Outcomes of COVID-19 Disease in Comparison with Influenza in Renal Transplant Recipients: Results from a Large Nationwide Research Network in the United States.

COVID-19 infection has worse outcomes in immunocompromised individuals. This includes those with diabetes mellitus, cancer, chronic autoimmune diseases requiring immunomodulatory therapy, and solid-organ transplant recipients on chronic immunosuppression. Using the National Inpatient Sample Database, this study retrospectively compared 14,915 renal transplant recipients who were hospitalized with either COVID-19 or Influenza virus infection in the US at any point between 1st January 2020 and 31st December 2020. We found that compared to renal transplant recipients with influenza infection, recipients with COVID-19 infection were more likely to require mechanical ventilation and vasopressor support and develop acute kidney injury requiring hemodialysis. COVID-19 patients also had significantly longer length of hospital stay. Renal transplant recipients with COVID-19 had significantly higher in-hospital mortality compared to recipients with influenza infection (14.09% vs 2.61%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 9.73 [95% CI (5.74-16.52)], P < .001). Our study clearly demonstrates the severe outcomes of high mortality and morbidity in renal transplant recipients with COVID-19. Further research should be undertaken to focus on the key areas noted to reduce morbidity and mortality in this population.

Trends in Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Match: An Analysis of National Resident Matching Program Data.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical Critical Care (SCC) fellowship applications are made through March-July the year prior to the fellowship, while the match process takes place through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). There is paucity of high quality data on matching trends in SCC fellowship in the United States. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all applicants in the SCC match over a period of fifteen years (2009-2023). Publicly published data about the SCC fellowship match were retrieved from the NRMP online portal. Mann Kendall trend test was used to obtain a Tau statistic and p-values for temporal trends over time. Chi-square test was used to investigate association between categorical variables. RESULTS: From 2009 to 2023, the number of SCC fellowship positions increased from 143 to 340 (138% increase) while the number of applicants rose from 95 to 289 (204% increase). The overall match rate for applicants significantly rose from 89.5% to 93.4% (7.7% increase; t = 0.600, p = 0.002). The percentage of positions filled also increased from 59.4% in 2009 to 79.4% in 2023. The match rate over the past five years (2019-2023) was 90.8%. US-MD applicants had a significantly higher 94.8% match rate throughout the study period than non-US MD applicants (94.8% vs. 87.3%, p<0.001). While the match rate for US-MD applicants has stayed consistent from 2009 to 2023 (τ = 0.371, p = 0.054), the match rate for non-US-MD applicants increased from 77.3% in 2009 to 86.9% in 2023 (τ = 0.771, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: SCC fellowship continues to grow with more positions and applicants. Match rates into SCC fellowships have increased over the past fifteen years, primarily helping non-US MDs match successfully.

The Multidisciplinary Approach and Surgical Management of GE Junction Adenocarcinoma.

Gastroesophageal (GE) junction adenocarcinoma is an aggressive malignancy of growing incidence and is associated with public health issues such as obesity and GERD. Management has evolved over the last two decades to incorporate a multidisciplinary approach, including endoscopic intervention, neoadjuvant chemotherapy/chemoradiation, and minimally invasive or more limited surgical approaches. Surgical approaches include esophagectomy, total gastrectomy, and, more recently, proximal gastrectomy. This review analyzes the evidence for and applicability of these varied approaches in management, as well as areas of continued controversy and investigation.

Optimizing Referral Timing of Patients With Fontan Circulatory Failure for Heart Transplant.

