Volume Flow Rate of Common Carotid Artery Measured by Doppler Method and Color Velocity Imaging Quantification (CVI-Q)

BACKGROUND: Common carotid artery (CCA) volume flow rate (VFR) is clinically useful for study of cerebrovascular disease. Color Velocity Imaging Quantification (CVI-Q; Philips Ultrasound International, Irvine, CA), previously reported as accurate and reliable, tracks the flow lumen over the cardiac cycle, as well as mean spatial velocity, which is multiplied by vessel area to obtain VFR. VFR can also be obtained by Doppler sampling for mean velocity, and vessel area based on static B-mode lumen diameter. We compared CCA VFR by CVI-Q and Doppler method (DM), since knowledge of how they compare is crucial when both are used clinically. METHOD: We prospectively studied patients having clinical carotid duplex exams and healthy controls. All had CCA VFR measured by both methods in the same exam session. RESULTS: Thirty-four studies were reviewed. CCA VFR by CVI-Q in those without ICA stenosis was 337 +/- 96 mL/m, and by DM 359 +/- 130 mL/m; P = .33. There was no difference between methods for 50-75% or 75-95% ICA stenosis. In 7 patients with ICA occlusion, and 3 with 95-99% stenosis, VFR was higher by DM than by CVI-Q (Occlusion: 125 vs 58 mL/m, P = .007; 95-99%: 152 vs 63 mL/m, P = .038). There was no statistically significant difference between methods for measurement of the ratio of VFR between right and left CCA. CONCLUSION: In patients with 0-95% ICA stenosis, VFR by CVI-Q and DM showed no difference. For 95-100% ICA stenosis the methods differ; with higher VFR by DM. Side-to-side VFR ratios remain constant, irrespective of VFR method, and can still provide clinically useful information.     

The Short Cognitive Performance Test (SKT): a preliminary study of its psychometric properties in Brazil

BACKGROUND: Most instruments designed to detect dementia can lack appropriate sensitivity in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and are subject to educational bias. The Short Cognitive Performance Test (Syndrom-Kurztest, SKT) is considered a suitable instrument to measure cognitive decline as it assesses memory, attention, and related cognitive functions, taking into account the speed of information processing. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric characteristics of the SKT as a dementia screening instrument in a Brazilian population sample, as compared to the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Clock-Drawing Test (CDT). The effect of educational level on performance in the three screening tests was also verified. METHODS: Fifty-one elderly subjects were assessed. Consensus diagnoses were established by an expert multidisciplinary team, considering clinical, neuropsychological and neuroimaging data. Subjects were further classified into those with (1) mild and moderate AD, (2) non-Alzheimer's dementia, (3) mild cognitive impairment, and (4) controls, according to National Institute for Communicative Disorders and Stroke--Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) criteria. RESULTS: Statistical analyses revealed high internal consistency for the SKT (Cronbach's alpha = 0.80) and significant correlations between the total score and the SKT subscores separately (p < 0.01). Comparison of the three tests revealed strong correlations between the SKT and the MMSE (r = -0.66, p < 0.0001) and between the SKT and the CDT (r = -0.57, p < 0.0001). The SKT, MMSE and CDT scores were correlated with education. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian version of the SKT maintains its original psychometric properties and displays significant correlation with previously validated screening tools for dementia. Like other dementia screening tests, the SKT is subject to educational bias.     

Improving on National Quality Indicators of Breast Cancer Care in a Large Public Hospital as a Means to Decrease Disparities for African American Women

Background

In April 2007, the National Quality Forum (NQF) endorsed the first nationally recognized hospital-based performance measures for stage I, II, and III breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to document compliance with the 3 NQF breast quality indicators during 2 time intervals in a metropolitan public hospital.

Materials and Methods

Tumor registry and medical records were used to identify patient demographics and treatments before (2005–2006) and after (2008) implementations in 2007 as a result of the NQF audit. Program changes included: hiring a dedicated medical oncology nurse practitioner, requiring the radiation oncology case manager to attend weekly multidisciplinary conferences, educating Patient Navigators of the importance of multimodal care, and providing support groups for patients addressing importance of completion of all treatment options.

