Patients´ experiences in a newly established clinic for late complications after colorectal and anal cancer treatment: a qualitative study

Purpose Treatment of late complications is not systematically provided in Denmark. We therefore established a clinic to treat patients´ late complications. With this study we wanted to explore patients´ experiences with treatment and care in the clinic, including their recommendations for the future organization and structure of the clinic. Methods We conducted a qualitative semi-structured interview study with patients who had attended our late complication clinic after treatment for colorectal or anal cancer. Results We included 14 patients. We found two main categories: 1: benefitting from the late complication clinic and 2: preparation and delivery of the consultations. Patients benefitted from attending the late complication clinic and some experienced complete relief from symptoms. Others did not, but they gained hope that they might be able to receive treatment in the future. Patients wished for more information about late complications, preferring that the most common symptoms were described along with patient-friendly treatment options. The patients were satisfied with telephone consultations, as they were easy to fit into a daily schedule, and patients found it easy to express themselves openly. Conclusions Patients were satisfied with the late complication clinic as they felt it gave them a safety net. For the future, patients recommended provision of more information about late complications and possible treatments.

Small Bowel Internal Herniation through Acquired Defect of Vesicouterine Pouch- A Late Complication following Oophorectomy

Hollow viscus herniation through a defect between vesicouterine pouch following previous pelvis surgery is exceedingly rare. There was only 1 similar case reported in the English literature. In this current report, we describe a 84-year-old woman presented with lower abdominal pain. She had a history of previous gynecology surgery. Computed tomography of abdomen showed small bowel obstruction with transition zone at the pelvis. Laparotomy revealed small bowel loops trapped in the vesico-uterine space via a narrow defect about 1.5cm. The detailed clinical summary and operative management are described in the report.

SMART Syndrome: A Case Report

Introduction: Stroke-like migraine attacks after radiation therapy (SMART) syndrome, is a late complication of brain radiotherapy. (1) Symptoms are commonly subacute in onset and involve migraine type of headache, seizures, focal neurologic deficits.(2) . MRI findings are usually unilateral and posterior predominant cortical-subcortical hyperintensity, swelling and prominent gyriform (cortical and leptomeningeal) gadolinum enhancement in the areas of brain that underwent irradiation with or without diffusion restriction.(1) There is no standard treatment protocol of SMART syndrome. Antiepileptics and corticosteroids are commonly used drugs.Case Report: A 65 years old woman diagnosed with breast cancer with brain metastases and treated with more than 50 Gy brain radiotherapy. A couple of months later patient presented with acute right sided weakness and numbness, episodic myoclonic jerking of the right arm and leg and gait instability. MRI and magnetic resonance angiography of the brain with gadolinium revealed left parietooccipital cortical diffusion restriction and accompanying dilatation of the left posterior cerebral artery as new findings. Computed tomography perfusion revealed increased perfussion in the affected area. The patient was diagnosed with SMART syndrome.Management & Outcome: The patient was treated with dexamethasone (16 mg/day) and anticonvulsant therapy. Myoclonic seizures had almost completely remitted. However, her cognitive impairment persisted, then the patient arrested because of aspiration a month later.Discussion: Besides confirming SMART syndrome, diagnostic investigations is also important to exclude other etiologies. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, post-ictal changes, meningoencephalitis and cerebrovascular diseases are radiological differential diagnosis which should be considered.(3) Proper and early diagnosis of SMART syndrome is significant to refrain unneccessary aggressive approaches and for appropriate treatment to prevent sequela lesions.

Utility of Continuous Glucose Monitoring vs. Meal Study in Detecting Hypoglycemia After Gastric Bypass

Context Gastric bypass (GB) increases postprandial glucose excursion, which in turn can predispose to the late complication of hypoglycemia. Diagnosis remains challenging and requires documentation of symptoms associated with low glucose, and relief of symptom when glucose is normalized (Whipple’s triad). Objective To compare the yield of mixed meal test (MMT) and continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) in detecting hypoglycemia after gastric bypass surgery (GB). Setting The study was conducted at General Clinical Research Unit, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital (Cincinnati, OH, United States). Methods Glucose profiles were evaluated in 15 patients with documented recurrent clinical hypoglycemia after GB, 8 matched asymptomatic GB subjects, and 9 healthy weight-matched non-operated controls using MMT in a control setting and CGMS under free-living conditions. Results Patients with prior GB had larger glucose variability during both MMT and CGMS when compared to non-surgical controls regardless of their hypoglycemic status. Sensitivity (71 vs. 47 %) and specificity (100 vs. 88 %) of MMT in detecting hypoglycemia was superior to CGMS. Conclusions Our findings indicate that a fixed carbohydrate ingestion during MMT is a more reliable test to diagnose GB-related hypoglycemia compared to CGMS during free-living state.

Superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysm as cause of refractory headache

Case presentation: A 36-year-old male presented with moderate, progressive headache, in the left temporal region, irradiating to the ipsilateral frontal region, with several months of evolution, refractory to analgesic medication, including opioids. He reported a closed traumatic brain injury (TBI) 5 years before in a motorcycle collision with an automobile, without a helmet. At the physical examination, it was possible to verify a pulsatile mass measuring 1.5 cm in diameter, with fremitus, in the left temporal region. The magnetic resonance imaging scan presented a round lesion, encapsulated, on the course of the superficial temporal artery (STA). The digital subtraction angiography confirmed the diagnosis of STA pseudoaneurysm. A surgical resection of the aneurysm was performed, leading to the complete resolution of the headache. Discussion: The STA pseudoaneurysm is a rare condition, representing less than 1% of aneurysms, usually presenting as a late complication of TBI. The majority of cases are asymptomatic, although focal symptoms and even bleeding may occur. The presentation with a chronic refractory headache is exceptional. Its treatment is indicated for local symptom resolution, aesthetic purposes, and rupture prevention, done by clipping and resection of the pseudoaneurysm. Conclusion: Even though unusual, the awareness of this condition is important for the etiological diagnosis of a persistent temporal headache in a patient with a history of TBI.

MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME IN CHILDREN ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19: RESULTS OF A MULTICENTER STUDY

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children in most cases is asymptomatic or mild, and its most severe late complication is multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The aim of the study is to find clinical, laboratory and instrumental characteristics, description of therapeutic tactics, including determination of the profile of patients requiring Tocilizumab prescription and the outcomes of MIS-C associated with COVID-19. Materials and methods of research: 245 children aged 3 months – 17 years old were included in the pilot prospective multicenter open-label comparative study with MIS-C associated with COVID-19, verified based on CDC criteria (2020). Results: the median age of patients was 8 [5; 10] years, boys predominated among the patients (57.1%); MIS-C manifested itself as a combination of the symptom complex of Kawasaki disease (KD, 53.1% of patients), more often of atypical form, cardiovascular (66.1%), gastrointestinal (61.2%), neurological (27.3%) symptoms and signs of detection of the urinary (29.4%) and respiratory (19.6%) systems; macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) was diagnosed in 19.5% of patients. Therapy included glucocorticosteroids (97.6%), antibiotics (95.5%), anticoagulants (93.9%), intravenous immunoglobulin (34.7%), vasoactive/vasopressor support (31.8%), Tocilizumab (15.1%), mechanical ventilation (2.4%), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (0.4%). Patients receiving Tocilizumab, statistically significantly more often compared with patients without this therapy, were in the intensive care unit (ICU, 86.5% versus 40.9%, p<0.001), more often required vasopressor therapy (70.3% versus 25%, p<0.001), had statistically significantly higher markers of laboratory inflammatory activity. Treatment in 47.8% of cases was carried out in an ICU; one child has died. In 4.1%, according to echocardiography, coronaritis, ectasia of the coronary arteries without the formation of persistent aneurysms were detected. Conclusion: MIS-C associated with COVID-19 has clinical signs of KD, often of the incomplete form, accompanied by arterial hypotension/shock, MAS, which requires intensive therapy, and the prescription of Tocilizumab.

Treatment Outcome of Tardy Ulnar Nerve Palsy Associated with Traumatic Cubitus Valgus by Supracondylar Shortening Wedge Rotary Osteotomy and Ulnar Nerve in Situ Tension Release

Background Tardy ulnar nerve palsy is a common late complication of traumatic cubitus valgus. At present, the treatment of tardy ulnar nerve palsy associated with traumatic cubitus valgus is still controversial, whether these two problems can be corrected safely and effectively in one operation is still unclear. To investigate the supracondylar shortening wedge rotary osteotomy combined with in situ tension release of the ulnar nerve in the treatment of tardy ulnar nerve palsy associated with traumatic cubitus valgus. Methods Between 2012 and 2019, 16 patients who had traumatic cubitus valgus deformities with tardy ulnar nerve palsy were treated with simultaneous supracondylar shortening wedge rotary osteotomy and ulnar nerve in situ tension release. we compared a series of indicators of preoperative and postoperative follow-up for at least 24 months, (1) elbow range of motion; (2) the radiographic correction of the preoperative and postoperative humerus-elbow-wrist angles; (3) the static two-point discrimination and grip strength; and (4) the preoperative and postoperative DASH scores of upper limb function. The minimum follow-up was 24 months postoperative (mean, 33 months; range, 24ཞ44 months). Results The mean ROM was improved from 107 ° preoperatively to 122 ° postoperatively (P = 0.001). The mean preoperative elbow wrist angle was 24.6 °, and the mean postoperative humerus-elbow wrist angle was 12.1 ° (P < 0.001). The average grip strength and static two-point discrimination improved from 28 kg force and 8 mm to 21 kg force and 4.0 mm (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The ulnar nerve symptoms were improved in all patients except one. The mean HASH score improved from 29 to 16 (P < 0.001). Conclusion Supracondylar shortening wedge rotary osteotomy combined with in situ tension release of ulnar nerve is an effective method for the treatment of traumatic cubitus valgus with tardy ulnar nerve palsy, which restored the normal biomechanical characteristics of the affected limb and improved the elbow joint function.

Outcomes of liver transplantation from deceased donors with Coronavirus-disease 2019 and late complications of infection

Background: The transplant patients should be considered a main high-risk population during the COVID-19 outbreak due to the use of immunosuppressive regimens and comorbidities. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the possibility of COVID-19 transmission by liver transplantation from a donor with a late complication of COVID-19 to the recipients. Method: This descriptive study was conducted on all the recipients of liver transplantation who had an acute liver failure or were the models for the End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) higher than 20. Results: In general, 36 liver transplantation was performed during the study period. Out of these patients, only 14 cases (deceased donors) had hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accidents, and other donors died of trauma (n=7) and anoxia (n=15). All patients showed negative results for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (two negative 24 h PCR), whereas their high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) test revealed that they had previously lung involvement with COVID-19 as the late complication of the disease. Conclusion: This study supports the safety of continuing donation and transplant process during the outbreak even the transplant donor be infected previously with the COVID-19, which is reinforced by other similar pieces of evidence.