Prognostic stratification of obese patients by stress 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion imaging.

Obesity is a major heath problem associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. There are currently no data to support a role for stress imaging techniques in the risk stratification of obese patients. The aim of this study was to assess the independent value of stress 99mTc-tetrofosmin SPECT in predicting mortality and hard cardiac events in obese patients. METHODS: We studied 265 patients with a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2 by exercise or dobutamine stress 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion tomography. Endpoints during follow-up were cardiac death and death of any cause. RESULTS: The mean patient age (+/-SD) was 59 +/- 10 y, and 110 of the patients were men (42%). The mean body mass index was 37 +/- 7 kg/m2. Scan findings were normal in 113 patients (43%). Myocardial perfusion abnormalities were fixed in 62 patients (23%) and reversible in 90 patients (34%). During a mean follow-up period of 5.5 +/- 2 y, 41 patients (15%) died. Death was considered cardiac in 22 patients (8%). Nonfatal myocardial infarction occurred in 20 patients (7.5%). The annual cardiac death rate was 0.6% in patients with normal perfusion and 3.3% in patients with abnormal perfusion. Patients with a multiple-vessel distribution of abnormalities had a higher cardiac death rate than did patients with a single-vessel distribution (4.1% vs. 2.5%, P < 0.05). The annual mortality rate was 1.3% in patients with normal perfusion and 4.2% in patients with abnormal perfusion. In a multivariate analysis, perfusion abnormalities were independently predictive of cardiac mortality (risk ratio, 3.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-6.7) and overall mortality (risk ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-4.3). CONCLUSION: Stress 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion imaging is a useful tool for predicting cardiac and overall mortality in obese patients.     

Dobutamine-atropine stress myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging in the diagnosis of graft stenosis after coronary artery bypass grafting

Objective  To assess the accuracy of dobutamine stress myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomographic imaging (SPECT) for the diagnosis of vascular stenosis after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Background  Exercise thallium scintigraphy is a clinically useful method for the diagnosis of graft stenosis after CABG. Although dobutamine perfusion scintigraphy is an alternative method for the evaluation of patients with limited exercise capacity, its value in the diagnosis of vascular stenosis after CABG has not been studied. Methods  Dobutamine (up to 40 μg/kg/min)-atropine (up to 1 mg) stress test in conjunction with myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging (²⁰¹Tl or 99m technetium sestamibi [MIBI]) was performed in 71 patients (mean age 58±9 years, 57 men) with limited exercise capacity referred for evaluation of myocardial ischemia 3.7±3.5 years after CABG. Significant vascular stenosis was defined as ≥50% luminal diameter stenosis of a graft or a native nongrafted coronary artery and was predicted on the basis of reversible perfusion abnormalities. Results  Significant vascular stenosis was detected in 52 patients. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of reversible perfusion defects at dobutamine SPECT for the overall diagnosis of vascular stenosis were 81%, confidence interval (CI) 72 to 90, 79%, CI 69 to 88, and 80%, CI 71 to 90, respectively. Significant vascular stenosis was detected in 73 arterial regions. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of dobutamine SPECT for the diagnosis of regional vascular stenosis were 66%, CI 58 to 74, 83%, CI 76 to 89, and 74%, CI 67 to 81, respectively. Patients with multivessel stenosis had a higher number of ischemic segments (1.6±1.3 vs 1±1, P<.05) and ischemic perfusion score (3.2±2.7 vs 2.2±2.3, P<.05) than patients with single-vessel stenosis, respectively. Significant graft stenosis was detected in 67 graft regions. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of dobutamine SPECT for the diagnosis of regional graft stenosis were 64%, CI 56 to 73, 85%, CI 78 to 91, and 74%, CI 66 to 82, respectively. Conclusion  Dobutamine stress myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging is a useful method for the diagnosis of significant vascular stenosis after CABG in patients with limited exercise capacity. Supported in part by the Department of Cardiology, Cairo University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt and by a grant from the NUFFIC, the Hague, the Netherlands.     

