The incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) has increased rapidly in Vietnam, but the economic burden of this disease has never been estimated. We estimate the direct and indirect cost of CRC patients in Vietnam in 2018 using a prevalence-based approach and human capital method. The total economic cost of CRC was VND 3041.88 billion (~$132.9 million), representing 0.055% of the 2018 gross domestic product. Notably, indirect costs comprised 83.58 % of the total cost, 82.61% of which is future income loss, because CRC occurs during productive years. The economic burden of CRC in Vietnam is substantial. The medical cost for CRC diagnosis and treatment is higher for younger patients and for those in advanced stages. Strategies to decrease the economic burden of CRC at the patient and national level, such as screening programs, should be developed and implemented in Vietnam.

Objective: This study aims to determine the serum levels of NT-proBNP in women with preeclampsia with and without severe signs and to evaluate the cardiovascular risks in these two groups of participants. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 52 women with preeclampsia in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics – Hue Central Hospital, from August 2019 to September 2020. Results: In preeclampsia women, the rate of hypertension in stage 3, stage 2, and stage 1 were 46.1%, 32.7%, and 21.2%, respectively. The average Sokolow-Lyon index in the preeclampsia group with and without severe signs was 22.25 ± 7.38mm, 20.16 ± 5.54mm, respectively. The average left ventricular mass index in the group of preeclampsia patients without and with severe signs was 92.27 ± 14.56g/m² and 120.68 ± 16.47g/m², respectively. The average ejection fraction in the group of preeclampsia patients without severe signs and with severe signs was 65.11 ± 3.45%, 56.21 ± 7.12%, correspondingly. In contrast, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant with p < 0.05. The plasma NT-proBNP level in the preeclampsia group without severe signs was 349.12 ± 93.51pg/mL, whereas the concentration in the preeclampsia group with severe signs was 725.32 ± 290.46pg/mL (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The NT-proBNP level was statistically significantly increased in the patients with preeclampsia. Analyzing and comparing the figures and changes found in two groups of PE patients, with and without severe signs, we suggest that women diagnosed with PE with severe signs have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular problems forthwith and henceforth.

Purpose: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important construct in clinical settings, and it is crucial that it should be properly measured. As the EuroQol-5-dimensions-5 levels (EQ-5D-5L) is more effective for such measurement than the 3-level model, data on economic models, clinical studies, and public health evaluations previously collected through the EQ-5D-3L need to be revaluated using the EQ-5D-5L. This study evaluated colorectal cancer (CRC) patients’ HRQoL scores using the Vietnamese EQ-5D-5L value set. Patients and Methods: The cross-sectional study included CRC patients treated at a tertiary public hospital. HRQoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L, and HRQoL utility scores were calculated using the Vietnamese value set. Tobit regression examined factors associated with HRQoL. Results: The analysis included 197 CRC patients. Ages ranged from 20 to 87 years (M = 57.64, SD = 13.5); 42.2% and 57.8% were diagnosed with cancer of the colon or rectum/anus, respectively. Mean EQ-5D-5L was 0.561 (range, − 0.5115 to 1). Most participants experienced anxiety/depression (88%), followed by pain/discomfort (87%), mobility (71%), usual activity (69%), and self-care (67%). Advanced CRC stage (stage II: β − 0.303, se 0.08; stage III: β − 0.305, se 0.07; stage IV: β − 0.456, se 0.07) and surgery (β − 0.113, se 0.05) were negatively associated with EQ-5D-5L scores. Advanced education (high school: β 0.273, se 0.07); college/vocational: β 0.134se 0.05; university/higher: Coef 0.213, se 0.08;) and older age (age group 35− 44: β 0.253, se 0.10; 45− 54: β 0.327, se 0.09; 55− 64: β 0.355 se 0.09; 65+ β 0.204, se 0.09) were positively associated with EQ-5D-5L scores. Conclusion: Patients in advanced CRC stages or undergoing surgery experienced lower HRQoL and higher prevalence of anxiety/depression and pain/discomfort. Older age and high educational attainment predicted high HRQoL. This study provides information on CRC patients’ health utility based on various patient characteristics, which can be used in future economic evaluations.

