Predictors of Tracheostomy Decannulation in Adult Laryngotracheal Stenosis

2020 ◽  
pp. 019459982097827
Author(s):  
Grace E. Snow ◽  
Timothy Brandon Shaver ◽  
Taylor B. Teplitzky ◽  
Elizabeth Guardiani

Objective Predictors of tracheostomy decannulation in patients with laryngotracheal stenosis are not fully known, making prognosis difficult. The aim was to identify predictors of tracheostomy decannulation in adult patients with acquired stenosis of the larynx and/or trachea who were tracheostomy dependent. Study Design Case series. Setting Academic teaching hospital. Methods A total of 103 consecutive adult patients with laryngotracheal stenosis who were tracheostomy dependent and seen by the otolaryngology clinic from January 1, 2013, to August 2, 2018, were included. Exclusion criteria included age <18 years, history of laryngeal cancer or head and neck radiation, or history of laryngeal fracture. The primary outcome was the presence of tracheostomy at last follow-up. The patients’ etiology of stenosis, comorbid conditions, and characteristics of the stenosis were analyzed to determine if there was a statistically significant relationship with decannulation. Results A total of 103 patients were included: 67% of patients were women and the average age was 53.5 years. Sixty-four patients (62%) were successfully decannulated. In multivariate analysis, patients who were successfully decannulated presented to the otolaryngology clinic earlier after tracheostomy was performed, were more likely to have been intubated due to trauma, and were less likely to have gastroesophageal reflux disease. In patients with subglottic or tracheal stenosis, those with granulation tissue without firm scar were more likely to be decannulated, and those who underwent rigid dilation were less likely to be decannulated. Conclusion Early evaluation by an otolaryngologist may increase the likelihood of tracheostomy decannulation in patients with laryngotracheal stenosis. Patient comorbidities may assist in predicting which patients will be successfully decannulated.

Open Heart ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. e001380
Author(s):  
Rasmus Bo Hasselbalch ◽  
Mia Marie Pries-Heje ◽  
Sarah Louise Kjølhede Holle ◽  
Thomas Engstrøm ◽  
Merete Heitmann ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo prospectively validate the CT-Valve score, a new risk score designed to identify patients with valvular heart disease at a low risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) who could benefit from multislice CT (MSCT) first instead of coronary angiography (CAG).MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study of patients referred for valve surgery in the Capital Region of Denmark and Odense University Hospital from the 1 February 2015 to the 1 February 2017. MSCT was implemented for patients with a CT-Valve score ≤7 at the referring physician’s discretion. Patients with a history of CAD or chronic kidney disease were excluded. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients needing reevaluation with CAG after MSCT and risk of CAD among the patients determined to be low to intermediate risk.ResultsIn total, 1149 patients were included. The median score was 9 (IQR 3) and 339 (30%) had a score ≤7. MSCT was used for 117 patients. Of these 29 (25%) were reevaluated and 9 (7.7%) had CAD. Of the 222 patients with a score ≤7 that did not receive an MSCT, 14 (6%) had significant CAD. The estimated total cost of evaluation among patients with a score ≤7 before implementation was €132 093 compared with €79 073 after, a 40% reduction. Similarly, estimated total radiation before and after was 608 mSv and 362 mSv, a 41% reduction. Follow-up at a median of 32 months (18–48) showed no ischaemic events for patients receiving only MSCT.ConclusionThe CT-Valve score is a valid method for determining risk of CAD among patients with valvular heart disease. Using a score ≤7 as a cut-off for the use of MSCT is safe and cost-effective.


2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 291-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saudamini J. Lele ◽  
Mickie Hamiter ◽  
Torrey Louise Fourrier ◽  
Cherie-Ann Nathan

Sialendoscopy has emerged as a safe, effective and minimally invasive technique for management of obstructive and inflammatory salivary gland disease. The aim of our study was to analyze outcomes of sialendoscopy and steroid irrigation in patients with sialadenitis without sialoliths. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent interventional sialendoscopy with steroid irrigation from 2013 to 2016, for the treatment of sialadenitis without sialolithiasis. Twenty-two patients underwent interventional sialendoscopy with ductal dilation and steroid irrigation for the treatment of sialadenitis without any evidence of sialolithiasis. Conservative measures had failed in all. Eleven patients had symptoms arising from the parotid gland, 4 patients had symptoms arising from the submandibular gland, while 6 patients had symptoms in both parotid and submandibular glands. One patient complained of only xerostomia without glandular symptoms. The mean age of the study group which included 1 male and 21 females was 44.6 years (range: 3-86 years). Four patients had autoimmune disease, while 7 patients had a history of radioactive iodine therapy. No identifiable cause for sialadenitis was found in the remaining 11 patients. The mean follow-up period was 378.9 days (range: 16-1143 days). All patients underwent sialendoscopy with ductal dilation and steroid irrigation. Twelve patients showed a complete response and 9 patients had a partial response, while 1 patient reported no response. Only 3 patients required repeat sialendoscopy. The combination of sialendoscopy with ductal dilation and steroid irrigation is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with sialadenitis without sialoliths refractory to conservative measures. Prospective studies with a larger case series are needed to establish its role as a definitive treatment option.


