Cathy D. Schleck

Pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis occurs with increased frequency in patients with associated primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), present in 5% of patients with ulcerative colitis, may be associated with pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. The cumulative frequency of pouchitis in patients with and without PSC who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis was determined. A total of 1097 patients who had an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis, 54 with associated PSC, were studied. Pouchitis was defined by clinical criteria in all patients and by clinical, endoscopic, and histological criteria in 83% of PSC patients and 85% of their matched controls. PSC was defined by clinical, radiological, and pathological findings. One or more episodes of pouchitis occurred in 32% of patients without PSC and 63% of patients with PSC. The cumulative risk of pouchitis at one, two, five, and 10 years after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis was 15.5%, 22.5%, 36%, and 45.5% for the patients without PSC and 22%, 43%, 61%, and 79% for the patients with PSC. In the PSC group, the risk of pouchitis was not related to the severity of liver disease. In conclusion, the strong correlation between PSC and pouchitis suggest a common link in their pathogenesis.

Effect of Femoral Head Diameter and Operative Approach on Risk of Dislocation After Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND It has been postulated that use of a larger femoral head could reduce the risk of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty, but only limited clinical data have been presented as proof of this hypothesis. METHODS From 1969 to 1999, 21,047 primary total hip arthroplasties with varying femoral head sizes were performed at one institution. Patients routinely were followed at defined intervals and were specifically queried about dislocation. The operative approach was anterolateral in 9155 arthroplasties, posterolateral in 3646, and transtrochanteric in 8246. The femoral head diameter was 22 mm in 8691 of the procedures, 28 mm in 8797, and 32 mm in 3559. RESULTS One or more dislocations occurred in 868 of the 21,047 hips. The cumulative risk of first-time dislocation was 2.2% at one year, 3.0% at five years, 3.8% at ten years, and 6.0% at twenty years. The cumulative ten-year rate of dislocation was 3.1% following anterolateral approaches, 3.4% following transtrochanteric approaches, and 6.9% following posterolateral approaches. The cumulative ten-year rate of dislocation was 3.8% for 22-mm-diameter femoral heads, 3.0% for 28-mm heads, and 2.4% for 32-mm heads in hips treated with an anterolateral approach; 3.5% for 22-mm heads, 3.5% for 28-mm heads, and 2.8% for 32-mm heads in hips treated with a transtrochanteric approach; and 12.1% for 22-mm heads, 6.9% for 28-mm heads, and 3.8% for 32-mm heads in hips treated with a posterolateral approach. Multivariate analysis showed the relative risk of dislocation to be 1.7 for 22-mm compared with 32-mm heads and 1.3 for 28-mm compared with 32-mm heads. CONCLUSIONS In total hip arthroplasty, a larger femoral head diameter was associated with a lower long-term cumulative risk of dislocation. The femoral head diameter had an effect in association with all operative approaches, but the effect was greatest in association with the posterolateral approach.

Epidemiology of Eosinophilic Esophagitis Over Three Decades in Olmsted County, Minnesota

BACKGROUND & AIMS Data on secular trends and outcomes of eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) are scarce. We performed a population-based study to assess the epidemiology and outcomes of EE in Olmsted County, Minnesota, over the last 3 decades. METHODS All cases of EE diagnosed between 1976 and 2005 were identified using the Rochester Epidemiology Project resources. Esophageal biopsies with any evidence of esophagitis and/or eosinophilic infiltration were reviewed by a single pathologist. Clinical course (treatment, response, and recurrence) was defined using information collected from medical records and prospectively via a telephone questionnaire. Incidence rates per 100,000 person years were directly adjusted for age and sex to the US 2000 population structure. RESULTS A total of 78 patients with EE were identified. The incidence of EE increased significantly over the last 3 of the 5-year intervals (from 0.35 [95% confidence interval (CI)], 0-0.87] per 100,000 person-years during 1991-1995 to 9.45 [95% CI, 7.13-11.77] per 100,000 person-years during 2001-2005). The prevalence of EE was 55.0 (95% CI, 42.7-67.2) per 100,000 persons as of January 1, 2006, in Olmsted County, Minnesota. EE was diagnosed more frequently in late summer/fall. The clinical course of patients with EE was characterized by recurrent symptoms (observed in 41% of patients). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence and incidence of EE is higher than previously reported. The incidence of clinically diagnosed EE increased significantly over the last 3 decades, in parallel with endoscopy volume. Seasonal incidence was greatest in late summer and fall. EE also appears to be a recurrent relapsing disease in a substantial proportion of patients.

