Long term outcome in patients treated with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A prospective observational study

INTRODUCTION

Over the last few decades, the use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) support for severe respiratory failure has increased.

AIM

This study aimed to assess the long-term outcomes of patients treated with VV-ECMO for respiratory failure.

METHODS

We performed a single-centre prospective evaluation of patients on VV-ECMO who were successfully discharged from the intensive care unit of an Italian University Hospital between January 2018 and May 2021. The enrolled patients underwent follow-up evaluations at 6 and 12 months after ICU discharge. The follow-up team performed psychological and functional assessments using the following instruments: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Severity Scale (PTSS-10), Euro Quality Five Domains Five Levels (EQ-5L-5D), and 6-minute walk test.

RESULTS

We enrolled 33 patients who were evaluated at a follow-up clinic. The median patient age was 51 years (range: 45-58 years). The median duration of VV-ECMO support was 12 (9-19) days and the length of ICU stay was 23 (18-42) days. A HADS score higher than 14 was reported in 8 (24 %) and 7 (21 %) patients at the six- and twelve-month visit, respectively. PTSS-10 total score ≥ 35 points was present in three (9 %) and two (6 %) patients at the six- and twelve-month examination. The median EQ-5L-5D-VAS was respectively 80 (80-90) and 87.5 (70-95). The PTSS-10 score significantly decreased from six to 12 months in COVID-19 survivors (p = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort of patients treated with VV-ECMO, cognitive and psychological outcomes were good and comparable to those of patients with Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) managed without ECMO.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

The findings of this study confirm the need for long-term follow-up and rehabilitation programs for every ICU survivor after discharge. COVID-19 survivors treated with VV-ECMO had outcomes comparable to those reported in non-COVID patients.

Glucocorticoid use and varying doses on the long-term outcomes of offspring born to patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

This study aims to assess the impact of non-fluorinated glucocorticoid use and varying doses on the long-term physical, neurological, and social-emotional development outcomes of offspring born to patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The goal is to provide guidance on the appropriate dosage of glucocorticoids during pregnancy in SLE patients. We conducted a follow-up study on the offspring of SLE patients who had pregnancies and were admitted to our obstetrics department between January 1, 2016, and September 30, 2021. Patients who received immunosuppressants and dexamethasone were excluded from the study. The SLE patients were categorized into three groups based on their glucocorticoid use during pregnancy: hormone-free group, ≤ 10 mg/day group, and > 10 mg/day group (equivalent to prednisone). Most patients in the three groups were used hydroxychloroquine during pregnancy. We assessed the physical development status, including weight, height (length), and other relevant factors in three groups. Additionally, we utilized the Age and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3) to evaluate the development of communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social. The social-emotional development status was assessed using the Age and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ: SE). We standardized the weight, height (length), body mass index, and ASQ-3 domain scores of children of different ages and genders into Z-scores for comparison. The results of this study demonstrated no statistically significant differences in the long-term physical development, neurological development, and social-emotional development outcomes of the offspring of SLE patients in three groups. However, while not reaching statistical significance, it was found that the offspring of the > 10 mg/day group had lower height (length) Z-scores and communication Z-scores compared to the other groups.   Conclusion: The use of non-fluorinated glucocorticoids during pregnancy and varying doses did not have a significant impact on the long-term physical, neurological, and social-emotional development outcomes of offspring born to SLE patients. However, the offspring of SLE patients treated with glucocorticoids > 10 mg/day during pregnancy may be necessary to strengthen the monitoring of height (length) and communication skills in the long term. What is Known: • Fetal exposure to glucocorticoids can have implications for the development of multiple systems and may persist after birth, potentially increasing the risk of neurological abnormalities and other diseases. • There is limited research on the long-term development of offspring born to SLE patients, especially the patients treated with glucocorticoids. What is New: • The use of non-fluorinated glucocorticoids during pregnancy and varying doses did not have a significant impact on the long-term outcomes of offspring born to SLE patients. • The offspring of SLE patients treated with glucocorticoids >10 mg/day during pregnancy may be necessary to strengthen the monitoring of height (length) and communication skills in the long term.

Treatment of COVID-19-associated ARDS with umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells in the STROMA-CoV-2 multicenter randomized double-blind trial: long-term safety, respiratory function, and quality of life

BACKGROUND

The STROMA-CoV-2 study was a French phase 2b, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial that did not identify a significant efficacy of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells in patients with SARS-CoV-2-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome. Safety on day 28 was found to be good. The aim of our extended study was to assess the 6- and 12-month safety of UC-MSCs administration in the STROMA-CoV-2 cohort.

METHODS

A detailed multi-domain assessment was conducted at 6 and 12 months following hospital discharge focusing on adverse events, lung computed tomography-scan, pulmonary and muscular functional status, and quality of life in the STROMA-CoV-2 cohort including SARS-CoV-2-related early (< 96 h) mild-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.

RESULTS

Between April 2020 and October 2020, 47 patients were enrolled, of whom 19 completed a 1-year follow-up. There were no significant differences in any endpoints or adverse effects between the UC-MSCs and placebo groups at the 6- and 12-month assessments. Ground-glass opacities persisted at 1 year in 5 patients (26.3%). Furthermore, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide remained altered over 1 year, although no patient required oxygen or non-invasive ventilatory support. Quality of life revealed declines in mental, emotional and physical health throughout the follow-up period, and the six-minute walking distance remained slightly impaired at the 1-year patient assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests a favorable safety profile for the use of intravenous UC-MSCs in the context of the first French wave of SARS-CoV-2-related moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, with no adverse effects observed at 1 year.

Femtosecond thin-flap laser assisted in situ keratomileusis for correction of post-penetrating keratoplasty ametropia: long-term outcome

PURPOSE

To evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of femtosecond thin-flap LASIK (femto-LASIK) for correction of refractive error after penetrating keratoplasty in keratoconus-affected eyes.

SETTING

a private ophthalmology clinic.

DESIGN

Prospective interventional case series.

METHODS

This prospective interventional case series enrolled 22 eyes of 22 patients who underwent femto-LASIK for the management of post-penetrating keratoplasty ametropia. The refractive error, uncorrected (UDVA), and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities and vector analysis were reported in short-term and long-term period after surgery.

RESULTS

The mean age was 32.7 ± 7.5 years (range, 23 to 47 years) at the surgery time. The average time between PK and femto-LASIK was 42.5 ± 31.7 months. The average follow-up duration after femto-LASIK was 81.2 ± 18.6 months. The mean preoperative UDVA significantly improved from 0.47 ± 0.15 logMAR to 0.35 ± 0.14 logMAR at 12 months (P = 0.048) and 0.4 ± 0.17 at final follow-up exam (P = 0.007). CDVA was 0.22 ± 0.1 at baseline which improved to 0.18 ± 0.15 and 0.15 ± 0.1 logMAR at 12 and 81 months, respectively. (Ps = 0.027, 0.014). The mean cylinder before surgery was - 5.04 ± 1.4D which significantly decreased to -1.5 ± 0.8 D at 12 months postoperatively. (P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in refractive astigmatism from 12 months to 81 months postoperatively (-3.1 ± 2.0, P = 0.002). At the final visit, the efficacy index was 0.83, and the safety index was 1.16.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the short-term outcome indicated that femo-LASIK was effective for correction of post-keratoplasty ametropia during short-term period, a notable regression in its effect was observed in the long-term follow-up. Therefore, the predictability of this technique might decrease in the long-term.

Characteristics of early gastric tumors with different differentiation and predictors of long-term outcomes after endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract, and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the preferred treatment for early-stage gastric cancer. The analysis of the epidemiological characteristics of gastric mucosal tumors with different differentiation degrees and the influencing factors of long-term ESD efficacy may have certain significance for revealing the development of gastric cancer and ESD.

AIM

To analyze the features of gastric mucosal tumors at different differentiation levels, and to explore the prognostic factors of ESD.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 301 lesions in 285 patients at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from 2014 to 2021, according to the latest Japanese guidelines (sixth edition), and divided them into low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN), and differentiated and undifferentiated early carcinoma. They are followed up by endoscopy, chest and abdominal computed tomography at 3, 6 and 12 months after ESD. We compared clinicopathologic characteristics, ESD efficacy, and complications with different degrees of differentiation, and analyzed the related factors associated with ESD.

RESULTS

HGIN and differentiated carcinoma patients were significantly older compared with LGIN patients (P < 0.001) and accounted for more 0-IIc (P < 0.001), atrophic gastritis was common (P < 0.001), and irregular microvascular patterns (IMVPs) and demarcation lines (DLs) were more obvious (P < 0.001). There was more infiltration in the undifferentiated carcinoma tissue (P < 0.001), more abnormal folds and poorer mucosal peristalsis (P < 0.001), and more obvious IMVPs, irregular microsurface patterns and DLs (P < 0.05) than in the LGIN and HGIN tissues. The disease-free survival rates at 2, 5, and 8 years after ESD were 95.0%, 90.1%, and 86.9%, respectively. Undifferentiated lesions (HR 5.066), white moss (HR 7.187), incomplete resection (HR 3.658), and multiple primary cancers (HR 2.462) were significantly associated with poor prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Differentiations of gastric mucosal tumors have different epidemiological and endoscopic characteristics, which are closely related to the safety and efficacy of ESD.

Study of Short-Term and Long-Term Outcomes Between Esophagogastrostomy and Double-Tract Reconstruction After Proximal Gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

As the opportunities for proximal gastrectomy (PG) for early gastric cancer in the upper third stomach have been increasing, the safety and feasibility of PG have been a great concern in recent years. This study aimed to compare the short-term and long-term outcomes between patients who underwent esophagogastrostomy (EG) and those who underwent double-tract reconstruction (DTR) after PG.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 34 patients who underwent EG and 39 who underwent DTR at our hospital between 2011 and 2022. We compared the procedure data and postoperative complications including anastomotic complications within 1 year after surgery as short-term outcomes and the rates of change in nutritional status, skeletal muscle mass, and 3-year survival as long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

Although operation time of the DTR group was significantly longer than that of the EG group, there were no significant differences in postoperative complications between 2 groups. Regarding the endoscopic findings, the incidence of anastomotic stenosis and reflux esophagitis was significantly higher in the EG group than in the DTR group (26.5% vs 0%, p < 0.001; 15.2% vs 0%, p = 0.020). In long-term outcomes, there were no significant differences in body weight, BMI, laboratory data, and skeletal muscle mass index between 2 groups for 3 years. The 3-year overall survival rates of 2 groups were similar.

