Andre Y. Son

Elevated NLR in gallbladder cancer and cholangiocarcinoma – making bad cancers even worse: results from the US Extrahepatic Biliary Malignancy Consortium

BACKGROUND Gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary malignancies are aggressive tumors with high risk of recurrence and death. We hypothesize that elevated preoperative Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratios (NLR) are associated with poor prognosis among patients undergoing resection of gallbladder or extrahepatic biliary cancers. METHODS Patients who underwent complete surgical resection between 2000-2014 were identified from 10 academic centers (n=525). Overall (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed by stratifying patients with normal (<5) versus elevated (>5) NLR. RESULTS Overall, 375 patients had NLR <5 while 150 patients had NLR >5. Median OS was 24.5 months among patients with NLR<5 versus 17.0 months among patients with NLR>5 (p<0.001). NLR was also associated with OS in subgroup analysis of patients with gallbladder cancer. In fact, on multivariable analysis, NLR>5, dyspnea and preoperative peak bilirubin were independently associated with OS in patients with gallbladder cancer. Median RFS was 26.8 months in patients with NLR<5 versus 22.7 months among patients with NLR>5 (p=0.030). NLR>5 was independently associated with worse RFS for patients with gallbladder cancer. CONCLUSIONS Elevated NLR was associated with worse outcomes in patients with gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary cancers after curative-intent resection. NLR is easily measured and may provide important prognostic information.

Oncologic effects of preoperative biliary drainage in resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma: Percutaneous biliary drainage has no adverse effects on survival

The objective of the current study was to define long‐term survival of patients with resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) after preoperative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) versus endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD).

Parkinson's Disease and Cryptogenic Epilepsy

Epilepsy is an uncommon comorbidity of Parkinsons disease (PD) and has been considered not directly associated with PD. We present five patients (3 men and 2 women; ages 49–85) who had concomitant PD and cryptogenic epilepsy. Although rare, epilepsy can coexist with PD and their coexistence may influence the progression of PD. While this may be a chance association, an evolving understanding of the neurophysiological basis of either disease may suggest a mechanistic association.

Are we missing non-motor seizures in Parkinson’s disease? Two case reports

BackgroundParkinson’s disease (PD) is predominantly recognized for its motor symptoms, but patients struggle from a morbid and heterogeneous collection of non-motor symptoms (NMS-PD) that can affect their quality of life even more. NMS-PD is a rather generalized term and the heterogeneity and non-specific nature of many symptoms poses a clinical challenge when a PD patient presents with non-motor complaints that may not be NMS-PD.Case presentationWe report two patients with idiopathic PD who presented with acute episodes of cognitive changes. Structural brain images, cardiovascular and laboratory assessment were unremarkable. Both patients experienced a considerable delay before receiving an epilepsy-evaluation, at which point electroencephalogram abnormalities supported the diagnosis of focal non-motor seizures with alteration of awareness. Antiepileptic therapy was implemented and was effective in both cases.ConclusionsDiagnosing non-motor seizures can be challenging. However, PD patients pose an even greater challenge given their eclectic non-motor clinical manifestations and other disease-related complications that could confound and mislead adequate clinical interpretation. Our two cases provide examples of non-motor seizures that may mimic non-motor symptoms of PD. Treating physicians should always consider other possible causes of non-motor symptoms that may coexist in PD patients. Epilepsy work-up should be contemplated in the differential of acute changes in cognition, behavior, or alertness.

Management of the in situ HeartMate II left ventricular assist device during non-transplant, non-exchange cardiac reoperations

Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass may be necessary in patients with pre-existing, continuous-flow, left ventricular assist devices. Heart transplantation or exchange of a malfunctioning left ventricular assist device are the most common scenarios. However, reoperation may also be needed for acquired valvular disease or device malposition. In these cases, operative strategies that enable safe conduct of cardiopulmonary bypass and, if needed, cardioplegic arrest while the left ventricular assist device remains in situ, are essential. Such strategies would avoid unnecessary replacement of working components of the left ventricular assist device and, importantly, avoid damage to them during the period of cardiopulmonary bypass. Adequate anticoagulation, avoidance of regurgitant flow into the device, prevention of blood stagnation in the hardware and careful deairing after periods of pump stoppage are key principles. We present a stepwise algorithm for the management of the HeartMate II device during such cases.

Impact of chlorhexidine gluconate intolerance on driveline infection during chronic HeartMate II left ventricular assist device support

Purpose Driveline exit site (DLES) management following left ventricular assist device implantation is important for preventing driveline infection (DLI). While chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is generally recommended for DLES antisepsis, CHG intolerance can develop, resulting in a need for alternative antiseptics. We reviewed our institutional experience with DLES antisepsis methods in HeartMate II patients, comparing outcomes of patients with and without CHG intolerance. Methods Between October 2011 and March 2016, 44 patients underwent primary HeartMate II implantation. CHG was used for DLES antisepsis and povidone-iodine (PVP-I) was used in patients with CHG intolerance. DLI was defined by Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) criteria. Results Of 44 patients, 37 (84%) received CHG and 7 (16%) received PVP-I antisepsis due to CHG intolerance. Five patients (11.4%) developed a DLI, with an event per patient-year rate of 0.07. Median length of support was 521 days (interquartile range 202–881 days). Characteristics were similar between patients with and without DLI. However, a larger proportion of patients with DLI had CHG intolerance compared to patients without DLI (60.0% vs. 10.3%, p<0.05). Causative organisms were Staphylococcus aureus in CHG-intolerant patients and Stenotrophomonas and Acinetobacter in CHG-tolerant patients. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test demonstrated decreased infection-free days in patients using PVP-I rather than CHG (p<0.01). Conclusions While the etiology of DLI is multifactorial, CHG intolerance appears to be a risk factor. Our findings highlight the need for larger studies comparing the efficacy of antiseptics for DLES care, particularly for patients with CHG contraindications.