Results

A total of 213 female patients were diagnosed with and treated for stage I, II, or III breast cancer in 2005–2006 and 2008. Of these, 189 (89%) were African American (AA) women. Also, 70 patients of 86 (81.3%) received radiation therapy, 60 of 77 (77.9%) received or were considered for adjuvant chemotherapy, and 124 of 144 (86.1%) for hormonal therapy according to NQF indicators. After 2007, patients receiving radiation therapy increased from 75.8 to 95.8%. Patients receiving or considered for adjuvant chemotherapy or hormonal therapy increased from 73.7 to 93.7% and from 84.1 to 90.0%, respectively.

Conclusions

NQF breast cancer indicators provided a mechanism to improve compliance of multimodal treatment in our center. Raising awareness of these indicators in the multidisciplinary conference, hiring dedicated personnel, and educating patients has led to major improvements in breast cancer care.     

Determinants of outcome in elderly patients with positive sentinel lymph nodes

Background

Older women are less likely to receive standard of care treatment for breast cancer.

Methods

We examined variables that affected the outcome of elderly patients ≥70 years old among 1,470 patients with invasive cancer with positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs).

Results

Elderly patients were less likely to undergo mastectomy, completion axillary node dissection (ALND), adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiotherapy (RT) following breast-conserving therapy (BCT) compared with patients <70 years old. The 5-year risk of disease progression and cumulative incidence of breast cancer–specific deaths were not significantly different for both groups. On multivariate analysis, hormone receptor–negative status, number of metastatic lymph nodes, high nuclear grade, and tumor size were the factors independently associated with increased risk of disease progression.

Conclusions

Tumor factors were the primary determinants of breast cancer outcomes in our cohort. Elderly patients are less likely to receive aggressive surgical interventions and adjuvant therapy because of perceived life expectancy.     

Short PET in pediatric peritoneal dialysis

Peritoneal equilibration test (PET) is a common technique used in children to evaluate peritoneal membrane transport capacity and adequate the dialysis regimen. Considering that this is a laborious test, a shortened version has been proposed. Our goal was to evaluate the concordance between the 2-h (short) and 4-h (classical) PET values to determine whether the short PET could be used in the clinical setting. Eighty-one PET corresponding to 81 peritoneal dialysis patients from two pediatric nephrology centers were retrospectively analyzed. Peritoneal transport capacity was evaluated using the dialysate to plasma ratio (D/P) of creatinine and the ratio of dialysate glucose to baseline dialysate glucose (D/D(0)) at 2 and 4 h. The mean [+/- standard deviation (SD)] creatinine D/P ratio at 2 and 4 h were 0.41 +/- 0.13 and 0.66 +/- 0.17, respectively, and the mean (+/- SD) D/D(0) glucose were 0.64 +/- 0.11 and 0.39 +/- 0.12 at the same times. Applying McNemar chi(2) test to evaluate the association between the categories obtained at 2 and 4 h, we found no relationship between the 2- and 4-h PET for both D/P and D/D(0) (p > 0.05). These results suggest that the use of this abbreviated test is probably not reliable for estimating the transport capacity of the peritoneal membrane in the pediatric population.     

Laparoscopic Treatment of Gastric <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">Gist</Emphasis>: Report of 21 Cases and Literature’s Review

