Perspectives on pre-participation cardiovascular screening in young competitive athletes: U SPORTS

Objectives: To investigate the pre-participation cardiovascular screening (PPS) protocols currently implemented at U SPORTS (the governing body of university sport in Canada) sanctioned schools as well as the attitudes toward PPS as reported by Canadian University medical and athletic personnel.

Methods: A 15-question survey was sent to the U SPORTS athletic directors in both French and English. The survey focused on the current practices of PPS within the respondents’ universities as well as attitudes regarding PPS. Athletic directors distributed the instructions to participate in the voluntary survey at their own discretion to coaches, athletic therapists, physicians, and associated personnel working within U SPORTS-sanctioned schools.

Results: Twenty-three athletic therapists, 12 coaches, 6 physicians, and 5 associated personnel completed the survey (46 in total). Half of the respondents (52%) reported that some form of PPS was conducted at their institution. Eighty percent of respondents agreed with the implementation of mandatory PPS, and 60% reported that they believe their athletes have a neutral attitude toward PPS. Three respondents documented having witnessed an athlete’s sudden cardiac arrest/death.

Conclusion: Members of the athletic care teams at U SPORTS-sanctioned schools display an overall positive attitude toward the implementation of mandatory PPS. Based on concerns raised by survey respondents, PPS procedures would need to be developed in a time- and cost-effective manner if PPS were to be expanded.     

Laparoscopic correction of biliary duct stenosis in choledochal cyst

Background/Purposes

Laparoscopy has been widely accepted as a technique for the excision of choledochal cyst, but there has been little experience using it as a therapeutic modality for hepatic duct stenosis. The aim of this study is to present our experiences in laparoscopic excision of biliary stenosis and Roux-en-Y reconstruction for patients with choledochal cysts.

Methods

Eight patients, 3 boys and 5 girls (ranged from 6 months to 12 years; median age, 3.6 years), with hepatic duct stenosis underwent laparoscopic excision of the cyst and ductoplasty, with a Roux-en-Y hepaticoenterostomy between July 2001 and January 2005. Seven of the 8 patients had common hepatic duct stenosis with intrahepatic duct dilatation, and 1 had right hepatic duct stenosis with proximal dilatation.Four ports were inserted for instruments of 3- and 5-mm sizes. Each patient underwent a laparoscopic cholangiography. The gallbladder and dilated bile ducts were completely excised. The strictures of the hepatic ducts were treated by ductoplasty. The cut end of the duct was widened by incising along the anterior wall of the hepatic duct after excision of the narrow segment. By using intraoperative bile duct endoscopy, the optimal level of resection of the common hepatic duct was determined safely without endangering the orifices of the hepatic ducts or leaving any redundant duct, and the stone debris in the bile duct was identified and washed out. The Roux-en-Y jejunal loop was fashioned extracorporeally by exteriorizing the jejunum through the umbilical incision (1.0-1.5 cm) and passed up retrocolically followed by an end-to-side hepaticojejunostomy.

Results

The median duration of the operation was 4.3 hours (3.8-5.6 hours). Intraoperative bleeding was minimal, with no patients requiring blood transfusion. In 7 of the 8 cases, postoperative hospital stay ranged from 4 to 6 days; the other case had bile leak, which was cured by draining for 26 days without surgical intervention. All the patients had been followed up for 6 to 51 months. They stayed asymptomatic and well with no delayed complication.

Conclusions

Laparoscopically assisted hepatic ductoplasty is effective and safe for children with choledochal cyst. Bile duct endoscopy proved to be a valuable instrument in showing detailed variations of the biliary system and allowed a safe hepatic hilum exploration and accurate placed hepaticojejunal anastomosis.     

Chest wall resections and reconstruction: a 25-year experience

Background. Chest wall defects continue to present a complicated treatment scenario for thoracic and reconstructive surgeons. The purpose of this study is to report our 25-year experience with chest wall resections and reconstructions.

Methods. A retrospective review of 200 patients who had chest wall resections from 1975 to 2000 was performed.

Results. Patient demographics included tobacco abuse, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, alcohol abuse, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and human immunodeficiency virus. Surgical indications included lung cancer, breast cancer, chest wall tumors, and severe pectus deformities. Twenty-nine patients had radiation necrosis and 31 patients had lung or chest wall infections. The mean number of ribs resected was 4 ± 2 ribs. Fifty-six patients underwent sternal resections. In addition 14 patients underwent forequarter amputations. Immediate closure was performed in 195 patients whereas delayed closure was performed in 5 patients. Primary repair without the use of reconstructive techniques was possible in 43 patients. Synthetic chest wall reconstruction was performed using Prolene mesh, Marlex mesh, methyl methacrylate sandwich, Vicryl mesh, and polytetrafluoroethylene. Flaps utilized for soft tissue coverage were free flap (17 patients) and pedicled flap (96 patients). Mean postoperative length of stay was 14 ± 14 days. Mean intensive care unit stay was 5 ± 9 days. In-hospital and 30-day survival was 93%.

