Cost-effectiveness of robotic vs laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. Results from the national prospective trial ROBOCOSTES.

INTRODUCTION: Although several studies report that the robotic approach is more costly than laparoscopy, the cost-effectiveness of robotic distal pancreatectomy (RDP) over laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) is still an issue. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of the RDP and LDP approaches across several Spanish centres. METHODS: This study is an observational, multicenter, national prospective study (ROBOCOSTES). For one year from 2022, all consecutive patients undergoing minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy were included, and clinical, QALY, and cost data were prospectively collected. The primary aim was to analyze the cost-effectiveness between RDP and LDP. RESULTS: During the study period, 80 procedures from 14 Spanish centres were analyzed. LDP had a shorter operative time than the RDP approach (192.2 min vs 241.3 min, p = 0.004). RDP showed a lower conversion rate (19.5% vs 2.5%, p = 0.006) and a lower splenectomy rate (60% vs 26.5%, p = 0.004). A statistically significant difference was reported for the Comprehensive Complication Index between the two study groups, favouring the robotic approach (12.7 vs 6.1, p = 0.022). RDP was associated with increased operative costs of 1600 euros (p < 0.031), while overall cost expenses resulted in being 1070.92 Euros higher than the LDP but without a statistically significant difference (p = 0.064). The mean QALYs at 90 days after surgery for RDP (0.9534) were higher than those of LDP (0.8882) (p = 0.030). At a willingness-to-pay threshold of 20,000 and 30,000 euros, there was a 62.64% and 71.30% probability that RDP was more cost-effective than LDP, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The RDP procedure in the Spanish healthcare system appears more cost-effective than the LDP.

Prevalence, clinical characteristics and associated factors of cardiac cephalalgia: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of cardiac cephalalgia is unknown and there is limited information about its clinical features. We aimed to assess the prevalence of cardiac cephalalgia, its clinical characteristics and associated factors. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome admitted to the Cardiology Service at Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, Spain, over a one-year period. We interviewed patients within the first 24 hours of admission using a standardized case-report form to assess the presence of headache in relation to the acute coronary syndrome and its characteristics. RESULTS: We included 438 patients, 381 with confirmed myocardial ischemia. Prevalence of cardiac cephalalgia was 14.2% (n = 54). The most common features were frontal location, pressing quality and moderate intensity. Pain referred to the jaws (aOR 2.61; 95% CI 1.33-5.12; p = 0.005), palpitations (aOR 3.65; 95% CI 1.57-8.50; p = 0.003) and circumflex coronary artery as the culprit artery for the myocardial ischemia (aOR 3.8; 95% CI 1.07-13.74; p = 0.021) were related to cardiac whereas history of hypertension was inversely associated (aOR 0.37: 95% CI 0.18-0.74; p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cardiac cephalalgia was 14.2%. Our study provides valuable information about cardiac cephalalgia characteristics that suggest revision of current diagnostic criteria.

Efficacy and safety of abciximab versus tirofiban in addition to ticagrelor in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous intervention.

Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPIs) have been part of the adjuvant treatment of acute coronary syndrome for years. However, real-life data regarding the efficacy and safety of GPIs under the current indications are lacking in the setting of potent platelet inhibition. The objectives were to assess the efficacy and safety of abciximab versus tirofiban in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and pretreated with ticagrelor, and to identify independent predictor factors of efficacy, bleeding and platelet drop. Three hundred sixty-two patients were divided by GPI administered. Clinical, laboratory, angiographic and outcome characteristics were compared. The primary objective was a composite efficacy endpoint (death from any cause, nonfatal myocardial infarction and nonfatal stroke) at 30 days. The secondary objectives were its individual components, safety (bleeding) and the impact on platelet count during hospital stay. The composite efficacy endpoint was similar in the abciximab and tirofiban groups (6.1% vs 7.3%; p = .632). There were also no differences in cardiovascular death (2.5% vs 2.4%; p = .958), nonfatal myocardial infarction (3% vs 4.3%; p = .521) and nonfatal stroke (0.5% vs 1.8%; p = .332). Tirofiban administration was associated with a higher incidence of bleeding (11.6% vs 22%; p = .008) with no differences in BARC ≥ 3b bleeding (3.6 vs 2.5%; p = .760). In STEMI patients undergoing PPCI with ticagrelor, abciximab and tirofiban had similar rates in the composite efficacy endpoint at 30 days. The 30-day bleeding rate was significantly higher in the tirofiban group. Tirofiban administration was an independent predictor of both bleeding and platelet count drop.

