Erectile dysfunction: to prescribe or not to prescribe?

Even with the help of modern pharmacology, treatment of erectile dysfunction often remains complex, and requires taking into account the social, psychological, and behavioral dimensions of the disorder. This brief report presents a case study highlighting this complexity.     

Incarcerated hernia: to reduce or not to reduce?

Purpose  Before the advent of general anesthesia, taxis (hernia reduction) was the treatment of choice of incarcerated hernia but, over the years, its use subsided in favor of urgent herniorrhaphy. The role of taxis for incarcerated hernias in a growing geriatric population must be reexamined. Methods  We attempted taxis in 101 adult patients diagnosed with anterior abdominal wall incarcerated hernia. Following successful taxis, patients were hospitalized for a 24-h period of observation to obviate any complications of taxis. Upon their discharge, the patients were advised to follow with an elective hernia repair. Unsuccessful attempts at taxis were followed by emergency surgery. The gender of the patient, type of hernia, time lapse since incarceration, and signs of intestinal occlusion were recorded and mortality and morbidity rates were calculated. Results  Taxis was successful in 60.3% of cases. No taxis-related complication was observed, even though the mean delay in presentation since incarceration was 12 h. Mortality and morbidity within the taxis group were null. Conclusion  Taxis is a feasible and safe maneuver pending an eventual surgical treatment. By offering better conditions at a later repair, the mortality and morbidity may be considerably lowered. Further studies are needed in order to elucidate various aspects of this two-stage treatment of incarcerated hernia.     

Urinary tract infections: to prophylaxis or not to prophylaxis?

Urinary tract infections, with or without reflux, are the most frequent reason for long-term antibacterial prophylaxis in infants and children. When one is considering the use of prophylaxis in these children, what is clear from existing published data? Up to 2006 there were a small number of poor quality studies, with no reliable evidence of the effectiveness of antibiotics in preventing recurrent symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs). Since then, four randomised controlled studies, to assess the benefits, or lack thereof, of antibiotic prophylaxis, have been published. None has demonstrated a clear benefit. The following conclusions can be drawn: antibiotic prophylaxis is not indicated for children following a first febrile UTI if no or mild grade I or II reflux is present; for higher grade reflux there is no definite conclusion.     

Internal thoracic artery: to skeletonize or not to skeletonize?

The internal thoracic artery has been the most reliable graft material used in coronary artery bypass grafting with an excellent long-term patency rate. Complete myocardial revascularization with internal thoracic arteries improves long-term survival and decreases the rate of repeat operations compared with vein grafts. Adequate length of the graft in coronary artery bypass graft surgery is essential for providing complete arterial revascularization. In the last decade or so, technique of skeletonization of internal thoracic artery has been proposed to achieve extra length. Skeletonization of the internal thoracic artery allows the preparation of longer conduits with a superior free flow and can reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary and sternal complications. However, concerns about vasoreactivity of skeletonized internal thoracic artery grafts, the functional consequences of surgical trauma, the possible loss of innervation, and vasa vasorum perfusion in the skeletonized conduits have prevented this technique from being universally accepted. Presently available evidence from retrospective studies (level 3 evidence) suggests that skeletonization is a safe and effective technique for myocardial revascularization. However, there is a need for conducting multicenter, randomized controlled trials comparing the skeletonized and pedicled internal thoracic arteries with special emphasis on long-term patency to conclusively validate the safety and efficacy of skeletonization technique.     

Good MRI images: to Gad or not to Gad?

Gadolinium-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents (Gad-CA) were formerly considered as alternatives to X-ray-employed iodinated media. Although originally thought to be nonnephrotoxic and proven to be nonhazardous in a healthy population, the Gad-CA safety issue is progressively more controversial in the high-risk group of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Recently, Gad-CAs have not only been blamed for harmless side effects such as dizziness or nausea but also for much more severe complications such as acute renal failure, pancreatitis, or even the development of so-called “nephrogenic systemic fibrosis” in patients with renal failure, culminating in the prohibition of gadodiamide (Omniscan) administration in ESRD patients and, due to renal-organ immaturity, in newborns and infants up to 1 year old. This editorial is written to give insights into the molecular structure of Gad-CAs as well as into the potential biochemical pathomechanisms underlying the aforementioned severe clinical manifestations. Furthermore, a review about the latest literature on Gad-CA nephrotoxicity is provided. Potential risk factors are mentioned and strategies to avoid deterioration of renal function are presented. Cases with Gad-CA-associated adverse events should be adequately documented and reported appropriately. MRI professionals should collaborate closely with their colleagues from other medical specialties to identify patients with adverse events.     

The gastric cardia: to be or not to be?