CONCLUSION

DTR after PG could prevent the occurrence of anastomotic complications in comparison to EG. The long-term outcomes were similar between these 2 types of reconstruction.

Long-term results of etiology-based thoracic endovascular aortic repair: a single-center experience

The use of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and Stanford type B aortic dissection (TBAD) has been increasing; however, in terms of etiology, the differences of long term after TEVAR outcomes remain unexplored. Thus, we investigated etiology-specific long-term results of TEVAR for TAA and TBAD. A total of 421 TEVAR procedures were performed at our institution from July 2007 to December 2021; 249 TAA cases and 172 TBAD cases were included. Traumatic aortic dissection and aortic injury cases were excluded. The mean observation duration was 5.7 years. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 1.4% (n = 6), with 1.2% (n = 3) in the TAA group and 1.7% (n = 3) in the TBAD group. The overall incidence of postoperative stroke was 0.9% (n = 4), with 1.2% (n = 3) and 0.6% (n = 1) in the TAA and TBAD groups, respectively (p = 0.90). Paraplegia developed in 1.7% (n = 7) of patients, with 2.4% (n = 6) in the TAA group and 0.6% (n = 1) in the TBAD group. Freedom from aortic-related death was not significantly different between the two etiologies; however, thoracic reintervention was more common in the TBAD group (p = 0.003), with endoleak being the most common indication for reintervention. Additionally, retrograde type A aortic dissection occurred in four TBAD cases, while migration occurred in three TAA cases. The perioperative results of TEVAR for TAA and TBAD were satisfactory. The long-term results were unfavorable owing to the occurrence of etiology-specific and common complications. In terms of the high frequency of reintervention, the long-term complications associated with TEVAR are etiology specific.

Leadless pacemakers at 5-year follow-up: the Micra transcatheter pacing system post-approval registry

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Prior reports have demonstrated a favourable safety and efficacy profile of the Micra leadless pacemaker over mid-term follow-up; however, long-term outcomes in real-world clinical practice remain unknown. Updated performance of the Micra VR leadless pacemaker through five years from the worldwide post-approval registry (PAR) was assessed.

METHODS

All Micra PAR patients undergoing implant attempts were included. Endpoints included system- or procedure-related major complications and system revision rate for any cause through 60 months post-implant. Rates were compared through 36 months post-implant to a reference dataset of 2667 transvenous pacemaker patients using Fine-Gray competing risk models.

RESULTS

1809 patients were enrolled between July 2015 and March 2018 and underwent implant attempts from 179 centres in 23 countries with a median follow-up period of 51.1 months (IQR: 21.6-64.2). The major complication rate at 60 months was 4.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.6%-5.5%] and was 4.1% at 36 months, which was significantly lower than the 8.5% rate observed for transvenous systems (HR: .47, 95% CI: .36-.61; P < .001). The all-cause system revision rate at 60 months was 4.9% (95% CI: 3.9%-6.1%). System revisions among Micra patients were mostly for device upgrades (41.2%) or elevated thresholds (30.6%). There were no Micra removals due to infection noted over the duration of follow-up. At 36 months, the system revision rate was significantly lower with Micra vs. transvenous systems (3.2% vs. 6.6%, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term outcomes with the Micra leadless pacemaker continue to demonstrate low rates of major complications and system revisions and an extremely low incidence of infection.

The long-term developmental outcomes of children born to mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus at different parities

BACKGROUND

In recent years, China has adjusted its fertility policies to optimize the population structure by implementing the two-child and three-child policies. Some patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are considering the possibility of having a second child. The issue is whether the offspring from the second childbirth will have favorable long-term developmental outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

The research aims to investigate the long-term physical, neurological, and social-emotional development outcomes of children born to mothers with SLE at different parities. This study aims to offer valuable insights and references for SLE patients who are considering subsequent pregnancies and require information about potential developmental outcomes for their future children.

METHODS

The study conducted a follow-up of children born to SLE mothers who were admitted to the obstetrics department between January 1, 2016, and September 30, 2021. The SLE patients were categorized into two groups based on their history of live delivery: the primiparity group and the multiparity group. The physical development status, including weight, height (length), and other relevant factors, was evaluated in both groups. The Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3) was utilized to assess the neurological development in five domains, encompassing communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving and personal-social. Social-emotional development was assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE). The weight, height (length), body mass index, and ASQ-3 domain scores were standardized into Z-scores to enable comparison across various ages and genders.

RESULTS

The study revealed that the weight Z-score and BMI Z-score of the children in the multiparity group were significantly higher compared to those in the primiparity group. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the proportions of overweight and obesity between the two groups. In terms of neurological developmental outcomes, the Z-scores of the communication and gross motor domains in the ASQ-3 assessment were significantly higher in the multiparity group compared to those in the primiparity group. The proportion of abnormal screening for social and emotional development in the children of the multiparity group was lower than that of the primiparity group, although this difference did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

The long-term weight development, communication and gross motor development of children born to SLE patients in the multiparity group were better than those in the primiparity group. However, there was no significant difference in social-emotional development between the two groups.

Long-term outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery versus conventional laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer: single-center, retrospective, propensity score analyses

Although the short-term outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) for rectal cancer are well known, the long-term oncologic outcomes of RALS compared with those of conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) are not clear. This study aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of RALS and CLS for rectal cancer using propensity score matching. This retrospective study included 185 patients with stage I-III rectal cancer who underwent radical surgery at our institute between 2010 and 2019. Propensity score analyses were performed with 3-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) as the primary endpoints. After case matching, the 3-year OS and 3-year RFS rates were 86.5% and 77.9% in the CLS group and 98.4% and 88.5% in the RALS group, respectively. Although there were no significant differences in OS (p = 0.195) or RFS (p = 0.518) between the groups, the RALS group had slightly better OS and RFS rates. 3-year cumulative (Cum) local recurrence (LR) and 3-year Cum distant metastasis (DM) were 9.7% and 8.7% in the CLS group and 4.5% and 10.8% in the RALS group, respectively. There were no significant differences in Cum-LR (p = 0.225) or Cum-DM (p = 0.318) between the groups. RALS is a reasonable surgical treatment option for patients with rectal cancer, with long-term outcomes similar to those of CLS in such patients.

A review regarding the article 'clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for functional vs degenerative mitral valve regurgitation'

Echocardiography is widely available in most cardiac centers, plays a key role in both the diagnosis and management of IE, is often the first-hand imaging modality, and should be performed immediately when mitral regurgitation is suspected. In addition, it is helpful during therapy and after surgery to assess valve morphology and function, complications, and heart function. In particular, transthoracic echocardiography is useful to detect new silent complications, monitor vegetation size, assess perivalvular abscess formation, pseudoaneurysm, intracardiac fistula and valvular perforation, as well as examine the embolic risk. In addition, echocardiographic outcomes differences among cardiovascular outcomes assessment of the MitraClip percutaneous therapy for heart failure patients with functional mitral regurgitation (COAPT) like and non COAPT-like patients have shown that non COAPT-like patients had higher left ventricular (LV) dimensions and overall contractility therefore, differences in clinical outcomes have been underestimated. Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (MTEER) is an established therapeutic approach for mitral regurgitation (MR). Recurrence of MR after TEER with MitraClip is a concern due to increased patients' hospital readmission rate and increasing hospital costs. However, little is known about clinical, valvular, or ventricular parameters that may impact postinterventional course and recurrence of MR after TEER. While individual long-term echocardiographic outcomes of functional vs degenerative MR have been described, there is little data on follow-up echocardiographic outcomes comparing functional vs degenerative MR.

Long-term outcomes of trapeziectomy with Gore-Tex® ligament reconstruction for trapezio-metacarpal osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

Trapezio-metacarpal osteoarthritis is a common condition for which the reference standard treatment after failure of non-operative measures is trapeziectomy. Several techniques have been devised to avoid proximal migration of the first metacarpal bone (M1) with impingement on the scaphoid bone. We have developed a Gore-Tex® ligament reconstruction technique that avoids potential complications of tendon harvesting. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term outcomes of this technique.

HYPOTHESIS

Trapeziectomy with Gore-Tex® ligament reconstruction is a reliable option for providing lasting pain relief in patients with trapezio-metacarpal osteoarthritis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted an observational, single-centre, single-surgeon, retrospective cohort study in consecutive patients managed by primary trapeziectomy. We excluded patients with revision trapeziectomy or less than 10 years' follow-up. The primary outcome was event-free survival, defined as absence of revision surgery and of a numerical rating scale score for pain above 3/10. The secondary criteria were clinical tolerance of the Gore-Tex® implant and radiological changes. The patients were assessed at last follow-up either in person or during a teleconsultation.

RESULTS

Of 78 included joints, 54 were assessed during patient visits and 24 by teleconsultation. At 10 years, the event-free survival rate was 91.3%, and 60.3% of patients were free of pain. Evidence of osteolysis was visible in 24% of patients. No patient experienced clinical intolerance of the Gore-Tex® implant. The mean Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand score was 25.5. Metacarpo-phalangeal hyperextension was significantly increased, to 30.6°, and the mean trapezial space ratio was significantly decreased, to 39.1% of the baseline value.

CONCLUSION

Long-term event-free survival was high. Functional outcomes and pain were similar to previous reports. Trapeziectomy with Gore-Tex® ligament reconstruction obviates the need for tendon harvesting. Osteolysis developed in some patients but did not correlate with clinical intolerance. Long-term clinical and radiological monitoring is in order after Gore-Tex® implantation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV, Observational, single-centre, single-surgeon, retrospective cohort study.