Alpha-protein kinase 3 (ALPK3) truncating variants are a cause of autosomal dominant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of heterozygous truncating ALPK3 variants (ALPK3tv) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and confirm their pathogenicity using burden testing in independent cohorts and family co-segregation studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a discovery cohort of 770 index patients with HCM, 12 (1.56%) were heterozygous for ALPK3tv [odds ratio(OR) 16.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.94-30.02, P = 8.05e-11] compared to the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) population. In a validation cohort of 2047 HCM probands, 32 (1.56%) carried heterozygous ALPK3tv (OR 16.17, 95% CI 10.31-24.87, P < 2.2e-16, compared to gnomAD). Combined logarithm of odds score in seven families with ALPK3tv was 2.99. In comparison with a cohort of genotyped patients with HCM (n = 1679) with and without pathogenic sarcomere gene variants (SP+ and SP-), ALPK3tv carriers had a higher prevalence of apical/concentric patterns of hypertrophy (60%, P < 0.001) and of a short PR interval (10%, P = 0.009). Age at diagnosis and maximum left ventricular wall thickness were similar to SP- and left ventricular systolic impairment (6%) and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (31%) at baseline similar to SP+. After 5.3 ± 5.7 years, 4 (9%) patients with ALPK3tv died of heart failure or had cardiac transplantation (log-rank P = 0.012 vs. SP- and P = 0.425 vs. SP+). Imaging and histopathology showed extensive myocardial fibrosis and myocyte vacuolation. CONCLUSIONS: Heterozygous ALPK3tv are pathogenic and segregate with a characteristic HCM phenotype.

Coexistence of Positive 99mTc-DPD Scintigraphy and Monoclonal Gammopathy: A Frequent Challenge.

Background: Cardiac involvement is common in amyloidosis, and the vast majority of cases of amyloid cardiomyopathy are attributed to primary amyloidosis or transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). Although the coexistence of scintigraphy suggestive of ATTR with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance is well documented, the correct diagnosis is still challenging in non-referral centers. Methods: We performed a retrospective study reviewing all amyloid cardiomyopathy cases diagnosed at our center over the last 5 years, and described our experience and diagnostic approach. Results: During the last 5 years, 74 patients with positive scintigraphy were identified. Of these patients, 41 were included in this study as they had all necessary tests for a complete diagnosis. Two of these 41 patients had variant ATTR and 29 had wild-type ATTR. Ten patients had monoclonal gammopathy (24.4%), and it was consequently impossible to obtain a specific diagnosis. During follow-up, 14 patients (34.1%), five of them from the monoclonal gammopathy group, died, reflecting the severity of disease. Conclusions: In patients with ATTR-suggestive scintigraphy, monoclonal gammopathy frequently occurs concomitantly, thus not allowing to establish a specific diagnosis. A biopsy could only be replaced by genetic testing in selected cases.

Treatment of graft-versus-host disease with mesenchymal cells as a complication of a liver transplantation.

We present the case of a liver transplant (LT) recipient donor who developed graft versus host disease (GVHD). The main features were cutaneous rash, diarrhea and pancytopenia. Mesenchymal cells were administered as part of the treatment. This is the first case of a patient with GVHD after LT reported to date. Despite the treatment, there was no improvement in aplasia or gastrointestinal symptoms and the patient died due to a disseminated infection.

Acute Myopericarditis Associated with Tickborne Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae.