BACKGROUND: There are no criteria guiding the timing of heart transplant referral for Fontan patients, nor are there any characteristics of those deferred or declined listing reported. This study examines comprehensive transplant evaluations for Fontan patients of all ages, listing decisions, and outcomes to inform referral practices. METHODS: Retrospective review of 63 Fontan patients formally assessed by the advanced heart failure service and presented at Mayo Clinic transplant selection committee meetings (TSM) January 2006 to April 2021. The study is compliant with the Helsinki Congress and Declaration of Istanbul and included no prisoners. Statistical analysis was performed with Wilcoxon Rank Sum and Fisher's Exact tests. RESULTS: Median age at TSM was 26 years (17.5, 36.5). Most were approved (38/63 [60%]); 9 of 63 (14%) were deferred and 16 of 63 (25%) were declined. Approved patients more commonly were <18 years old at TSM (15/38 [40%] vs 1/25 [4%], P = .002) compared with those deferred/declined. Complications of Fontan circulatory failure were less common in approved vs deferred/declined patients: ascites (15/38 [40%] vs 17/25 [68%], P = .039), cirrhosis (16/38 [42%] vs 19/25 [76%], P = .01), and renal insufficiency (6/38 [16%] vs 11/25 [44%], P = .02). Ejection fraction and atrioventricular valve regurgitation did not differ between groups. Pulmonary artery wedge pressure was overall high normal (12 mm Hg [9,16]) but higher in deferred/declined vs approved patients, 14.5 (11, 19) vs 10 (8, 13.5) mm Hg, P = .015. Overall survival was significantly lower in deferred/declined patients (P = .0018). CONCLUSION: Fontan patient referral for heart transplant at younger age and before the onset of end-organ complications is associated with increased approval for transplant listing.

Surgical Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Complicated by Infective Endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis is a serious complication in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Cardiac surgery is often necessary, however, literature assessing surgical outcomes is limited. METHODS: From December 1995 to September 2018, 43 patients with a history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and native valve infective endocarditis underwent cardiac surgery at our institution. Relevant data were abstracted from medical records and analyzed. RESULTS: Median age was 57 years (interquartile range, 45 to 67); 81% (n = 35) were male. Infective endocarditis was active in 21% of patients (n = 9) at the time of surgery; of these, the suspected origin of infection was orodental in 19% (n = 8). Significant mitral valve regurgitation was detected in 54% of patients (n = 23), and aortic valve regurgitation in 7% (n = 3). Septal myectomy was performed in 95% of patients (n = 41), with concomitant valve surgery in 58% (n = 25), including prosthetic replacement in 28% (n = 12). Two patients underwent double valve replacement without septal myectomy. Outflow gradients improved from a median 67 mm Hg (interquartile range, 34 to 97 mm Hg) to 9 mm Hg (interquartile range, 6 to 22 mm Hg). One inhospital death occurred because of uncontrollable pulmonary edema. As of last follow-up, 7 patients required reoperation, and the 5-year and 10-year cumulative incidences were 11% and 26%, respectively. Ten deaths occurred; overall survival probability at 5 and 10 years was 94% and 78%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Valvular complications of infective endocarditis add complexity to surgical management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. There is an increased need for concomitant valve repairs, prosthetic replacements, and reoperation. These data underscore the need for recognition of infection, especially after oral procedures, which preceded the majority of the active infective endocarditis cases.

How to build a successful hypertrophic cardiomyopathy team and ensure training the next generation of myectomy surgeons.

Transaortic extended septal myectomy is the most reliable method for septal reduction for symptomatic patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In addition, surgical management of nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is possible for selected patients with diastolic heart failure and small left ventricular end-diastolic cavity dimensions. These procedures, however, are performed infrequently in many centers, and trainees may not be exposed to the preoperative evaluation and intraoperative management of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In this paper, we review what we believe are the central features for creating a successful program for septal myectomy and detail our strategies to optimize instruction in these techniques for residents and fellows.

