[Nerve biopsy in the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathies]. / La biopsie nerveuse dans le diagnostic des neuropathies périphériques.

The indications for nerve biopsy have diminished in recent years. This examination nevertheless remains essential in certain cases of peripheral neuropathies, making it possible to specify the diagnosis or the mechanism of injury for a therapeutic purpose. It is a simple but "invasive" procedure, which can only be performed once on the same nerve. The indications are thus discussed on a case-by-case basis and based on a range of clinical, electrophysiological, biological or even genetic arguments. This involves close collaboration between clinical physicians and pathologists. The main difficulty of this biopsy concerns the fragility of the sample and the techniques necessary for its interpretation, requiring it to be carried out in expert centers. Nerve biopsy is closely related to skin biopsy in the search for small fiber neuropathy. It is a particular technique, but very well codified. The purpose of this review is to recall the indications and contraindications of nerve biopsy, and to explain what the contributions are but also the limits of this examination as well as of skin biopsy.

Bilateral Lung Transplant for Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis With Undetected Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Lung transplant has become a curative therapy for various forms of progressive lung disease refractory to medical management. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare condition characterized by accumulation of activated fibroblasts and secretion of extracellular matrices within the lung parenchyma. End-stage IPF is a fatal condition, with limited medical therapies other than lung transplantation. IPF has been demonstrated as a known risk factor for the development of lung cancer, and current lung transplant standards define history of malignancy within the past five years as an absolute exclusion criterion. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a patient with biopsy-confirmed idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treated with bilateral lung transplant, discovered to have stage four lung adenocarcinoma in the explanted lungs. The patient subsequently received pseudoadjuvant chemotherapy and remained recurrence-free until 23 months post-transplant. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the challenge of ruling out malignancy in patients with end-stage lung disease. There remains a paucity of clinical studies on lung transplantation for lung cancer and more evidence is required before supporting this clinical decision.

Prostate cancer brachytherapy: SFRO guidelines 2021.

Prostate brachytherapy techniques are described, concerning both permanent seed implant and high dose rate brachytherapy. The following guidelines are presented: brachytherapy indications, implant procedure for permanent low dose rate implants and high dose rate with source projector, as well as dose and dose-constraints objectives, immediate postoperative management, post-treatment evaluation, and long-term follow-up.

Radiotherapy for patient with cardiac implantable electronic device, consensus from French radiation oncology society.

Radiotherapy in patients with cardiac implantable electronic device such as pacemakers or defibrillators, is a clinical situation that is becoming increasingly common. There is a risk of interaction between the magnetic field induced by accelerators and the cardiac implantable electronic device, but also a risk of device dysfunction due to direct and/or indirect irradiation if the cardiac implantable electronic device is in the field of treatment. The risk can be dose-dependent, but it is most often independent of the total dose and occurs randomly in case of neutron production (stochastic effect). The presence of this type of device is therefore described as a contraindication for radiotherapy by the French national agency for the safety of medicines and health products (Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé, ANSM). Nevertheless, since radiotherapy is often possible, it is advisable to respect the recommendations of good practice, in particular the eligibility criteria, the monitoring modalities before, during and after irradiation according to the type of treatment, the dose and the characteristics of the cardiac implantable electronic device. It is sometimes necessary to discuss repositioning the device and/or modifying the treatment plan to minimize the risk of cardiac implantable electronic device dysfunction. We present the update of the recommendations of the French society of oncological radiotherapy on in patients with cardiac implantable electronic device.

Is Uterine Myomectomy a Real Contraindication to Vaginal Delivery? Results from a Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: The main goal of our research was to explore correlations between a history of uterine myomectomy and maternal-fetal outcomes, throughout a comparison between vaginal deliveries in patients with or without a history of uterine myoma excision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out at two tertiary care hospitals between January 2019 and January 2020. Women were assigned into two groups according to the history of laparoscopic or laparotomic myomectomy (Group 1) or without myomectomy (Group 2). RESULTS: 80 women successfully delivered after myomectomy. Pregnancies with previous laparoscopic or laparotomic myomectomy were associated with a minor rate of spontaneous labor onset (RR 1.17; 95% CI 1.04 - 1.31) and with an increased rate of emergency cesarean section (RR 1.22; 95% CI 1.09 - 1.36). Moreover, myomectomy group had a significant number of indications to emergency cesarean section correlated to suspected uterine rupture (RR 1.19; 95% CI 1.02-1.39). There were no uterine ruptures or neonatal deaths recorded. First stage of labor was longer in the myomectomy group (316 vs 204 mins, p = 0.01). No differences in the rates of the prolonged first and second stage of labor, postpartum hemorrhage and vaginal laceration, and no neonatal adverse outcomes were found between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancies after myomectomy might be associated with an elevated rate of emergency cesarean section only due to a higher percentage of suspected uterine rupture, without a real hazard of adverse obstetric or neonatal outcomes.

Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of Aorta: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The data on resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) use continue to grow with its increasing use in trauma centers. The data in her last 5 years have not been systematically reviewed. We aim to assess current literature related to REBOA use and outcomes among civilian trauma populations. METHODS: A literature search using PubMed, EMBASE, and JAMA Network for studies regarding REBOA usage in civilian trauma from 2016 to 2020 is carried out. This review followed preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines. RESULTS: Our search yielded 35 studies for inclusion in our systematic review, involving 4073 patients. The most common indication for REBOA was patient presentation in hemorrhagic shock secondary to traumatic injury. REBOA was associated with significant systolic blood pressure improvement. Of 4 studies comparing REBOA to non-REBOA controls, 2 found significant mortality benefit with REBOA. Significant mortality improvement with REBOA compared to open aortic occlusion was seen in 4 studies. In the few studies investigating zone placement, highest survival rate was seen in patients undergoing zone 3. Overall, reports of complications directly related to overall REBOA use were relatively low. CONCLUSION: REBOA has been shown to be effective in promoting hemodynamic stability in civilian trauma. Mortality data on REBOA use are conflicting, but most studies investigating REBOA vs. open occlusion methods suggest a significant survival advantage. Recent data on the REBOA technique (zone placement and partial REBOA) are sparse and currently insufficient to determine advantage with any particular variation. Overall, larger prospective civilian trauma studies are needed to better understand the benefits of REBOA in high-mortality civilian trauma populations. STUDY TYPE: Systematic Review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III- Therapeutic.

Patient-Specific Computational Analysis of Hemodynamics in Adult Pulmonary Hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease characterized by elevated pressure and vascular resistance in the pulmonary arteries. Nearly 250,000 hospitalizations occur annually in the US with PH as the primary or secondary condition. A definitive diagnosis of PH requires right heart catheterization (RHC) in addition to a chest computed tomography, a walking test, and others. While RHC is the gold standard for diagnosing PH, it is invasive and posseses inherent risks and contraindications. In this work, we characterized the patient-specific pulmonary hemodynamics in silico for diverse PH WHO groups. We grouped patients on the basis of mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) into three disease severity groups: at-risk ([Formula: see text], denoted with A), mild ([Formula: see text], denoted with M), and severe ([Formula: see text], denoted with S). The pulsatile flow hemodynamics was simulated by evaluating the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes system of equations using a flow solver developed by customizing OpenFOAM libraries (v5.0, The OpenFOAM Foundation). Quasi patient-specific boundary conditions were implemented using a Womersley inlet velocity profile and transient resistance outflow conditions. Hemodynamic indices such as spatially averaged wall shear stress ([Formula: see text]), wall shear stress gradient ([Formula: see text]), time-averaged wall shear stress ([Formula: see text]), oscillatory shear index ([Formula: see text]), and relative residence time ([Formula: see text]), were evaluated along with the clinical metrics pulmonary vascular resistance ([Formula: see text]), stroke volume ([Formula: see text]) and compliance ([Formula: see text]), to assess possible spatiotemporal correlations. We observed statistically significant decreases in [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text], and increases in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] with disease severity. [Formula: see text] was moderately correlated with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] at the mid-notch stage of the cardiac cycle when these indices were computed using the global pulmonary arterial geometry. These results are promising in the context of a long-term goal of identifying computational biomarkers that can serve as surrogates for invasive diagnostic protocols of PH.

Clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas.

Clinically non functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) include all pituitary adenomas that are not hormonally active. They are not associated with clinical syndromes such as amenorrhea-galactorrhea (prolactinomas), acromegaly, Cushing's disease or hyperthyroidism (TSH-secreting adenomas) and are therefore usually diagnosed by signs and symptoms related to a mass effect (headache, visual impairment, sometimes pituitary apoplexy), but also incidentally. Biochemical work up often documents several pituitary insufficiencies. In histopathology, the majority of NFPAs are gonadotroph. In the absence of an established medical therapy, surgery is the mainstay of treatment, unless contraindicated or in particular situations (e.g. small incidentalomas, distance from optic pathways). Resection, generally via a trans-sphenoidal approach (with the help of an endoscope), should be performed by a neurosurgeon with extensive experience in pituitary surgery, in order to maximize the chances of complete resection and to minimize complications. If a tumor remnant persists, watchful waiting is preferred to routine radiotherapy, as long as the tumor residue does not grow and is distant from the optic pathways. NFPA can sometimes recur even after complete resection, but predicting the individual risk of tumor remnant progression is difficult. Postoperative irradiation is only considered in case of residual tumor growth or relapse, due to its potential side effects.