Long-term survival and functional outcomes of critically ill patients with hematologic malignancies: a Canadian multicenter prospective study

PURPOSE

Patients with hematologic malignancy (HM) commonly develop critical illness. Their long-term survival and functional outcomes have not been well described.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective, observational study of HM patients admitted to seven Canadian intensive care units (ICUs) (2018-2020). We followed survivors at 7 days, 6 months and 12 months following ICU discharge. The primary outcome was 12-month survival. We evaluated functional outcomes at 6 and 12 months using the functional independent measure (FIM) and short form (SF)-36 as well as variables associated with 12-month survival.

RESULTS

We enrolled 414 patients including 35% women. The median age was 61 (interquartile range, IQR: 52-69), median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was 9 (IQR: 6-12), and 22% had moderate-severe frailty (clinical frailty scale [CFS] ≥ 6). 51% had acute leukemia, 38% lymphoma/multiple myeloma, and 40% had received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT). The most common reasons for ICU admission were acute respiratory failure (50%) and sepsis (40%). Overall, 203 (49%) were alive 7 days post-ICU discharge (ICU survivors). Twelve-month survival of the entire cohort was 21% (43% across ICU survivors). The proportion of survivors with moderate-severe frailty was 42% (at 7 days), 14% (6 months), and 8% (12 months). Median FIM at 7 days was 80 (IQR: 50-109). Physical function, pain, social function, mental health, and emotional well-being were below age- and sex-matched population scores at 6 and 12 months. Frailty, allogeneic HCT, kidney injury, and cardiac complications during ICU were associated with lower 12- month survival.

CONCLUSIONS

49% of all HM patients were alive at 7 days post-ICU discharge, and 21% at 12 months. Survival varied based upon hematologic diagnosis and frailty status. Survivors had important functional disability and impairment in emotional, physical, and general well-being.

Pediatric Liver Transplantation: Selection Criteria and Post-transplant Medical Management

Pediatric liver transplantation remains the gold standard for life-threatening acute and chronic liver diseases and multiple liver-based inherited metabolic defects. Advances in surgical techniques, better perioperative care and immunosuppression regimes have resulted in excellent long-term graft and patient survival. The success of pediatric liver transplantation does however bring the additional challenge of long-term patient outcomes including graft hepatitis-related fibrosis and suboptimal biopsychosocial outcomes. In this review, authors will explore the current landscape of pediatric liver transplantation including indications, timing of referral for liver transplantation, surgical techniques and long-term outcomes such as recurrence of pre-transplant liver disease, idiopathic graft hepatitis and biopsychosocial outcomes. Ultimately, early identification and management of potential issues long-term helps ensure our recipients achieve a "meaningful survival".

Long-term outcomes of choledochoduodenostomy for choledocholithiasis: increased incidence of postoperative cholangitis after total or distal gastrectomy

PURPOSE

Choledochoduodenostomy (CDD) is performed to treat choledocholithiasis (CDL) cases where endoscopic stone removal is difficult. Recognizing CDD characteristics is important for CDL treatment planning.

METHODS

A total of 116 patients, including 33 patients ≥ 80 years old (29 with previous total gastrectomy, 19 with previous distal gastrectomy, 20 with built-up stones, 19 with periampullary diverticulum, 10 with confluence stones, 8 with repetitive recurrent stones, 4 with hard stones, 3 with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography [ERC] not available due to lack of cooperation, 2 with a history of pancreatitis post-ERC, and 2 in whom ERC could not be performed due to a disturbed anatomy) underwent CDD for CDL. Postoperative complications and long-term outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

The in-hospital mortality rate was 0%. The morbidity (grade ≥ IIIA according to the Clavien-Dindo classification) rates in the elderly (≥ 80 years old) and non-elderly (51-79 years old) patients were 3.0% (1/33) and 2.4% (2/83), respectively (p = 0.85). Long-term complications included cholangitis in eight (7%) patients, of which three cases were repetitive and seven had an operative history of total or distal gastrectomy. The incidence of postoperative cholangitis after total or distal gastrectomy was 15% (7/48), which was significantly higher than that involving other causes (1.5%, 1/68; p < 0.01). Two patients with cholangitis after total gastrectomy experienced early recurrence of lithiasis at 2 and 9 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

CDD is safe, even in elderly patients. However, a history of total gastrectomy or distal gastrectomy may increase the incidence of postoperative cholangitis.

Surgical site infection following isolated lumbar discectomy increases odds of revision lumbar surgery within first 6 months, but not beyond

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Lumbar discectomy is a commonly performed surgery following which surgical site infection (SSI) may occur. Prior literature has suggested that, following SSI related to lumbar fusion, the rate of subsequent lumbar surgeries is increased over prolonged periods of time. This has not been studied specifically for lumbar discectomy.

PURPOSE

To define factors associated with SSI following lumbar discectomy and determine if subsequently matched cohorts with and without SSI have differential rates of subsequent lumbar surgery beyond irrigation and debridement (I&Ds) over time.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

Retrospective cohort study.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Adult patients undergoing isolated primary lumbar laminotomy/discectomy were identified from the 2010-2021 M157PearlDiver database. Exclusion criteria included: age<18 years, preoperative diagnosis of infection, neoplastic, or traumatic diagnoses within 90 days prior to index surgery, additional spinal surgeries on the same day as lumbar discectomy, and not being active in the database for at least 90 days postoperative. From this study population, those who developed SSI were identified based on undergoing I&D within 90 days after surgery. Those with versus without SSI were then matched 1:4 based on age, sex, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI), and obesity.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Following initial I&D, incidence of revision lumbar surgery (revision lumbar discectomy, lumbar laminectomy, lumbar fusion) out to 5 years after lumbar discectomy.

METHODS

Following index isolated lumbar discectomy, those with versus without SSI requiring I&D were matched and compared for incidence of secondary surgery in defined time intervals (0-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-2 years, 2-5 years) using multivariable logistic regression, controlling for patient age, sex, ECI, and obesity status.

RESULTS

Of 323,025 isolated lumbar discectomy patients, SSI requiring I&D was identified for 583 (0.18%). Multivariable analysis revealed several independent predictors of these SSIs: younger age (odds ratio [OR] 0.85 per decade increase), ECI (OR 1.22 per 2-point increase), and obesity (OR 1.30). Following matching of those with versus without SSI requiring I&D, rates of subsequent surgery beyond I&D were compared. Those with SSI had significantly increased odds of lumbar revision in the first six months (OR 5.26, p<.001), but not 6-12 months (p=.462), 1-2 years (p=.515), or 2-5 years (p=.677).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, SSI requiring I&D is a rare postoperative complication following lumbar discectomy. If occurring, subsequent surgery beyond I&D was higher in the first six months, but then not increased at subsequent time points out to five years.

Six-Year Outcomes in Subjects with Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy in the EVEREST II Study

INTRODUCTION

The EVEREST II study previously reported that intravitreally administered ranibizumab (IVR) combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT) achieved superior visual gain and polypoidal lesion closure compared to IVR alone in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). This follow-up study reports the long-term outcomes 6 years after initiation of the EVEREST II study.

METHODS

This is a non-interventional cohort study of 90 patients with PCV from 16 international trial sites who originally completed the EVEREST II study. The long-term outcomes were assessed during a recall visit at about 6 years from commencement of EVEREST II.

RESULTS

The monotherapy and combination groups contained 41 and 49 participants, respectively. The change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline to year 6 was not different between the monotherapy and combination groups; - 7.4 ± 23.0 versus - 6.1 ± 22.4 letters, respectively. The combination group had greater central subfield thickness (CST) reduction compared to the monotherapy group at year 6 (- 179.9 vs - 74.2 µm, p = 0.011). Fewer eyes had subretinal fluid (SRF)/intraretinal fluid (IRF) in the combination versus monotherapy group at year 6 (35.4% vs 57.5%, p = 0.032). Factors associated with BCVA at year 6 include BCVA (year 2), CST (year 2), presence of SRF/IRF at year 2, and number of anti-VEGF treatments (years 2-6). Factors associated with presence of SRF/IRF at year 6 include combination arm (OR 0.45, p = 0.033), BCVA (year 2) (OR 1.53, p = 0.046), and presence of SRF/IRF (year 2) (OR 2.59, p = 0.042).

CONCLUSION

At 6 years following the EVEREST II study, one-third of participants still maintained good vision. As most participants continued to require treatment after exiting the initial trial, ongoing monitoring and re-treatment regardless of polypoidal lesion status are necessary in PCV.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01846273.

Ralinepag Phase II Open-Label Extension Study in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

INTRODUCTION

Ralinepag is a potent, titratable, orally administered prostacyclin (IP) receptor agonist to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. A phase II randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, 22-week study of immediate-release (IR) ralinepag safety and efficacy met its primary endpoint, significantly reducing pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) compared with placebo. This phase II open-label extension (OLE) study assessed long-term safety and tolerability of ralinepag.

METHODS

Participants were eligible for the OLE if they completed the parent study or experienced a clinical worsening event while receiving placebo. Those previously receiving IR ralinepag remained on their current dose, and participants formerly administered placebo were titrated to the highest tolerated dose. Participants were transitioned to an extended-release ralinepag formulation toward the end of the OLE. The primary objective evaluated long-term safety and tolerability; secondary endpoints included changes in 6-min walk distance (6MWD), World Health Organization/New York Heart Association functional class, clinical worsening, and hemodynamic measures.

RESULTS

In total, 45/61 participants enrolled in the OLE study, 30 from the IR ralinepag group and 15 from the placebo group. The most common adverse events (AEs) were known prostacyclin-related effects (e.g., headache, 64.4%; diarrhea, 37.8%; jaw pain, 33.3%). There was a notable decline in AEs after reaching and maintaining a stable dose. At month 24 after entering the OLE, 6MWD significantly increased by a mean of 36.3 m (P = 0.004) from OLE baseline, and most participants remained stable in their functional class (84.8%). Post-baseline PVR in 1 or 2 years decreased by a median of 52.2 dyn.s/cm5 and mean pulmonary arterial pressure decreased by a median of 2.0 mmHg (P = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Ralinepag produced sustained, durable improvements in 6MWD along with durable reductions in PVR and a manageable AE profile. Most participants continuing treatment with ralinepag maintained functional measures throughout the OLE and those switching from placebo to ralinepag often experienced functional improvements.

