Israel Medical Association Journal

Background: The correlation between epidural analgesia and successful Trial of Labor After Cesarean delivery (TOLAC) remains controversial.

Objectives: To explore this correlation considering the indication for previous cesarean section (CS).

Methods: We accessed an electronic database of an obstetrics department at a university tertiary medical center. All patients admitted for a TOLAC at term with a live singleton fetus with cephalic presentation between January 2015 and December 2021 were included. The primary outcome was the mode of delivery, based on the previous CS indication. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the effect of epidural analgesia on TOLAC success.

Results: Overall, 1522 candidates for TOLAC were included, with previous CS due to arrest of descent in 261 cases (17.1%). Epidural analgesia was administered in 1098 deliveries (72.1%), and 282 women (18.5%) underwent a repeat CS. Women in the epidural group were younger, had higher body mass index, lower parity, and more frequent induction of labor. Prior vaginal birth after cesarean was more common in the non-epidural group. Univariate analysis showed a higher rate of epidural analgesia in repeat CS cases. However, in multivariable logistic regression, epidural analgesia was not significantly associated with the risk of repeat CS, both among women whose prior CS was for arrest of descent and among those with other indications.

Conclusions: The employment of epidural analgesia seems to have no observable influence on successful outcomes of TOLAC, regardless of the indication for the preceding CS. These findings imply that epidural anesthesia in TOLAC is safe.

Background: Ramadan, one of the core tenets of Islam, requires a rigorous fasting regimen from dawn until sunset, during which practitioners abstain from all forms of food and drink. This substantial alteration in daily habits raises pertinent questions regarding its potential implications for cardiovascular health.

Objectives: To analyze the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) throughout the Ramadan fasting period.

Methods: We retrospectively compared the incidence of MI occurring during Ramadan with that observed during the corresponding non-Ramadan months from 2010 to 2021 using medical records of Muslim patients admitted to the Galilee Medical Center. Ramadan's timing varies from year to year. We used a 3-year comparative framework to ensure seasonal alignment.

Results: During the study period and within a well-defined geographic region, we found that among Muslims, there were 405 MIs: 201 during Ramadan and 204 during non-Ramadan periods, P = 0.282.

Conclusions: The incidence of MI during Ramadan remained stable, indicating that the fasting practice does not significantly heighten the risk of MI.

The long-standing Iran–Israel conflict escalated sharply in April 2024, with Iran’s attack on Israeli territory (13–14 April) and Israel’s retaliation in Isfahan (19 April) [1]. As predicted, a full-scale war erupted between 13–24 June 2025 involving direct strikes on sovereign land and vital infrastructure.

Background: Cesarean section (CS) comprised almost one-third of all births. One of the complications after CS is intra-abdominal and pelvic adhesions formation.

Objectives: To investigate whether a previous CS poses an additional perioperative or postoperative risk for complications when performing a total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women who had undergone a TLH between 2014 and 2020. Perioperative and postoperative complications were assessed according to the Clavien-Dindo classification system. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results.

Results: In total, 190 women underwent TLH during the study period, 50 (26.5%) had a previous CS (study group) and 140 (73.5%) had no history of CS. The complication rates using the Clavien-Dindo classification system were similar in both groups; however, the major complications rate was not significantly higher in the study group (CS 6% vs. no CS 1.4%, P = 0.08). Urethral injury was the most common major complication (2, 4% vs. 1, 0.7%). The duration of surgery (125 min vs. 112 min, P = 0.02), estimated blood loss (174 ml vs. 115 ml, P = 0.02), and additional postoperative endoscopic interventions (4% vs. 0%, P = 0.01) and were significantly greater in patients with a previous CS.

Conclusions: Although the need for postoperative endoscopic interventions, surgery duration, and estimated blood loss were significantly higher in patients with a previous CS, TLH remains a safe and recommended procedure for these patients. Major complications are rare and do not occur more frequently following a previous CS.

Background: Abdominoplasties are among the most common procedures in aesthetic plastic surgery. The target audience are patients after massive weight loss who are left with excess skin and post-partum patients. Due to the efficacy of abdominoplasties in improving the abdominal contour, it became a mainstay procedure in plastic surgery. Claims have been made that abdominal surgeries can be safely combined with breast surgeries, and thereby decrease the risk associated with anesthesia for two separate procedures as well as the recovery period. The benefits of the combined procedures led to a surplus of patients seeking consultations.

