scholarly journals Diagnosis and treatment delay of head and neck cancers during COVID-19 era in a tertiary care academic hospital: what should we expect?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro De Luca ◽  
Antonella Bisogno ◽  
Vito Colacurcio ◽  
Pasquale Marra ◽  
Claudia Cassandro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Diagnostic Delay ◽  
Treatment Delay ◽  
Head And Neck Cancers ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Academic Hospital ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Since the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 from China, all deferrable medical activities have been suspended, to redirect resources for the management of COVID patients. The goal of this retrospective study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on head and neck cancers’ diagnosis in our Academic Hospital. Methods A retrospective analysis of patients treated for head and neck cancers between March 12 and November 1, 2020 was carried out, and we compared these data with the diagnoses of the same periods of the 5 previous years. Results 47 patients were included in this study. We observed a significative reduction in comparison with the same period of the previous 5 years. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with a decrease in the number of new H&N cancers diagnoses, and a substantial diagnostic delay can be attributable to COVID-19 control measures.

scholarly journals Retrospective Study on Personal Protective Equipment During Pandemic Link to Outbreak of Carbpenem-Resistant Enterobacteriace

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. s9-s10
Author(s):  
Kenisha Evans ◽  
Jennifer LeRose ◽  
Angela Beatriz Cruz ◽  
Lavina Jabbo ◽  
Teena Chopra
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Horizontal Transmission ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
The Impact

Background: In 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), had cost the lives of >35,000 patients, particularly the most virulent plasmid-mediated New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM). Although healthcare systems normally have strict surveillance and infection control measures for CRE, the rapid emergence of novel SAR-CoV-2 and COVID-19 led to a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies. As a result, routine infection practices, such as contact precautions, were violated. Studies have shown this depletion and shift in resources compromised the control of infections such CRE leading to rising horizontal transmission. Method: A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary healthcare system in Detroit, Michigan, to determine the impact of PPE shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic on NDM infection rates. The following periods were established during 2020 based on PPE availability: (1) pre-PPE shortage (January–June), (2) PPE shortage (July–October), and (3) post-PPE shortage (November–December). Rates of NDM per 10,000 patient days were compared between periods using the Wilcoxon signed rank-sum test. Isolates were confirmed resistant by NDM by molecular typing performed by the Michigan State Health Department. Patient characteristics were gathered by medical chart review and patient interviews by telephone. Results: Overall, the average rate of NDM infections was 1.82 ±1.5 per 10,000 patient days. Rates during the PPE shortage were significantly higher, averaging 3.6 ±1.1 cases per 10,000 patient days (P = .02). During this time, several infections occurred within patients on the same unit and/or patients with same treating team, suggesting possible horizontal transmission. Once PPE stock was replenished and isolation practices were reinstated, NDM infection rates decreased to 0.77 ±1.1 per 10,000 patient days. Conclusion: Control of CRE requires strategic planning with active surveillance, antimicrobial constructs, and infection control measures. The study illustrates that in times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the burden of effective infection control requires much more multidisciplinary efforts to prevent unintentional lapses in patient safety. A swift response by the state and local health departments at a tertiary-care healthcare center conveyed a positive mitigation of the highest clinical threats and decreased horizontal transmission of disease.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Immediate Outcomes of Traumatic Brain Injury at a Tertiary Care Hospital Of Pakistan- A Retrospective Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Khan ◽  
Uzair Yaqoob ◽  
Zair Hassan ◽  
Muhammad Muizz Uddin
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Hospital Data ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) which is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world and the impact is much worse in Pakistan. The objective of the study is to describe the epidemiological characteristics of patients with TBI in our country and to determine the immediate outcomes of patients with TBI after the presentation.Method: This retrospective study was conducted at the Lady Reading Hospital. Data were extracted from the medical record room from January 1st to December 31st, 2019. The severity of TBI was based on Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and was divided into mild (GCS 13-15), moderate (GCS 9-12), and severe TBI (GCS <8) based on the GCS. SPSS v.23 was used for data analysis. Results: Out of 5047 patients, 3689 (73.1%) males and 1358 (26.9%) females. The most commonly affected age group was 0-10 years (25.6%) and 21-30 years (20.1%). was the predominant cause of injury (38.8%, n=1960) followed by fall (32.7%, n=1649). Most (93.6%, n=4710) of the TBIs were mild. After the full initial assessment and workup, and completing all first-aid management, the immediate outcome was divided into four, most frequent (67.2%, n=3393) of which was “disposed (discharged)”, and 9.3% (n=470) were admitted for further management.Conclusion: Our study represents a relatively conclusive picture of epidemiological data on the burden of TBI in Pakistan. Although a large proportion of patients had a mild TBI, they may likely be under-diagnosed. This warrants for further investigation of MTBI in population-based studies across the globe.