The association between antidepressant treatment and rates of insulin initiation in comorbid depression and type 2 diabetes: A UK electronic health record nested case-control study

AIMS

To investigate the association between antidepressant prescribing and the rate of insulin initiation in type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Using UK primary care records we completed a nested-case control study in a individuals with comorbid depression and type 2 diabetes. Cases were defined as individuals initiating insulin, controls were individuals remaining on oral antidiabetic medication. We used conditional logistic regression to estimate incident rate ratios (IRR) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between antidepressant prescribing and initiating insulin. We adjusted for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, health service and previous medication use.

RESULTS

We included 11,862 cases who initiated insulin, and 43,452 controls. Increased rates of insulin initiation were associated with any antidepressant prescription (IRR 3.78, 95% CI 3.53-4.04), longer (24+ months) durations of antidepressant treatment (IRR 5.61, 95% CI 5.23-6.03), and higher numbers (3+) of different antidepressant agents prescribed (IRR 5.72, 95% CI 5.25-6.24). There was no difference between recent and non-recent antidepressant prescriptions, or between different antidepressant agents.

CONCLUSIONS

Antidepressant prescribing was highly associated with the initiation of insulin therapy. However, this may not indicate a direct causal effect of the antidepressant medication itself, and may be a marker of more severe depression influencing diabetic control.

An investigation of treatment return after psychological therapy for depression and anxiety

BACKGROUND

Some patients return for further psychological treatment in routine services, although it is unclear how common this is, as scarce research is available on this topic.

AIMS

To estimate the treatment return rate and describe the clinical characteristics of patients who return for anxiety and depression treatment.

METHOD

A large dataset (N=21,029) of routinely collected clinical data (2010-2015) from an English psychological therapy service was analysed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

The return rate for at least one additional treatment episode within 1-5 years was 13.7%. Furthermore, 14.5% of the total sessions provided by the service were delivered to treatment-returning patients. Of those who returned, 58.0% continued to show clinically significant depression and/or anxiety symptoms at the end of their first treatment, while 32.0% had experienced a demonstrable relapse before their second treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study estimates that approximately one in seven patients return to the same service for additional psychological treatment within 1-5 years. Multiple factors may influence the need for additional treatment, and this may have a major impact on service activity. Future research needs to further explore and better determine the characteristics of treatment returners, prioritise enhancement of first treatment recovery, and evaluate relapse prevention interventions.

Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program: Bariatric Surgical Risk/Benefit Calculator: 1-year comorbidity remission

BACKGROUND

Clinical calculators can provide patient-personalized estimates of treatment risks and health outcomes. The American College of Surgeons Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) set out to create a publicly available tool to assess both short-term postoperative risk and long-term benefits for prospective adult patients eligible for 1 of 4 primary bariatric procedures. The calculator is comprised of multiple prediction elements: (1) 30-day postoperative risk, (2) 1-year body mass index projections, and (3) 1-year comorbidity remission.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the performance of the 1-year comorbidity remission prediction feature of the calculator.

SETTING

Not-for-profit organization clinical data registry.

METHODS

MBSAQIP data across 4.5 years from 240,227 total patients indicating at least 1 comorbidity of interest present preoperatively and who had a 1-year follow-up record documenting their comorbidity status were included. Six models were constructed, stratified by the presence of the respective preoperative comorbidity: hypertension, hyperlipidemia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, sleep apnea, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, and insulin-dependent diabetes. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to predict 1-year remission (total, partial, or no remission) of insulin-dependent diabetes. All other outcomes were binary (yes or no at 1 yr), and ordinary logistic regression models were used.

RESULTS

All models showed adequate discrimination (C statistics ranging from .58 to .68). Plots of observed versus predicted remission (%) showed excellent calibration across all models.

CONCLUSION

All remission models were well calibrated with sufficient discrimination. The MBSAQIP Bariatric Surgical Risk/Benefit Calculator is a publicly available tool intended for integration into clinical practice to enhance patient-clinician discussions and informed consent.

Long-term outcomes of spine surgery in dialysis patients, focusing on activities of daily living, life expectancy, and the risk factors for postoperative mortality

BACKGROUND

Because of the high incidence of major perioperative adverse events, spine surgery in dialysis patients should be recommended carefully after consideration of its risks and benefits. However, the benefits of spine surgery in dialysis patients remain unclear because of the lack of long-term outcomes. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the long-term outcomes of spine surgery in dialysis patients, focusing on activities of daily living (ADLs), life expectancy, and risk factors for postoperative mortality.

METHODS

Data for 65 dialysis patients who underwent spine surgery at our institution and were followed up for a mean duration of 6.2 years were retrospectively reviewed. ADLs, number of surgeries, and survival times were recorded. The postoperative survival rate was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and risk factors for postoperative mortality were investigated using a generalized Wilcoxon test and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards model.

RESULTS

Compared with preoperative ADLs, ADLs significantly improved at discharge after surgery and at the final follow-up. However, 16 of the 65 patients (24.6%) underwent multiple surgeries, and 34 (52.3%) died during the follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the survival rate after spine surgery was 95.4% at 1 year, 86.2% at 3 years, 69.6% at 5 years, 59.7% at 7 years, and 28.7% at 10 years, and the overall median survival time was 99 months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that a dialysis period of ≥10 years was a significant risk factor.

CONCLUSIONS

Spine surgery in dialysis patients improved and maintained ADLs in the long term and did not shorten life expectancy. However, dialysis patients undergoing spine surgery require multiple surgeries more frequently, and a dialysis period of ≥10 years is a significant risk factor for postoperative mortality.

Long-term outcomes of patients supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory distress syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly used to support patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The impact of ECMO on long-term outcomes of patients with severe ARDS is unclear.

METHODS

We searched electronic databases from inception to January 17th 2023. We selected clinical trials and observational studies reporting on long-term outcomes of patients supported with ECMO for ARDS. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included cognitive function, mental health, functional status, respiratory symptoms, and return to work.

RESULTS

Of the 7126 screened citations, 1 randomized clinical trial and 31 observational studies were included, of which 7 compared conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) and ECMO. Overall quality of studies of the included studies was limited, with the majority being either low (45%) or fair (32%) quality. There was no significant difference in HRQoL measured with the SF-36 score between ECMO and CMV patients (physical component score [PCS]: mean difference 3.91 (- 6.22 to 14.05), mental component score [MCS] mean difference 1.33 (- 3.93 to 6.60)). There was no difference between cognitive function, mental health, functional status, and respiratory symptoms between ECMO and CMV, but data available for comparison were limited. There were high rates of disability for ECMO survivors with 49% of patients returning to work and 23% needing assistance at home on follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Survivors of ECMO for ARDS experience significant disability in multiple domains. Further studies are needed to examine the effect of ECMO on long-term outcomes of patients compared to CMV.

Plate-only open-door laminoplasty is associated with durable, significantly improved clinical outcomes and a very low reoperation rate for progressive spondylosis or adjacent segment disease: average 8-year follow-up

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Multilevel cervical myelopathy is a common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in adults. Surgical intervention via laminoplasty can provide satisfactory clinical outcomes by expansive decompression of the spinal cord. Traditional suture or bone graft techniques have been associated with insufficient fixation, leading to premature closure and subsequent neurological deterioration. In contrast, plated laminoplasty has been shown to provide stable fixation to maintain canal enlargement, but longer-term outcomes are lacking.

PURPOSE

To evaluate longer-term clinical outcomes and reoperations associated with plate-only open-door laminoplasty.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review of prospectively collected data.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Postoperative patients who underwent plate-only open door laminoplasty with minimum 5-year follow up.

OUTCOME MEASURES

modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12).

METHODS

All patients at a single academic institution who underwent plate-only open-door cervical laminoplasty from 9/1/2006 to 9/1/2016 were identified to ensure minimum 5 year follow up. Clinical outcomes included the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score, the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). The occurrence of any repeat operations on the cervical spine was evaluated, as well as its cause. The study team attempted to contact all eligible patients to achieve at least 5 years postoperative follow-up. Pairwise t tests were performed to compare clinical outcomes at preoperative, 6 months, 1-year, and final postoperative follow-up with an α level of 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 774 met the initial inclusion criteria, of which 157 were included in the study (20.3%). Most common reasons for exclusion included inability to reach after 3 attempts (49.48%), inactive phone numbers (20.28%), and patient declining (3.49%). Included patients had an average age of 60.66±10.63 and an average follow-up time of 8.37±2.57 years (minimum 5 years). mJOA scores (preoperative 11.59±2.16) improved significantly at 6-months (14.57±2.07, p<.001), 1-year (15.19±1.95, p<.001), and final follow-up (14.59±2.63, p<.001). NDI (preoperative 33.89±18.54) improved significantly at 6 months (27.89±19.72, p=.03), 1-year (25.96±19.79, p=.01) and final follow-up (17.88±17.17, p<.001). SF-12 MCS (preoperative 44.73) improved significantly at 6 months (52.01, p=.001), 1-year (51.62, p=.008), and final follow-up (52.32, p<.001). No patient underwent reoperations for plate failure or canal closure with recurrent stenosis. Reoperations for progressive spondylosis during the follow up period were rare and occurred in only three patients for new onset radiculopathy (1.9%) and two patients for myelopathy (1.3%) at an average of 3.2 years postoperative. There were no reoperations performed for adjacent segment disease.

CONCLUSIONS

At a minimum of 5 years and an average of more than 8 years postoperative, laminoplasty was associated with significant and sustained improvements in mJOA, NDI, and SF-12 MCS. Importantly, no patients underwent revision surgery for plate failure or recurrent canal closure. Reoperations for new onset radiculopathy and myelopathy were also very rare over the 8-year average follow-up period, with no reoperations for adjacent segment disease. Plate-only laminoplasty is a durable means of treating multilevel myelopathy with excellent longer-term outcomes and a very low risk of reoperation, either for premature closure or the inevitable spondylotic changes that occur over time in patients with similar baseline characteristics to the study population.