Accuracy of dobutamine tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion imaging for the noninvasive diagnosis of transplant coronary artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Exercise stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy has been used for the diagnosis of transplant coronary artery stenosis (TCAS) in cardiac allograft recipients. However, the role of pharmacologic stress myocardial perfusion imaging has not been evaluated. Aim of the study is to assess the accuracy of dobutamine stress 99m technetium tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion imaging for the diagnosis of TCAS in heart transplant recipients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 50 patients (age 56 +/- 8 year, 45 men) at a mean of 6.4 +/- 2.8 years after cardiac transplant with dobutamine (up to 40 ìg/kg/min) stress 99m technetium tetrofosmin SPECT. Resting images were acquired 24 hours after the stress study. Significant TCAS was defined as > or =50% luminal diameter stenosis by coronary angiography. RESULTS: Significant TCAS was detected in 30 patients (60%). Myocardial perfusion abnormalities (reversible and/or fixed defects) were detected in 27 of the 30 patients with and in 9 of the 20 patients without significant TCAS (sensitivity = 90%, CI 82-98, specificity = 55% CI 41-69, positive predictive value = 75%, CI 63-87, negative predictive value = 79%, CI 67-90 and accuracy = 76%, CI 64-88). Patients with multivessel TCAS had a larger stress perfusion defect score (5.6 +/- 3.1 vs 3.2 +/- 2.4, p < 0.05) compared to patients with single vessel TCAS. Among patients with abnormal perfusion who had no significant TCAS, 2 had lesions <50%, 2 had luminal irregularities and 5 had no abnormalities at angiography. Therefore specificity was 62% (8/13) in patients without any detectable angiographic abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Dobutamine stress tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion imaging is a highly sensitive method for the detection of TCAS in recipients of cardiac allografts. The high negative predictive value of the test indicates that patients who demonstrate normal perfusion by this method may be excluded from further invasive studies.     

Accuracy of exercise stress technetium 99m sestamibi SPECT imaging in the evaluation of the extent and location of coronary artery disease in patients with an earlier myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the accuracy of exercise methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in the evaluation of the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with an earlier myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 135 patients (mean age, 57+/-10 years; 115 men) at a mean of 4.1 years (median, 1 year) after myocardial infarction with symptom-limited bicycle exercise stress and rest MIBI SPECT imaging. Coronary angiography was performed within 3 months. Significant CAD was defined as a stenosis of 50% or larger in luminal diameter in 1 or more major coronary arteries. Myocardial perfusion defects (fixed, reversible, or both) were detected in 107 of the 113 patients with significant CAD and in 10 of the 22 patients without significant CAD (sensitivity, 95%; CI, 91 to 99; specificity, 55%; CI, 46 to 63, and accuracy, 88%; CI, 82 to 94). The specificity rate increased to 73% (CI, 65 to 80) by using only reversible perfusion defects as a means of predicting CAD. Reversible perfusion abnormalities were more frequent in patients with multivessel CAD than in patients with single-vessel CAD (51 of 64 [80%] vs. 27 of 49 [55%], P<.01). Myocardial perfusion abnormalities in 2 vascular regions, which is suggestive of multivessel CAD, were detected in 35 of the 64 patients with and in 9 of the 71 patients without multivessel CAD (sensitivity for detecting CAD in more than one vascular region, 55%; CI, 46 to 63, specificity, 87%; CI, 81 to 93, and accuracy, 72%; CI, 64 to 80). The sensitivity rates for the diagnosis of left anterior descending coronary artery, left circumflex, and right coronary artery based on any defect were 80%, 70%, and 63%, respectively. The corresponding specificity rates were 70%, 76%, and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise MIBI SPECT imaging is an accurate method for the diagnosis and localization of CAD in patients with an earlier myocardial infarction. The technique provides a high specificity and moderate sensitivity for the diagnosis of multivessel CAD on the basis of myocardial perfusion abnormalities in more than 1 vascular region.     

Windsurfing vs kitesurfing:Injuries at the North Sea over a 2-year period

AIM To analyze all windsurfing and kitesurfing(kiteboarding) injuries presented at our coastal hospital over a 2-year period. METHODS Twenty-five windsurfers(21 male; aged 31 ± 8 years) and 32 kitesurfers(23 male; aged 29 ± 11 years) presented at our hospital during the 2-year study period. Various injury data were recorded,including transport to hospital and treatment. After a median follow-up of 16 mo(range,7-33 mo),18 windsurfers(72%) and 26 kitesurfers(81%) completed questionnaires on the trauma mechanisms,the use of protective gear,time spent on windsurfing or kitesurfing,time to return to sports,additional injuries,and chronic disability. RESULTS Most patients sustained minor injuries but severe injuries also occurred,including vertebral and tibial plateau fractures. The lower extremities were affected the most,followed by the head and cervical spine,the upperextremities,and the trunk. The injury rates were 5.2 per 1000 h of windsurfing and 7.0 per 1000 h of kitesurfing(P = 0.005). The injury severity was the same between groups(P = 1.0). Less than 30% of the study population used protective gear. Kitesurfers had a higher number of injuries,and required transport by ambulance,inpatient hospital stay and operative treatment more often than windsurfers,but these differences were not statistically significant(P 0.05). The median time to return to windsurfing and kitesurfing was 5 and 4 wk,respectively(P = 0.79). Approximately one-third of the patients in each group experienced chronic symptoms.CONCLUSION Kitesurfing results in a significantly higher injury rate than windsurfing in the same environmental conditions but the severity of the injuries does not differ.     