The impact of the MR-Linac field length on head and neck cancers patient selection

2020 ◽  
Vol 106 (5) ◽  
pp. 1156-1157
Author(s):  
B. Ng-Cheng-Hin ◽  
D. Mcquaid ◽  
C.M. Nutting ◽  
S. Bhide ◽  
K.H. Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck ◽  
Patient Selection ◽  
Head And Neck Cancers ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals P139: The impact of a pancreatitis admission algorithm on emergency department length of stay in a tertiary care academic hospital

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S114-S115
Author(s):  
A. Albina ◽  
F. Kegel ◽  
F. Dankoff ◽  
G. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Physician Satisfaction ◽  
Academic Hospital ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Potential Applicability ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Algorithm Implementation ◽  
The Impact

Background: Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is associated with a broad spectrum of poor medical outcomes, including medical errors, mortality, higher rates of leaving without being seen, and reduced patient and physician satisfaction. The largest contributor to overcrowding is access block – the inability of admitted patients to access in-patient beds from the ED. One component to addressing access block involves streamlining the decision process to rapidly determine which hospital service will admit the patient. Aim Statement: As of Sep 2011, admission algorithms at our institution were supported and formalised. The pancreatitis algorithm clarified whether general surgery or internal medicine would admit ED patients with pancreatitis. We hypothesize that this prior uncertainty delayed the admission decision and prolonged ED length of stay (LOS) for patients with pancreatitis. Our project evaluates whether implementing a pancreatitis admission algorithm at our institution reduced ED time to disposition (TTD) and LOS. Measures & Design: A retrospective review was conducted in a tertiary care academic hospital in Montreal for all adult ED patients diagnosed with pancreatitis from Apr 2010 to Mar 2014. The data was used to plot separate run charts for ED TTD and LOS. Serial measurements of each outcome were used to monitor change and evaluate for special cause variation. The mean ED LOS and TTD before and after algorithm implementation were also compared using the Student's t test. Evaluation/Results: Over four years, a total of 365 ED patients were diagnosed with pancreatitis and 287 (79%) were admitted. The mean ED LOS for patients with pancreatitis decreased following the implementation of an admission algorithm (1616 vs. 1418 mins, p = 0.05). The mean ED TTD was also reduced (1171 vs. 899 mins, p = 0.0006). A non-random signal of change was suggested by a shift above the median prior to algorithm implementation and one below the median following. Discussion/Impact: This project demonstrates that in a busy tertiary care academic hospital, an admission algorithm helped reduce ED TTD and LOS for patients with pancreatitis. This proves especially valuable when considering the potential applicability of such algorithms to other disease processes, such as gastrointestinal bleeding and congestive heart failure, among others. Future studies demonstrating this external applicability, and the impact of such decision algorithms on physician decision fatigue and within non-academic institutions, proves warranted.

scholarly journals Survival-Associated Metabolic Genes in Human Papillomavirus-Positive Head and Neck Cancers

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin A. Prusinkiewicz ◽  
Steven F. Gameiro ◽  
Farhad Ghasemi ◽  
Mackenzie J. Dodge ◽  
Peter Y. F. Zeng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Papillomavirus ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Patient Survival ◽  
Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle ◽  
Predictive Biomarkers ◽  
Head And Neck Cancers ◽  
The Cancer Genome Atlas ◽  
Metabolic Genes ◽  
Hpv Status ◽  
The Impact

