Sharven Taghavi

Prognostic Significance of Signet Ring Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE Studies in Asia have questioned the dictum that signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC) has a worse prognosis than other forms of gastric cancer. Our study determined differences in presentation and outcomes between SRC and gastric adenocarcinoma (AC) in the United States. PATIENTS AND METHODS The National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was reviewed for SRC and AC from 2004 to 2007. RESULTS We reviewed 10,246 cases of patients with gastric cancer, including 2,666 of SRC and 7,580 of AC. SRC presented in younger patients (61.9 v 68.7 years; P < .001) and less often in men (52.7% v 68.7%; P < .001). SRC patients were more frequently black (11.3% v 10.9%), Asian (16.4% v 13.2%), American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9% v 0.8%), or Hispanic (23.3% v 14.0%; P < .001). SRC was more likely to be stage T3-4 (45.8% v 33.3%), have lymph node spread (59.7% v 51.8%), and distant metastases (40.2% v 37.6%; P < .001). SRC was more likely to be found in the lower (30.7% v 24.2%) and middle stomach (30.6% v 20.7%; P < .001). Median survival was not different between the two (AC, 14.0 months v SRC, 13.0 months; P = .073). Multivariable analyses demonstrated SRC was not associated with mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.05; 95% CI, 0.96 to 1.11; P = .150). Mortality was associated with age (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.02; P < .001), black race (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.20; P = .026), and tumor grade. Variables associated with lower mortality risk included Asian race (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.91; P < .001) and surgery (HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.39; P < .001). CONCLUSION In the United States, SRC significantly differs from AC in extent of disease at presentation. However, when adjusted for stage, SRC does not portend a worse prognosis.

Mitral valve repair at the time of continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation confers meaningful decrement in pulmonary vascular resistance

We hypothesized that the addition of mitral valve replacement or repair (MVR) to implantation of continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (cf-LVAD) may further decrease pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) over Heartmate II (HMII) implantation alone. Patients undergoing MVR with concomitant HMII implantation were compared with those undergoing HMII implantation alone. Of the 57 patients undergoing cf-LVAD implantation, 21 (36.8%) underwent concomitant MVR and 36 (63.2%) underwent cf-LVAD implantation alone. Patients receiving MVR had greater decrement in PVR (59.4% vs. 35.2%, p = 0.01). Decrease in end-diastolic diameter was greater for patients receiving MVR but did not reach statistical significance (18.2 vs. 13.5 mm, p = 0.33). Duration of mechanical ventilation (121.6 vs. 181.4 hours, p = 0.45) and inotropic support (162.4 vs. 153.2 hours, p = 0.86), change in creatinine (0.19 vs. −0.26 mg/dl, p = 0.34), increase in bilirubin (2.54 vs. 1.55 mg/dl, p = 0.63), intensive care unit stay (168.0 vs. 231.5 hours, p = 0.38), and overall length of stay (32.0 vs. 42.5 days, p = 0.75) were similar. There was no difference in survival at 3 months (89.7% vs. 83.3%) and 1 year (83.7 vs. 67.3%, p = 0.34). Addition of MVR may result in greater decrement of PVR than HMII implantation alone. This may permit certain patients thought to be ineligible for transplantation to become candidates.