We report an unusual case of myopericarditis caused by Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae. Because of increasing reports of Rickettsia spp. as etiologic agents of acute myopericarditis and the ease and success with which it was treated in the patient reported here, rickettsial infection should be included in the differential diagnosis for myopericarditis.

Impact of an endurance training program on exercise-induced cardiac biomarker release.

We evaluated the influence of a 14-wk endurance running program on the exercise-induced release of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and NH2-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Fifty-eight untrained participants were randomized to supervised endurance exercise (14 wk, 3-4 days/wk, 120-240 min/wk, 65-85% of maximum heart rate) or a control group. At baseline and after the training program, hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP were assessed before and 5 min, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h after a 60-min maximal running test. Before training, hs-cTnT was significantly elevated in both groups with acute exercise (P < 0.0001) with no between-group differences. There was considerable heterogeneity in peak hs-cTnT concentration with the upper reference limit exceeded in 71% of the exercise tests. After training, both baseline and postexercise hs-cTnT were significantly higher compared with pretraining and the response of the control group (P = 0.008). Acute exercise led to a small but significant increase in NT-proBNP, but this was not mediated by training (P = 0.121). In summary, a controlled endurance training intervention resulted in higher pre- and postexercise values of hs-cTnT with no changes in NT-proBNP.

Vaccine-carditis study: Spanish multicenter registry of inflammatory heart disease after COVID-19 vaccination.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been a major scientific and medical achievement in the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, very infrequent cases of inflammatory heart disease have been described as adverse events, leading to uncertainty in the scientific community and in the general population. METHODS: The Vaccine-Carditis Registry has included all cases of myocarditis and pericarditis diagnosed within 30 days after COVID-19 vaccination since August 1, 2021 in 29 centers throughout the Spanish territory. The definitions of myocarditis (probable or confirmed) and pericarditis followed the consensus of the Centers for Disease Control and the Clinical Practice Guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology. A comprehensive analysis of clinical characteristics and 3-month evolution is presented. RESULTS: From August 1, 2021, to March 10, 2022, 139 cases of myocarditis or pericarditis were recorded (81.3% male, median age 28 years). Most cases were detected in the 1st week after administration of an mRNA vaccine, the majority after the second dose. The most common presentation was mixed inflammatory disease (myocarditis and pericarditis). 11% had left ventricular systolic dysfunction, 4% had right ventricular systolic dysfunction, and 21% had pericardial effusion. In cardiac magnetic resonance studies, left ventricular inferolateral involvement was the most frequent pattern (58%). More than 90% of cases had a benign clinical course. After a 3-month follow-up, the incidence of adverse events was 12.78% (1.44% mortality). CONCLUSIONS: In our setting, inflammatory heart disease after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 predominantly affects young men in the 1st week after the second dose of RNA-m vaccine and presents a favorable clinical course in most cases.

[Orthotopic liver transplantation in polycystic liver disease]. / Trasplante ortotópico de hígado en la poliquistosis hepática.

INTRODUCTION: There is currently no effective medical therapy for polycystic liver (PCL). Cyst puncture and sclerotherapy, cyst fenestration, or partial hepatic resections have been used as palliative treatments. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has become the treatment of choice for terminal PCL, being indicated in patients with limiting symptoms not susceptible to any other medical treatment. It is also difficult to determine the priority on the waiting list using the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of OLT for PCL was conducted in our centre. Inclusion criteria were patients with limiting symptoms, bilateral cysts liver, and insufficient remaining liver. In all cases a deceased donor liver transplantation with piggy-back technique without veno-venous bypass was performed. RESULTS: Six patients underwent liver transplantation for PCL between April 1992 and April 2010, one of them a combined liver-kidney transplantation. The mean intraoperative packed red blood cell transfusion was 3.25 L and fresh frozen plasma was 1.200 cc. Mean operation time was 299 min, and 498 min in the liver-kidney transplantation. There was no peri-operative mortality. The mean hospital stay was 6.5 days. All patients are healthy after a mean follow-up of 71 months. CONCLUSION: OLT offers an excellent overall survival. Results are better when OLT is performed early; thus these patients should receive additional points to be able to use the MELD score as a valid prioritisation system for waiting lists.