2016 ◽  
Vol 98 (7) ◽  
pp. 468-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
TE Pidgeon ◽  
U Shariff ◽  
F Devine ◽  
V Menon

Introduction In 2013 our hospital introduced an in-hours, consultant-led, outpatient acute surgical clinic (ASC) for emergency general surgical patients. In 2014 this clinic was equipped with a dedicated ultrasonography service. This prospective cohort study evaluated this service before and after the introduction of ultrasonography facilities. Methods Data were recorded prospectively for all patients attending the clinic during 2013 and 2014. The primary outcome was patient destination (whether there was follow-up/admission) after clinic attendance. Results The ASC reviewed patients with a wide age range and array of general surgical complaints. In 2013, 186 patients attended the ASC. After the introduction of the ultrasonography service in 2014, 304 patients attended. In 2014, there was a reduction in the proportion of patients admitted to hospital from the clinic (18.3% vs 8.9%, p=0.002). However, the proportion of patients discharged after ASC review remained comparable with 2013 (30.1% in 2013 vs 38.8% in 2014, p=0.051). The proportion of patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) scans also fell (14.0% vs 4.9%, p<0.001). Conclusions The ASC assessed a wide array of general surgical complaints. Only a small proportion required hospital admission. The introduction of an ultrasonography service was associated with a further reduction in admission rates and computed tomography.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea M. Harriott ◽  
Eli Zimmerman ◽  
Aneesh B. Singhal ◽  
Michael R. Jaff ◽  
Mark E. Lindsay ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground:Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a rare noninflammatory, nonatherosclerotic arteriopathy of medium-sized arteries affecting up to 7% of the population. The disease can affect any artery but commonly affects renal, extracranial carotid, and vertebral arteries. The epidemiology and natural course of cerebrovascular FMD is unknown and requires further investigation.Methods:We present demographic and outcomes data on a case series of 81 patients with cerebrovascular FMD from Massachusetts General Hospital presenting between 2011 and 2015 followed by a review of the peer-reviewed literature.Results:Patients were a median age of 53 years (±12 SD) and the majority were women. Approximately 50% had a history of tobacco use and more than two-thirds had hypertension. Most patients were on monoplatelet therapy with aspirin; during follow-up, 7 of 67 had progressive disease or additional symptoms. One of 67 patients had a cerebrovascular event: TIA. There were 5 of 67 who had noncerebrovascular events or disease progression and 1 death of unclear cause.Conclusions:Cerebrovascular FMD may present with myriad symptoms. Our data support that patients with FMD with symptomatic disease have a low rate of recurrent symptoms or disease progression and can be managed conservatively with stroke risk modification, antiplatelet agents, surveillance imaging, and counseling.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Patella ◽  
Alessandro Comi ◽  
Giuseppe Coppolino ◽  
Nicolino Comi ◽  
Giorgio Fuiano ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) may require a prolonged multi-drug therapy with risk of drug toxicity and renal failure. Rituximab (RTX) treatment has been found to be helpful in reducing the steroid dosage and the need for immunosuppressants (ISs), but little data are currently available regarding very long-term outcomes in adults. We herein describe a long-term, single-center experience of RTX use in a large series of adults with SDNS. Method We studied 23 adult patients with SDNS (mean age 54.2±17.1 y; 65% male; BMI 28.5±4.7), mostly consequent to membranous (47.8%) or focal glomerulonephritis (30.2 %) who were eligible to start a RTX regimen. Before entering the RTX protocol, proteinuria and eGFR were 7.06±3.87 g/24h and 65.9±28.2 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively; albumin and CD19/CD20 ratio were 2.9±0.9 g/L and 0.99±0.01 respectively; the mean number of ISs was 2.39±0.89 and the mean annual rate of relapses was 2.2±0.9. Results Patients were followed over a mean follow-up of 64 months (range: 12-144). After RTX (mean dose: 1202.1±372.4 mg) the rate of relapses was virtually nullified (p&lt;0.001). eGFR remained roughly stable (62.1±19.8 ml/min/1.73 m2, p=NS), while proteinuria, albumin, CD19/CD20 and BMI all significantly improved (p ranging from 0.01 to 0.001). The mean number of additional ISs was also reduced (0.44±0.12; p&lt;0.001) and RTX enabled discontinuation of steroids in 13/23 (56.5%) patients. No major adverse events related to therapy were recorded. Conclusion Findings from this large case-series with a remarkable very long follow-up reinforce the role of RTX as an efficient and safe weapon to improve outcomes in adult patients suffering from SDNS.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra van Dissel ◽  
Alexander Opotowsky ◽  
Jamil A Aboulhosn ◽  
Martijn Kauling ◽  
Salil Ginde ◽  
...  

