INVITED REVIEW GASTROINTESTINAL MANIFESTATIONS IN PEDIATRIC AIDS

The pathologic changes in the gastrointestinal tract of children with AIDS are variable, clinically significant, and reflect multisystemic disease processes. Inflammation, changes in the lymphoid tissue, miscellaneous lesions, and tumors are documented in 58 patients in addition to cases reported in the literature. Cytomegalovirus infection of the gastrointestinal tract, associated with ulcerations, hemorrhage, perforation, and intestinal obstruction, carries a high morbidity and mortality, whereas the remaining infections are not life threatening. Special stains and electron micrographic examination are important to identify correctlycertain microorganisms such asmycobacterium avium intracellulare, cryptosporidia, and microsporidia. Lymphoproliferative changes of the gastrointestinal tract, a component of the generalized lymphoproliferative process, need to be characterized by tumor markers and cytogenetic studies. Within the miscellaneous lesions, AIDS associated arteriopathy can be complicated by intestinal ulceration and perforation. Both lymphomas and smooth muscle tumor in children with AIDS are related to Epstein-Barr virus infection. The smooth muscle tumors are frequently malignant and multiple.     

Massive Pulmonary Embolism and Paradoxical Migration during Surgical Embolectomy: Role of Transesophageal Echocardiogram

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) in the setting of venous thromboembolism is associated with paradoxical embolization. We describe a patient who presented with pulmonary embolism, underwent pulmonary embolectomy, and postoperatively developed paradoxical embolization to the lower extremity. A 27‐year‐old African American male presented to the hospital with shortness of breath and midsternal chest pain along with neck vein distention. A CT scan with contrast showed the presence of a saddle embolus in both pulmonary arteries. The next day, the patient developed right ventricular failure and hypotension. The patient was taken to the operating room for a pulmonary embolectomy. Postoperatively, the patient developed acute left lower extremity ischemia. The origin of the embolus was suspected to be cardiac. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) revealed thrombus on the mitral valve and a PFO with right to left shunt. At this point vascular surgery for revascularization of the left lower extremity was performed. Two days later, the patient was taken for a repeat cardiac surgery and the left‐sided thrombus was removed along with a closure of the PFO. This case signifies the importance of complete TEE and a search for PFO in patients with massive pulmonary embolism especially prior to surgical embolectomy because hemodynamic disturbances of pulmonary embolism and surgical embolectomy may cause migration of the thrombus from the right side to the left side of the heart. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Safety of regadenoson, a selective adenosine A2A agonist, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RegCOPD trial)

Background. Patients with reactive airways are at risk for adenosine-induced bronchoconstriction, mediated via A_2B and/or A₃ adenosine receptors. Methods and Results. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, we examined the safety of regadenoson, a selective adenosine A_2A receptor agonist, in patients with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n=38) and patients with severe COPD (n=11) with a baseline mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) of 1.74±0.50 L and 1.0±0.35 L, respectively, 37% of whom had dyspnea during activities of daily living. Patients receiving glucocorticoids or oxygen and those with pretreatment wheezing were included. Short-acting bronchodilators were withheld for at least 8 hours before treatment. No differences emerged between regadenoson and placebo on multiple lung function parameters, including repeated FEV₁ and forced vital capacity, respiratory rate, pulmonary examinations, and oxygen saturation. The mean maximum decline in FEV₁ was 0.11±0.02 L and 0.12±0.02 L (P=.55) in patients after regadenoson and placebo, respectively, and new-onset wheezing was observed in 6% and 12%, respectively (P=.33). No patient required acute treatment with bronchodilators or oxygen. Conclusions. This pilot study showed the overall safety of regadenoson in 49 compromised outpatients with clinically stable moderate and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Presented in part as a late-breaking clinical trial at the Eighth International Conference on Nuclear Cardiology; Prague, Czech Republic; May 3, 2007. CV Therapeutics provided financial assistance for this study.     

Partial Excision of Infected Fistula Results in Increased Patency at the Cost of Increased Risk of Recurrent Infection

Reliable vascular access is often an issue of ongoing frustration for those requiring dialysis. Synthetic arteriovenous fistulae (SAVF) have been widely used to provide vascular access; however, the risk of infection at the SAVF site is significant, especially because the SAVF is potentially exposed to pathogens on a regular basis due to the cannulation required for dialysis. Between 11 and 35% of all SAVF become infected and require surgical removal. The purpose of this investigation was to: (1) compare the risk of recurrent infection with complete versus partial excision of the infected SAVF (ISAVF) and (2) explore the risks and benefits of attempting to preserve patency of noninfected portions of ISAVF. In a retrospective review to determine the risk of recurrent infection after removal of ISAVF, charts of 77 patients undergoing surgery for the removal of an ISAVF from the arm were identified with 84 instances of excision of an ISAVF. Of the 84 ISAVF, 26 (31 %) were treated with complete excision (CE), 30 (35.7%) grafts were partially excised with blood flow restoration through a new interposed PTFE segment (PERF), and 28 (33.3%) grafts were partially excised with no flow restoration (PENF), leaving portions that were not grossly infected. Fourteen of 30 (46.7%) PERF grafts, 4/28 (14.3%) PENF, and 0/26 CE grafts developed further infection at the excision site. These differences were significant when comparing PERF to CE (p < 0.001) and PERF to PENF (p < 0.025), but no significance was found when comparing CE to PENF. Patency was significantly greater for the PERF group at 1 and 2 years than for both CE (p < 0.001) and PENF (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the data suggest that restoring blood flow to the remainder of a partially excised ISAVF significantly increases patency without necessitating catherer placement and a new hemoaccess site, but at the cost of significantly increased risk of recurrent infection.     