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic or surgical resection in T1 colorectal cancer patients: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The personalized treatments of T1 colorectal cancer (CRC) remains controversial. We compared the long-term outcomes of T1 CRC patients after endoscopic resection (ER) and surgery, and evaluated the risk factors for the long-term prognosis.

METHODS

T1 CRCs after resection at the Cancer Hospital, Chines Academy of Medical Sciences from June 2011 to November 2021 were reviewed. High-risk factors included positive resection margin, poor differentiation, deep submucosal invasion (DSI ≥ 1000 μm), lymphovascular invasion and intermediate/high tumor budding. Comparative analyses were conducted based on three treatment methods: follow-up after ER (Group A), additional surgery after ER (Group B) and initial surgery (Group C). The primary endpoints included recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Cox proportional hazard regression models were constructed to identify risk factors for RFS and OS.

RESULTS

A total of 528 patients were enrolled (173 patients in Group A, 102 patients in Group B, 253 patients in Group C). The 3-year RFS, 5-year RFS, 3-year OS, and 5-year OS rates were 96.7%, 94.7%, 99.1%, and 97.8%, respectively. In the absence of other high-risk factors, RFS (P = 0.321) and OS (P = 0.155) of patients with DSI after ER were not inferior to those after surgery. Multivariate analyses identified sex (HR 0.379; 95% CI 0.160-0.894), Charlson comorbidities index (CCI) (HR 3.330; 95% CI 1.571-7.062), margin (HR 8.212; 95% CI 2.325-29.006), and budding (HR 3.794; 95% CI 1.686-8.541) as independent predictive factors of RFS, and identified CCI (HR 10.266; 95% CI 2.856-36.899) as an independent predictive factor of OS.

CONCLUSION

The long-term outcomes of ER are comparable to those of surgery in T1 CRC patients with DSI when other high-risk factors are negative. Resection margin, tumor budding, sex, and CCI may be the most important long-term prognostic factors for T1 CRC patients.

Long-Term Effect of Mechanical Thrombectomy in Stroke Patients According to Advanced Imaging Characteristics

PURPOSE

Data on long-term effect of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with large ischemic cores (≥ 70 ml) are scarce. Our study aimed to assess the long-term outcomes in MT-patients according to baseline advanced imaging parameters.

METHODS

We performed a single-centre retrospective cohort study of stroke patients receiving MT between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2018. We assessed baseline imaging to determine core and mismatch volumes and hypoperfusion intensity ratio (with low ratio reflecting good collateral status) using RAPID automated post-processing software. Main outcomes were cross-sectional long-term mortality, functional outcome and quality of life by May 2020. Analysis were stratified by the final reperfusion status.

RESULTS

In total 519 patients were included of whom 288 (55.5%) have deceased at follow-up (median follow-up time 28 months, interquartile range 1-55). Successful reperfusion was associated with lower long-term mortality in patients with ischemic core volumes ≥ 70 ml (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.20; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.10-0.44) and ≥ 100 ml (aHR 0.26; 95% CI 0.08-0.87). The effect of successful reperfusion on long-term mortality was significant only in the presence of relevant mismatch (aHR 0.17; 95% CI 0.01-0.44). Increasing reperfusion grade was associated with a higher rate of favorable outcomes (mRS 0-3) also in patients with ischemic core volume ≥ 70 ml (aOR 3.58, 95% CI 1.64-7.83).

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated a sustainable benefit of better reperfusion status in patients with large ischemic core volumes. Our results suggest that patient deselection based on large ischemic cores alone is not advisable.

Survivorship outcomes for critically ill patients in Australia and New Zealand: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Impairments after critical illness, termed the post-intensive care syndrome, are an increasing focus of research in Australasia. However, this research is yet to be cohesively synthesised and/or summarised.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this scoping review was to explore patient outcomes of survivorship research, identify measures, methodologies, and designs, and explore the reported findings in Australasia.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Studies reporting outcomes for adult survivors of critical illness from Australia and New Zealand in the following domains: physical, functional, psychosocial, cognitive, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), discharge destination, health care use, return to work, and ongoing symptoms/complications of critical illness.

METHODS

The Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology framework was used. A protocol was published on the open science framework, and the search used Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google databases. Eligible studies were based on reports from Australia and New Zealand published in English between January 2000 and March 2022.

RESULTS

There were 68 studies identified with a wide array of study aims, methodology, and designs. The most common study type was nonexperimental cohort studies (n = 17), followed by studies using secondary analyses of other study types (n = 13). HRQoL was the most common domain of recovery reported. Overall, the identified studies reported that impairments and activity restrictions were associated with reduced HRQoL and reduced functional status was prevalent in survivors of critical illness. About 25% of 6-month survivors reported some form of disability. Usually, by 6 to12 months after critical illness, impairments had improved.

CONCLUSIONS

Reports of long-term outcomes for survivors of critical illness in Australia highlight that impairments and activity limitations are common and are associated with poor HRQoL. There was little New Zealand-specific research related to prevalence, impact, unmet needs, ongoing symptoms, complications from critical illness, and barriers to recovery.

Long-term assessment of the functional independence measure in sports-related spinal cord injury

CONTEXT

Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) secondary to traumatic sports-related etiology potentially face loss of independence. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) assesses the amount of assistance patients require and has shown sensitivity to changes in patient functional status post injury.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to (1) examine long-term outcomes following sports-related SCI (SRSCI) using FIM scoring at the time of injury, one year, and five years post-injury, and (2) determine predictors of independence at one and five-year follow-up considering surgical and non-surgical management. Few studies have investigated the cohort analyzed in this study.

METHODS

The 1973-2016 National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Database was used to develop a SRSCI cohort. The primary outcome of interest captured functional independence using a multivariate logistic regression, defined by FIM individual scores greater than or equal to six, evaluated at one and five years.

RESULTS

A total of 491 patients were analyzed, 60 (12%) were female, 452 (92%) underwent surgery. The cohort demographics were stratified by patients with and without spine surgery and evaluated for functional independence in FIM subcategories. Increased time spent in inpatient rehabilitation and FIM score at post-operative discharge were associated with greater likelihood of functional ability at both one and five-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that SRSCI patients are a unique subset of SCI patients for whom factors repeatedly associated with independence at one year follow-up were dissimilar to those associated with independence at five-year follow-up. Larger prospective studies should be conducted to establish guidelines for this unique subcategory of SCI patients.

Volumetric changes in brain MRI of infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and abnormal neurodevelopment who underwent therapeutic hypothermia

BACKGROUND

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a severe neonatal complication that can result in 40-60 % of long-term morbidity. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive method which is usually performed before discharge to visually assess acquired cerebral lesions associated with HIE and severity of lesions possibly providing a guide for detecting adverse outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the impact of HIE on brain volume changes observed in MRI scans performed at a mean 10 days of life, which can serve as a prognostic indicator for abnormal neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes at 18-24 months among HIE infants.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified a cohort of HIE patients between June 2013 and March 2017. The inclusion criteria for therapeutic hypothermia (TH) were a gestational age ≥35 weeks, a birth weight ≥1800 g, and the presence of ≥ moderate HIE. Brain MRI was performed at a mean 10 days of life and brain volumes (total brain volume, cerebral volume, cerebellar volume, brain stem volume, and ventricle volume) were measured for quantitative assessment. At 18-24 months, the infants returned for follow-up evaluations, during which their cognitive, language, and motor skills were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III.

RESULTS

The study recruited a total of 240 infants between 2013 and 2017 for volumetric brain MRI evaluation. Among these, 83 were normal control infants, 107 were TH-treated HIE infants and 37 were HIE infants who did not receive TH due to contraindications. Clinical evaluation was further proceeded. We compared the brain volumes between the normal control infants (n = 83) with normal ND but TH-treated HIE infants (n = 76), abnormal ND TH-treated HIE infants (n = 31), and the severe HIE MRI group with no TH (n = 37). The abnormal ND TH-treated HIE infants demonstrated a significant decrease in brainstem volume and an increase in ventricle size (p < 0.001) (Table 4). Lastly, the severe brain MRI group who did not receive TH showed significantly smaller brain stem (p = 0.006), cerebellar (p = 0.006) and cerebrum volumes (p = 0.027), accompanied by larger ventricular size (p = 0.013) compared to the normal control group (Table 5).

CONCLUSION

In addition to assessing the location of brain injuries in MRI scans, the reduction in brain stem volume coupled with an increase in ventricular volume in HIE infants may serve as a biomarker indicating severe HIE and adverse long-term ND outcomes among HIE infants who either received therapeutic hypothermia (TH) treatment or not.

Incorporating frailty to address the key challenges to geriatric economic evaluation

BACKGROUND

The multidimensional and dynamically complex process of ageing presents key challenges to economic evaluation of geriatric interventions, including: (1) accounting for indirect, long-term effects of a geriatric shock such as a fall; (2) incorporating a wide range of societal, non-health outcomes such as informal caregiver burden; and (3) accounting for heterogeneity within the demographic group. Measures of frailty aim to capture the multidimensional and syndromic nature of geriatric health. Using a case study of community-based falls prevention, this article explores how incorporating a multivariate frailty index in a decision model can help address the above key challenges.

METHODS

A conceptual structure of the relationship between geriatric shocks and frailty was developed. This included three key associations involving frailty: (A) the shock-frailty feedback loop; (B) the secondary effects of shock via frailty; and (C) association between frailty and intervention access. A case study of economic modelling of community-based falls prevention for older persons aged 60 + was used to show how parameterising these associations contributed to addressing the above three challenges. The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) was the main data source for parameterisation. A new 52-item multivariate frailty index was generated from ELSA. The main statistical methods were multivariate logistic and linear regressions. Estimated regression coefficients were inputted into a discrete individual simulation with annual cycles to calculate the continuous variable value or probability of binary event given individuals' characteristics.

