Neuroblastoma in Children: Intraoperative Goal Directed Therapy, Intraoperative And Postoperative Outcomes

Background: Neuroblastoma is the most common tumor in children. Anesthetic management can be challenging due to the localization and catecholamine-secreting characteristics of the tumor. We undertook a secondary analysis in a previous study to describe patients who underwent neuroblastoma resection.Objective: To describe intraoperative and postoperative outcomes in patients who underwent neuroblastoma resection and to propose optimal intraoperative management for postoperative outcome improvement.Methods: This was a secondary analysis of children who underwent neuroblastoma resection in the initial retrospective study.Results: There were 16 patients with a mean age of 39.3±22.1 months. Seven (43.8%) patients presented with intraoperative or postoperative complications. One (6.3%) patient had intraoperative broncholaryngospasm and difficult intubation. Two (12.5%) patients had intraoperative hemorrhagic shock. One patient (6.3%) had postoperative renal failure. Two patients (12.5%) had postoperative respiratory failure, and 3 (18.8%) patients had postoperative cardiocirculatory failure. One (6.3%) had postoperative pulmonary sepsis and septicemia. Thirteen (81.3%) patients were intraoperatively transfused. There was no in-hospital mortality.Conclusion: In this cohort, 43.8% of the patients had intraoperative and/or postoperative complications in terms of organ dysfunction or sepsis. A total of 81.3% of the patients received intraoperative transfusion. Neuroblastoma surgery can be a challenging situation where cardiovascular instability, high blood loss and transfusion requirements can be encountered. Consequently, preoperative preparation and optimal intraoperative management with validated tools in children could be necessary for a better postoperative outcome in this surgical setting.

Targeted Delivery of Electrical Shocks and Epinephrine, Guided by Ventricular Fibrillation Amplitude Spectral Area, Reduces Electrical and Adrenergic Myocardial Burden, Improving Survival in Swine

Background We previously reported that resuscitation delivering electrical shocks guided by real‐time ventricular fibrillation amplitude spectral area (AMSA) enabled return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) with fewer shocks, resulting in less myocardial dysfunction. We now hypothesized that AMSA could also guide delivery of epinephrine, expecting further outcome improvement consequent to less electrical and adrenergic burdens. Methods and Results A swine model of ventricular fibrillation was used to compare after 10 minutes of untreated ventricular fibrillation a guidelines‐driven (n=8) resuscitation protocol, delivering shocks every 2 minutes and epinephrine every 4 minutes, with an AMSA‐driven shocks (n=8) protocol, delivering epinephrine every 4 minutes, and with an AMSA‐driven shocks and epinephrine (ADSE; n=8) protocol. For guidelines‐driven, AMSA‐driven shocks, and ADSE protocols, the time to ROSC (mean±SD) was 569±164, 410±111, and 400±80 seconds ( P =0.045); the number of shocks (mean±SD) was 5±2, 3±1, and 3±2 ( P =0.024) with ADSE fewer than guidelines‐driven ( P =0.03); and the doses of epinephrine (median [interquartile range]) were 2.0 (1.3–3.0), 1.0 (1.0–2.8), and 1.0 (0.3–3.0) ( P =0.419). The ROSC rate was similar, yet survival after ROSC favored AMSA‐driven protocols (guidelines‐driven, 3/6; AMSA‐driven shocks, 6/6; and ADSE, 7/7; P =0.019 by log‐rank test). Left ventricular function and survival after ROSC correlated inversely with electrical burden (ie, cumulative unsuccessful shocks, J/kg; P =0.020 and P =0.046) and adrenergic burden (ie, total epinephrine doses, mg/kg; P =0.042 and P =0.002). Conclusions Despite similar ROSC rates achieved with all 3 protocols, AMSA‐driven shocks and ADSE resulted in less postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction and better survival, attributed to attaining ROSC with less electrical and adrenergic myocardial burdens.

A Decade of Lymphoma-Associated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: Does the Outcome Improve?

To investigate the potential treatment evolution and outcome improvement, we retrospectively compared clinical characteristics, therapeutic strategies, treatment responses, and overall survival (OS) in patients diagnosed and treated with lymphoma-associated HLH between 2004–2012 (n = 30) and 2013–2021 (n = 26). Our study showed that the clinical characteristics of lymphoma-associated HLH did not substantially change over the past two decades. However, more patients diagnosed in 2013–2021 were tested for Epstein–Barr virus than those diagnosed in 2004–2012 (69.3% vs. 33.3%; p = 0.021). In addition, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 3–4 (hazard ratio (HR): 5.38; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 2.49–11.61; p < 0.001) and jaundice (HR: 2.91; 95% CI: 1.37–6.18; p = 0.006) were poor prognostic factors for lymphoma-associated HLH. With a comparable response rate of lymphoma treatment, patients treated in 2013–2021 had a numerically greater median OS than those treated in 2004–2012 (23.6 ± 19.8 vs. 9.7 ± 4.5 months). However, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.334). In conclusion, early diagnosis and tailored treatments that balance efficacy and adverse events remain the key to obtaining a better outcome in lymphoma-associated HLH.

Clinically Significant Outcome Improvement After Hip Arthroscopy in Patients With Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome and Severe Femoral Torsion

Background: The influence of femoral torsion on clinically significant outcome improvement after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) has not been well-studied. Purpose: To quantify femoral torsion in FAIS patients using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and explore the relationship between femoral torsion and clinically significant outcome improvement after hip arthroscopy. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Included were patients who underwent hip arthroscopy for FAIS between January 2012 and August 2018 and had 2-year follow-up and preoperative MRI scans containing transcondylar slices of the knee. Participants were categorized as having severe retrotorsion (SR; <0°), normal torsion (NT; 0°-25°), and severe antetorsion (SA; >25°) as measured on MRI. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) included the Hip Outcome Score–Activities of Daily Living, Hip Outcome Score–Sports Subscale, modified Harris Hip Score, 12-item International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12), and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and satisfaction. Achievement of Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) and substantial clinical benefit (SCB) were analyzed among cohorts. Results: Included were 183 patients (SR, n = 13; NT, n = 154; SA, n = 16) with a mean age, body mass index, and femoral torsion of 30.6 ± 12.1 years, 24.0 ± 4.4 kg/m2, and 12.55° ± 9.58°, respectively. The mean torsion was –4.5° ± 2.6° for the SR, 12.1° ± 6.8° for the NT, and 31.0° ± 3.6° for the SA group. There were between-group differences in the proportion of patients who achieved PASS and SCB on the iHOT-12, pain VAS, and any PRO ( P < .05). Post hoc analysis indicated that the SA group achieved lower rates of PASS and SCB on the iHOT-12 and pain VAS, and lower rates of PASS on any PRO versus the SR group ( P < .05); the SR group achieved higher rates of PASS and SCB on pain VAS scores versus the NT group ( P = .003). Conclusion: The orientation and severity of femoral torsion during hip arthroscopy influenced the propensity for clinically significant outcome improvement. Specifically, patients with femoral retrotorsion and femoral antetorsion had higher and lower rates of clinically significant outcome improvement, respectively.