Conclusions. Chest wall resection with reconstruction utilizing synthetic mesh or local muscle flaps can be performed as a safe, effective one-stage surgical procedure for a variety of major chest wall defects.     

Prophylaxis of thromboembolism in spinal injuries--survey of practice in spinal units in the British Isles

AIM: Survey and discussion of the current thromboembolic prophylaxis practice in spinal injury units within the British Isles. BACKGROUND: Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with spinal injuries. A wide range of thromboprophylactic measures have been proposed. The optimum treatment and duration for thromboprophylaxis in spinal injuries is unknown. Different spinal units within the British Isles use different measures despite similar training backgrounds. The present study was performed to review practice and make suggestions on best practice using literature review. METHODS: All the 13 regional and national spinal injury referral centres within the British Isles were contacted to find out their protocols for thromboembolic prophylaxis in patients with acute spinal injuries. RESULTS: All units replied. A wide variation in methods used was found in different spinal units ranging from no chemical prophylaxis to oral anticoagulation with warfarin and contrasting views on the use of antithromboembolic stockings. CONCLUSION: All units recognised the risk of thromboembolism after spinal injuries. A wide variety of thromboprophylactic measures are used.     

Characterization of a large Lebanese family segregating IgA nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Familial aggregation of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) suggests that genetic factors contribute to the development of this trait. Because clinical manifestations in IgAN families are often limited to episodic haematuria, large kindreds tractable to linkage analysis have been difficult to identify. METHODS: We identified a large Lebanese-Druze kindred ascertained via an index case with biopsy-documented IgAN. We performed systematic screening of 38 family members and tested linkage to reported IgAN loci. RESULTS: Screening of this family identified 16 affected individuals, including 2 individuals with biopsy-documented IgAN and 14 with chronic renal failure or abnormal urinalyses on at least three separate occasions. This kindred spanned five generations and contained five consanguineous unions. Multigenerational inheritance suggested that autosomal dominant inheritance was most likely. Phenotypic manifestations among affected individuals varied from isolated haematuria to advanced renal failure necessitating transplantation; one instance of IgAN recurrence after transplantation was also documented. Older age was associated with greater severity of disease and higher incidence of renal failure. Parametric and non-parametric analyses with 33 microsatellite markers did not reveal any evidence of linkage to reported IgAN loci on chromosomes 6q22-23, 2q36 and 4q22-31. CONCLUSIONS: We describe one of the largest multigenerational IgAN kindreds reported to date. The high incidence of renal failure among older generations suggests a significant risk of progression to renal failure. We found no evidence of linkage to known loci, suggesting that familial IgAN encompasses multiple subtypes that will require distinction based on genetic or biomarker data.     

Postoperative cardiac tamponade in the modern surgical era

BACKGROUND: Pericardial effusions resulting in cardiac tamponade (CT) are uncommon after open heart surgery (OHS) and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Characteristics and outcomes of patients who develop postoperative CT are poorly defined. Our objective was to further analyze the population at risk for developing postoperative CT, identify potential perioperative and surgical risk factors, and evaluate the impact of CT on patient outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 4,561 consecutive patients undergoing OHS at our institution was performed. Patients with clinical suspicion of pericardial effusion following surgery were evaluated by transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography, and clinical parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: Forty-eight (1%) of the 4,561 patients were found to have echocardiographic evidence of a moderate or large pericardial effusion, of whom 36 (74%) had evidence of CT. The mean age of the patients with CT was 61 years. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) had been performed in 24% of these patients, valve +/- CABG in 73%, and other OHS procedures in 3%. The incidence of CT following CABG alone was 0.2%, whereas it was 0.6% after valve +/- CABG. Females had a higher risk for developing CT, and this occurred earlier in the postoperative period when compared with men. Aspirin, heparin, or warfarin were given to 84% of patients within 3 days of surgery. Mean time to diagnosis of CT was 10 +/- 1 days after OHS. Prior to diagnosis of CT, the maximum international normalized ratio (INR) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) were 2.7 +/- 0.3 and 68 +/- 5 seconds, respectively. Forty-nine percent of pericardial effusions were posterior and 46% were circumferential; one-third of the effusions were considered large by echocardiography. There was one in-hospital cardiovascular death. CONCLUSIONS: CT after OHS is more common following valve surgery than CABG alone and may be related to the preoperative use of anticoagulants. Females appear to be at higher risk for developing early postoperative CT. When diagnosed and treated promptly, postoperative CT should not significantly increase mortality.     