RESULTS

All three conceptual associations, in their parameterised forms, contributed to addressing challenge (1). Specifically, by worsening the frailty progression, falls incidence in the model increased the risk of falling in subsequent cycles and indirectly impacted the trajectories and levels of EQ-5D-3 L, mortality risk, and comorbidity care costs. Intervention access was positively associated with frailty such that the greater access to falls prevention by frailer individuals dampened the falls-frailty feedback loop. Association (B) concerning the secondary effects of falls via frailty was central to addressing challenge (2). Using this association, the model was able to estimate how falls prevention generated via its impact on frailty paid and unpaid productivity gains, out-of-pocket care expenditure reduction, and informal caregiving cost reduction. For challenge (3), frailty captured the variations within demographic groups of key model outcomes including EQ-5D-3 L, QALY, and all-cause care costs. Frailty itself was shown to have a social gradient such that it mediated socially inequitable distributions of frailty-associated outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The frailty-based conceptual structure and parameterisation methods significantly improved upon the methods previously employed by falls prevention models to address the key challenges for geriatric economic evaluation. The conceptual structure is applicable to other geriatric and non-geriatric intervention areas and should inform the data selection and statistical methods to parameterise structurally valid economic models of geriatric interventions.

Longitudinal Follow-Up Study of Social Intervention Outcomes for Children on the Autism Spectrum

A prior randomized trial found a school social intervention yielded significantly better outcomes (social and autism features) immediately following intervention compared to typical school programming (services-as-usual [SAU]) for children on the autism spectrum. In that study, children in the SAU condition subsequently completed a summer social intervention. This study tested longer-term maintenance of effects for children who completed both interventions. A total of 103 children (ages 6-12 years) on the autism spectrum enrolled and 102 completed the initial RCT. Following the summer social intervention, 90 children from the original RCT completed the longer-term follow-up study. In addition to baseline and posttest in the initial RCT, children from both groups were tested at three follow-up points (five total testing points). At the time of first longitudinal follow-up testing, the children were 1.25-4.25 years post-intervention (ages 8-15 years). Longitudinal multilevel model analyses (and follow-up contrasts) revealed significant improvements for both groups post-intervention on measures of emotion recognition, autism features, and social skills, indicating maintenance of post-intervention improvements over the three follow-up testing points. No between-group differences were found for autism features or social skills over time; however, the school social intervention may have yielded somewhat better emotion recognition skills. Exploratory tests found that child IQ, language level, and length of time since completing the intervention did not moderate outcomes. Both social interventions yielded positive and durable longer-term improvements for children on the autism spectrum. [ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03338530; November 8, 2017; original retrospectively registered trial].

The reunion with my patients: their journey and experience 30 years after their intervention for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis via CD instrumentation

PURPOSE

Our objective was to collect the experience and current attitude of those patients, now adults, operated on for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) more than 25 years ago with CD instrumentation (CDI).

METHODS

Prospective qualitative cross-sectional study with interpretive phenomenological analysis approach of AIS patients operated in a single center with CDI between 1985 and 1995. Patients underwent a semi-structured interview with their original surgeon. Seven agreed themes were open for conversation, and several subthemes emerged related to their experience during their journey in life. Filed notes were recorded and transcribed verbatim. We used the method of content, semantic and pragmatic analysis.

RESULTS

We contacted 103 patients, 100 agreed to participate. Mean age was 47.5 ± 3.3, mean follow-up was 30.9 ± 2.7 years. Three fundamental concerns stood out: discomfort with self-image; low back pain with daily activities; and lack of spinal flexibility. 50% were engaged in continuous physical exercise, and only some referred limitations with load-bearing work. Patients commonly described negative memories of the conservative treatment, but positive memories of the surgical process. In general, there was a good adaptation to social life (occupation, social and family relationships). Two-thirds were married, and 65 women had offspring. A frequent concern was the excess of radiographs over the years, and three developed breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors such as dissatisfaction with self-image, low back pain, and spine stiffness were relevant to patients throughout their journeys. Despite this, the great majority were satisfied with the treatment received, which allowed them to lead an integrated life in society.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II.

Musculoskeletal deformities after thoracoscopic versus conventional open repair for esophageal atresia

BACKGROUND

The superiority of thoracoscopic repair (TR) over conventional open repair (COR) for esophageal atresia, especially in terms of long-term outcomes, remains to be investigated. The aim of this study was to compare short- and long-term results between TR and COR group.

METHODS

Patients who underwent TR or COR for esophageal atresia without other predispositions to musculoskeletal deformities (2003-2016) and had been followed up for a minimum of 5 years were retrospectively reviewed. Musculoskeletal deformities (e.g., scoliosis, chest wall asymmetry, and rib deformities) were mainly evaluated based on the most recent chest radiographs.

RESULTS

Nine and eight patients were included in the TR and COR groups, respectively; the mean follow-up period was 8.7 and 11.5 years, respectively (p = 0.14). These groups had similar epidemiological characteristics and rates of postoperative complications. Musculoskeletal deformities developed significantly less frequently in the TR group versus the COR group (11 % vs. 88 %, p < 0.05; scoliosis: 0 % vs. 38 %, p = 0.08; chest wall asymmetry: 11 % vs. 50 %, p = 0.14; and rib deformities: 11 % vs. 88 %, p < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSION

TR was associated with a decreased incidence of musculoskeletal deformities and comparable complication rates versus COR for esophageal atresia repair. TR may achieve better long-term outcomes in this setting.

Propensity score-matched comparison of total arterial off- and on-pump coronary artery bypass with complete revascularization

Little is known regarding the long-term (> 10 years) outcomes and risk factors of total arterial coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study evaluated the long-term outcomes and risk factors for all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) following total arterial on-pump CABG (ONCAB) or off-pump CABG (OPCAB) with complete revascularization. This retrospective cohort analysis enrolled patients with stable angina who underwent total arterial CABG with complete revascularization in our institute between July 2000 and June 2019. The endpoints were all-cause mortality and MACCE incidence, including a comparison between OPCAB and ONCAB. Long-term (10-year) outcomes were analyzed using propensity score-matched pairs, and risk factors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. Overall, 401 patients who underwent primary total arterial CABG were classified into the OPCAB (n = 269) and ONCAB (n = 132) groups. Using propensity score matching (PSM), 88 patients who underwent OPCAB were matched with 88 patients who underwent ONCAB. The mean follow-up period was 7.9 ± 6.3 years. No significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.53-2.04; p = 0.9138) and MACCE incidence (hazard ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-1.65; p = 0.7901) was observed between the two groups. Renal failure requiring dialysis was a significant risk factor for mortality (p < 0.0001) and MACCEs (p = 0.0003). Long-term outcomes of total arterial OPCAB and ONCAB with complete revascularization showed similar findings using PSM. Renal failure requiring dialysis was a significant risk factor for mortality and morbidity.Journal standard instruction requires an unstructured abstract; hence the headings provided in abstract were deleted. Kindly check and confirm.Thank you for your kindness.Clinical registration number 5598, Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital.

Early systemic anticoagulation reduces hospital readmission in acute necrotizing pancreatitis patients: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Early systemic anticoagulation (SAC) is a common practice in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP), and its impact on in-hospital clinical outcomes had been assessed. However, whether it affects long-term outcomes is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of SAC on 90-day readmission and other long-term outcomes in ANP patients.

METHODS

During January 2013 and December 2018, ANP patients admitted within 7 days from the onset of abdominal pain were screened. The primary outcome was 90-day readmission after discharge. Cox proportional-hazards regression model and mediation analysis were used to define the relationship between early SAC and 90-day readmission.

RESULTS

A total of 241 ANP patients were enrolled, of whom 143 received early SAC during their hospitalization and 98 did not. Patients who received early SAC experienced a lower incidence of splanchnic venous thrombosis (SVT) [risk ratio (RR) = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.26-0.60, P < 0.01] and lower 90-day readmission with an RR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.41-0.91, P = 0.02) than those who did not. For the quality of life, patients who received early SAC had a significantly higher score in the subscale of vitality (P = 0.03) while the other subscales were all comparable between the two groups. Multivariable Cox regression model showed that early SAC was an independent protective factor for 90-day readmission after adjusting for potential confounders with a hazard ratio of 0.57 (95% CI: 0.34-0.96, P = 0.04). Mediation analysis showed that SVT mediated 37.0% of the early SAC-90-day readmission causality.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of early SAC may reduce the risk of 90-day readmission in the survivors of ANP patients, and reduced SVT incidence might be the primary contributor.

Outcomes and Vertebral Osteophytes and Bulging Intervertebral Discs Occupancy as a Decision-Making Tool for Surgical Success in Patients Undergoing Microendoscopic Foraminotomy for Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the long-term outcomes of microendoscopic foraminotomy in treating lumbar foraminal stenosis and identify the optimal extent of decompression that yields improved results and fewer complications.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study reviewed the medical records of 95 consecutive patients who underwent microendoscopic foraminotomy for lumbar foraminal stenosis. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scoring system and visual analog scale for low back and leg pain. Surgical success was determined by meeting significant improvement thresholds for back and leg pain at 2 years postoperatively. Multiple regression analysis identified factors associated with improved pain scores. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis determined the cut-off values for successful surgeries.

RESULTS

Significant improvements were observed in Japanese Orthopaedic Association and visual analog scale scores for back and leg pain 2 years postoperatively compared with preoperative scores (P < 0.0001) and sustained over a ≥5-year follow-up period. Reoperation rates were low and did not significantly increase over time. Multiple regression analysis identified occupancy of the vertebral osteophytes and bulging intervertebral discs (O/D complex) as surgical success predictors. A 45.0% O/D complex occupancy cutoff value was determined, displaying high sensitivity and specificity for predicting surgical success.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence supporting the long-term efficacy of microendoscopic foraminotomy for lumbar foraminal stenosis and predicting surgical success. The 45.0% O/D complex occupancy cut-off value can guide patient selection and outcome prediction. These insights contribute to informed surgical decision-making and underscore the importance of evaluating the O/D complex in preoperative planning and predicting outcomes.

Short and long-term readmission after major emergency abdominal surgery: a prospective Danish study

PURPOSE

Major emergency abdominal surgery is associated with severe in-hospital complications and loss of performance. After discharge, a substantial fraction of patients are readmitted emergently; however, limited knowledge exists of the long-term consequences. The aim of this study was to examine the risks and causes of short-term (30-day) and long-term (180-day) readmission among patients undergoing major emergency abdominal surgery.