Early Postoperative Complications are not Increased in Patients with Crohn's Disease Treated Perioperatively with Infliximab or Immunosuppressive Therapy

AIM:The aim was to determine whether the use of steroids, immunosuppressive agents, or infliximab prior to abdominal surgery for Crohns disease is associated with an increased rate of early postoperative complications.METHODS:All patients who underwent abdominal surgery for Crohns disease between October 1998 and December 2001 were identified. Medical records were abstracted for demographics, location and duration of disease, use of infliximab within 8 wk before and 4 wk after surgery, and dose and duration of corticosteroids, azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine, and methotrexate. Steroid use was defined as: high (intravenous or oral ≥40 mg/day), moderate (oral ≥20 mg/day for at least 2 months), low (oral <20 mg/day or oral >20 mg/day for <2 months), or none. Early (within 30 days postinfliximab) septic and nonseptic complications were identified. Septic complications included wound sepsis, intraabdominal, and extraabdominal infections. Nonseptic complications included Crohns disease recurrence, small bowel obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding, and thromboembolism. A logistic regression analysis assessed the association between perioperative therapy with infliximab, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive therapy and subsequent occurrence of septic complications and separately overall complications.RESULTS:Two hundred and seventy patients were operated upon including 107 patients who received steroids (34 low dose, 34 moderate dose, 43 high dose), 105 patients who received immunosuppressives (64 azathioprine, 38 6-mercaptopurine, 4 methotrexate), and 52 who received infliximab. Forty-eight patients underwent urgent or emergent surgery and 222 underwent elective surgery. Septic complications occurred in 52 of 270 (19%) patients including wound sepsis in 28 (10%), anastomotic leak in 9 (3%), intraabdominal abscess in 5 (2%), and extraabdominal infections in 19 (7%). Nonseptic complications occurred in 18 of 270 (7%) patients. Preoperative use of high- or moderate-dose steroids, immunosuppressives, or infliximab was not associated with greater complication rates. No deaths occurred.CONCLUSION:Early complications after elective abdominal surgery for CD are not associated with steroid dose, immunosuppressive therapy, or infliximab use.

Secular trends in the epidemiology and outcome of Barrett's oesophagus in Olmsted County, Minnesota

BACKGROUND The incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma has increased greatly. Barretts oesophagus is a known risk factor. AIMS To identify changes in the incidence, prevalence, and outcome of Barretts oesophagus in a defined population. SUBJECTS Residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, with clinically diagnosed Barretts oesophagus, or oesophageal or oesophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma. METHODS Cases were identified using the Rochester Epidemiology Project medical records linkage system. Records were reviewed with follow up to 1 January 1998. RESULTS The incidence of clinically diagnosed Barretts oesophagus (>3 cm) increased 28-fold from 0.37/100 000 person years in 1965–69 to 10.5/100 000 in 1995–97. Of note, gastroscopic examinations increased 22-fold in this same time period. The prevalence of diagnosed Barretts oesophagus increased from 22.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 11.7–33.6) per 100 000 in 1987 to 82.6/100 000 in 1998. The prevalence of short segment Barretts oesophagus (<3 cm) in 1998 was 33.4/ 100 000. Patients with Barretts oesophagus had shorter than expected survival but only one patient with Barretts oesophagus died from adenocarcinoma. Only four of 64 adenocarcinomas occurred in patients with previously known Barretts oesophagus. CONCLUSIONS The incidence and prevalence of clinically diagnosed Barretts oesophagus have increased in parallel with the increased use of endoscopy. We infer that the true population prevalence of Barretts oesophagus has not changed greatly, although the incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma increased 10-fold. Many adenocarcinomas occurred in patients without a previous diagnosis of Barretts oesophagus, suggesting that many people with this condition remain undiagnosed in the community.

