Emotional distress and quality of life in caregivers of patients awaiting lung transplant

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study are to characterize the levels of emotional distress and quality of life among caregivers of lung transplant candidates and to examine the relation of coping styles and perceived caregiver burden to caregivers' self-reported emotional distress. METHODS: A consecutive series of primary caregivers of potential lung transplant candidates completed a battery of psychosocial measures, including the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ), Scale for Caregiver Burden (SCB), and Medical Outcomes Survey, Short Form-36 (SF-36). RESULTS: Only 12 of the 82 caregivers (14.6%) who volunteered for the study reported clinically significant levels of depression (BDI-II > or =14), and only 2 caregivers (2.4%) reported clinically significant levels of anxiety (STAI > or =60). Passive coping strategies were associated with higher levels of emotional distress; specifically, resignation was associated with increased depression (r=.27, P<.04), while avoidance was associated with increased anxiety (r=.29, P<.04). In addition, caregivers who reported greater perceived caregiver burden experienced higher levels of depression (r=.45, P<.001) and anxiety (r=.43, P<.01). Moreover, the social functioning of caregivers of lung transplant patients was more than one standard deviation from a normative sample of the population (Cohen's d=1.16), indicating that caregivers of transplant patients experienced greater impairment in this area. DISCUSSION: Although most caregivers of transplant patients do not report significant impairment in functioning, assessing caregivers' coping strategies and caregiving burden may identify those caregivers who experience increased emotional distress.     

Impact of urinary incontinence on self-concept in children with spina bifida

PURPOSE: Low self-concept and self-esteem are thought to be the main predictors of psychological problems in children and adolescents. Children with spina bifida are thought to be at an increased risk for low self-concept and self-esteem given their disabilities. We examined the impact of urinary continence on self-concept in children with myelomeningocele. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 patients 7 to 19 years old with spina bifida were evaluated using the Hartner self-perception profile. Each patient was asked to self-rate on a scale of 1 to 4 using specific domains of self-concept, including scholastic competence, social acceptance, athletic competence, physical appearance, behavioral conduct and global self-worth. Continence and several other factors, namely ambulatory status, family situation and insurance status, were reviewed simultaneously. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between continent patients with spina bifida and controls. Overall children with spina bifida rated lower in scholastic competence, social acceptance and behavioral conduct than controls. Girls with spina bifida scored lower in perceived athleticism, physical appearance and global self-worth than boys with spina bifida. Continent girls were self-rated higher in social acceptance and global self-worth than incontinent girls. Continent boys were self-rated higher in scholastic competence, social acceptance, physical appearance and behavior compared to incontinent boys. CONCLUSIONS: Continence is associated with better self-concept in children with spina bifida and incontinent girls are at particularly high risk for poor self-esteem. Urologists' efforts to promote continence are likely to have a positive effect on self-concept in boys and girls with spina bifida.     

Single-center comparison of purely laparoscopic,hand-assisted laparoscopic,and open radical nephrectomy in patients at high anesthetic risk

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The laparoscopic approach for management of high-risk patients with renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) may reduce perioperative and postoperative morbidity. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of purely laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN), hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (HALRN), and open radical nephrectomy (ORN) for renal tumors in a population of patients at high risk for perioperative complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients undergoing radical nephrectomy for presumed RCC between August 1999 and August 2001 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and having an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of >/=3 were reviewed. Patients with known metastasis, local invasion, caval thrombi, or additional simultaneous surgical procedures were excluded from analysis. Thirteen patients underwent LRN, eight patients underwent HALRN, and 26 underwent ORN. The patient demographics were similar in the three groups. The groups were compared with regard to intraoperative and postoperative parameters. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square testing for categorical variables and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for continuous variables. Differences in outcomes were examined using ANOVA and Dunnett's T for pairwise comparisons. RESULTS: The ASA 4 patients had significantly longer hospital stays and total hospital costs than the ASA 3 patients. The mean operative time in the ASA 3 patients was similar in the three groups: 2.8 hours, 2.8 hours, and 2.5 hours for the LRN, HALRN, and ORN patients, respectively. Both the LRN patients (22.9 mg of morphine sulfate equivalent) and the HALRN patients (42.1 mg) required less pain medication than the open surgery patients (97.7 mg). When the total hospital costs were compared, LRN was less costly than HALRN ($6089 v $7678; P = 0.57) and open surgery ($6089 v $7694; P = 0.04). The complication rate in the LRN, HALRN, and ORN group was 0%, 25%, and 27%, respectively, although the differences were not statistically different (P = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: Both LRN and HALRN can be performed safely in patients with significant comorbid conditions. Careful preoperative preparation, intraoperative monitoring, and awareness of laparoscopy-induced oliguria can preclude inadvertent overhydration, hemodilution, and congestive heart failure. Both LRN and HALRN result in less pain medication requirement and faster return to oral intake than ORN, and LRN results in fewer perioperative complications than HALRN or ORN in patients at high perioperative risk. The LRN technique has a 21% lower total cost than both HALRN and ORN.     

Randomized prospective evaluation of extended versus limited lymph node dissection in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer

PURPOSE: The low rate of pelvic node metastasis in most contemporary series of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for carcinoma of the prostate has been attributed to earlier and better patient selection than historical series. Alternatively, it has been suggested that the limited dissection commonly performed misses nodal metastasis in a substantial number of patients. To assess the value of an extended node dissection in detecting nodal metastasis, we performed a randomized prospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 123 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy were randomized to an extended node dissection on the right versus the left side of the pelvis with the other side being a limited dissection. The extended dissection included removal of all external iliac nodes to a point above the bifurcation of the common iliac artery, the obturator nodes and the presacral nodes. The limited dissection included only the nodes along the external iliac vein and obturator nerve. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 61 years. Clinical stage was T1c in 88 patients (72%), T2a in 26 (21%), T2b in 7 (6%) and T3 in 2 (1%). Mean preoperative prostate specific antigen was 7.4 ng./ml. Pelvic lymph node metastasis was histologically confirmed in 8 patients (6.5%). Positive nodes were found on the side of the extended dissection in 4 patients, on the side of the limited dissection in 3 and on both sides in 1. Complications possibly attributable to the node dissection included lymphocele in 4 patients, lower extremity edema in 5, deep venous thrombosis in 2, ureteral injury in 1 and pelvic abscess in 1. These complications occurred 3 times more often on the side of the extended dissection (p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Extended node dissection in contemporary series of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy identifies few with nodal metastases not found by a more limited dissection. A trend toward an increased risk of complications attributable to the lymphadenectomy occurs with an extended dissection.