Ethnoracial Disparity in Hospital Survival following Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Creation for Acute Variceal Bleeding in the United States

PurposeTo investigate the magnitude of racial/ethnic differences in hospital mortality after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation for acute variceal bleeding and whether hospital care processes contribute to them.MethodsPatients aged ≥18 years undergoing TIPS creation for acute variceal bleeding in the United States (n = 10,331) were identified from 10 years (2007–2016) available in the National Inpatient Sample. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between patient race and inpatient mortality, controlling for disease severity, treatment utilization, and hospital characteristics.ResultsA total of 6,350 (62%) patients were White, 1,780 (17%) were Hispanic, and 482 (5%) were Black. A greater proportion of Black patients were admitted to urban teaching hospitals (Black, n = 409 (85%); Hispanic, n = 1,310 (74%); and White, n = 4,802 (76%); P < .001) and liver transplant centers (Black, n = 215 (45%); Hispanic, n = 401 (23%); and White, n = 2,267 (36%); P < .001). Being Black was strongly associated with mortality (Black, 32% vs non-Black, 15%; odds ratio, 3.0 [95% confidence interval, 1.6–5.8]; P = .001), as assessed using the risk-adjusted regression model. This racial disparity disappeared in a sensitivity analysis including only patients with a maximum Child-Pugh score of 13 (odds ratio 1.2 [95% confidence interval, 0.4–3.6]; P = .68), performed to compensate for the absence of Model for End-stage Liver Disease scores. Ethnoracial differences in access to teaching hospitals, liver transplant centers, first-line endoscopy, and transfusion did not significantly contribute (P > .05) to risk-adjusted mortality.ConclusionsBlack patients have a 2-fold higher inpatient mortality than non-Black patients following TIPS creation for acute variceal bleeding, possibly related to greater disease severity before the procedure.     

Comparative Outcome Analysis of N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate Embolization of the False Lumen Versus Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair in Aortic Dissection

PurposeTo evaluate the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) embolization for the treatment of aortic dissection.Materials and MethodsIn this single-center retrospective study conducted from February 2003 to June 2019, NBCA embolization of an aortic false lumen was attempted in 12 patients (median age, 59 y; range, 41–68 y) and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) was performed in 53 patients (median age, 59 y; range, 37–70 y) for aortic dissection with one or more indications of persisting pain, malperfusion, rupture or impending rupture, maximal aortic diameter ≥ 55 mm, and/or rapid aortic enlargement. The main exclusion criterion for embolization was the presence of fast blood flow in the aortic false lumen on aortography. The efficacy of NBCA embolization and TEVAR was compared by evaluating technical and clinical outcomes, repeat intervention–free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS).ResultsTechnical success was achieved in 11 of the 12 patients treated with NBCA embolization (91.7%), and clinical success was achieved in 9 of these 11 (81.8%). No significant difference was found between embolization and TEVAR in clinical success rates (embolization, 81.8%; TEVAR, 84.9%; P = .409) or procedure-related complications (embolization, 1 patient [8.3%]; TEVAR, 4 patients [7.5%]; P = .701). In addition, embolization showed comparable 5-y RFS (embolization, 82.5% ± 9.3; TEVAR, 85.5% ± 4.8; P = .641) and 5-y OS (embolization, 100%; TEVAR, 95.4% ± 3.2; P = .744) rates to TEVAR.ConclusionsNBCA embolization of the false lumen in aortic dissection seems to be a safe and effective treatment modality for the closure of false lumen in selected patients.     

Embolization of Urinary Tract Fistulae Using an AMPLATZER Vascular Plug and Glue

Six patients (mean age, 57.7 y ± 19.7) with persistent urinary fistulae underwent 7 urinary tract embolizations with AMPLATZER Vascular Plugs (AVPs) and glue: 5 with concomitant cavity obliteration with glue and 2 without. A single procedure was successful in resolving urinary leakage in 5 patients (71%) at a mean follow-up of 27.3 wk ± 31.5 (median, 9.7 wk; range, 4.9–80 wk). Repeat cavity embolization was required in 2 instances to achieve clinical success. Mean survival was 42.3 wk (median, 16.4 wk; range, 11.7–104 wk). Combined AVP and glue embolization may prove to be a primary approach in the control of persistent fistulae.     