The origin and biologic significance of cardiac gastric mucosa are controversial. Traditionally, it has been considered native mucosa and part of normal foregut development. It has been recently suggested that cardiac mucosa is present only as a metaplastic response to gastroesophageal reflux disease and therefore always abnormal. We evaluated the esophagogastric junction in 100 pediatric autopsy samples to determine the existence, characteristics, and length of pure cardiac mucosa at different ages. No patient had a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Cardiac mucosa immediately distal and contiguous to the esophageal squamous mucosa was identified in all 100 samples, varying in length from 0.1 to 3 mm; the mean length was 1 mm. There was an inverse correlation between patient age and length of cardiac mucosa; gender had no influence on measured length. Three patients had mild to moderate histologic esophagitis; two had gastritis. No metaplastic features or Helicobacter pylori were identified. These findings support the concept that there is a normal, variably narrow developmental zone at the esophagogastric junction covered by cardiac mucosa and is present at birth. When cardiac type mucosa is found in biopsy material, it does not necessarily represent evidence of a mucosal metaplastic response to gastroesophageal reflux disease.     

Tetralogy of Fallot: to patch or not to patch?

Angiograms of 11 patients with Tetralogy of Fallot were reviewed before and after total repair, and analyzed with respect to growth of the pulmonary valve annulus. At the operation none of the patients was more than 5-years-old, none received a transannular patch and all were asymptomatic at the last visit. The radiologic diameter of the pulmonary valve annulus was compared to the descending thoracic aorta at the level of the diaphragm. Preoperative ratio averaged 1.09 +/- 0.22 and increased postoperatively to 1.35 +/- 0.20 (p less than 0.02). A "catch-up" growth of small annuli could be demonstrated.     

To screen or not to screen? The development of a prediction model for aorto-iliac stenosis in kidney transplant candidates

Screening for aorto-iliac stenosis is important in kidney transplant candidates as its presence affects pre-transplantation decisions regarding side of implantation and the need for an additional vascular procedure. Reliable imaging techniques to identify this condition require contrast fluid, which can be harmful in these patients. To guide patient selection for these imaging techniques, we aimed to develop a prediction model for the presence of aorto-iliac stenosis. Patients with contrast-enhanced imaging available in the pre-transplant screening between January 1st, 2000 and December 31st, 2018 were included. A prediction model was developed using multivariable logistic regression analysis and internally validated using bootstrap resampling. Model performance was assessed with the concordance index and calibration slope. Three hundred and seventy-three patients were included, 90 patients (24.1%) had imaging-proven aorto-iliac stenosis. Our final model included age, smoking, peripheral arterial disease, coronary artery disease, a previous transplant, intermittent claudication and the presence of a femoral artery murmur. The model yielded excellent discrimination (optimism-corrected concordance index: 0.83) and calibration (optimism-corrected calibration slope: 0.91). In conclusion, this prediction model can guide the development of standardized protocols to decide which patients should receive vascular screening to identify aorto-iliac stenosis. External validation is needed before this model can be implemented in patient care.     

To bridge or not to bridge?

Objective

Ventricular assist devices (VAD) are an important therapy that saves the lives of candidates a waiting heart transplantation (HTx). However, there are questions about posttransplantation effects of VADs.

Methods

Seventy-four patients with end-stage heart failure who underwent HTx in our clinic between February 2007 and July 2011 were divided into two groups; a bridge cohort (n = 28) and a nonbridge group comprising 46 who underwent HTx without mechanical circulatory support. There mean ages were 39.89 ± 15.66 and 38.33 ± 16.23 years respectively. Significantly more patients in the bridge group, were man displayed anemia, were treated with anticoagulation therapy, and underwent a resternotomy. In the nonbridge group, more patients needed preoperative inotropic support.

Results

Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed preoperative renal failure (P = .007, odds ratio [OR] 27) and inotropic support (P = .006, OR: 10,222) as well as longer cardiopulmonary bypasses (≥130 minutes, P = .001, OR: 11,24) to be risk factors for in-hospital mortality, which was 15.2% in nonbridge and 10.7% in bridge subjects, P = .733). Major adverse events, such as renal failure, pulmonary failure, right ventricular failure, neurological event, and reoperation due to bleeding, shown similar incidences between the groups. The amount of blood transfusion was significantly higher in the bridge group (2.34 U versus 3.56 U, P = .037). The preoperative incidence of human leukocyte antigen sensitization (panel reactive antibody ≥ 10%) and grade 2R were rejection episodes in the early period were similar.

Conclusion

Early posttransplant results were not adversely or beneficially influenced by the use of VADs. Similar to other types of cardiac surgery, a patients preoperative condition seemed to be the major factor affecting mortality.