Examining rectal carcinoids in the era of screening colonoscopy: a surveillance, epidemiology, and end results analysis.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the epidemiology of rectal carcinoids in the United States since the implementation of screening colonoscopy. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to identify epidemiological differences between rectal and small intestinal carcinoids. DESIGN: This study was retrospective in design. SETTING: Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry data from 1992 to 2008 were examined. PATIENTS: Patients with rectal carcinoids included those with carcinoid tumors of the rectum. Patients with small intestinal carcinoids included those with carcinoids in the duodenum, jejunum, or ileum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Epidemiological characteristics of rectal carcinoids were identified and compared with small intestinal carcinoids using multiple variable logistic regression. RESULTS: Patients with rectal carcinoids were more likely to be women (OR, 1.196 (95% CI, 1.090–1.311); p < 0.001). Rectal carcinoids were more common among all minorities, including Asians (OR, 10.063 (95% CI, 8.330–12.157); p < 0.001), blacks (OR, 1.994 (95% CI, 1.770–2.246); p < 0.001), and Hispanics (OR, 2.682 (95% CI, 2.291–3.141), p < 0.001). Patients in the 50- to 59-year age group (OR, 0.752 (95% CI, 0.599–0.944); p = 0.014) were more likely to be diagnosed with rectal carcinoids than those in the 60- to 69-year (OR, 0.481 (95% CI, 0.383–0.605); p < 0.001) and ≥70-year age groups (OR, 0.220 (95% CI, 0.175–0.277); p < 0.001). Rectal carcinoids were more likely to be diagnosed in the screening colonoscopy era among the 50- to 59-year age group (OR, 1.432 (95% CI, 1.082–1.895); p = 0.012). Since the implementation of screening colonoscopy in 2000, the proportion of patients diagnosed with rectal carcinoids has been greater than the proportion diagnosed with small intestinal carcinoids in every year except 2001, and the proportion of patients diagnosed with rectal carcinoids after 2000 has been greater than the proportion diagnosed with small intestinal carcinoids in 12 of 13 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry reporting agencies. CONCLUSIONS: Rectal carcinoids and small intestinal carcinoids are epidemiologically distinct tumors with unique presentations. In the era of screening colonoscopy, rectal carcinoids are the more common tumor.

Double-Lung Transplantation Can Be Safely Performed Using Donors With Heavy Smoking History

BACKGROUND Lung transplantation using grafts from donors with a history of heavy smoking (>20 pack-years) is thought to confer worse prognosis. We attempt to determine if adult, double-lung transplantation can be safely performed with lungs from heavy-smoking donors (HSD). METHODS The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database was examined for adult, double-lung transplants from 2005 to 2011. RESULTS Of 5,900 double-lung transplants, 766 (13.0%) were from HSDs. The two groups were similar in recipient age (49.8 vs 50.5 years, p = 0.15), male sex (56.9% vs 56.5%, p = 0.87), and lung allocation score (45.8 vs 44.9, p = 0.18). Recipients of lungs from HSDs had lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1; 34.3 vs 36.1% predicted, p = 0.04), longer ischemic time (5.75 vs 5.58 hours, p = 0.01), less human leukocyte antigen mismatch (4.51 vs 4.62, p = 0.01), and lower class I plasma reactive antigens (2.64 vs 3.69%, p = 0.001). HSDs were older (40.9 vs 32.6 years, p < 0.001) and less likely male (51.7 vs 59.7%, p < 0.001). Recipients of lungs from HSDs had longer median length of stay (18.0 vs 17.0 days, p < 0.001). Freedom from bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (p = 0.09), decrement in FEV1 (p = 0.12), peak FEV1 (79.8% vs 79.0%, p = 0.51), and median survival (2,043 vs 1,928 days, p = 0.69) were not different. On multivariate analysis, HSD lungs were not associated with death (hazard ratio, 1.003; 95% confidence interval, 0.867 to 1.161, p = 0.96). Death was associated with donor age, ischemic time, race mismatch, mechanical ventilation, and extracorporeal membranous oxygenation before transplantation. CONCLUSIONS Double-lung transplantation can be safely performed with lungs from donors with a heavy smoking history.

Continuous flow left ventricular assist device technology has influenced wait times and affected donor allocation in cardiac transplantation

OBJECTIVE Bridge to transplantation patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (cfLVADs) are assigned United Network for Organ Sharing status 1A or 1B priority while awaiting orthotopic heart transplantation. We investigated the influence of cfLVAD on the waitlist times and organ allocation. METHODS The United Network for Organ Sharing database was examined from 2005 to 2012 for patients with cfLVAD and pulsatile flow LVAD (pLVAD). These 2 cohorts were compared with patients who did not receive LVAD. RESULTS Of 16,476 total orthotopic heart transplantations, 3270 (19.8%) were performed on patients with an LVAD as a bridge to transplantation. The cfLVAD group had the longest total waitlist time (259.6 days) compared with the pLVAD (134.6 days) and non-LVAD (121.7 days) groups (P < .001). The cfLVAD group spent more time in status 1A (44.7 days) than did the pLVAD (32.1 days) and non-LVAD (16.4 days) cohorts (P < .001). The median waitlist survival was better for the cfLVAD group (1234.0 days) than in the pLVAD (441.0 days) and non-LVAD (471.0 days) groups (P < .001). The cfLVAD recipients were older, had a greater body mass index, and more often had diabetes than did pLVAD and non-LVAD patients. The cfLVAD cohort received hearts from older, more often male donors, with a greater body mass index. Post-transplant survival was not significantly different among the 3 groups on Kaplan-Meier analysis (P = .12). CONCLUSIONS Despite being older, less favorable recipients, the cfLVAD patients spent more time in status 1A and had greater waitlist survival. This might allow cfLVAD patients to receive preferred donor hearts, which might allow for better post-transplant survival.

Impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or mechanical ventilation as bridge to combined heart-lung transplantation on short-term and long-term survival.

Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and mechanical ventilation (MV) can be used as a bridge to heart-lung transplantation (HLT). The goal of this study was to determine if pretransplantation ECMO or MV affects survival in HLT. Methods The United Network for Organ Sharing database was reviewed for all adult patients receiving HLT from 1995 to 2011. The primary outcome measured was risk-adjusted all cause mortality. Results There were 542 adult patients received HLT during the study period. Of these, 15 (2.8%) required ECMO and 22 (4.1%) required MV as a bridge to transplantation. The groups were evenly matched with regards to recipient age, recipient gender, ischemic time, donor age, and donor gender. The ECMO cohort had worse survival than the control group at 30 days (20.0% vs. 83.5%) and 5 years (20.0% vs. 47.4%; P<0.001). When compared with control, patients requiring MV had worse survival at 1 month (77.3% vs. 83.5%) and 5 years (26.5% vs. 47.4%; P<0.001). The use of ECMO (hazard ratio [HR]=3.820, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.600–9.116; P=0.003) or MV (HR=2.011, 95% CI=1.069–3.784; P=0.030) as a bridge to transplantation was independently associated with mortality on multivariate analysis. Recipient female gender was associated with survival (HR=0.754, 95% CI=0.570–0.998; P=0.048). Conclusions HLT recipients bridged by MV or ECMO have increased short-term and long-term mortality. Further studies are needed to optimize survival in these high-risk patients.

Cardiac transplantation can be safely performed using selected diabetic donors

OBJECTIVE Cardiac transplantation (OHT) using diabetic donors (DDs) is thought to adversely influence survival. We attempt to determine if adult OHT can be safely performed using selected DDs. METHODS The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database was examined for adult OHT from 2000 to 2010. RESULTS Of the 20,348 patients undergoing OHT, 496 (2.4%) were with DDs. DDs were older (39.6 vs 31.3 years; P < .001), more likely female (41.5% vs 28.3%; P < .001), and had a higher body mass index (BMI) (29.9 vs 26.4; P < .001). Recipients of DD hearts were older (53.4 vs 51.8; P = .004) and more likely to have diabetes (18.9% vs 14.9%; P = .024). The 2 groups were evenly matched with regard to recipient male gender (78.0% vs 76.1%; P = .312), ischemic time (3.3 vs 3.2 hours; P = .191), human leukocyte antigen mismatches (4.7 vs 4.6; P = .483), and requirement of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to transplant (0.8% vs 0.5%; P = .382). Median survival was similar (3799 vs 3798 days; P = .172). On multivariate analysis, DD was not associated with mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.155; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.943-1.415; P = .164). As previously demonstrated, donor age, decreasing donor BMI, ischemic time, recipient creatinine, recipient black race, recipient diabetes, race mismatch, and mechanical ventilation or ECMO as a bridge to transplant were associated with mortality. On multivariate analysis of subgroups, neither insulin-dependent diabetes (1.173; 95% CI, 0.884-1.444; P = .268) nor duration of diabetes for more than 5 years (HR, 1.239; 95% CI, 0.914-1.016; P = .167) was associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS OHT can be safely performed using selected DDs. Consensus criteria for acceptable cardiac donors can likely be revised to include selected DDs.

Single-lung transplantation can be performed with acceptable outcomes using selected donors with heavy smoking history.