The accurate diagnosis of complicated appendicitis has been improved by using various diagnostic modalities. However, no preoperative diagnostic method could completely confirm the results. Therefore, preoperative diagnosis of complicated appendicitis to have the right management is still a huge challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasound combined with pediatric appendicitis score for differentiation between acute uncomplicated appendicitis and acute complicated appendicitis in a pediatric population. We prospectively evaluated 120 pediatric patients who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis from November 2017 to June 2019. Pediatric appendicitis score (PAS) was calculated and ultrasound (US) was performed before surgery. The histopathology of phlegmonous appendicitis corresponds to uncomplicated appendicitis (AUA), while gangrenous appendicitis and perforation are classified as complicated appendicitis (ACA). Histopathologically, the results provided a diagnosis of acute appendicitis including 86 (71.7%) patients with AUA and 34 (28.3%) children with ACA. US findings showed a sensitivity of 23.5%, the specificity of 95.4%, PPV of 66.7%, NPV of 75.9%, and an accuracy of 75%. PAS of 8 was found to be the most appropriate cutoff point compatible with ACA; it resulted in a sensitivity of 76.5% and a specificity of 84.1%. Combining ultrasound with a pediatric appendicitis score resulted in a higher specificity to distinguish complicated from uncomplicated appendicitis when compared with ultrasound or PAS solely. the US is highly specific but nonsensitive for detecting complicated pediatric appendicitis. Combining ultrasound with pediatric appendicitis is a very good concept to distinguish complicated from uncomplicated appendicitis in a pediatric population.

Intussusception is a common cause of small intestinal obstruction in children under two years of age. Late diagnosis can lead to a potentially worse condition. This prospective study aims to describe the clinical manifestation and develop a conservative management protocol for acute ileocaecal intussusception in children under two years of age. This prospective study was carried out in 118 consecutive patients under two years of age. Patients presented with symptoms and signs of acute intestinal obstruction and a diagnosis of ileocaecal intussusception confirmed by ultrasound were included in this study. All the patients were managed with either pneumatic reduction or operation. There were 70 boys and 48 girls ranging in age from three months to two years with a median of 12.5 months. Clinical presentation included abdominal pain (100%), vomiting (82.2%), bloody stool (11.9%), and a palpable mass (43.2%). Patients hospitalized with the symptoms and signs for less than 24 hours accounted for 80.5% of the cases. The overall success rate of pneumatic reduction was 98.3%. Late hospital admission (≥ 24 hours from illness onset), bloody stool, and presenting with the classic triad of symptoms of intussusception were found as the factors that correlated to the surgical management outcome. All patients recovered well without any complications. The median of postoperative hospital stay of two days for the pneumatic reduction group and six days for the operation group. The early diagnosis of intussusception contributes to the success of pneumatic reduction and reduces the requirement of surgical intervention.

Background Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed operations in general surgery, especially in the digestive field. Since the introduction of laparoscopic repair as well as using a synthetic mesh, the surgical trends have changed in the last decade in treating inguinal hernias. The laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal gives a better view of the inguinal anatomy, and the procedure also has a short learning curve. We aim to evaluate the safety and early outcome of the laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal technique for inguinal hernia repair using a Prolene (R) mesh (Ethicon Somerville, NJ, USA). Methods A prospective study was carried out among 31 adult patients with 34 inguinal hernia cases. They underwent the laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal technique with a Prolene mesh at the Hue Central Hospital from December 2018 through May 2019. Results The mean age was 60.4 +/- 11.8, and 96.8% of cases were male. Strangulated hernia and incarcerated hernia accounted for 2.9% and 8.8% of cases, respectively. The mean duration of unilateral inguinal hernia repair and bilateral inguinal repair was 57.1 +/- 17.3 minutes and 80.3 +/- 10.6 minutes, respectively. The mean duration of the postoperative hospital stay was 3.9 +/- 1.4 days. One (3.2%) case with contralateral inguinal hernia was detected intraoperatively. An early and three-month postoperative evaluation showed that 93.5% and 96.8% of cases were categorized as "very good", respectively. At the three-month evaluation, one case was reported with sensation disorder of the inguinal area, and there was no recurrence. Conclusions Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair is a safe and feasible technique. It allows surgeons to explore the opposite site and resolve the combined peritoneal diseases.