Correlation between real-time heart rate and fatigue in chest compression providers during cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A simulation-based interventional study

Background:The American Heart Association guidelines recommend switching chest compression providers at least every 2 min depending on their fatigue during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Although the provider''s heart rate is widely used as an objective indicator for detecting fatigue, the accuracy of this measure is debatable.Objectives:This study was designed to determine whether real-time heart rate is a measure of fatigue in compression providers.Study design:A simulation-based prospective interventional study including 110 participants.Methods:Participants performed chest compressions in pairs for four cycles using advanced cardiovascular life support simulation. Each participant''s heart rate was measured using wearable healthcare devices, and qualitative variables regarding individual compressions were obtained from computerized devices. The primary outcome was correct depth of chest compressions. The main exposure was the change in heart rate, defined as the difference between the participant''s heart rate during individual compressions and that before the simulation was initiated.Results:With a constant compression duration for one cycle, the overall accuracy of compression depth significantly decreased with increasing heart rate. Female participants displayed significantly decreased accuracy of compression depth with increasing heart rate (odds ratio [OR]: 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.95–0.98; P < .001). Conversely, male participants displayed significantly improved accuracy with increasing heart rate (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.02–1.04; P < .001).Conclusion:Increasing heart rate could reflect fatigue in providers performing chest compressions with a constant duration for one cycle. Thus, provider rotation should be considered according to objectively measured fatigue during CPR.     

Long-term outcomes of rigid ring versus De Vega annuloplasty for functional tricuspid regurgitation: A propensity score-matching analysis

ObjectiveThis study was conducted to compare the outcomes of rigid ring versus De Vega annuloplasty for the treatment of functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR).MethodsFrom 2003 to 2017, De Vega annuloplasty (group D) was used in 231 patients, and rigid ring annuloplasty (group R) was used in 204 patients for the treatment of functional TR during left-sided valve surgery. A propensity score-matching analysis was used to pair group D (n = 109) with group R (n = 109). The primary outcomes were long-term overall survival and cardiac death, and the secondary outcomes were tricuspid valve-related events and TR recurrence (TR moderate or severe). The follow-up data were complete in 99.6% (447 out of 449) of the patients with a follow-up duration of 102 months.ResultsThere were no differences in the overall survival and cardiac death between the propensity score-matched groups (P = .793 and P = .175, respectively) up to 14 years after surgery. Tricuspid valve-related events, including cardiac death, permanent pacemaker implantation, thromboembolism, bleeding and tricuspid valve reoperation were also similar between the 2 matched groups during the follow-up (P > .999). However, cumulative incidence of TR recurrence was significantly higher in group R than in group D (P = .007). Multivariate analysis indicated the annuloplasty method (De Vega) and preoperative TR grade as risk factors for late TR recurrence.ConclusionsIn functional TR, annuloplasty methods did not influence long-term overall survival, cardiac mortality, and tricuspid valve-related events. However, rigid ring annuloplasty showed less late TR recurrence. Rigid ring annuloplasty can be considered for the treatment of functional TR in terms of its better durability.     

Traumatic axonal injury of the cingulum in patients with mild traumatic brain injury: a diffusion tensor tractography study

The cingulum, connecting the orbitofrontal cortex to the medial temporal lobe, involves in diverse cognition functions including attention, memory, and motivation. To investigate the relationship between the cingulum injury and cognitive impairment in patients with chronic mild traumatic brain injury, we evaluated the integrity between the anterior cingulum and the basal forebrain using diffusion tensor tractography in 73 patients with chronic mild traumatic brain injury(39 males, 34 females, age 43.29 ± 11.42 years) and40 healthy controls(22 males, 18 females, age 40.11 ± 16.81 years). The patients were divided into three subgroups based on the integrity between the anterior cingulum and the basal forebrain on diffusion tensor tractography: subgroup A(n = 19 patients)-both sides of the anterior cingulum were intact; subgroup B(n= 36 patients)-either side of the anterior cingulum was intact; and subgroup C(18 patients)-both sides of the anterior cingulum were discontinued. There were significant differences in total Memory Assessment Scale score between subgroups A and B and between subgroups A and C. There were no significant differences in diffusion tensor tractography parameters(fractional anisotropy, apparent diffusion coefficient, and fiber volume) between patients and controls. These findings suggest that the integrity between the anterior cingulum and the basal forebrain, but not diffusion tensor tractography parameter, can be used to predict the cognitive function of patients with chronic mild traumatic brain injury. This study was approved by Yeungnam University Hospital Institutional Review Board(approval No. YUMC-2014-01-425-010) on August 16, 2017.