, sex, smoking, hospitals, and countries. Of the 11 059 patients assessed for eligibility, 10 896 were included from 110 hospitals across 26 countries. The overall adjusted cancer prevalence ( n = 2257) was 28.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 22.3–34.1), bladder cancer ( n = 1951) 24.7% (95% CI 19.1–30.2), UTUC ( n = 128) 1.14% (95% CI 0.77–1.52), renal cancer ( n = 107) 1.05% (95% CI 0.80–1.29), and prostate cancer ( n = 124) 1.75% (95% CI 1.32–2.18). The odds ratios for patient risk markers in the model for all cancers were: age 1.04 (95% CI 1.03–1.05 P 0.001), visible haematuria 3.47 (95% CI 2.90–4.15 P 0.001), male sex 1.30 (95% CI 1.14–1.50 P 0.001), and smoking 2.70 (95% CI 2.30–3.18 P 0.001). A better understanding of cancer prevalence across an international population is required to inform clinical guidelines. We are the first to report urinary tract cancer prevalence across an international population in patients referred to secondary care, adjusted for patient risk markers and geographical variation. Bladder cancer was the most prevalent disease. Visible haematuria was the strongest predictor for urinary tract cancer.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 24-03-2021
DOI: 10.1093/BJS/ZNAB101
Abstract: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18–49, 50–69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351 best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733 best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840 best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-08-2021
DOI: 10.1111/ANAE.15560
Abstract: We aimed to determine the impact of pre‐operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery during the global SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic. We performed an international prospective cohort study including patients undergoing elective surgery in October 2020. Isolation was defined as the period before surgery during which patients did not leave their house or receive visitors from outside their household. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications, adjusted in multivariable models for measured confounders. Pre‐defined sub‐group analyses were performed for the primary outcome. A total of 96,454 patients from 114 countries were included and overall, 26,948 (27.9%) patients isolated before surgery. Postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded in 1947 (2.0%) patients of which 227 (11.7%) were associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Patients who isolated pre‐operatively were older, had more respiratory comorbidities and were more commonly from areas of high SARS‐CoV‐2 incidence and high‐income countries. Although the overall rates of postoperative pulmonary complications were similar in those that isolated and those that did not (2.1% vs 2.0%, respectively), isolation was associated with higher rates of postoperative pulmonary complications after adjustment (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05–1.36, p = 0.005). Sensitivity analyses revealed no further differences when patients were categorised by: pre‐operative testing use of COVID‐19‐free pathways or community SARS‐CoV‐2 prevalence. The rate of postoperative pulmonary complications increased with periods of isolation longer than 3 days, with an OR (95%CI) at 4–7 days or ≥ 8 days of 1.25 (1.04–1.48), p = 0.015 and 1.31 (1.11–1.55), p = 0.001, respectively. Isolation before elective surgery might be associated with a small but clinically important increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Longer periods of isolation showed no reduction in the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. These findings have significant implications for global provision of elective surgical care.
Publisher: American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Date: 10-03-2019
DOI: 10.1200/JCO.18.00899
Abstract: The aim of this open-label, first-in-setting, randomized phase III trial was to evaluate the efficacy of alisertib, an investigational Aurora A kinase inhibitor, in patients with relapsed/refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Adult patients with relapsed/refractory PTCL—one or more prior therapy—were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive oral alisertib 50 mg two times per day (days 1 to 7 21-day cycle) or investigator-selected single-agent comparator, including intravenous pralatrexate 30 mg/m 2 (once per week for 6 weeks 7-week cycle), or intravenous gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m 2 or intravenous romidepsin 14 mg/m 2 (days 1, 8, and 15 28-day cycle). Tumor tissue (disease subtype) and imaging were assessed by independent central review. Primary outcomes were overall response rate and progression-free survival (PFS). Two interim analyses and one final analysis were planned. Between May 2012 and October 2014, 271 patients were randomly assigned (alisertib, n = 138 comparator, n = 133). Enrollment was stopped early on the recommendation of the independent data monitoring committee as a result of the low probability of alisertib achieving PFS superiority with full enrollment. Centrally assessed overall response rate was 33% for alisertib and 45% for the comparator arm (odds ratio, 0.60 95% CI, 0.33 to 1.08). Median PFS was 115 days for alisertib and 104 days for the comparator arm (hazard ratio, 0.87 95% CI, 0.637 to 1.178). The most common adverse events were anemia (53% of alisertib-treated patients v 34% of comparator-treated patients) and neutropenia (47% v 31%, respectively). A lower percentage of patients who received alisertib (9%) compared with the comparator (14%) experienced events that led to study drug discontinuation. Of 26 on-study deaths, five were considered treatment related (alisertib, n = 3 of 11 comparator, n = 2 of 15). Two-year overall survival was 35% for each arm. In patients with relapsed/refractory PTCL, alisertib was not statistically significantly superior to the comparator arm.
No related grants have been discovered for Uros Bele.