Background: Occasionally patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) exhibit little clinical evidence of cardiovascular limitation even to their 8th decade. We aimed to assess survival prospects in a large cohort of ccTGA adults. Methods & Results: We included 555 ccTGA adults (median age 33.0 years, 48.3% female) under regular follow-up at 28 institutions between 2002 and 2019. The primary outcome was a composite of death, mechanical circulatory support (MCS) and heart transplant. During a median follow-up of 8.1 [IQR 4.4 - 13.3] years, 56 (10.1%) patients died, 10 (1.8%) patients underwent MCS and 14 (2.5%) had a heart transplant. Median age at time of primary outcome was 51.1 [IQR 37.5 - 63.2] years and cumulative incidence at 15 years from baseline was 21.5% [95% CI 16.1 - 26.5]. Leading causes of death were worsening of heart failure (43%) and sudden death (10%). Patients who died were more likely to use heart failure (HF) medications. In multivariable Cox analyses for baseline variables, age, prior atrial arrhythmia and HF admission were each associated with an increased risk of the primary outcome. Figure shows cumulative incidence according to history of atrial arrhythmia. During follow-up, 91 (16.4%) were admitted for HF, pacemaker implantation was performed in 68 (12.3%) patients, ICD in 82 (14.7%), and major cardiac surgery (mostly for systemic AV-valve) in 89 (15.8%) patients. Conclusion: In this large cohort of ccTGA adults, survival seemed to be primarily determined by heart failure-related complications. Prior atrial arrhythmia also seems to be a harbinger for adverse outcome. Few patients underwent advanced HF therapies. Figure: Cumulative incidence of the composite primary outcome (MCS, heart transplant or death) over a period of 14 years from first visit at an adult congenital heart disease clinic since 2002 stratified according to history of atrial arrhythmia. Shading represents upper and lower 95% confidence limits.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Flaminia Olearo ◽  
Huyen Nguyen ◽  
Fabrice Bonnet ◽  
Sabine Yerly ◽  
Gilles Wandeler ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The impact of the M184V/I mutation on the virological failure (VF) rate in HIV-positive patients with suppressed viremia switching to an abacavir/lamivudine/dolutegravir regimen has been poorly evaluated. Method This is an observational study from 5 European HIV cohorts among treatment-experienced adults with ≤50 copies/mL of HIV-1 RNA who switched to abacavir/lamivudine/dolutegravir. Primary outcome was the time to first VF (2 consecutive HIV-1 RNA &gt;50 copies/mL or single HIV-1 RNA &gt;50 copies/mL accompanied by change in antiretroviral therapy [ART]). We also analyzed a composite outcome considering the presence of VF and/or virological blips. We report also the results of an inverse probability weighting analysis on a restricted population with a prior history of VF on any ART regimen to calculate statistics standardized to the disparate sampling population. Results We included 1626 patients (median follow-up, 288.5 days; interquartile range, 154–441). Patients with a genotypically documented M184V/I mutation (n = 137) had a lower CD4 nadir and a longer history of antiviral treatment. The incidence of VF was 29.8 cases (11.2–79.4) per 1000 person-years in those with a previously documented M184V/I, and 13.6 cases (8.4–21.8) in patients without documented M184V/I. Propensity score weighting in a restricted population (n = 580) showed that M184V/I was not associated with VF or the composite endpoint (hazard ratio [HR], 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35–4.59 and HR 1.66; 95% CI, 0.81–3.43, respectively). Conclusions In ART-experienced patients switching to an abacavir/lamivudine/dolutegravir treatment, we observed few VFs and found no evidence for an impact of previously-acquired M184V/I mutation on this outcome. Additional analyses are required to demonstrate whether these findings will remain robust during a longer follow-up.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 3736-3736
Author(s):  
Gisele S. Silva ◽  
Maria S. Figueiredo ◽  
Perla Vicari ◽  
Airton R. Massaro ◽  
Adauto Castelo Filho ◽  
...  