Comparative Outcomes of Cap Assisted Endoscopic Resection and Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection in Dysplastic Barrett's Esophagus.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Endoscopic resection is an important component of the endoscopic treatment of Barrett's esophagus (BE) with dysplasia and intramucosal adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic resection can be performed by cap-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection (cEMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). We compared the histologic outcomes of ESD vs cEMR, followed by ablation. METHODS: We queried a prospectively maintained database of all patients undergoing cEMR and ESD followed by ablation at our institution from January 2006 to March 2020 and abstracted relevant demographic and clinical data. Our primary outcomes included the rate of complete remission of dysplasia (CRD): absence of dysplasia on surveillance histology, and complete remission of intestinal metaplasia (CRIM): absence of intestinal metaplasia. Our secondary outcome included complication rates. RESULTS: We included 537 patients in the study: 456 underwent cEMR and 81 underwent ESD. The cumulative probabilities of CRD at 2 years were 75.8% and 85.6% in the cEMR and ESD groups, respectively (P < .01). Independent predictors of CRD were as follows: ESD (hazard ratio [HR], 2.38; P < .01) and shorter BE segment length (HR, 1.11; P < .01). The cumulative probabilities of CRIM at 2 years were 59.3% and 50.6% in the cEMR and ESD groups, respectively (P > .05). The only independent predictor of CRIM was a shorter BE segment (HR, 1.16; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: BE patients with dysplasia or intramucosal adenocarcinoma undergoing ESD reach CRD at higher rates than those treated with cEMR, although CRIM rates at 2 years and complication rates were similar between the 2 groups.

Palliative treatment for malignant gastrointestinal obstruction with peritoneal carcinomatosis: enteral stenting versus surgery.

Background and study aims Management of malignant gastrointestinal obstruction (MGIO) is more challenging in the presence of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). Outcomes data to guide the management of MGIO with PC are lacking. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and adverse events between endoscopic and surgical palliation and identify predictors of stent success in patients with MGIO with PC. Patients and methods Consecutive inpatients with MGIO with PC between 2000 and 2018 who underwent palliative surgery or enteral stenting were included. Clinical success was defined as relief of obstructive symptoms. Results Fifty-seven patients with enteral stenting and 40 with palliative surgery were compared. The two groups did not differ in rates of technical success, 30-day mortality, or recurrence. Clinical success from a single intervention (63.2 % versus 95 %), luminal patency duration (27 days vs. 145 days), and survival length (148 days vs. 336 days) favored palliative surgery (all P  < 0.05) but the patients in the surgery group had a trend toward better Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status. The rate of adverse events (AEs) (10.5 % vs. 50 %), the severity of AEs, and length of hospital stay (4.5 days vs. 9 days) favored enteral stenting ( P  < 0.05). The need for more than one stent was associated with a higher likelihood of stent failure. Conclusions Our study suggests that enteral stenting is safer and associated with a shorter hospital stay than palliative surgery, although unlike other MGIOs, clinical success is lower in MGIO with PC. Identification of the right candidates and potential predictors of clinical success in ECOG-matched large-scale studies is needed to validate these results.

Semmelweis Reflex: An Age-Old Prejudice.

BACKGROUND: Semmelweis reflex is a human behavioral tendency to stick to preexisting beliefs and to reject fresh ideas that contradict them (despite adequate evidence). We aim to familiarize the readers with the term that not only has a significant historical background but also grave clinical implications. METHODS: A keyword search for "Semmelweis reflex," "Belief perseverance," "handwashing," and "Idea rejection" was conducted using PubMed Central, MEDLINE, and Google SCHOLAR. Literature published in paper-based journals and books was also searched. All manuscripts pertaining to these keywords were thoroughly analyzed for this review. RESULTS: The first section of our paper briefs the story of Ignaz Semmelweis and brushes on the contributions of other intellectual researchers that were rebuffed initially. The discussion further explains the root cause of this dismissal, an inherent bias against uncertainty that may be at the core of our fear for new ideas. Finally, this review explores the means by which we can prevent ourselves from being a victim of rejection. CONCLUSIONS: The age-old prejudice that is Semmelweis reflex is explored in this review. With careful and thorough study design, scientific rigor, and critical self-analysis of the manuscript, one can avoid being victimized by this reflex. The dual edged nature of this reflex lays unveiled when its importance is highlighted in the prematurely accepted medical failures. Understanding that any new idea goes through the grill of being critically analyzed and perceived encourages the scientist to hold on to the original thought as it may rather be practice changing.