Is routine extubation overnight safe in cardiac surgery patients?

Objectives

Expedient extubation after cardiac surgery has been associated with improved outcomes, leading to postoperative extubation frequently during overnight hours. However, recent evidence in a mixed medical-surgical intensive care unit population demonstrated worse outcomes with overnight extubation. This study investigated the impact of overnight extubation in a statewide, multicenter Society of Thoracic Surgeons database.

A rare massive presentation of catamenial hemothorax

Catamenial hemothorax is a rare manifestation of thoracic endometriosis syndrome. It is commonly seen associated with pelvic endometriosis in nulliparous reproductive-age women. Most cases are minor and self-limiting. We present a case of a 32-year-old woman who presented with prolonged worsening dyspnea and was found to have a massive hemothorax on evaluation.     

Eficacia de la terapia con señales electromagnéticas pulsadas y transmitidas de manera dieléctrica monopolar en procesos dolorosos asociados a esclerosis múltiple. Estudio piloto

IntroductionPain is highly prevalent in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS); it is chronic in 50% of cases and is classified as nociceptive, neuropathic, or mixed-type. Pain affects quality of life, sleep, and the activities of daily living. Electrotherapy is an interesting alternative or complementary treatment in the management of pain in MS, with new innovations constantly appearing.Material and methodsThis study evaluates the effectiveness of treatment with monopolar dielectric transmission of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) for pain associated with MS. We performed a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial including 24 patients, who were assessed with the Brief Pain Inventory, the Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale.ResultsStatistically significant improvements were observed in maximum and mean pain scores, as well as in the impact of pain on work, personal relationships, and sleep and rest. Not significant differences were found between the treatment and placebo groups.ConclusionsTreatment with PEMF may be effective in reducing pain in patients with MS, although further research is necessary to confirm its effectiveness over placebo and to differentiate which type of pain may be more susceptible to this treatment.     

Pulmonary Carcinosarcoma: A Surveillance,Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Analysis

IntroductionPulmonary carcinosarcoma (PC) is a rare malignant neoplasm composed of epithelial and mesenchymal components. It accounts for < 1% of thoracic cancers and is not fully understood. This study examined Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to describe demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with PC and assessed survival outcomes by treatment modality and stage.Patients and MethodsSEER data were reviewed to identify patients diagnosed with primary PC (1973-2012). Overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were analyzed by univariate/multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier methods.ResultsA total of 411 patients were included. Median age was 67 (range, 24-96) years. Disease stage at the time of initial diagnosis was known for 74.7% of the identified patients (307/411). Of these patients, 23.1% had localized disease. Survival was significantly better for patients with localized disease (OS: 31 vs. 6 months, P < .001; DSS: 54 vs. 8 months, P < .001). Additionally, patients who received surgery alone had significantly improved OS (20 months; P < .001) and DSS (32 months; P < .001) compared to patients who received combined surgery and radiotherapy (OS: 7 months; DSS: 8 months) or radiotherapy alone (OS: 4 months; DSS: 4 months).ConclusionTreatment with surgery alone resulted in superior survival outcomes compared to other treatment modality combinations, regardless of patient age and disease stage. Within the limitations of this study, providers may wish to consider these findings when devising patient treatment plans.     

Stage 1 acute kidney injury is independently associated with infection following cardiac surgery

ObjectivesSevere acute kidney injury (AKI) is a known risk factor for infection and mortality. However, whether stage 1 AKI is a risk factor for infection has not been evaluated in adults. We hypothesized that stage 1 AKI following cardiac surgery would independently associate with infection and mortality.MethodsIn this retrospective propensity score–matched study, we evaluated 1620 adult patients who underwent nonemergent cardiac surgery at the University of Colorado Hospital from 2011 to 2017. Patients who developed stage 1 AKI by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes creatinine criteria within 72 hours of surgery were matched to patients who did not develop AKI. The primary outcome was an infection, defined as a new surgical-site infection, positive blood or urine culture, or development of pneumonia. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, stroke, and intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS).ResultsStage 1 AKI occurred in 293 patients (18.3%). Infection occurred in 20.9% of patients with stage 1 AKI compared with 8.1% in the no-AKI group (P < .001). In propensity-score matched analysis, stage 1 AKI independently associated with increased infection (odds ratio [OR]; 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-3.17), ICU LOS (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.71–3.31), and hospital LOS (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.17-1.45).ConclusionsStage 1 AKI is independently associated with postoperative infection, ICU LOS, and hospital LOS. Treatment strategies focused on prevention, early recognition, and optimal medical management of AKI may decrease significant postoperative morbidity.     

外科治疗ⅢA期N2非小细胞肺癌的预后分析及临床意义

目的 探讨影响ⅢA期N2非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）预后的因素，并分析经手术治疗不同亚组病人的生存率差异。方法 分析1997年1月至2000年1月146例手术治疗的ⅢA期N2 NSCLC病人的可能影响预后因素：病理类型、肿瘤位置、肿瘤大小、手术方式、临床N2情况，N2转移组数及个数、术后辅助治疗等，并用Kaplan-Meier曲线及Logr ank检验生存率差异，Cox单因素、多因素分析各因素对生存率的影响。结果 ⅢA期N2 NSCLC病人的3年和5年生存率分别为19．86％和14．56％。单因素分析示肿瘤位置、临床N2情况、N2转移组数及个数是影响生存率的因素；多因素分析示肿瘤大小、临床N2情况，N2转移组数和肿瘤位置影响预后。右肺下叶肿瘤单组或单个N2转移，预后最好。结论 纵隔N2转移淋巴结的大小、个数和组数是影响术后生存率主要因素。手术前未发现N2转移（mN2），有1组N2转移（N2h），N2转移数少于4个者手术治疗效果好。右肺下叶肿瘤发生单组N2淋巴结转移预后好。