Echocardiographic markers of cardiac amyloidosis in patients with heart failure and left ventricular hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA), following a non-invasive diagnosis, constitutes an increasingly prevalent heart failure (HF) etiology. This study aims to determine which echocardiography findings help to diagnose CA in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) admitted for decompensated HF. METHODS: The present study is a retrospective observational study on a cohort of 85 LVH patients admitted for HF decompensation, in which 99mTc-DPD scanning was performed to rule out transthyretin CA. The echocardiographic findings obtained were compared between CA and non-CA groups. RESULTS: From a total number of 85 patients, 49 (57.6%) met the CA criteria and 36 (42.3%) were ruled out for the disease. Interventricular septum thickness (16 ± 3 mm vs. 14 ± 3 mm), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (14 ± 3 mm vs. 11 ± 2 mm), left ventricular mass (259 ± 76 g vs. 224 ± 53 g), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (48 ± 7 mm vs. 53 ± 6 mm), left ventricular end-diastolic indexed volume (51 ± 18 cm3/m2 vs. 59 ± 16 cm3/m2), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (16 ± 5 mm vs. 20 ± 4 mm), right atrial area (27.4 ± 8.4 cm2 vs. 22.2 ± 5.7 cm2) and strain relative apical sparing (2.2 ± 0.9 vs. 1.03 ± 0.4; p = 0.04) were significantly associated with the diagnosis of CA. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with LVH admitted for HF decompensation, there are several echocardiographic features (LVH, reduced left ventricular cavity size, strain relative apical sparing, right atrial dilation, and altered right ventricular function) that are associated with the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis.

Predictors of postoperative complications and readmissions in laparoscopic pancreas resection: Results of a cohort 105 consecutive cases. A retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic resection of the pancreas (LRP) has been implemented to a varying degree because it is technically demanding and requires a long learning curve. In the present study we analyze the risk factors for complications and hospital readmissions in a single center study of 105 consecutive LRPs. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study using a prospective database. Data were collected on age, gender, BMI, ASA score, type of surgery, histologic type, operative time, hospital stay, postoperative complications, degree of severity and hospital readmission. RESULTS: The cohort included 105 patients, 63 females and 42 males with a median age and BMI of 58 (53-70) and 25.5 (22,2-27.9) respectively. Eighteen (17%) central pancreatectomies, 5 (4.8%) enucleations, 81 (77.6%) distal pancreatectomies and one total pancreatectomy were performed. Fifty-six patients (53.3%) experienced some type of complication, of which 13 (12.3%) were severe (Clavien-Dindo > IIIb) and 11 (10.5%) patients were readmitted in the first 30 days after surgery. In the univariate analysis, age, male gender, ASA score, central pancreatectomy and operative time were significantly associated with the development of complications (P <0.05). In the multivariate analysis, male gender (OR 7.97; 95% CI 1.08-58.88)), severe complications (OR 59.40; 95% CI, 7.69-458.99), and the development of intrabdominal collections (OR 8.97; 95% CI, 1.28-63.02)) were associated with hospital readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Age, male gender, ASA score, operative time and central pancreatectomy are associated with a higher incidence of complications. Male gender, severe complications and intraabdominal collections are associated with more hospital readmissions.

Risk factors of lung, head and neck, esophageal, and kidney and urinary tract carcinomas after liver transplantation: the effect of smoking withdrawal.