Background Although the feasibility of laparoscopic resection of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) has been established, various aspects are debated. This paper describes the problems of minimally invasive resection of gastric GISTs and compares this experience with an extensive literature review. Study Design Between August 2001 and December 2006, 21 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic resection of gastric GISTs were enrolled in a prospective study. A literature review of laparoscopic treatment was performed on Pubmed using keywords GIST and surgery. A comparison with authors’ experience with open wedge-segmental resection of GISTs (25 cases from November 1995 to December 2000) was also carried out. Statistical analysis was based on chi-squared test and t Student evaluation. Results Twenty-one patients, mean age 50.1 years (range, 34–68 years), were submitted to laparoscopic wedge- segmental gastric resections. Mean tumor size was 4.5 cm (range, 2.0–8.5 cm). Mean operative time was 151 min (range, 52–310 min), the mean blood loss was 101 mL (range, 10–250 mL), and the mean hospital stay was 4.8 days (range 3–7 days). There were no major operative complications or mortalities. All lesions had negative resection margins. At a mean follow-up of 35 months, all patients were disease-free. Morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and oncologic outcomes were comparable to the open surgery retrospective evaluation (p = not significant). Conclusions As found also in the literature review, the laparoscopic resection is safe and effective in treating gastric GISTs. Given these findings as well as the advantages afforded by laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive approach should be the preferred surgical treatment in patients with small- and medium-sized gastric GISTs.     

The dilemma of DCIS

The increasingly frequent diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) presents a major clinical dilemma. Our inability to predict which DCIS will progress to invasive cancer or the time interval in which recurrent DCIS or invasive cancer will occur has resulted in treatments ranging from mastectomy to excision and observation being offered to patients. Four randomized trials have demonstrated that the use of radiation reduces the risk of local recurrence by about 50% in women with DCIS. Prospective attempts to duplicate retrospective findings that wide excision results in high rates of local control have been unsuccessful. Patient attitudes towards risks and benefits of treatment are an important component of treatment choice in the absence of predictors of biologic behavior.     

Outcome of liver transplantation in septuagenarians: a single-center experience

HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that selected septuagenarians may do as well after transplantation as those of a younger group of older recipients. This work compares post-liver transplant survival in septuagenarians with that of patients aged 50 to 59 years. DESIGN: Review of a prospectively maintained database. SETTING: University transplant center. PATIENTS: First-time liver transplant recipients treated from January 1, 1988, to December 31, 2005. Group 1 consisted of liver transplant recipients aged 70 years or older at the time of transplant. Group 2 was a younger cohort of patients aged 50 to 59 years. INTERVENTIONS: Liver transplantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient survival. Survival data were stratified, Kaplan-Meier survival was calculated, and a multivariate analysis was performed. RESULTS: Group 1 included 62 patients aged 70 years or older (average, 71.9 +/- 2.1 years). Group 2 included 864 patients aged 50 to 59 years (average, 54.3 +/- 2.9 years). Unadjusted patient survival of group 1 at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years was 73.3%, 65.8%, 47.1%, and 39.7%, respectively. Unadjusted patient survival of group 2 at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years was 79.4%, 71.5%, 65.3%, and 45.2%, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant (P = .14). Multivariate analysis for factors affecting survival demonstrated preoperative hospitalization, cold ischemia time, and hepatitis C/ethanol as risk factors for death. Age 70 years or more was not a strong risk factor (mortality ratio, 1.28; P = .27). CONCLUSIONS: When other risk factors for mortality are controlled in older recipients, risk of death due to age is reduced in well-selected recipients. Age by itself should not be used to limit liver transplantation.     

Subarachnoid lumbar drains: A case series of fractured catheters and a near miss

PURPOSE: Lumbar subarachnoid catheters for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage (lumbar drains) are indicated for several medical and surgical conditions. A number of complications can occur from the placement of this type of catheter, including catheter breakage from excessive traction or shearing over the Tuohy needle. CLINICAL FEATURES: Five cases of lumbar subarachnoid catheter breakage/shearing and catheter fragment retention, as well as one near miss, were identified over a one-year period at a single institution. All (n = 6) patients were undergoing neurosurgical procedures. Four patients required surgical retrieval of the catheter fragments. No patient experienced log-term neurological sequelae. DISCUSSION: From these experiences, the following risks factors for catheter rupture are identified: 1) intentional or accidental retraction of the catheter through the needle during placement; 2) faulty use of the guidewire; or 3) use of excessive force during removal of the catheter. Methods to prevent such complications are suggested, including minimal use, or complete avoidance of a guidewire.