Objectives: To examine the safety of the mommy makeover procedure compared to sole abdominoplasty.

Methods: Patients who previously underwent abdominoplasty by the senior author were divided into two groups based on whether breast surgery was performed in addition to the abdominoplasty. Groups were compared based on demographical, clinical, and surgical variables.

Results: The study cohort included 726 patients, of whom 15% underwent "Mommy-makeovers". Groups differed only in liposuction volume, resection weight and number of drains. Regarding surgical outcomes, surgical site infections were seen at a greater rate in the isolated abdominoplasty procedure. Further analyses accounting for potential confounders found no difference between the groups in terms of adverse events.

Conclusions: Mommy makeovers do not display a safety concern when compared to isolated abdominoplasties. Surgeons must consider various patient characteristics to ensure optimal results.

Background: The Iron Swords war created stressful circumstances that could negatively impact glycemic control in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Objectives: To evaluate changes in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) metrics in pediatric T1D patients during the war.

Methods: This retrospective study included T1D patients monitored by CGM. Metrics from three selected 2-week periods were compared (before the war, after the war outbreak, and 4 months later). Study variables included time-in-range (70–180 mg/dl; 3.9–10 mmol/L), time-in-tight-range (70–140 mg/dl; 3.9–7.8 mmol/L), time-in-marked-hypoglycemia (< 54 mg/dl; < 3 mmol/liter), and time-in-severe-hyperglycemia (> 250 mg/dl; >13.3 mmol/liter). Patients were treated with either a multiple daily insulin (MDI) regimen or insulin pump, with or without an open-source automated insulin delivery (OS-AID) system.

Results: Data of 99 patients were analyzed (mean age 12.2 ± 4.0 years, mean diabetes duration 4.6 ± 3.9 years, 52.5% males). No significant changes in CGM metrics were observed across the entire cohort at any time point. Patients with higher socioeconomic position (SEP; cluster > 7) had better CGM metrics, with an increase in time-in-tight-range in the lower SEP group and in time-in-severe-hyperglycemia in the higher SEP group (P = 0.003). OS-AID users (n=20) had superior pre-war CGM metrics and maintained stable glycemia during the war, MDI users showed increased time-in-severe-hyperglycemia post-outbreak (P = 0.05).

Conclusions: Throughout the war, children and adolescents with T1D treated with insulin pumps maintained relatively stable glycemic control. Susceptibility to change following the onset of war was influenced by SEP and mode of insulin therapy.

Background: In times of war, healthcare systems face the dual challenge of attending to the medical needs of injured soldiers and civilians as well as struggling to meet the everyday healthcare demands of civilians.

Objectives: To assess the correlation between exposure to war and the likelihood of spontaneous abortion (SAB) and to compare it to a similar period in previous years.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study comparing the rate of SAB during war to the previous years.

Results: During the Iron Swords war, 381 patients out of 3245 (11.74%) were diagnosed with SAB, compared to 530 of 4080 (13%) in 2022, 536 of 3387 (13.8%) in 2021, and 516 of 3798 (13.6%) in 2020. The median gestational age at diagnosis was similar between the groups, with most cases identified during the first trimester. The study group exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of smoking (18.47% vs. 7.75% vs. 6.3% vs. 9.3%, P = 0.03), with no differences in the prevalence of chronic diseases and in the method of pregnancy termination.

Conclusions: Exposure to stress due to war during early pregnancy appears to have no significant impact on the rate of SAB.

Pott’s Puffy tumor (PPT) is a rare complication of frontal sinusitis, involving a subperiosteal abscesses with associated osteomyelitis of the frontal sinus anterior table. It mainly affects children and adolescents but can also occur in adults. It presents with localized forehead swelling, pain, fever, headache, and sometimes intracranial complications like epidural or subdural abscesses [1,2]. The standard treatment for PPT typically involves surgical drainage under general anesthesia and broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (March–June 2020), delayed surgeries and resource limitations led to the use of minimally invasive techniques [3] such as needle aspiration without general anesthesia. In this study, we present three adult PPT cases from Nottingham University Hospitals, United Kingdom, treated with early abscess aspiration during this period.