Abstract Sickle cell anemia (SCA) may cause a variety of neurological complications, including stroke and headaches. Stroke occurs in up to 9% of children with SCA, and transcranial Doppler (TCD) studies have demonstrated that increased velocities are related to higher stroke risk. Throbbing headache occurs in SCA but its cause, frequency, and relationship to TCD velocities have received little attention. On the other hand, there are few TCD studies in adult patients. Our aims were: 1) to describe the main features of TCD in adult SCA patients, and 2) to investigate if there were correlation between TCD features and presence of headache. TCD was performed in 56 adult SCA patients (≥ 16 years old) and in 56 healthy individuals (HI), matched by age and race. There were 6 patients with a remote history of stroke but none were on chronic transfusion. The SCA group was submitted to a neurological evaluation and specifically asked about the occurrence of headache and its characteristics. The highest flow velocity (maxFV) recorded for each artery was considered the most representative. We analyzed the frequency of FV asymmetry (side-to-side difference > 20%) and focal FV changes. The mean maxFV was significantly higher in patients (117.7 ± 21.6 cm/s) than in HI (72.45 ± 11.48 cm/s) (p<0.005). Only one patient had maxFV higher than 170 cm/s. The frequencies of asymmetry and of focal FV changes were significantly higher in SCA. Forty-one patients (73.2%) reported having headaches. Twenty-eight patients (50%) had severe (= 5 for pain intensity at a 1–10 scale) and frequent headaches (at least once a month). This group of patients presented TCD velocities significantly higher than patients without or with milder headaches (p=0.035). In conclusion, TCD maxFV was significantly higher in adult patients with SCA than HI, however, only one patient was considered at risk of stroke according to TCD criteria described in children. FV asymmetry and focal FV changes may be markers for arterial disease in adult SCA patients, and need to be further confirmed by neuroimaging and clinical follow up studies. The patients with severe headaches presented TCD velocities significantly higher than patients without or with milder headaches, but this finding needs to be confirmed by more and larger studies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 3421
Author(s):  
Nagamallesh C. S. ◽  
Nandini S. Tanwar ◽  
F. Sadiq Nawaz ◽  
Padmanath Bhat

Incisional hernia is the second most common type of hernia. Incisional hernia occurs in 10-20% of patients who were subjected to abdominal surgery in India. Here we are presenting a case series of 20 patients with incisional hernia and obesity. Body mass index (BMI) ranges from 28 to 35 in all cases. Females outnumbered the male in the ratio of 4:1 and 40% of cases had a previous history of caesarean section. All cases were operated by combining open polypropylene meshplasty and abdominoplasty techniques and follow up consultations were done for 1 year. 10% of cases had post-op wound infections, who were known to be diabetic. They were managed with appropriate antibiotics and maintained strict glycemic control. 90% of patients were satisfied from the procedure performed which improved their quality of life, significant cosmetic outcome and no recurrence. 10% of cases had recurrence after heavy weight lifting following surgery (BMI was 36). By incorporating the above mentioned techniques in hernia repair, recurrence rate and complications were reduced, quality of life and aesthetic outcome are enhanced.


Author(s):  
Morena J ◽  
◽  
Antimisiaris M ◽  
Singh D ◽  
◽  
...  

Objective: We present the distinct clinical and laboratory findings in two cases of Ehrlichia meningoencephalitis, along with one suspected case. Background: The number of cases of Ehrlichia chaffeensis reported to the CDC has more than doubled from 2007-2017. A PubMed literature search using the words “Ehrlichiosis and meningoencephalitis” revealed five case reports with neurologic manifestations. Design/Methods: This is a retrospective observational study. Two elderly patients presented with encephalopathy, fever, transaminitis, thrombocytopenia, a positive E. chaffeensis Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in Serum, and Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) with a lymphocytic or neutrophilic pleocytosis and elevated protein. One patient had similar symptoms and a positive E. chaffeensis PCR, but lumbar puncture was unable to be performed due to severe thrombocytopenia. They presented in May or June. Doxycycline was started within 2-3 days after presentation to the hospital. Follow up five months later revealed all patients were close, or back to baseline. Results and Conclusions: Suspicion of Ehrlichia meningoencephalitis should be raised in elderly patients presenting with fever and encephalopathy in the summer season with history of tick bite or residence in wooded areas. Thrombocytopenia and transaminitis should raise further suspicion. CSF studies typically show a lymphocytic pleocytosis and elevated protein. PCR technique allows for direct detection of pathogen-specific DNA and is the preferred method of detection during the acute phase of illness. Prompt treatment with doxycycline results in good outcomes. Doxycycline is not included in the typical meningitis regimen, therefore, this disease is important to quickly identify as delay in Doxycycline can result in worse outcomes.


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