Not All Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog Mutations Predict Poor Survival in Patients With Unresectable Colorectal Liver Metastasis.

Objective: To assess the characteristics of Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutations and investigated whether all KRAS mutations predict poor prognosis in patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). Methods: Correlations between KRAS-mutation status and clinicopathological characteristics of 93 patients with unresectable CRLM at our institution between 2010 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of KRAS mutations. Results:KRAS were primarily single-point mutations, identified in 41.9% of patients. There were no significant differences in clinicopathological characteristics between wild-type KRAS and mutant KRAS. Patients with mutant KRAS had significantly worse overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) than those with wild-type KRAS. Moreover, patients with codon 12 mutations had worse OS and PFS than those with wild-type KRAS, whereas mutations in codon 13 were not associated with a worse prognosis. Among the 5 most common mutations in codons 12, G12V, and G12D were associated with worse OS, furthermore, G12C mutation seemed to associated with worse PFS than patients with wild-type KRAS. Conclusion:KRAS codon 12 mutations were predictive for a poor prognosis in patients with unresectable CRLM. G12D and G12V mutations were associated with worse OS, whereas G12C mutation seemed to be associated with decreased PFS.

Transvaginal natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) in 3D laparoscopic partial or radical nephrectomy: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: With the development of minimally invasive technology, more and more people pay attention to aesthetics of the wound after operation. This study is aim to introduce a new surgical technique of transvaginal natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) in 3D laparoscopic partial or radical nephrectomy and evaluate the safety, feasibility and clinical effect. METHODS: Eleven patients who underwent 3D laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (n = 7) or radical nephrectomy (n = 4) and NOSES were included in this study. The surgical procedures and techniques, especially the NOSES operation, are reported in detail. In addition, the basic clinical data, perioperative related data, perioperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: All 11 patients were performed successfully without conversion to open surgery. The mean total operative time was 133 (84, 150) min. NOSES time was 15 (13, 16) min, and the postoperative hospital stay was 5 (5, 5) d. The mean visual analogue score (VAS) was 3 (2, 4) point and 1 (0, 1) point at 24 h and 48 h after operation, respectively. No patient had recurrence, metastasis and death during the follow-up period of 3 to 17 months. The median Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was 1 (1, 1) point. The mean of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was 21.60 (20.20, 21.60), 21.80 (19.80, 21.80) respectively between preoperative and postoperative 3 months, which has no statistical difference (P = 0.179). There was no statistical difference in the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-short form 20 (PFDI-20) score between preoperative and postoperative 3 months (P = 0.142). CONCLUSIONS: Transvaginal NOSES is safe and feasible in 3D laparoscopic partial or radical nephrectomy. Furthermore, it results in low incision-related pain without affecting the pelvic floor and sexual function.

Recommendations regarding cardiac stereotactic body radiotherapy for treatment refractory ventricular tachycardia.

BACKGROUND: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a potentially lethal complication of structural heart disease. Despite optimal management, a subgroup of patients continue to suffer from recurrent VT. Recently, cardiac stereotactic body radiotherapy (CSBRT) has been introduced as a treatment option in patients with VT refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish an expert consensus regarding the conduct and use of CSBRT for refractory VT. METHODS: We conducted a modified Delphi process. Thirteen experts from institutions from Germany and Switzerland participated in the modified Delphi process. Statements regarding the following topics were generated: treatment setting, institutional expertise and technical requirements, patient selection, target volume definition, and monitoring during and after CSBRT. Agreement was rated on a 5-point Likert scale. The strength of agreement was classified as strong agreement (≥80%), moderate agreement (≥66%) or no agreement (<66%). RESULTS: There was strong agreement regarding the experimental status of the procedure and the preference for treatment in clinical trials. CSBRT should be conducted at specialized centers with a strong expertise in the management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and in stereotactic body radiotherapy for moving targets. CSBRT should be restricted to patients with refractory VT with optimal antiarrhythmic medication who underwent prior catheter ablation or have contraindications. Target volume delineation for CSBRT is complex. Therefore, interdisciplinary processes that should include cardiology/electrophysiology and radiation oncology as well as medical physics, radiology, and nuclear medicine are needed. Optimal follow-up is required. CONCLUSION: Prospective trials and pooled registries are needed to gain further insight into this promising treatment option for patients with refractory VT.

History of Hepatic Encephalopathy Is Not a Contraindication to Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Placement for Refractory Ascites.