Incidence, Cause and Treatment of Burn Casualties Under War Circumstances

Abstract   Five to ten percent of all combat injuries in the last decade of armed conflicts have been burns. Here, the incidence, demographics, and treatment are different compared to civilian practice. The percentage of hand and facial burns is higher, the population of patients is healthier, there are more associated injuries, and the transportation time is longer. Due to the prolonged transportation time, emergency treatment and also intermediate treatment are important for a good outcome in patients with burns suffered in a military environment. Treatment guidelines and education of the involved medical personnel according to the findings described herein are important for better results in future combat casualties.     

Survival and response after peptide receptor radionuclide therapy with [90Y-DOTA0,Tyr3]octreotide in patients with advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Because the role of chemotherapy, interferon, or somatostatin analogs as antiproliferative agents is uncertain, currently few treatment options exist for patients with metastatic or inoperable gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NET). Fifty-eight patients with somatostatin receptor-positive GEP-NET were treated in a phase I dose-escalating study with cumulative doses of 47 mCi to 886 mCi of the radiolabeled somatostatin analog [(90)Y-DOTA(0),Tyr(3)]-octreotide. At baseline, 47 patients had progressive disease, and 36 were symptomatic. The extent of disease was: 4 patients without liver metastases and 52 patients with liver metastases, including 16 patients with very advanced disease, qualified as "end-stage," and 2 end-stage patients without liver metastases. The objective responses were 5 partial response (PR), 7 minor response (MR), 29 stable disease (SD), and 17 PD. Overall, 33 patients (57%) experienced some improvement in their disease status, including conversion from PD into SD and improvement from SD into MR. Accordingly, 21 of 36 patients (58%) had improvement in Karnofsky performance score or symptoms. The median overall survival (OS) was 36.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 19.4-54.1 months). The median progression-free survival in 41 patients who had at least stable disease at the end of the treatment period was 29.3 months (95% CI 19.3-39.3 months). Patients who had SD at baseline had a significantly better OS than patients who had PD at baseline. The extent of disease at baseline also was a significant predictive factor for OS. The OS after therapy with [(90)Y-DOTA(0),Tyr(3)]-octreotide was significantly better than in a historic control group of 32 comparable patients with GEP-NET who had been treated with another radiolabeled somatostatin analog, [(111)In-DTPA(0)]-octreotide (median OS 12.0 months, 95% CI 6.2-17.8 months). The difference in OS for both therapies remained highly significant in a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model including progression status and extent of disease at baseline as covariates. Although the objective response after therapy with [(90)Y-DOTA(0),Tyr(3)]-octreotide by standard criteria seems modest, the significantly longer OS compared with historic controls is most encouraging.     

Flaminal® versus Flamazine® in the treatment of partial thickness burns: A randomized controlled trial on clinical effectiveness and scar quality (FLAM study)

Although partial thickness burns are the most frequently reported burn injuries, there is no consensus on the optimal treatment. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness and scar quality of Flaminal® Forte to silver sulfadiazine (Flamazine®) in the treatment of partial thickness burns. In this two‐arm open label multicenter randomized controlled trial, adult patients with acute partial thickness burns and an affected total body surface area of less than 30% were randomized between Flaminal® Forte and Flamazine® and followed for 12 months. Dressing changes in the Flamazine® group were performed daily, and in the Flaminal® group during the first 3 days post burn and thereafter every other day until complete wound healing or surgery. Forty‐one patients were randomly allocated to Flaminal® Forte and 48 patients to Flamazine®. The primary outcome was time to wound healing, which did not differ between the groups: median 18 days with Flaminal® Forte (range 8–49 days) versus 16 days with Flamazine® (range 7–48 days; p = 0.24). Regarding the secondary outcomes during hospital admission, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups concerning need for surgery, pain scores, pruritus, or pain‐related and anticipatory anxiety. More patients in the Flaminal® group developed wound colonization (78% versus 32%, p < 0.001), but the treatment groups did not differ regarding the incidence of local infections and use of systemic antibiotics. In terms of scar quality, no statistically significant differences between both treatment groups were found regarding subjective scar assessment (Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS)), scar melanin and pigmentation (DermaSpectrometer®), and scar elasticity and maximal extension (Cutometer®) during 12 month postburn. In conclusion, time to wound healing did not differ, but the use of Flaminal® Forte seemed favorable because less dressing changes are needed which lowers the burden of wound care.