METHODS

This study included 504 patients who underwent major emergency abdominal surgery at the Zealand University Hospital between March 1, 2017, and February 28, 2019. The population was followed from 0 to 180 days after discharge, and detailed readmission information was registered. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the independent risk factors for readmission within 30 and 180 days.

RESULTS

From 0 to 30 days after discharge, 161 (31.9%) patients were readmitted emergently, accumulating to 241 (47.8%) patients within 180 days after discharge. The main reasons for short-term readmission were related to the gastrointestinal tract and surgical wounds, whereas long-term readmissions were due to infections, cardiovascular complications, and abdominal pain. Stomal placement was an independent risk factor for short-term readmission, whereas an ASA score of 3 was a risk factor for both short-term and long-term readmission.

CONCLUSION

Close to 50% of all patients who underwent major emergency abdominal surgery had one or more emergency readmission within 180 days of discharge, and these data points towards the risk factors involved.

Emotional abilities in preadolescents and adolescents with long-term cochlear implant use

OBJECTIVES

Emotional abilities (EAs) are particularly important during preadolescence/adolescence, two challenging periods characterized by significant biological, physical, and cognitive changes. The present study attempted to a holistic EA approach in preadolescents/adolescents with cochlear implants (CI) and typical hearing (TH), considering various aspects such as perception, cognitive facilitation, comprehension, and management of emotions. A secondary aim was to identify significant demographic and audiological factors of EA development.

METHODS

CI/TH groups were matched for chronological age, nonverbal IQ, gender, economic income, and maternal level of education. Each group consisted of 43 participants (age range 10-18 years). EAs were evaluated by using the multi-trait/method IE-ACCME test. Auditory-linguistic assessments included participants' lexical skills and Matrix performance as well.

RESULTS

EA performance for perception and cognitive facilitation did not show any statistically significant CI/TH group differences (p > 0.05). Significant CI/TH differences emerged for emotion comprehension and management: CI group performed significantly worse in understanding emotional blends (t = 2.56, p = 0.014) but better in personal emotion management (t = -2.01, p = 0.048). For the CI group, gender showed statistically significant effects on cognitive facilitation in sensations, with males performing better than females (U = 129, p = 0.018). TH preadolescents showed significantly lower scores in understanding emotional changes in comparison to TH adolescents (U = 125.5, p = 0.01). Emotional blends understanding showed a weak negative correlation with Matrix performance (r = - 0.38, p = 0.013) and a moderate positive correlation with lexical skills (r = 0.40, p = 0.008). Relationships management showed various significant correlations: weak negative correlations with age at CI (r = - 0.38, p = 0.011) and Matrix performance (r = - 0.36, p = 0.016) as well as weak positive correlations with nonverbal-IQ (r = 0.38, p = 0.013) and positive moderate correlations with lexical skills (r = 0.49, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Cochlear implantation seems to show significant positive effects on emotional development in children, allowing them to achieve age appropriate EAs as they grow up and become preadolescents/adolescents. EA assessment in CI users may not only support monitorization of EA trajectory, but also early identification of any EA disorders, so that subjects with low EA profiles could be timely and properly intervened.

Long-term outcomes of laparoscopic Heller's myotomy with angle of His accentuation in patients of achalasia cardia

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic Heller's myotomy (LHM) is an established treatment for achalasia cardia. Anti-reflux procedures (ARP) are recommended with LHM to reduce the post-operative reflux though the optimal anti-reflux procedure is still debatable. This study reports on the long-term outcomes of LHM with Angle-of-His accentuation (AOH) in patients of achalasia cardia.

METHODS

One hundred thirty-six patients of achalasia cardia undergoing LHM with AOH between January 2010 to October 2021 with a minimum follow-up of one year were evaluated for symptomatic outcomes using Eckardt score (ES), DeMeester heartburn (DMH) score and achalasia disease specific quality of life (A-DsQoL) questionnaire. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, high resolution manometry (HRM) and timed barium esophagogram (TBE) were performed when feasible and rates of esophagitis and improvement in HRM and TBE parameters evaluated. Time dependent rates of success were calculated with respect to improvement in ES and dysphagia-, regurgitation- and heartburn-free survival using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

At a median follow-up of 65.5 months, the overall success (ES ≤ 3) was 94.1%. There was statistically significant improvement in ES, heartburn score and A-DsQoL score (p < 0.00001, p = 0.002 and p < 0.00001). Significant heartburn (score ≥ 2) was seen in 12.5% subjects with 9.5% patients reporting frequent PPI use (> 3 days per week). LA-B and above esophagitis was seen in 12.7%. HRM and TBE parameters also showed a significant improvement as compared to pre-operative values (IRP: p < 0.0001, column height: p < 0.0001, column width: p = 0.0002). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed dysphagia, regurgitation, and heartburn free survival of 75%, 96.2% and 72.3% respectively at 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

LHM with AOH gives a lasting relief of symptoms in patients of achalasia cardia with heartburn rates similar to that reported in studies using Dor's or Toupet's fundoplication with LHM. Hence, LHM with AOH may be a preferred choice in patients of achalasia cardia given the simplicity of the procedure.

Fifteen-Year Clinical Outcomes After Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation

BACKGROUND

Clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention have improved with the use of drug-eluting stents, but data beyond 10 years are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing sirolimus-eluting stent implantation with follow-up beyond 10 years and to determine the impact of clinical and angiographic characteristics on long-term prognosis.Methods and Results: The clinical outcomes of 885 patients who had undergone sirolimus-eluting stent implantation at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Primary endpoints included in the analysis were clinically driven target lesion revascularization (cTLR) and target lesion revascularization (TLR). Univariate and multivariate nominal logistic regression was used for data analysis. The incidence rates of cTLR and TLR beyond 10 years after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation were 16.4% and 36.8%, respectively, with cTLR tending to decrease beyond 10 years. Acute coronary syndrome was a predominant trigger for cTLR. Age, statin use, and stent restenosis emerged as predictors of cTLR within 10 years, but no significant predictors other than age were identified beyond 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Events continue to occur beyond 10 years after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation, with a trend toward an increase in acute coronary syndromes. It is important to be vigilant about the occurrence of acute coronary syndromes during long-term follow-up.

Predicting long-term survival after de novo cardioverter-defibrillator implantation for primary prevention: A population based study

Background

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. While short-term mortality benefit of ICD insertion has been established in landmark randomized controlled trials, little is known about the long-term outcomes of patients with ICDs in clinical practice. In this paper, we describe the long-term survival of patients following de novo ICD implantation for primary prevention in clinical practice and determine the factors which help predict survival after ICD implant.

Methods

Retrospective population-based study of all patients receiving a de novo ICD for primary prevention in Ontario, Canada from 2007 to 2011 using the Ontario ICD Database housed within ICES. Simple random selection was used to split the population into a derivation and internal validation cohort in a ratio of 2:1. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to determine predictors of interest and predict 10-year survival, model performance was assessed using calibration and validation.

Results

In the derivation cohort (n = 3399), mean age was 65.3 years (standard deviation [SD] = 11.0), 664 patients were female (19.5 %) and 2344 patients (69.0 %) had ischemic cardiomyopathy. Ten year survival was 45.7 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 44.0 %-47.4 %). The final prediction model included age, sex, disease factors (ischemic vs nonischemic cardiomyopathy, left ventricular ejection fraction) and patient factors (symptoms, comorbidities), and biomarkers at the time of ICD assessment. This model had good discrimination and calibration in derivation (0.79, 95 % CI 0.77, 0.81) and validation samples (0.78, 95 % CI 0.76, 0.79).

Conclusions

A combination of demographic and clinical factors determined at baseline can be used to predict 10-year survival in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators with good accuracy. Our findings help to identify individuals at risk of long-term mortality and may be useful in targeting future prevention strategies to enhance longevity in this high-risk population.

Long-term outcomes of young, node-negative, chemotherapy-naïve, triple-negative breast cancer patients according to BRCA1 status

BACKGROUND

Due to the abundant usage of chemotherapy in young triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients, the unbiased prognostic value of BRCA1-related biomarkers in this population remains unclear. In addition, whether BRCA1-related biomarkers modify the well-established prognostic value of stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) is unknown. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of young, node-negative, chemotherapy-naïve TNBC patients according to BRCA1 status, taking sTILs into account.

METHODS

We included 485 Dutch women diagnosed with node-negative TNBC under age 40 between 1989 and 2000. During this period, these women were considered low-risk and did not receive chemotherapy. BRCA1 status, including pathogenic germline BRCA1 mutation (gBRCA1m), somatic BRCA1 mutation (sBRCA1m), and tumor BRCA1 promoter methylation (BRCA1-PM), was assessed using DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. sTILs were assessed according to the international guideline. Patients' outcomes were compared using Cox regression and competing risk models.

RESULTS

Among the 399 patients with BRCA1 status, 26.3% had a gBRCA1m, 5.3% had a sBRCA1m, 36.6% had tumor BRCA1-PM, and 31.8% had BRCA1-non-altered tumors. Compared to BRCA1-non-alteration, gBRCA1m was associated with worse overall survival (OS) from the fourth year after diagnosis (adjusted HR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.18-3.75), and this association attenuated after adjustment for second primary tumors. Every 10% sTIL increment was associated with 16% higher OS (adjusted HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.78-0.90) in gBRCA1m, sBRCA1m, or BRCA1-non-altered patients and 31% higher OS in tumor BRCA1-PM patients. Among the 66 patients with tumor BRCA1-PM and ≥ 50% sTILs, we observed excellent 15-year OS (97.0%; 95% CI, 92.9-100%). Conversely, among the 61 patients with gBRCA1m and < 50% sTILs, we observed poor 15-year OS (50.8%; 95% CI, 39.7-65.0%). Furthermore, gBRCA1m was associated with higher (adjusted subdistribution HR, 4.04; 95% CI, 2.29-7.13) and tumor BRCA1-PM with lower (adjusted subdistribution HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.19-0.95) incidence of second primary tumors, compared to BRCA1-non-alteration.

