[Ethical stakes of psychosocial rehabilitation]

Psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) is a therapeutic approach which aims to improve the overall functioning of people with severe mental disorders. We detail the principles of bioethics applied to care and seek to demonstrate how PSR meets the requirements of a humanistic psychiatry. The four fundamental principles of the ethics of care - autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice - are found in the practice of PSR. The practice and implementation of PSR is strongly encouraged in universal codes of ethics.

[The psychosocial rehabilitation in addiction medicine]

OBJECTIVES

Addictive behaviors constitute complex behaviors that are usually related to social habits, such as substance use, gambling or gaming activities, or sexual or physical activity. They progressively overrun and stifle the routine habits of the concerned individuals, for example within their occupational or family spheres of life, as well as in their hobbies or in their main physiological functions, such as sleep or eating cycles. The rehabilitation approach of care integrates the objective of restoring the altered habits and functional rhythms, to optimize the clinical outcomes and improve quality of life of the concerned persons.

METHODS

Using a focused and narrative literature review, we aimed to explain what psychosocial rehabilitation consists in, and why this approach is particularly relevant for the addiction care, although to date it has remained insufficiently developed in the routine practice of many facilities.

RESULTS

The "rehab" approach, is first based on a structured and comprehensive assessment of the clinical and functional aspects of the patient, which secondarily allows to frame an individualized project of care that is closely built together with the patient. This project of care can integrate classical pharmacotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic tools, but it also emphasizes wider approaches for restoring some basic social and physiological functions of the concerned person, such as sleep, eating, social functioning, physical activity, or spiritual needs. Priorities among these different dimensions have to be defined by the concerned person.

CONCLUSIONS

The "rehab" approach is particularly relevant in addiction medicine. It represents a more global conception of care that conceives the recovery of social and physiological functioning as a core treatment objective for the concerned persons. The consequences for care organization are that many additional professionals should be integrated into the treatment schemes for addiction, including peer counselors, occupational therapists, physical activity coaches, or dieticians.

[Approaches to the pre-operative functional assessment of patients with lung cancer and preoperative rehabilitation]

Surgery is the best treatment for early lung cancer but requires a preoperative functional evaluation to identify patients who may be at a high risk of complications or death. Guideline algorithms include a cardiological evaluation, a cardiopulmonary assessment to calculate the predicted residual lung function, and identify patients needing exercise testing to complete the evaluation. According to most expert opinion, exercise tests have a very high predictive value of complications. However, since the publication of these guidelines, minimally-invasive surgery, sublobar resections, prehabilitation and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programmes have been developed. Implementation of these techniques and programs is associated with a decrease in postoperative mortality and complications. In addition, the current guidelines and the cut-off values they identified are based on early series of patients, and are designed to select patients before major lung resection (lobectomy-pneumonectomy) performed by thoracotomy. Therefore, after a review of the current guidelines and a brief update on prehabilitation (smoking cessation, exercise training and nutritional aspects), we will discuss the need to redefine functional criteria to select patients who will benefit from lung surgery.

[Radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, perioperative management by French urologists in 2018]

INTRODUCTION

Prostatectomy (PT) is a common procedure performed by many urologists. In 2018, 20,207 prostatectomies were performed in France, and few studies evaluated the perioperative habits of urologists. As part of writing guidelines for enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) we wished to evaluate practice of urologists in their hospital management of a prostatectomy.

MATERIEL AND METHODS

A questionnaire was sent by Survey Monkey in June and July 2018 to all urologists who are members of the French Association of Urology.

RESULTS

One hundred and sixty seven urologists (14%) answered the questionnaire, 62% have private practice. The average number of operators per center performing PT was 4, with a median number of 70 interventions (0 to 486) per center in 2018. Open surgery is still gold standard (39.13%), followed by the robot-assisted transperitoneal laparoscopic (34.78%) and standard laparoscopic (24.22%). Alimentation, like first stand-up, was re-established on the first post-operative day, and the average hospital stay was 4±2 nights. The removal of the bladder catheter was most often performed at home by nurse (49.06%), one week after surgery. Only 10.06% of urologists systematically perform a cystography before removal urinary catheter.