The Cumulative Long-Term Risk of Dislocation After Primary Charnley Total Hip Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND A widely variable prevalence of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty has been reported, partly because of varying durations of follow-up for this specific end-point. The effect of demographic factors on the long-term risk of dislocation as a function of time after total hip arthroplasty is not well understood. The purpose of the present study was to determine the risk of dislocation as a function of time after Charnley total hip arthroplasty and to investigate the demographic factors that influence the cumulative risk of dislocation. METHODS Six thousand six hundred and twenty-three consecutive primary Charnley total hip arthroplasties were performed in 5459 patients at one institution between 1969 and 1984. The patients included 2869 female patients and 2590 male patients with a mean age of sixty-three years. All procedures were performed with a 22-mm femoral head, and all femoral and acetabular components were fixed with cement. The patients were followed at routine intervals and were specifically queried about dislocation. The cumulative risk of dislocation was calculated with use of the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS Three hundred and twenty hips (4.8%) dislocated. The cumulative risk of a first-time dislocation was 1% at one month and 1.9% at one year and then rose at a constant rate of approximately 1% every five years to 7% at twenty-five years for patients who were alive and had not had a revision by that time. Multivariate analysis revealed that the relative risk of dislocation for female patients (as compared with male patients) was 2.1 and that the relative risk for patients who were seventy years old or more (as compared with those who were less than seventy years old) was 1.3. Three underlying diagnoses-osteonecrosis of the femoral head, acute fracture or nonunion of the proximal part of the femur, and inflammatory arthritis-were associated with a significantly greater risk of dislocation than osteoarthritis was. CONCLUSIONS The cumulative long-term risk of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty is considerably greater than has been reported in short-term studies. The incidence of dislocation is highest in the first year after arthroplasty and then continues at a relatively constant rate for the life of the arthroplasty. Patients at highest risk are female patients and those with a diagnosis of osteonecrosis of the femoral head or an acute fracture or nonunion of the proximal part of the femur. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, Level II-1 (retrospective study). See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The Incidence, Prevalence, and Outcomes of Patients With Gastroparesis in Olmsted County, Minnesota, From 1996 to 2006

BACKGROUND & AIMS The epidemiology of gastroparesis is unknown. We aimed to determine the incidence, prevalence, and outcome of gastroparesis in the community. METHODS Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, a medical records linkage system in Olmsted County, Minnesota, we identified county residents with potential gastroparesis. The complete medical records were reviewed by a gastroenterologist. Three diagnostic definitions were used: (1) definite gastroparesis, delayed gastric emptying by standard scintigraphy and typical symptoms for more than 3 months; (2) probable gastroparesis, typical symptoms and food retention on endoscopy or upper gastrointestinal study; (3) possible gastroparesis, typical symptoms alone or delayed gastric emptying by scintigraphy without gastrointestinal symptoms. Poisson regression was used to assess the association of incidence rates with age, sex, and calendar period. RESULTS Among 3604 potential cases of gastroparesis, 83 met diagnostic criteria for definite gastroparesis, 127 definite plus probable gastroparesis, and 222 any of the 3 definitions of gastroparesis. The age-adjusted (to the 2000 US white population) incidence per 100,000 person-years of definite gastroparesis for the years 1996-2006 was 2.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-3.8) for men and 9.8 (95% CI, 7.5-12.1) for women. The age-adjusted prevalence of definite gastroparesis per 100,000 persons on January 1, 2007, was 9.6 (95% CI, 1.8-17.4) for men and 37.8 (95% CI, 23.3-52.4) for women. Overall survival was significantly lower than the age- and sex-specific expected survival computed from the Minnesota white population (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS Gastroparesis is an uncommon condition in the community but is associated with a poor outcome.

Hepatic Resection for Colorectal Metastases: Value for Risk Scoring Systems?

Introduction:Predictors of outcome in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer remain inconsistent. We aimed to identify predictors of outcome in these patients, to develop a prognostic scoring system, and to assess the general applicability of the current major risk scoring systems. Materials and Methods:Following IRB approval, medical records of 662 consecutive patients undergoing resection of colorectal metastases to the liver during 1960 to 1995 were reviewed. Clinicopathologic and outcome data were assessed from records and mailed questionnaire. Clinicopathologic variables were tested using univariate and multivariate analyses; best-fit models were then generated to study the effect of each independent risk factor on outcome. To validate existing scoring models, our independent data set was applied to those scores. The relative concordance probability estimates were calculated for these models and compared with that of the proposed Mayo model. Results:The overall and disease-specific 5-year survival rates were 37% and 42%, respectively. The probability of recurrence at any site was 65% at 5 years. Perioperative blood transfusion and positive hepatoduodenal nodes were the major determinants of survival and recurrence. To assess the general applicability of the proposed risk scoring systems, we imported the data from our patient population into 3 other scoring systems. Neither survival nor recurrence among our patients was stratified discretely by any of the scoring systems. Based on probability estimates, all models were only marginally better than chance alone in predicting outcome. Conclusion:Broad application of risk scoring systems for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer has limited clinical value and refinement and external validation should be undertaken before utilization.