CONCLUSIONS

Although both gBRCA1m and tumor BRCA1-PM alter BRCA1 gene transcription, they are associated with different outcomes in young, node-negative, chemotherapy-naïve TNBC patients. By combining sTILs and BRCA1 status for risk classification, we were able to identify potential subgroups in this population to intensify and optimize adjuvant treatment.

Risk predictors of race disparity in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: a propensity-matched analysis

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare long-term prognosis after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting between white and black patients and to investigate risk factors for poorer outcomes among the latest.

METHODS

All consecutive 4766 black and white patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting between May 2005 and June 2021 at our institution were included. Primary outcomes were long-term incidence of all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in black versus white patients. A propensity-matched analysis was used 2 compare groups.

RESULTS

After matching, 459 patients were included in each black and white groups while groups were correctly balanced. The mean age was 70.4 vs 70.6 years old (P = 0.7) in black and white groups, respectively. Intraoperatively, mean operating room time and blood product transfusion, were higher in the black group while incidence of extubation in the operating room was higher in the white one. Postoperatively, hospital length of stay was higher in the black cohort. Thirty-day all-cause mortality was not different among groups. The median follow-up time was 4 years. Primary outcome of all-cause death was higher in the black versus the white, respectively. Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events incidence was twice higher in the black compared to the white cohort (7.6% vs 3.7%, P = 0.013). Risk predictors for all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in blacks were creatinine level, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ejection fraction <50% and preoperative atrial fibrillation.

CONCLUSIONS

Racial disparities persist in a high-volume centre. Despite no preoperative difference, black minority has a higher incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.

Five-year outcomes in carbon-ion radiotherapy for postoperative pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer: A prospective clinical trial (GUNMA 0801)

Introduction

Carbon-ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) is associated with favorable clinical outcomes for the pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer. However, few long-term follow-up studies after C-ion RT have been conducted. Hence, we performed an updated analysis of a prospective clinical trial of C-ion RT for the postoperative pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer.

Materials and methods

The study included 28 patients. Inclusion criteria were patients with confirmed pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer without distant metastasis; those who underwent curative resection of their primary disease and regional lymph nodes without gross or microscopic residual disease; and those who had radiographically measurable tumors. The total dose of C-ion RT for all the patients was 73.6 Gy (relative biological effectiveness) administered in 16 fractions.

Results

The median follow-up duration in all patients and those who survived were 51.2 and 69.2 months, respectively. The follow-up rate at the time of analysis was 96.4%. The 5-year overall survival and local control rates were 50% and 83%, respectively. Four patients had local recurrence, and 17 died of rectal cancer. Regarding late toxicities, two patients developed grade 3 pelvic infection, and nine developed grade 2 peripheral neuropathy.

Conclusion

Our updated analysis of a prospective clinical trial of C-ion RT for postoperative pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer confirmed its long-term efficacy and safety. These results suggest that C-ion RT may be a safe and effective treatment option for the postoperative pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer.

Long-term outcomes with haloperidol versus placebo in acutely admitted adult ICU patients with delirium

PURPOSE

We assessed long-term outcomes in acutely admitted adult patients with delirium treated in intensive care unit (ICU) with haloperidol versus placebo.

METHODS

We conducted pre-planned analyses of 1-year outcomes in the Agents Intervening against Delirium in the ICU (AID-ICU) trial, including mortality and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessed by Euroqol (EQ) 5-dimension 5-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) index values and EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS) (deceased patients were assigned the numeric value zero). Outcomes were analysed using logistic and linear regressions with bootstrapping and G-computation, all with adjustment for the stratification variables (site and delirium motor subtype) and multiple imputations for missing HRQoL values.

RESULTS

At 1-year follow-up, we obtained vital status for 96.2% and HRQoL data for 83.3% of the 1000 randomised patients. One-year mortality was 224/501 (44.7%) in the haloperidol group versus 251/486 (51.6%) in the placebo group, with an adjusted absolute risk difference of - 6.4%-points (95% confidence interval [CI] - 12.8%-points to - 0.2%-points; P = 0.045). These results were largely consistent across the secondary analyses. For HRQoL, the adjusted mean differences were 0.04 (95% CI - 0.03 to 0.11; P = 0.091) for EQ-5D-5L-5L index values, and 3.3 (95% CI - 9.3 to 17.5; P = 0.142) for EQ VAS.

CONCLUSIONS

In acutely admitted adult ICU patients with delirium, haloperidol treatment reduced mortality at 1-year follow-up, but did not statistically significantly improve HRQoL.

Premorbid adjustment as predictor of long-term functionality: Findings from a 10-year follow-up study in the PAFIP-cohort

The literature indicates that patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders often show deficits in premorbid adjustment. Additionally, these impairments have been correlated with critical disease parameters, evident in both early and advanced stages. The principal objective of this study was to investigate the association between premorbid adjustment and functional outcomes a decade following the initial episode of psychosis. A cluster analysis was performed to group patients according to their premorbid adjustment scores as assessed with the Premorbid Adjustment Scale (PAS). The measurements of The Disability Assessment Scale (DAS), The Global Assessment of Function (GAF) scale, ​​and The Quality of Life Scale (QLS) were used to compare the functionality of the groups at a 10-year follow-up. A total of 231 patients were classified into three groups based on their premorbid adjustment: "good PAS", "deteriorating PAS", and "chronically poor PAS". The three groups differed significantly in their sociodemographic and cognitive baseline characteristics. At the 10-year follow-up, "good PAS" group had better scores than the other groups in the variables of functionality and quality of life. The relationship found between premorbid adjustment and long-term functional results in patients with psychosis can help us predict the evolution of patients and act accordingly.

Risk factors that impact long-term outcomes in sigmoid colon cancer with urinary bladder involvement

PURPOSE

This study aimed to identify the risk factors impacting long-term outcomes in patients diagnosed with sigmoid colon cancer with urinary bladder involvement.

METHODS

A comprehensive analysis was conducted on a retrospective cohort of 118 patients who underwent multivisceral resection for sigmoid colon cancer with urinary bladder involvement between June 2002 and May 2017. Univariate and multivariate analyses were employed to identify risk factors associated with long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

Among the included patients, 10 (8.5%) experienced grade III-IV complications according to Clavien-Dindo classification, with 4 (3.4%) presenting anastomotic leaks. The postoperative mortality was 0.8%. R0 resection was achieved in 108 (91.6%) patients. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administrated to only 31 patient (26.3%). Local recurrence was observed in 8 (6.8%) cases. Risk factors for local recurrence-free survival and disease-free survival were CCI>3, grade III-IV postoperative complications according to Clavien-Dindo classification, positive resection margins, stage III of the disease, additional resected organs (excluding colon and bladder) and the absence of adjuvant chemotherapy. The same risk factors, with the exception of CCI, were associated with overall survival.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights that negative resection margins, a postoperative period without grade III-IV complications, and the implementation of adjuvant chemotherapy are crucial factors contributing to improve overall, disease-free and local recurrence-free survival in patients with sigmoid colon cancer with urinary bladder involvement.

Long-term outcomes of single-incision plus one-port laparoscopic surgery versus conventional laparoscopic surgery for rectosigmoid cancer: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Though our previous study has demonstrated that the single-incision plus one-port laparoscopic surgery (SILS + 1) is safe and feasible for sigmoid colon and upper rectal cancer and has better short-term outcomes compared with conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS), the long-term outcomes of SILS + 1 remains uncertain and are needed to evaluated by an RCT.

METHODS

Patients with clinical stage T1-4aN0-2M0 rectosigmoid cancer were enrolled. The participants were randomly assigned to either SILS + 1 (n = 99) or CLS (n = 99). The 3-year DFS, 5-year OS, and recurrence patterns were analyzed.

RESULTS

Between April 2014 and July 2016, 198 patients were randomly assigned to either the SILS + 1 group (n = 99) or CLS group (n = 99). The median follow-up in the SILS + 1 group was 64.0 months and in CLS group was 65.0 months. The 3-year DFS was 87.8% (95% CI, 81.6-94.8%) in SILS + 1 group and 86.9% (95% CI, 81.3-94.5%) in CLS group (hazard ratio: 1.09 (95% CI, 0.48-2.47; P = 0.84)). The 5-year OS was 86.7% (95% CI,79.6-93.8%) in the SILS + 1 group and 80.5% (95% CI,72.5-88.5%) in the CLS group (hazard ratio: 1.53 (95% CI, 0.74-3.18; P = 0.25)). There were no significant differences in the recurrence patterns between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

We found no significant difference in 3-year DFS and 5-year OS of patients with sigmoid colon and upper rectal cancer treated with SILS + 1 vs. CLS. SILS + 1 is noninferior to CLS when performed by expert surgeons.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02117557 (registered on 21/04/2014).

Chronic Refractory Cough: Long-Term Outcomes Following Cough Suppression Therapy

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the long-term outcomes of patients with chronic refractory cough (CRC) following treatment for cough suppression therapy (CST). Currently, there is a lack of objective data regarding the long-term outcome of behavioral treatment for CRC.

METHODS

From the charts of 106 adult patients diagnosed with CRC, 24 patients were identified as having long-term data at least 3 months post-CST in the form of otolaryngologic examination, Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), and Cough Severity Index (CSI) scores. Patients underwent otolaryngologic evaluation and completed the VHI-10 and CSI assessments during pretreatment, posttreatment, and long-term follow-up visits. Patients were also divided into two groups based on their number of comorbidities.

RESULTS

Twenty of the 24 patients had significant reduction in cough severity after completing CST (P < 0.001). A significant difference was also found in CSI scores from pretherapy to the long-term follow-up visits (P = 0.001). No significant difference was found in CSI scores from posttherapy to long-term follow-up visits (P = 0.93). No significant difference was found in VHI-10 scores over time (P = 0.83). No correlation was found between changes in cough and voice severity and number of comorbidities at the tested level.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings of no significant change in CRC over the long term compared to posttherapy measures suggest that patients were able to maintain improvement in cough over the long term despite various comorbidities. The current results suggest that CST represents a satisfactory approach to treating CRC and provides patients with an ongoing tool to maintain reduced cough severity. No significant correlations between number of comorbidities and mean CSI or VHI-10 scores were found over the long term.