Efficacy and safety of linezolid versus vancomycin for the treatment of complicated skin and soft-tissue infections proven to be caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Background

This open-label study compared oral or intravenous linezolid with intravenous vancomycin for treatment of complicated skin and soft-tissue infections (cSSTIs) caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Methods

Patients with proven MRSA cSSTI were randomized to receive linezolid or vancomycin. Clinical and microbiologic outcomes, duration of antimicrobial therapy, length of hospital stay, and safety were assessed.

Results

In the per-protocol population, the rate of clinical success was similar in linezolid- and vancomycin-treated patients (P = .249). The rate of success was significantly higher in linezolid-treated patients in the modified intent-to-treat population (P = .048). The microbiologic success rate was higher for linezolid at the end of treatment (P < .001) and was similar at the end of the study (P = .127). Patients receiving linezolid had a significantly shorter length of stay and duration of intravenous therapy than patients receiving vancomycin. Both agents were well tolerated. Adverse events were similar to each drug's established safety profile.

Conclusions

Linezolid is an effective alternative to vancomycin for the treatment of cSSTI caused by MRSA.     

Heme Oxygenase-1 Regulates Myeloid Cell Trafficking in AKI

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury is mediated by a complex cascade of events, including the immune response, that occur secondary to injury to renal epithelial cells. We tested the hypothesis that heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, which is protective in ischemia-reperfusion injury, regulates trafficking of myeloid-derived immune cells in the kidney. Age-matched male wild-type (HO-1^+/+), HO-1–knockout (HO-1^−/−), and humanized HO-1–overexpressing (HBAC) mice underwent bilateral renal ischemia for 10 minutes. Ischemia-reperfusion injury resulted in significantly worse renal structure and function and increased mortality in HO-1^−/− mice. In addition, there were more macrophages (CD45⁺ CD11b^hiF4/80^lo) and neutrophils (CD45⁺ CD11b^hi MHCII⁻ Gr-1^hi) in HO-1^−/− kidneys than in sham and HO-1^+/+ control kidneys subjected to ischemia-reperfusion. However, ischemic injury resulted in a significant decrease in the intrarenal resident dendritic cell (DC; CD45⁺MHCII⁺CD11b^loF4/80^hi) population in HO-1^−/− kidneys compared with controls. Syngeneic transplant experiments utilizing green fluorescent protein–positive HO-1^+/+ or HO-1^−/− donor kidneys and green fluorescent protein–negative HO-1^+/+ recipients confirmed increased migration of the resident DC population from HO-1^−/− donor kidneys, compared to HO-1^+/+ donor kidneys, to the peripheral lymphoid organs. This effect on renal DC migration was corroborated in myeloid-specific HO-1^−/− mice subjected to bilateral ischemia. These mice also displayed impaired renal recovery and increased fibrosis at day 7 after injury. These results highlight an important role for HO-1 in orchestrating the trafficking of myeloid cells in AKI, which may represent a key pathway for therapeutic intervention.     

Effect of body mass index and ertapenem versus cefotetan prophylaxis on surgical site infection in elective colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics in the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) after elective colorectal surgery is dependent on many factors, including the body mass index (BMI) of the patient. In this study, the association of BMI and type of antibiotic prophylaxis with SSI was evaluated in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. METHOD: A post-hoc analysis was performed using data obtained from a multicenter randomized, double-blind study of 1,002 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery who received prophylactic administration of ertapenem (1 g) or cefotetan (2 g). Among 650 evaluable patients, the effect of BMI and type of antibiotic prophylaxis on SSI rates was assessed four weeks after surgery. Mechanical bowel preparation was standardized, and no patient received oral antibiotics; intravenous antibiotics were not repeated during or after surgery. RESULTS: The majority of patients had a BMI between 18.5 and 39.9 kg/m2. Regardless of the type of prophylaxis, SSI rates were significantly higher in patients with a BMI > or = 30 kg/m2 than in those with a BMI < 30 kg/m2. However, failure, defined as SSI, was significantly less common after ertapenem than after cefotetan prophylaxis at both BMI < 30 kg/m2 (12.7% vs. 26.4%, respectively; difference -13.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] -21.0, -6.5) and BMI > or = 30 kg/m2 (26.7% vs. 41.9%, respectively; difference -15.3; 95% CI -28.2, -2.0). The most prevalent type of SSI was superficial incisional infection, which was more common with both treatments in patients with a BMI > or = 30 kg/m2; however, the incidence of superficial SSI was lower after ertapenem than cefotetan prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery, the incidence of SSI, specifically superficial incisional SSI, was higher in patients with a BMI > or = 30 kg/m2, regardless of the prophylactic antibiotic given. Ertapenem prophylaxis was more effective than cefotetan in the prevention of SSI at any BMI.