Short term outcomes following breast cancer surgery in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in pregnancy with an estimated prevalence of 1 per 3000 pregnancies. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines advocate for surgical management in all trimesters for pregnant women with breast cancer but few studies have examined the impact breast cancer surgery has on outcomes in pregnant women. We aimed to identify differences in short term outcomes after breast cancer surgery between age-matched pregnant and non-pregnant women. METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study utilizing the Health Care Utilization Project-Nationwide Impact Sample (HCUP-NIS) database from 1999 to 2006. All pregnant women with breast cancer undergoing lumpectomy or mastectomy were compared to age-matched non-pregnant women. Demographics, in-hospital mortality, length of stay, hospital cost, and discharge disposition were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed with chi-square, Student's t-test, and ANOVA with p<0.05 deemed significant. RESULTS: Over an 8 year period, 185 pregnant women (mean age 35 years) and 47,985 non-pregnant age-restricted women (mean age 45 years) who underwent breast cancer surgery were identified. There was no significant difference between in-hospital mortality, length of stay, cost of hospitalization, or discharge disposition in these women. CONCLUSION: Pregnant and non-pregnant women undergoing breast surgery for cancer have similar short-term outcomes.

Endovascular management of a traumatic renal-caval arteriovenous fistula in a pediatric patient.

Traumatic renal arteriovenous fistula involving the inferior vena cava (IVC) are exceptionally rare, but if left untreated can have devastating clinical consequences, including development of renovascular hypertension, cardiomegaly, and congestive heart failure. We report a rare, pediatric case of a renal-caval arteriovenous fistula that developed after a gunshot wound to the abdomen and its subsequent treatment with endovascular means. We review our case and the world literature on the evaluation and management of trauma-related renal-caval arteriovenous fistulae.

National Trends in the Adoption of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy over 7 Years in the United States and Impact of Laparoscopic Approaches Stratified by Age.

Introduction. The aim of this study was to characterize national trends in adoption of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and determine differences in outcome based on type of surgery and patient age. Methods. Retrospective cross-sectional study of patients undergoing cholecystectomy. Trends in open versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy by age group and year were analyzed. Differences in outcomes including in-hospital mortality, complications, discharge disposition, length of stay (LOS), and cost are examined. Results. Between 1999 and 2006, 358,091 patients underwent cholecystectomy. In 1999, patients aged ≥80 years had the lowest rates of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, followed by those aged 65-79, 64-50, and 49-18 years (59.7%, 65.3%, 73.2%, and 83.5%, resp., P < 0.05). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was associated with improved clinical and economic outcomes across all age groups. Over the study period, there was a gradual increase in laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed among all age groups during each year, though elderly patients continued to lag significantly behind their younger counterparts in rates of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Conclusion. This is the largest study to report trends in adoption of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the US in patients stratified by age. Elderly patients are more likely to undergo open cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with improved clinical outcomes.

The Association between Blunt Cardiac Injury and Isolated Sternal Fracture.

The treatment of isolated sternal fractures (ISF) throughout the world is heterogeneous. This study aimed to identify the incidence, morbidity, and mortality associated with isolated fractures of the sternum and describe current practice for diagnosis and management of ISF and cardiac injury at a level I trauma center in the UK. A retrospective cohort study of adult patients (>16 years) with ISF presenting from 2006 to 2010 was conducted. Eighty-eight patients with ISF were identified. Most patients (88%, 77) were admitted to hospital with 66% (58) of them discharged within 48 hours. Two (2%) patients had an ER EKG with abnormality but both resolved to normal sinus rhythm within 6 hours of follow-up. Serum CEs were drawn from 55 (63%) patients with only 2 (2%) having a rise in serum troponin >0.04; however, in both of these patients troponin quickly normalized. Six (7%) patients underwent echocardiograms without significant findings. In all 88 patients with ISF, no cases of clinically significant cardiac injury were identified. Patients presenting with an isolated sternal fracture with no changes on EKG or chest X-ray do not warrant an admission to hospital and may be discharged from the ER.

Primary breast adenocarcinoma in ectopic breast tissue in the vulva.

Introduction. Accessory breast tissue is a rare finding in the general population with an incidence of 1-2%. An even rarer occurrence is accessory breast tissue afflicted with breast carcinoma. We present a brief report discussing diagnosis and management of a patient who presented with primary breast adenocarcinoma in vulval supranumerary tissue. Brief Report. A 60-year-old Caucasian female presented with a lesion in her left vulva that she first identified during adolescence. The lesion began to grow and ulcerate prompting her to receive treatment. Biopsy was inconclusive, and metastatic workup was negative, so her lesion was treated as an isolated breast lump and removed via wide local excision. Conclusion. Primary breast adenocarcinoma of the vulva is exceedingly rare. A paucity of the literature on this topic unfortunately means that strong evidence does not exist detailing the best management of this patient cohort. However, given that histological data confirms these cancers are virtually the same as breast cancers, it logically follows that the best treatment practices for breast cancer may be applied to treat these patients presenting with primary vulva cancers of ectopic breast tissue.

Gender based differences in management and outcomes of cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: During the reproductive years, women have a 4-fold higher prevalence of gallstones than men, making gallbladder disease a critically important topic in women's health. Among age-matched women and men hospitalized for cholecystitis, gender based differences in demographics, management, and economic and clinical outcomes were identified. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Outcomes were mortality, complications, length of stay, and cost. RESULTS: Women accounted for 65% of admissions for cholecystitis, with women more likely to have shorter time to surgery (1.6 vs. 1.9 days) and laparoscopy (86 vs. 76%) (P < .05). After cholecystectomy, women had lower mortality (.6% vs. 1.1%), fewer complications (16.9 vs. 24.1), shorter lengths of stay (4.2 vs. 5.4 days), and lower costs ($10,556 vs. $13,201) (P < .05). On multivariate analysis of age-matched patients, women had lower odds of mortality (odds ratio [OR], .75), complications (OR, .86), length of stay (OR, .95), and cost (OR, .93). Longer time to surgery and open cholecystectomy were independent predictors of worse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In cholecystitis and cholecystectomy, women have better clinical and economic outcomes then age-matched men.