BACKGROUND We attempt to determine if adult, single-lung transplantation could be performed with acceptable results in heavy-smoking donors (HSDs; > 20 pack-years). METHODS The United Network of Organ Sharing database was examined for adult single-lung transplantation from 2005 to 2011. RESULTS Of the 3,704 single-lung transplantations, 498 (13.4%) were from HSDs. The 2 groups were similar in recipient age (60.6 vs. 60.7 years, p = 0.20), male gender (61.3% vs. 59.8%, p = 0.54), ischemic time (4.1 vs. 4.2 hours, p = 0.11), and pre-transplant forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1; 41.1% vs. 40.0% predicted). Recipients of HSDs had lower lung allocation score (39.7 vs. 38.0, p = 0.02), less human leukocyte antigen mismatches (4.6 vs. 4.5, p = 0.01), and higher class I panel reactive antibody (2.9% vs. 3.8%, p < 0.001). HSDs were older (33.0 vs. 41.3 years, p < 0.001) and less likely male (62.5 vs. 56.0%, p = 0.01). Recipients with HSDs had longer length of stay (20.5 vs. 23.0 days, p < 0.001) and lower peak FEV1 after single-lung transplantation (80.1% vs. 73.4%, p < 0.001). Freedom from bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (p = 0.64), post-single-lung transplantation decrement in FEV1 (p = 0.07), and median survival (1,516 vs. 1,488 days, p = 0.10) were similar. Multivariable analysis found receiving lungs from actively smoking HSDs was associated with mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.45; p = 0.01). Use of HSDs who were not actively smoking was not associated with mortality (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.59-1.19; p = 0.33). Mortality was associated with recipient age, longer ischemic time, race mismatch, class I panel reactive antibody > 10%, mechanical ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to transplantation. CONCLUSIONS Although single-lung transplantation with actively smoking HSDs results in worse results, outcomes are acceptable and should continue to be considered.

The Impact of Alemtuzumab and Basiliximab Induction on Patient Survival and Time to Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome in Double Lung Transplantation Recipients

We examined the effect of alemtuzumab and basiliximab induction therapy on patient survival and freedom from bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) in double lung transplantation. The United Network for Organ Sharing database was reviewed for adult double lung transplant recipients from 2006 to 2013. The primary outcome was risk‐adjusted all‐cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included time to BOS. There were 6117 patients were identified, of whom 738 received alemtuzumab, 2804 received basiliximab, and 2575 received no induction. Alemtuzumab recipients had higher lung allocation scores compared with basiliximab and no‐induction recipients (41.4 versus 37.9 versus 40.7, p < 0.001) and were more likely to require mechanical ventilation before to transplantation (21.7% versus 6.5% versus 6.2%, p < 0.001). Median survival was longer for alemtuzumab and basiliximab recipients compared with patients who received no induction (2321 versus 2352 versus 1967 days, p = 0.001). Alemtuzumab (hazard ratio 0.80, 95% confidence interval 0.67–0.95, p = 0.009) and basiliximab induction (0.88, 0.80–0.98, p = 0.015) were independently associated with survival on multivariate analysis. At 5 years, alemtuzumab recipients had a lower incidence of BOS (22.7% versus 55.4 versus 55.9%), and its use was independently associated with lower risk of developing BOS on multivariate analysis. While both induction therapies were associated with improved survival, patients who received alemtuzumab had greater median freedom from BOS.

Noncardiac surgery in patients on mechanical circulatory support.

This study examined outcomes in patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) requiring noncardiac surgical procedures and identified factors that influence outcomes. All patients with mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices at our institution from 2002 to 2013 undergoing noncardiac surgical procedures were reviewed. There were 148 patients requiring MCS during the study period, with 40 (27.0%) requiring 62 noncardiac surgical procedures. Of these, 29 (72.5%) had implantable LVAD and 11 (27.5%) were supported with ECMO. The two groups were evenly matched with regard to age (53.6 vs. 54.5 years, p = 0.87), male sex (71.4 vs. 45.5%, p = 0.16), and baseline creatinine (1.55 vs. 1.43 mg/dl, p = 0.76). Patients on ECMO had greater demand for postoperative blood products (0.8 vs. 2.8 units of packed red blood cells, p = 0.002) and greater postoperative increase in creatinine (0.07 vs. 0.44 mg/dl, p = 0.047). Median survival was markedly worse in ECMO patients. Factors associated with mortality included ECMO support, history of biventricular assist device, and postoperative blood transfusion. Preoperative aspirin was associated with survival. These findings demonstrate the importance of careful surgical hemostasis and minimizing perioperative blood transfusions in patients on MCS undergoing noncardiac surgical procedures. In addition, low-dose antiplatelet therapy should be continued perioperatively.