The Chitranjan Ranawat Award: Long-term Survivorship and Failure Modes of 1000 Cemented Condylar Total Knee Arthroplasties

We examined factors affecting survivorship, and reasons for reoperation and revision of a cemented modular condylar total knee arthroplasty (TKA). One thousand and eight consecutive primary cemented cruciate-retaining TKAs performed at one institution were studied. At the time of review, 411 patients (562 knees) had died, 43 patients (45 knees) had their knee components revised or removed, and 47 patients (62 knees) were lost to followup. Mean followup of living patients with their TKA components in situ (244 patients, 331 knees) was 15.7 years. Survivorship at 15 years for revision for any reason, revision for mechanical failure, and revision for aseptic loosening were 95.9%, 97.0%, and 98.8% respectively. Survivorship was poorer among patients aged less than 60. Forty-five knees had components removed or revised; approximately one-third were removed for infection, one-third for aseptic loosening or tibial polyethylene wear, and one-third for other causes. Mechanical implant failures accounted for less than one-half of the reoperations and revisions, while infection and periprosthetic fractures accounted for a substantial portion of revisions and reoperations. Because mechanical arthroplasty failures have become less common, other complications related to arthroplasty have become proportionately more frequent. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Late follow-up of 1095 patients undergoing operation for complex congenital heart disease utilizing pulmonary ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits

BACKGROUND Pulmonary ventricle (PV) to pulmonary artery (PA) conduits have made possible the correction of many complex congenital cardiac anomalies. METHODS Between April 1964 and January 2001, 1270 patients underwent operation with conduit placement from the PV to PA. The present study evaluates late outcome of 1095 patients (612 males, 483 females) having an operation before July 1992. Mean age was 9.6 +/- 8.2 years old. Diagnoses included pulmonary atresia/tetralogy of Fallot (459), transposition of the great arteries (TGA) (232), truncus arteriosus (193), double outlet right ventricle (DORV) (121), corrected TGA (49), septated univentricular heart (36), and other (5). A porcine-valved Dacron conduit was used in 730, homograft in 239, and non-valved conduit in 126. RESULTS Early mortality decreased from 23.5% prior to 1980 to 3.7% for the most recent decade. Mean follow-up was 10.9 years (maximum, 29 years). Actuarial survival for early survivors at 10 and 20 years was 77.0% +/- 1.5% and 59.5% +/- 2.6%. On univariate analysis, clinical and hemodynamic factors associated with late mortality were male gender, older age at operation, higher post-repair PV/systemic ventricle (SV) pressure ratio, higher distal PA pressure, and longer bypass time (p < or = 0.01 for all). On multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for late mortality were male gender, older age at operation, diagnosis of TGA, corrected TGA, truncus, or univentricular heart, and PV/SV pressure ratio > or = 0.72 (p < or = 0.03 for all). Freedom from reoperation for conduit failure at 10 and 20 years was 55.5% +/- 2.0% and 31.9% +/- 2.7%. On multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for conduit failure were homograft conduit, diagnosis of TGA, younger age at operation, and smaller conduit size (p < or = 0.007 for all). Reoperation for one conduit replacement was performed in 306 patients, two conduit replacements in 55 patients, three in 6 patients, and four in 3 patients. Overall early mortality for conduit replacement in this series was 4.9%; it was 1.7% for patients operated on from 1989 through 1992. At follow-up, 84% of survivors were in NYHA class I or II. CONCLUSIONS Operations that include conduit placement and replacement can be performed with low early mortality. Younger age at operation was associated with improved late survival. The diagnosis of TGA was associated with increased risk for conduit failure, and the durability of the homograft, in this series, was inferior to the porcine-valved Dacron conduit. Quality of life was excellent for most patients despite the need for reoperation.