INTRODUCTION: The outcomes of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement in patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) are controversial. We studied the relationship of pre-TIPS HE in patients undergoing TIPS for refractory ascites on all-cause mortality and development of post-TIPS HE. METHODS: A single-center retrospective comparison study was performed for patients undergoing TIPS for refractory ascites. Survival by history of pre-TIPS HE was demonstrated with Kaplan-Meier curves. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the predictors of post-TIPS clinical outcomes for patients with and without pre-TIPS HE. RESULTS: We identified 202 TIPS recipients (61% male, mean ± SD; age 59.1 ± 10.2 years; mean model for end-stage liver disease score 17.3 ± 6.9). Pre-TIPS HE did not predispose patients for increased all-cause mortality, increased risk of experiencing HE within 60 days, or increased risk of hospital admission for HE within 6 months. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that total bilirubin (odds ratio [OR] 1.03; P = 0.016) and blood urea nitrogen (OR 1.15; P = 0.002) were predictors for all-cause mortality within 6 months post-TIPS. Age ≥65 years (OR 3.92; P = 0.004), creatinine (OR 2.22; P = 0.014), and Child-Pugh score (OR 1.53; P = 0.006) were predictors for HE within 60 days post-TIPS. Predictors of intensive care admission for HE within 6 months post-TIPS included age ≥65 years (OR 8.84; P = 0.018), history of any admission for HE within 6 months pre-TIPS (OR 8.42; P = 0.017), and creatinine (OR 2.22; P = 0.015). DISCUSSION: If controlled, pre-TIPS HE does not adversely impact patient survival or clinical outcomes, such as development of HE within 60 days of TIPS or hospital admission for HE within 6 months. Patients may be able to undergo TIPS for refractory ascites despite a history of HE.

Survey of Practice Pattern in Patients With Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Requiring Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

BACKGROUND: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune-mediated adverse reaction to heparin. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are routinely anticoagulated with heparin before the initiation of bypass. Heparin is contraindicated, however, in patients with acute HIT, and alternatives to routine practice are often used. While guidelines have recently been published addressing this topic 10, there remains variance between institutions in how these cases are treated. Our goal was to better delineate practice trends in the diagnosis and management of HIT patients requiring CPB. METHODS: We surveyed members of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) and the American Society for Extracorporeal Technology (AmSECT) using an online survey tool. RESULTS: We received 304 completed surveys (5.8% response rate), 75% completed by an anesthesiologist, and 24% by a perfusionist. The majority of respondents used clinical history and/or antibody testing (71% and 63%, respectively) to diagnose HIT. Seventy-five percent of respondents reported using an institutional protocol for HIT-CPB cases. Most respondents (89%) reported having at least 1 case in the last 3 years, with a total case experience of at least 785 cases (785 = the minimum number of cases in each case volume category × the number of respondents choosing that category). The strategy recommended in published guidelines, bivalirudin, was the most commonly reported alternative anticoagulation strategy (75%) used by respondents in HIT cases, with most (83%) using the activated clotting time (ACT) to monitor anticoagulation. CONCLUSIONS: Most responding SCA and AmSECT members reported that their institution used a protocol or guideline for HIT/CPB cases, and most guidelines directed the use of bivalirudin as an alternative anticoagulant. Various other methods such as plasmapheresis are also being used with success in this patient population. Further research, including comparison studies of alternative anticoagulant strategies, is required to elucidate the best approach to these difficult cases.

Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: Making It Safe and Successful for Obese Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate outcomes and ascertain the safety and efficacy on patients having total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), stratified by body mass index (BMI), focusing on high-BMI patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study that reviewed 2,266 patients with benign gynecologic diagnoses, early cervical, endometrial, and ovarian carcinoma from September 1996 to October 2017. BMI was from 14.5 to 74.2 and were classified as normal or underweight (<24.9); overweight (25.0-29.9); class I obese (>30.0-34.9); class II obese (35-39.9); or class III obese (>40.0). All patients underwent TLH. RESULTS: Patients' characteristics were similar across all BMI classes except for age, postoperative pathological diagnoses, and whether a cystoscopy was performed. Surgical duration, and estimated blood loss were similar across BMI classes. Overweight and obese class III patients had lower odds of staying >1 day compared to patients of normal BMI (OR = 0.65, P = .015). Obese class II patients had fewer complications compared to normal BMI patients (OR = 0.27, P = .013), but patients from other high BMI categories did not show any difference compared to patients with normal BMI. The rate of unplanned laparotomy was statistically, but not clinically, higher in obese class III patients (1.8% versus .7%, P = 0.011), most often due to large fibroids. The mean reoperation rate was 2.7%, with the lowest rate (.5%) among obese class II patients, and the highest rate (3.9%) among the normal BMI patients. CONCLUSION: TLH is feasible and safe for obese women, regardless of BMI. Obesity is not a contraindication to good outcomes from laparoscopic surgery.