CONCLUSION

The perioperative management of prostatectomy in France is relatively homogeneous, between urologists. The length of hospital stay remains important and could be reduced by proposing an ERAS protocol as has been obtained for cystectomy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

[Do initial experience with an enhanced recovery program after surgery (ERAS) improve postoperative outcomes after cystectomy?]

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the feasibility and the impact of an ERAS program after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study comparing a historical pre ERAS group, including all the patients undergoing cystectomy for bladder cancer from January 2013 to December 2015 with a classic procedure, and an interventional ERAS group after introducing an enhanced recovery protocol before, during and after surgery, from February 2016. The principal outcome was the postoperative length of stay. Secondary outcomes mesures were impact on perioperative complication rate (Clavien classification≥3B), readmission rate, reanimation length of stay, ileus rate and adherence to the ERAS protocol.

RESULTS

There were no differences between the 2 groups as far as demographics characteristics are concerned. In total, 97 patients were included, 56 in the control group, and 41 in the ERAS group. The adherence to the protocol was about 65.8%. The ERAS group had statistically significantly shorter median length of stay (D19 versus D14; P: 0.021). The major complications rate (Clavien≥3B) were about 23.2% for the control group and 12.1% for the ERAS group (P: NS). The reinsertion of nasogastric tube were higher in the control group (39.3% vs 21.9%; P: NS) and the readmission rate was about 7.1% in the control group versus 14.6% in the ERAS group (P: NS).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, introduction and application of an enhanced recovery protocol (ERAS) after cystectomy for bladder cancer allowed for better management of postoperative outcomes. It is clearly feasible in cystectomy, and improve significantly the median postoperative length of stay. Moreover, it may be effective in terms of faster return of bowel function and reduction of majors complications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

[Not Available]

Zusammenfassung. Aufgrund der demografischen Entwicklung gewinnt die Rehabilitation Betagter an Bedeutung. Im Vergleich zum jüngeren Patienten sind beim betagten Patienten die Autonomie und die Handlungsfähigkeit in Alltagssituationen meist rascher bedroht, die soziale Partizipation fragiler, und somit die Gefahr der Vereinsamung prinzipiell grösser. Die Kommunikation mit dem Umfeld spielt eine grössere Rolle. Das Risiko für Komplikationen ist hoch; andererseits äussern betagte Patienten in der Regel weniger Angst vor dem Tod als vor einem völligen Verlust der Selbständigkeit und davor, ihren Angehörigen «zur Last zu fallen». Auch betagte Patienten profitieren von organspezifischen Rehabilitationsmassnahmen auf dem Niveau der Alltagsfunktionalität und sozialen Partizipation, wie dies exemplarisch für die Neurorehabilitation nach Schlagfanfall gezeigt wurde. Die geriatrische Rehabilitation fokussiert spezifisch auf die Bedürfnisse Betagter, die durch Multimorbidität, Vulnerabilität oder Gebrechlichkeit (Frailty) charakterisiert sind. Sie ist als interprofessioneller Prozess aufgebaut, der polymodal körperliche, psychische und soziale Aspekte systematisch erfasst und mit dem Patienten und seinem Umfeld ein individuell adaptiertes Ziel erarbeitet. Zentral sind die Aspekte Mobilität, Selbsthilfefähigkeit, Ernährung, Kognition, Stimmung, Kontinenz und soziale Situation. Ein Tragpfeiler ist dabei eine altersadaptierte, proteinreiche Ernährung. Ärztlicherseits wird es – gerade bei der Rehabilitation Betagter – hilfreich sein, die Kompetenzen aus verschiedenen Fachrichtungen synergistisch zu nutzen. Unter der Vorstellung einer optimalen Betreuung und Beratung gerade in den Kompetenzfeldern Mobilität, Kognition und Ernährung kann eine Co-Betreuung ein zukunftsfähiges Modell sein. Im Hinblick auf die rehabilitative Prognose dürfte «Alter» im Sinne der Anzahl bisheriger Lebensjahre eine überschätzte Prognosevariable sein. «Höheres Alter» kann hingegen als Surrogatmarker für Komorbiditäten gelten, die mit zunehmendem Lebensalter an Häufigkeit zunehmen. Unter diesen Gesichtspunkten ist es unbedingt zu vermeiden, dass betagte Patienten rein auf Grund ihrer bereits verbrachten Lebensjahre weniger häufig als Jüngere die Chance einer rehabilitativen Behandlung erhalten.