We conducted retrospective study of PPT cases presented during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Following patients’ consent, case notes were reviewed for baseline demographics, previous treatments, presenting symptoms, and examination findings.

Background: Prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was primarily observed during the winter months. Recently, however, an increase in incidence during the warmer months has been noted. This trend suggests an interaction between RSV and coronavirus, as well as the impact of public health measures, such as hand hygiene, mask-wearing, and social distancing.

Objectives: To characterize bronchiolitis cases in children under 2 years old caused by RSV during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel from 2018 to 2022.

Methods: We conducted retrospective study by analyzing medical records of children hospitalized with bronchiolitis from January 2018 to December 2022. A comparison was made between cases before and after the first COVID-19 lockdown.

Results: A total of 922 children with bronchiolitis were studied: 276 cases occurred before the lockdown and 646 cases afterward. We found an increase in bronchiolitis frequency during the summer following the lockdown and a decrease during the winter (P < 0.0001). In addition, there was a shift in the pathogenic profile, with a notable rise in mixed infections after the lockdown (P < 0.0001). No significant differences in clinical presentation were observed between pre- and post-lockdown periods.

Conclusions: There was a change in bronchiolitis seasonality after the lockdown, with a significant increase in cases during the summer and a rise in mixed infections. Further studies are needed to assess whether this shift is a lasting consequence of the pandemic or a temporary change.

Standup paddleboard surfing (SUP) is a sports activity in which a person stands upright on a surfboard and propels the board using a single paddle. It is an emerging recreational activity that is attracting public attention and gaining popularity because it promotes fitness, strength, and improved balance. In this review, we discuss the outcomes after severe cardiac events in SUP surfers. We report on six fit individuals (five males and one female, age range 41–69 years) who experienced sudden cardiac arrest (n=3) or acute myocardial infarction occurring during SUP. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated in three patients on presentation due to ventricular fibrillation. In four patients the culprit coronary artery was the left anterior descending artery treated by percutaneous coronary intervention. All patients were discharged alive. A review of the literature showed a paucity of scientific evidence to substantiate the proposed health benefits of SUP surfing. Our cluster of acute cardiac events occurring during this activity calls for heightened public awareness to better understand the physical demand required to practice SUP. There is a need for more data regarding the cardiovascular clinical aspects of this water activity, and the risks it entails.

Background: Burnout is prevalent among healthcare providers and characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exacerbated burnout due to increased workloads, emotional strain, and heightened risk. Complementary medicine (CAM) interventions like shiatsu massage and reflexology have been explored as potential to mitigate burnout, particularly pandemic-related stress.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of CAM interventions for alleviating burnout in healthcare providers treating COVID-19 patients during 2022, when the Delta variant was prevalent.

Methods: This prospective observational study included 86 healthcare providers at Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus. Workers were divided into two groups: an intervention group participating in CAM activities and a control group. Participant burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were evaluated using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and General Anxiety Disorder 7 at baseline and at one day and one week post-intervention.

Results: The CAM group demonstrated significant reduction in burnout scores, primarily due to an enhanced sense of accomplishment (P = 0.023), with enduring effects observed after one week, although not reaching statistical significance (P = 0.078). There was no observed difference in PTSD scores between the groups (P = 0.28).

Conclusions: The study reveals potential benefits of CAM interventions in reducing burnout symptoms among healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings underscore the importance of integrating such interventions to address the mental well-being of healthcare providers, especially in high-stress environments. Further randomized controlled trials with diverse samples and extended follow-up are recommended to validate and explore these initial findings.

Background: On 7 October 2023, an armed conflict erupted between Hamas and Israel, leading to numerous combat casualties.

Objectives: To describe computed tomography (CT) findings of combat casualties at a tertiary medical center during the first 3 months of the conflict.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients admitted between 7 October 2023 and 7 January 2024. Adults with conflict-related trauma who underwent chest, abdomen, and pelvis (body) trauma protocol CT scans were included.

