Improving outcomes in carcinoid heart disease - learning from a single centre.

INTRODUCTION: A significant proportion of patients with carcinoid syndrome develop carcinoid heart disease (CHD). Valve degeneration can lead to right heart failure, and worsening prognosis. Replacement of affected valves is an effective therapy. We reviewed patients treated with valve replacement to assess prognostic factors. METHODS: CHD patients records who underwent valve replacement from 2003-2019 were reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients underwent valve replacement. Mean (SD) age was 61 (11) years, 54% female. Eleven tumours were grade G1, with the remaining G2. NYHA pre-surgery mean (SD) 2.0 (0.7); post-surgery mean 1.2; follow-up mean (SD) 1.6 (0.8). Mean NYHA score difference from pre- to post-surgery -0.71 ( P  = 0.002). 88.5% two (PR & TR), 3.9% one, 3.9% three and 3.9% four valves replaced. 13 patients received Lu177 oxodotreotide; 27% completed four cycles. Mortality at 1 and 5 years follow up was 42% and 50% respectively. Cox proportional hazards model of survival from surgery, adjusting for age [hazard ratio (HR) 0.96 (0.89-1.03) ( P  = 0.25)], four cycles of Lu177 oxodotreotide demonstrated HR 0.087 (0.0079-0.95) ( P  = 0.045) indicating improved survival. DISCUSSION: Surgical patients were often NYHA grade II, and symptoms improved post-surgery. Four cycles of Lu177 oxodotreotide improved survival, although the confidence interval was wide. Further studies should be performed to assess Lu177 oxodotreotide in CHD.

Preoperative liver shrinking diet for bariatric surgery may impact wound healing: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In bariatric surgery, preoperative very low-calorie diets (VLCD) may better meet the technical demands of surgery by shrinking the liver. However, diets may affect tissue healing and influence bowel anastomosis in an as-yet-undefined manner. OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled trial aimed to examine the effect on collagen deposition in wounds in patients on a 4-week VLCD before laparoscopic gastric bypass. SETTING: University hospital. METHODS: The trial was undertaken in patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, with a control group (n = 10) on normal diet and an intervention group (n = 10) on VLCD (800 kcal) for 4 weeks. The primary outcome measured was expression of collagen I and III in skin wounds, with biopsies taken before and after the diet and 7 days postoperatively as a surrogate of anastomotic healing. Secondary outcome measures included liver volume and fibrosis score, body composition, operating time, blood loss, hospital stay, and complications. RESULTS: Patients in both groups were similar in age, sex, body mass index (53.4 versus 52.8 kg/m2), co-morbidities, liver volume, and body composition. Expression of mature collagen type I was significantly decreased in diet patients compared with controls after 4 weeks of diet and 7 days after surgery. This was significant decrease in liver volume (23% versus 2%, P = .03) but no difference in operating times (129 versus 139 min, P = .16), blood loss, length of stay, or incidence of complications. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative diets shrink liver volume and decrease expression of mature collagen in wounds after surgery. Whether the latter has a detrimental effect on clinical outcomes requires further evaluation.