Short-Term Intravenous Milrinone for Severe Congestive Heart Failure: The Good,Bad, and Not so Good

We evaluated the overall hemodynamic and clinical effects, beneficial and deleterious, of short-term intravenous milrinone in the management of severe congestive heart failure (CHF). Numerous hemodynamic measurements were obtained in 24 patients (mean age 65 yrs) with advanced, severe CHF (New York Heart Association class IV, ejection fraction 24 ± 5%), including 3 with concomitant clinical sepsis. Hemodynamic data were recorded at baseline and after a bolus of intravenous milrinone 50 μg/kg and maintenance infusion based on creatinine clearance at 0.5, 3, 24 and 48 hours. Cardiac index increased and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased significantly (p<0.001; 2.07 ± 0.36 to 3.6 ± 0.36 L/min/m² and 20.6 ± 4.0 to 13.5 ± 2.8 mm Hg, respectively) in 24 patients 0.5 hour after initiation of therapy. These favorable hemodynamic responses, including significant decreases in systemic vascular resistance index and right atrial pressure, were sustained throughout the 48-hour study in 19 patients (79%). Severe hypotension occurred in three patients with superimposed sepsis as the result of exaggerated vasodilatation. One patient had recurrent ventricular tachycardia and another tolerance to milrinone. In two patients, excessive decline in preload and fall in cardiac index were reversed with volume expansion. Intravenous milrinone offered significant short-term hemodynamic benefits in most patients with severe CHF.     

Lung and heart-lung transplant practice patterns in pulmonary hypertension centers

BACKGROUND: Transplant practice patterns for pulmonary hypertension in the epoprostenol era are unknown. METHODS: Thirty-five centers in North America, Europe, and Israel were surveyed regarding practice patterns for lung and heart-lung transplant. RESULTS: New York Heart Association class and distance on a 6-minute walk were considered most useful for deciding who to refer for listing. Patients with New York Heart Association class I to II were referred for listing in 26% of centers, while 57% were classified as New York Heart Association class III or greater after epoprostenol failure. Twenty-nine of the 35 centers had transplant programs that performed approximately 75% of the International Registry volume annually. A double lung transplant was preferred by 83% of centers and heart-lung transplant in the remaining centers. The wait time for lung transplant averaged 16.8 months (range 4-36) and for heart-lung transplant averaged 21.3 months (range 6-36) and was significantly longer in the United States. The mean maximum age for heart-lung transplant was 51.4 years (range 35-65), double lung transplant 58.3 years (range 45-65), and single lung transplant 63.1 years (range 50-70). Fifty-three percent of centers transplant New York Heart Association class III or IV patients, 26% class IIIb-IV, and 21% only class IV. Eighty percent of centers use a transplant hold status. Major unqualified exclusions were hepatitis in 38%, 1 or more hepatic (90%) or renal (100%) criteria, smoking 97%, and obesity in 93%. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians and patients should be aware of the considerable variability in practice patterns for transplantation in pulmonary hypertension, despite published guidelines.     

Effect of Surgically Induced Weight Loss on Asthma in the Morbidly Obese

Forty morbidly obese asthmatic patients who underwent gastric restrictive surgery more than 2 years earlier were evaluated to determine the influence of weight loss on asthma outcome. Mean percentage excess weight loss in this group was 68% and body mass index (BMI) fell from a mean of 46 to 30. Following surgery, 90% showed improvement in asthma symptoms. Complete remission of asthma occurred in 48% and a further 12.5% became asthma free on reduced medications dosage. Of those taking daily medications for asthma before surgery, 42% were completely off medication following weight loss surgery, and another 18.5% experienced fewer asthma attacks on reduced medication dosage. Of the 22 patients with severe asthma (> 10 attacks per year) on routine daily medications for asthma preoperatively, 8(36%) required no medication after surgery, 7(32%) used medication only on an ‘as-needed’ basis, and 7(32%) controlled their asthma on reduced medication dosage. Five patients gained weight during the follow-up period. All developed an increased incidence of asthma attacks, which again abated after successfully losing weight following revisional surgery. Coexistent factors of smoking and clinically apparent esophageal reflux were evaluated, but no statistically significant correlation was shown with either smoking or reflux and improvement in asthma. Possible etiologies of the improvement in asthma with weight loss are discussed.     

Connected health care: the future of health care and the role of the pharmacist

The population of the world is ageing. As a result, the incidence of chronic disease is projected to increase, there are predicted shortages in health care workforce and budget restraints; implications for future health care provision are serious. The current model of health care is not equipped to deal with these changes. Connected health care, via the use of health informatics, disease management and home telehealth technologies, has been suggested as an approach to ease the projected strain on future health care. Evidence to date suggests a positive impact of the use of connected health care model; however, the majority of studies have overlooked the involvement of the community pharmacist. As the most common point of contact with primary health services for most of the population, the community pharmacist may be well placed to provide connected health care. The research to date is promising with improvements in outcomes for cardiovascular patients noted; however, further work is required to investigate the potential role the community pharmacist can play in the future of connected health care.