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes an increasing number of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Altered metabolism contributes to patient prognosis, but the impact of HPV status on HNSCC metabolism remains relatively uncharacterized. We hypothesize that metabolism-related gene expression differences unique to HPV-positive HNSCC influences patient survival. The Cancer Genome Atlas RNA-seq data from primary HNSCC patient samples were categorized as 73 HPV-positive, 442 HPV-negative, and 43 normal-adjacent control tissues. We analyzed 229 metabolic genes and identified numerous differentially expressed genes between HPV-positive and negative HNSCC patients. HPV-positive carcinomas exhibited lower expression levels of genes involved in glycolysis and higher levels of genes involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and β-oxidation than the HPV-negative carcinomas. Importantly, reduced expression of the metabolism-related genes SDHC, COX7A1, COX16, COX17, ELOVL6, GOT2, and SLC16A2 were correlated with improved patient survival only in the HPV-positive group. This work suggests that specific transcriptional alterations in metabolic genes may serve as predictive biomarkers of patient outcome and identifies potential targets for novel therapeutic intervention in HPV-positive head and neck cancers.

scholarly journals Molecular screening in advanced cancer patients with head and neck cancers: A retrospective analysis of the MOSCATO-01 trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. viii378-viii379
Author(s):  
A. Houessinon ◽  
L. Verlingue ◽  
A. Hollebecque ◽  
C. Even ◽  
L. Lacroix ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck ◽  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Head And Neck Cancers ◽  
Molecular Screening ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients

Gabapentin for the treatment of pain related to radiation-induced mucositis in patients with head and neck cancers treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 16513-16513 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Bar Ad ◽  
S. Both ◽  
P. Dutta ◽  
H. Quon
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Therapy ◽  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Pain Control ◽  
Radiation Treatment ◽  
Pain Medication ◽  
Head And Neck Cancers ◽  
Median Dose ◽  
Concomitant Boost ◽  
Radiation Induced

16513 Background: Gabapentin has been reported to effectively treat multiple neuropathic pain syndromes. This retrospective study evaluates the efficacy of gabapentin for the treatment of pain related to radiation induced mucositis, in patients with head and neck cancers, treated with radiation therapy (RT). Methods: This retrospective study includes 30 pts with head and neck cancers, treated with RT, without concomitant or induction chemotherapy. IMRT planning was performed using a concomitant boost technique with a median dose of 54 Gy, 63 Gy, and 66 Gy delivered to the low risk clinical tumor volume (CTV), high risk CTV and boost target volume, respectively, using 30- 34 fractions. The dose of gabapentin was gradually increased starting on the second week of RT from 600 mg/day to the dose of 2700 mg/d over the course of one week. Narcotic pain medication (Roxicodone) was prescribed as needed. Results: 26 (86%) pts required no pain medication during the first two weeks of RT, despite the presence of grade 1 and/or 2 mucositis in 24 of them. During the third and fourth weeks of RT, 28 (93%) pts were treated with a median dose of 2700 mg/day of gabapentin, with only 3 (10%) pts requiring low dose narcotic pain medication, 15–30 mg/day of Roxicodone, added to gabapentin for adequate pain control, despite grade 2 or higher mucositis in 22 pts. During weeks 5 and 6, 28 (93%) pts continued to be treated with a median dose of 2700 mg/day of gabapentin with only 10 (35%) pts requiring 15–40 mg/day of Roxicodone, in addition to gabapentin for pain control, despite the presence of grade 2 or higher mucositis in 23 pts. Only 3% of the pts in this group had delay in RT delivery. Gabapentin was well tolerated with only 13% of pts experiencing mild side effects (somnolence, nausea, or vomiting), which were managed with reducing the dose or changing the dosing schedule. Conclusions: Gabapentin is effective and well-tolerated for the treatment of mucositis-induced pain related to radiation treatment in patients with head and neck cancers, treated with IMRT. We further demonstrate that the use of gabapentin at doses of 2700 mg per day can reduce or eliminate the need for narcotic pain medication. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

On the impact of smoothing and noise on robustness of CT and CBCT radiomics features for patients with head and neck cancers

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 1755-1770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Bagher-Ebadian ◽  
Farzan Siddiqui ◽  
Chang Liu ◽  
Benjamin Movsas ◽  
Indrin J. Chetty
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck ◽  
Head And Neck Cancers ◽  
The Impact
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