[Not Available]

Zusammenfassung. Rehabilitation wirkt auf individueller und volkswirtschaftlicher Ebene. Wichtig dafür ist in Zukunft, dass Rehabilitation gemacht und klar abgegrenzt wird von Pseudo-Anbietern aus dem Kur-, Hotel-/Resort- bzw. Langzeitpflege-Bereich. Sonst droht geringer bis gar kein Nutzen bei unnötigen Kosten.

[Not Available]

Zusammenfassung. Reha-Forschung ist die Methode, um die Wirkung der diversen Interventionen, die in der Rehabilitation angewendet werden, zu testen. Um dieses anspruchsvolle Ziel zu erreichen, ist die muskuloskelettale Rehabilitation auf Grundlagenforschung, klinische Forschung und Versorgungsforschung angewiesen. Die Rehabilitationsforschung in der Schweiz sieht sich jedoch mit grossen Herausforderungen und mehreren Barrieren konfrontiert. Insgesamt lässt sich feststellen, dass es keine kohärenten und schweizweit akzeptierten Standards für die systematische Integration aktueller Forschungsergebnisse in die konkrete Reha-Praxis gibt. Als anwendungsbezogenen Handlungsbedarf in der Reha-Forschung in der Schweiz schlagen die Autoren u.a. die Entwicklung einer nationalen Agenda für Reha-Forschung und die Bildung von nationalen Forschungsnetzwerken unter Einbezug der Grundversorger, der Hochschulen, der Rehakliniken und Patientenorganisationen vor.

[Mindful neuropsychology: Mindfulness-based cognitive remediation]

OBJECTIVES

Mindfulness based interventions (MBI) have recently gained much interest in western medicine. MBSR paradigm is based on teaching participants to pay complete attention to the present experience and act nonjudgmentally towards stressful events. During this mental practice the meditator focuses his or her attention on the sensations of the body. While the distractions (mental images, thoughts, emotional or somatic states) arise the participant is taught to acknowledge discursive thoughts and cultivate the state of awareness without immediate reaction. The effectiveness of these programs is well documented in the field of emotional response regulation in depression (relapse prevention), anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder or eating disorders. Furthermore, converging lines of evidence support the hypothesis that mindfulness practice improves cognition, especially the ability to sustain attention and think in a more flexible manner. Nevertheless, formal rehabilitation programs targeting cognitive disturbances resulting from psychiatric (depression, disorder bipolar, schizophrenia) or neurologic conditions (brain injury, dementia) seldom rely on MBI principles. This review of literature aims at discussing possible links between MBI and clinical neuropsychology.

METHODS

We conducted a review of literature using electronic databases up to December 2016, screening studies with variants of the keywords ("Mindfulness", "MBI", "MBSR", "Meditation") OR/AND ("Cognition", "Attention", "Executive function", "Memory", "Learning") RESULTS: In the first part, we describe key concepts of the neuropsychology of attention in the light of Posner's model of attention control. We also underline the potential scope of different therapeutic contexts where disturbances of attention may be clinically relevant. Second, we review the efficacy of MBI in the field of cognition (thinking disturbances, attention biases, memory and executive processes impairment or low metacognitive abilities), mood (emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, mood shifts) and somatic preoccupations (stress induced immune dysregulation, chronic pain, body representation, eating disorders, sleep quality, fatigue). In psychiatry, these three components closely coexist and interact which explains the complexity of patient assessment and care. Numerous studies show that meditation inspired interventions offer a promising solution in the prevention and rehabilitation of cognitive impairment. In the last part, we discuss the benefits and risks of integrating meditation practice into broader programs of cognitive remediation and therapeutic education in patients suffering from cognitive disorders. We propose a number of possible guidelines for developing mindfulness inspired cognitive remediation tools. Along with Jon Kabatt Zinn (Kabatt-Zinn & Maskens, 2012), we suggest that the construction of neuropsychological tools relies on seven attitudinal foundations of mindfulness practice.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper highlights the importance of referring to holistic approaches such as MBI when dealing with patients with neuropsychological impairment, especially in the field of psychiatry. We advocate introducing mindfulness principles in order to help patients stabilize their attention and improve cognitive flexibility. We believe this transition in neuropsychological care may offer an interesting paradigm shift promoting a more efficient approach towards cognition and its links to emotion, body, and environment.