Liver transplant recipients have an increased risk of malignancy. Smoking is related to some of the most frequent causes of posttransplant malignancy. The incidence and risk factors for the development of neoplasia related to smoking (head and neck, lung, esophageal, and kidney and urinary tract carcinomas) were studied in 339 liver transplant recipients. Risk factors for the development of smoking-related neoplasia were also studied in 135 patients who had a history of smoking so that it could be determined whether smoking withdrawal was associated with a lower risk of malignancy. After a mean follow-up of 7.5 years, 26 patients were diagnosed with 29 smoking-related malignancies. The 5- and 10-year actuarial rates were 5% and 13%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, smoking and older age were independently associated with a higher risk of malignancy. In the smoker subgroup, the variables related to a higher risk of malignancy were active smoking and older age. In conclusion, smoking withdrawal after liver transplantation may have a protective effect against the development of neoplasia.

Prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in relation to treatment across BCLC stages.

BACKGROUND: The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system recommends first-line therapy for each tumor stage. We evaluated the effect of compliance with BCLC treatment allocation on the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 359 consecutive, newly diagnosed HCC patients treated in our Liver Unit during a 14-year period. For each stage, survival was compared according to whether treatment matched the BCLC recommendation. We also compared the survival of patients in the same BCLC stage who received different treatments, and patients in different BCLC stages receiving the same treatment. RESULTS: BCLC-A patients treated with radical therapies (66%) survived longer (117 vs. 20 months; p < 0.001) than patients (33%) who received locoregional or systemic therapies. Survival of BCLC-B patients treated with locoregional treatments (57%) was shorter (24 vs. 71 months; p < 0.001) than that of patients receiving radical therapies (32%). BCLC-C patients treated with systemic therapy or supportive care survived shorter (6 vs. 11 months; p = 0.003) than those receiving locoregional therapies (39%). Survival of BCLC-D patients receiving systemic therapies or supportive care was significantly lower than that of patients treated by liver transplantation (5 vs. 137 months; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to BCLC stage, actual treatment determines survival in patients with HCC.

High-degree atrioventricular block. An unusual presentation of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a non-ischemic cardiomyopathy characterized by acute left ventricular systolic dysfunction with transient wall motion abnormalities without a culprit coronary stenosis or other concurrent diagnoses. Its coexistence with transient high-degree AV block is very infrequent. CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old man presented with a new onset of high degree AV block without ST segment deviations developing an anterior and apical dyskinesia with a low left ventricular ejection fraction in the absence of coronary artery disease. CONCLUSION: Atrioventricular block is an uncommon presentation of Takotsubo syndrome. The management of patients with relevant conduction disorders in this scenario is a challenge for the clinician. In case of persistence of advanced conduction disorders, it seems appropriate to implant a pacemaker.

No Differences in Gastrointestinal Bleeding Risk among Clopidogrel-, Ticagrelor-, or Prasugrel-Based Dual Antiplatelet Therapy.

The risk for gastrointestinal bleeding from dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with new antiplatelets (prasugrel/ticagrelor) compared to clopidogrel is unclear. AIM: To determine the risk and type of major (gastrointestinal bleeding requiring hospitalization) and minor (anemia and iron deficiency) gastrointestinal events with different types of DAPT. METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study of patients who started DAPT after percutaneous coronary intervention. Follow-up was censored after 12 months of DAPT, when a major gastrointestinal event occurred, or when DAPT was discontinued. RESULTS: Among 1,327 patients (54.03% were treated with clopidogrel-based DAPT, 38.13% with ticagrelor-based DAPT, and 7.84% with prasugrel-based DAPT), 29.5% had at least one gastrointestinal event. Patients taking clopidogrel-DAPT were older, with more comorbidities, and higher gastrointestinal risk compared to those taking other DAPT regimens. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) showed no between-group differences in the risk for major (clopidogrel vs. new antiplatelets: HR 0.996; 95% confidence interval 0.497-1.996) and minor (HR 0.920; 0.712-1.189) gastrointestinal events. Most patients received proton pump inhibitors while on DAPT (93.3%) and after withdrawal (83.2%). CONCLUSION: Prasugrel- or ticagrelor-based DAPT was not associated with increased gastrointestinal bleeding risk when compared to clopidogrel-DAPT. New antiplatelets do not necessarily need to be restricted to patients with low gastrointestinal risk.