Results: Of 272 patients who underwent body trauma protocol CT, 112 combat-related adults were included, mean age of 27 years and one female. In total, 82 patients (73%) underwent additional scans of the head and neck or extremities. Fractures were observed in 53 patients (47%). Vascular injuries were present in 40 patients (35%). Limb injuries were most common, affecting 37 patients (33%), which prompted a protocol update. Lung injuries were the most common in body CT: 30 patients (27%). Head and neck injuries were seen in 21 patients (18%). Multisystem trauma was present in 24 patients (21%). A total of 83 patients (74%) underwent surgery, mostly orthopedic/soft tissue surgeries (63%); 15 (13%) underwent abdominal surgery, with bowel injuries confirmed in eight cases.

Conclusions: CT scans are an important tool in conflict trauma management. Limb injuries were the most frequent, necessitating protocol adjustments. Lung injuries were the most common body injury; 21% of patients had multisystem trauma. Most patients required surgery.

Background: The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on patient populations can be divided to direct consequences of the disease and indirect implications of changes imposed on the national healthcare systems. The impact of the later survival of chronic hemodialysis patients is still unknown.

Objectives: To examine the impact of quarantine on health outcomes of dialysis patients.

Methods: In a retrospective case-controlled study, we compared chronic hemodialysis patients from two separate timeframes: during a quarantine period and a parallel time without quarantine.

Results: The study included 344 hemodialysis patients. Baseline characteristics were compared between those enrolled in 2015 and those enrolled in 2020. Despite comparable clinical parameters, a statistically significant increase in the 6-month mortality rate was observed in 2020 (1.2% vs. 6.7%, P = 0.01), primarily attributed to sepsis. Notably, no deaths were attributed to COVID-19 in 2020. Interdialytic weight gain and dialysis quality remained similar between the two groups, with a mild trend toward excessive weight gain in 2020. Secondary outcomes after 6 months did not significantly differ, except for lower sodium values in 2015 compared to 2020.

Conclusions: Dialysis patients experienced disproportionate effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, even with continuous care and no direct virus-related fatalities. The findings showed unintended consequences of quarantine measures, highlighting adverse impact on both physical and mental health. Recognizing and addressing these consequences are imperative for minimizing their impact in future pandemics, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures in healthcare planning.

Background: Patients with mechanical prosthetic heart valves must be treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) due to an increased risk of valve thrombosis and systemic embolism.

Objectives: To assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on VKA treatment control in patients with mechanical prosthetic heart valves.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective nationwide cohort study using the Clalit Health Services database. The cohort included patients who underwent either aortic or mitral valve replacement using a prosthetic mechanical valve. The primary outcomes included the overall time in therapeutic range (TTR) and the percent of patients with a TTR < 50% during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to preceding year.

Results: The cohort included 2381 patients. The percentage of patients who had at least two international normalized ratio (INR) tests during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly lower compared to the year preceding the pandemic (81% and 87%, respectively, P < 0.001). In both years, the percentage of patients without any documented INR test was high (31.5% in the first COVID-19 pandemic year and 28.9% in the preceding year, P < 0.001). TTR was significantly lower during the 1st year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the preceding year (68.1% ± 26 and 69.4% ± 24, P = 0.03). A TTR > 50% was demonstrated in 78% and 81% during the pandemic and the preceding year, P = 0.009.

Conclusions: We noted overall poor VKA control in patients with mechanical heart valves. During the COVID-19 pandemic, VKA control became even worse as reflected by significantly lower TTR and INR tests rates.

We report a rare case of an epidural abscess caused by Aggregatibacter aphrophilus in a 69-year-old healthy woman. The patient, presented with neck pain, high fever, and chills following dental treatment. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan revealed an epidural abscess with moderate spinal cord compression at the C4–C5 level. Surgical intervention and antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone led to complete recovery. This case underscores the significance of considering A. aphrophilus as a potential pathogen in patients with neck pain and fever post-dental procedures and as a cause of abscesses in apparently healthy patients.

A. aphrophilus, a gram-negative coccobacillus, is part of the HACEK group (Haemophilus, Aggregatibacter, Cardiobacterium, Eikenella, Kingella), a group of bacteria mainly known for its association with endocarditis [1]. However, A. aphrophilus is an uncommon pathogen for epidural abscesses [2]. Our case illustrates its potential to cause an epidural abscess after dental manipulation.