[The use of echocardiography left ventricular filling pressures in hypertensive patients with heart failure and preserved systolic function in a North Africa unit day]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the left ventricular (LV) filling pressures by Doppler Tissulaire Imaging (DTI) in the management of hypertensive patients with heart failure and preserved systolic function (HF-PEF) in our outpatient clinic. To involve the patient on the basis of their clinical, biological and echocardiography data, in identifying the risk factors that need change.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 2004 to 2014, heart failure with preserved systolic function (HF-PEF) has been diagnosed in 200 consecutive hypertensive patients (pts) at our Algerian outpatient unit. Data were collected on blood pressure at the time of the examination, body mass index (BMI), waist, comorbid conditions including dyslipidemia, diabetes and atrial fibrillation (AF). LV ejection fraction>50 % is taken as the including criteria with acquisition as described in the Chamber Quantification update. Left ventricular global systolic function by biplane disk summation Simpson method and diastolic function is assessed by the mitral inflow measurements regarding recommendations for the evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function by echocardiography from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) and the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE).

RESULTS

Mean age was 65±11 yrs; 66 % were female; waist circumference in men>102cm and in women>88cm was found in 82 % of the pts and 50 % were diabetics. Body weight (BMI)>30kg/m(2) is depicted in 88 (44 %). Dyslipidemia is depicted in 78 pts (39 %). Ischemic heart disease was diagnosed in 64 pts (32 %); history of thromboembolic event in 78 pts (39 %); valvular disease in 40 pts (20 %). ECG showed AF in 60 pts (30 %), complete left bundle branch block (LBBB) in 20 pts (10 %). The echographic findings were as follow: left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in 126 pts (63 %) and left atrial (LA) enlargement in 111 pts (55 %). Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is about 55±10 %. Delayed relaxation (Em/Am<1) and deceleration time>150ms (DT) in 80 pts (40 %), of them, 56 had increased filling pressures (Em/Ea>8 and Ap>Am); pseudo-normal patterns (1<Em/Am<2 and DT<150ms) in 80 pts (40 %); restrictive filling pattern (Em/Am≥2) and short DT<100ms in 40 pts (20 %).

CONCLUSIONS

The hypertensive pts referred for an echo examination are often diabetics and frequently demonstrate preserved left ventricular function with increased filling pressures. This is useful for managing their treatments in the context of a cardiac rehabilitation programme.

Stem cells and motor recovery after stroke

In stroke patients with severe persistent neurological deficits, alternative therapeutic modalities are limited. Stem cell therapy might be an opportunity when the safety profile of this approach will be achieved. This review will give possible mechanisms of restoration of function in animals and a statement of clinical trials in humans. The sources of neural stem cells for therapeutic use will be detailed. Potentials mechanisms of transplanted cell-mediated recovery are described with a particular emphasis on ipsilesional post-stroke plasticity. The optimal conditions for cell transplant therapy after stroke are evoked but not yet clearly defined. Finally, since multimodality imaging will be crucial in the post-transplantation patient assessment, the final part describes recent advances in the in vivo monitoring of repair progress.

Retinal prostheses: clinical results and future challenges

Retinal prostheses aim at restoring visual perception in blind patients affected by retinal diseases leading to the loss of photoreceptors, such as age-related macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated the feasibility of this approach for restoring useful vision. Despite a limited number of electrodes (60), and therefore of pixels, some patients were able to read words and to recognize high-contrast objects. Face recognition and independent locomotion in unknown urban environments imply technological breakthroughs to increase the number and density of electrodes. This review presents recent clinical results and discusses future solutions to answer the major technological challenges.