Intractable hematuria after left ventricular assist device implantation: Can lessons learned from gastrointestinal bleeding be applied?

Patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) are at increased risk of bleeding. We reviewed our institutional experience with bleeding in the urinary tract after CF-LVAD implantation and quantified the impact on hospital resource utilization in comparison with bleeding in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the most commonly reported mucosal site of bleeding after LVAD implantation. Records were retrospectively reviewed for patients undergoing CF-LVAD implantation at our institution between October 2011 and April 2015. Major adverse events of gross hematuria and GI bleeding were identified, and patient demographics and hospital course were reviewed. Gross hematuria occurred in 3 of the 35 patients (8.6%) and in 5.1% of all hospitalizations for CF-LVAD patients. Severe hematuria occurred after traumatic urethral catheterization, urinary retention, or urologic surgery. Hospitalization for hematuria was six times less likely than hospitalization for GI bleeding; however, hematuria hospitalizations lasted 3.2 times longer than GI bleeding hospitalizations (17.0 vs. 5.3 days). Late recurrent gross hematuria occurred in all cases, with rehospitalization occurring after 109 ± 53 days. In conclusion, gross hematuria is an infrequent but morbid bleeding complication in CF-LVAD patients. Strategies to avoid this complication include strict avoidance of traumatic urethral catheterization and urinary retention in high-risk patients.

Is there a role for upper-extremity intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation as a bridge-to-recovery or a bridge-to-transplant in the treatment of end-stage heart failure?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: Is there a role for upper-extremity intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation (UE-IABP) in the treatment of end-stage heart failure? Altogether 230 papers were found using the reported search, of which 6 papers represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. Of the 163 bridge-to-transplantation (BTT) patients, 141 (86.5%) were successfully transplanted and of the 9 bridge-to-recovery (BTR) patients, 6 (66.7%) were successfully weaned from the device. Length of support ranged from 3 to 152 days, and the most frequent complications were device malfunction or migration necessitating exchange or repositioning, occurring at a collective rate of 37.3%. UE-IABP is a minimally invasive and cost-effective strategy that provides haemodynamic support while preserving both the mediastinum and the functional status in BTR and BTT patients who may not tolerate more invasive modes of mechanical circulatory support. We conclude that UE-IABP can be used as a bridge-to-recovery (BTR) or transplant (BTT) in patients with end-stage heart failure.

The Axillary Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump as a Bridge to Recovery Allows Early Ambulation in Long-Term Use: Case Series and Literature Review

We evaluated the feasibility, tolerability, and efficacy of a strategy for transaxillary artery intra-aortic balloon pump placement for extended mechanical circulatory support of patients with post-cardiotomy shock as a bridge to recovery. Patients requiring prolonged intra-aortic balloon pump support for postcardiotomy heart failure were identified. Intra-aortic balloon pump was tunneled through a 6-mm Dacron graft anastomosed to the right axillary artery. The intra-aortic balloon pump catheter is advanced under fluoroscopic guidance into the descending thoracic aorta. Three patients were transferred from outside facilities, requiring prolonged intra-aortic balloon pump support for postcardiotomy heart failure. Patients included a 54-year-old woman with occluded grafts and left ventricular thrombus after coronary artery bypass grafting, ejection fraction (EF) of 23.4% on dobutamine infusion, intra-aortic balloon pump support for 39 days, max daily ambulated distance of 1250 feet, and discharged home on day 51 on milrinone infusion; a 63-year-old man with kinked left internal mammary artery to left anterior descending artery graft (surgically repaired), multiple failed extubations requiring tracheostomy, EF of 15% on epinephrine and milrinone, intra-aortic balloon pump support for 43 days, max daily ambulated distance of 400 feet, and discharged home on day 54; and a 66-year-old man after redo coronary artery bypass grafting + carotid endarterectomy, with failure to wean off cardiopulmonary bypass requiring veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenator, EF of 20% on epinephrine and norepinephrine, intra-aortic balloon pump support for 41 days, max daily ambulated distance of 2800 feet, and discharged home on day 91. There were no infection, thromboembolic, cerebrovascular, bleeding, or intra-aortic balloon pump malpositioning/migration complications. We found that transaxillary artery intra-aortic balloon pump is well tolerated by patients and allows early ambulation and aggressive physical therapy in patients needing extended support. Duration of intra-aortic balloon pump support was up to 43 days with no complications.