Prostate biopsy sepsis prevention: external validation of an alcohol needle washing protocol.

PURPOSE: Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUS-Bx) is associated with a 1-8% risk of post-biopsy sepsis (PBS). A recent study described an isopropyl alcohol needle washing protocol that significantly decreased PBS rates. The current study examined the efficacy of this technique in our clinic population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were reviewed for 1250 consecutive patients undergoing TRUS-Bx at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center from January 2017 to January 2023. Needle washing was adopted in February 2021. Complications occurring within 30 days after TRUS-Bx were recorded. RESULTS: There were 912 patients in group 1 (without needle washing) and 338 in group 2 (with needle washing). Groups had equivalent demographic features, and men of African descent comprised 70% of patients. Standard 12 core biopsies were done in 83% and 82% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.788). Total complication rates were 4% and 2% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.077). There were 13 sepsis events in group 1 (1.4%) and none in group 2 (p = 0.027). Clavien-Dindo Grade I-III complications occurred in 25 (2.7%) and 7 (2.1%) patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.505). Standard antibiotic prophylaxis (PO fluoroquinolone and IM gentamicin) was given in 80% and 86% of patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.030). Subset analysis limited to patients who received standard prophylaxis showed a significant difference in sepsis rates (1.5% vs 0%; p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Adoption of isopropyl alcohol needle washing was associated with a significant decrease in PBS events.

Clinical impact of sacroplasty on patient mobility.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of sacroplasty on patient mobility and pain when performed as a treatment for sacral insufficiency fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Imaging with computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, or bone scan confirmed the diagnosis of sacral insufficiency fractures. Baseline clinical mobility scale (CMS) score and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score were recorded. Sacroplasty was performed under CT guidance. Follow-up CMS and VAS scores were assessed at 4, 24, and 48 weeks. RESULTS: Eighteen elderly patients (age 80 y ± 8.5; 17 women) were treated. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was conducted to assess changes in CMS and VAS scores over time. Pairwise comparisons revealed a significant increase in average CMS score between baseline and all three follow-up points-4 weeks (P < .001), 24 weeks (P < .001), and 48 weeks (P < .001)-indicating improvement in mobility over time. Pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in mean VAS scores between baseline and all three follow-up time points-4 weeks (P < .001), 24 weeks (P < .001), and 48 weeks (P < .001)-indicating improvement in overall pain level over time. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with CT-guided sacroplasty for sacral insufficiency fractures in this elderly population resulted in significant improvement in patient mobility.

Comparison of the accuracy of diffusion-weighted imaging versus dynamic contrast enhancement magnetic resonance imaging in characterizing focal liver lesions.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) versus dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) versus DWI and DCE in characterizing benign versus malignant lesions and in making correct diagnosis of focal liver lesions. METHODS: Sixty-six adult patients with 115 lesions were evaluated by 2 readers for differentiating benign versus malignant lesions and for lesion diagnosis. The readers evaluated the lesions using unenhanced MRI with DWI and, 4 weeks later, using MRI with DCE and, subsequently, using MRI and DCE with DWI. The final pathologic diagnosis was reached by biopsy or with imaging follow-up. RESULTS: The accuracy of differentiating benign versus malignant lesions of both readers 1 and 2 using DWI was 90.4%; using DCE, 91.3% and 90.4%, respectively; and using DCE with DWI, 98.3% and 95.7%, respectively. The accuracy of diagnosis of readers 1 and 2 using DWI was 83.5% and 80%; using DCE, 87% and 84.4%; and using DCE with DWI, 93.9% and 91.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Unenhanced MRI with DWI and MRI with DCE have similar accuracy for characterizing focal liver lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging with DCE and DWI has increased accuracy compared with either sequence alone.

Image-based assessment of sarcopenic obesity predicts mortality in major trauma.

BACKGROUND: Patients with obesity are also at risk for sarcopenia, which is difficult to recognize in this population. Our study examines whether sarcopenic-obesity (SO) is independently associated with mortality in trauma. METHODS: Using a retrospective database, we performed logistic regression analysis. . Admission CT scans were used to identify SO by calculating the visceral fat to skeletal muscle ratio >3.2. RESULTS: Of 883 patients, the prevalence of SO was 38% (333). Patients with SO were more likely to be male (79% versus 43%, p < 0.001), older (mean 66.5 years versus 46.3 years, p < 0.001), and less likely to have an injury severity score (ISS) ≥ 24 (43% versus 55%, p = 0.0003). Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, SO was independently associated with mortality (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.6-4.8, p < 0.001). Causal mediation analysis found admission hyperglycemia as a mediator for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenic obesity is an independent predictor of mortality in major trauma.

Epidemiology and treatment modalities for the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common conditions affecting men. BPH can lead to a number of symptoms for patients commonly referred to as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Over the last decade, increased modifiable risk factors, such as metabolic disease and obesity, have resulted in an increased incidence of BPH. This increasing incidence has brought about a multitude of treatment modalities in the last two decades. With so many treatment modalities available, physicians are tasked with selecting the optimal therapy for their patients. Current therapies can first be divided into medical or surgical intervention. Medical therapy for BPH includes 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and alpha-blockers, or a combination of both. Surgical interventions include a conventional transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), as well as newer modalities such as bipolar TURP, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), Greenlight and thulium laser, and prostatic urethral lift (PUL). Emerging therapies in this field must also be further investigated for safety and efficacy. This narrative review attempts to consolidate current and emerging treatment options for BPH and highlights the need for additional investigation on optimizing treatment selection.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease as a High-Value Predictor of Postoperative Hyperglycemia and Its Associated Complications in Major Abdominal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: For patients undergoing major abdominal operations, acute postoperative hyperglycemia (POHG) is associated with suboptimal outcomes and higher costs of care. This study was performed to determine whether CT-derived indices of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (hepatic steatosis) or visceral adiposity may serve as predictors of POHG and its consequences in such patients. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed records and preoperative abdominal CT images of 129 patients undergoing complex open ventral hernia repair (cVHR) from 2012 to 2016, with 90-day follow-up. Univariate and multivariate regressions were performed to estimate associations between CT-detected steatosis or visceral adiposity with POHG (serum glucose > 140 mg/dL within 48 hours), surgical site occurrence (SSO), and subsequent interventions (SSO-I). RESULTS: Type-2 diabetes (T2D) was present in 23% and POHG in 52%; SSO events occurred in 28% and SSO-I in 21%. Highest-effect associations with POHG were observed for T2D (odds ratio [OR] 21.54; 95% CI 4.85, 95.58), hepatic steatosis (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.07, 4.52), and waist circumference-to-height ratio (WCHR > 0.65; OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.16, 4.83). After multivariate analysis, the effects of T2D (OR 16.73; CI 5.42, 73.87; p < 0.0001) and steatosis (OR 2.55; CI 1.17, 5.69; p = 0.02) remained independently associated with POHG. Independent associations with SSO were observed for steatosis (OR 3.31; CI 1.41, 8.06; p = 0.007), POHG (OR 2.85; CI 1.17, 7.38; p = 0.024), and WCHR (OR 2.68; CI 1.11, 6.85; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Image-based indices of chronic metabolic disturbance in the liver and adipose tissues may offer novel opportunities for identifying patients at risk for POHG and those who would benefit from preoperative metabolic optimization.

Imaging of congenital uterine anomalies: review and self-assessment module.

OBJECTIVE: The educational objectives of this continuing medical education activity are for the reader to exercise, self-assess, and improve skills in diagnostic radiology with regard to the interpretation of hysterosalpingograms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the female pelvis in the evaluation of recurrent reproductive failure caused by congenital uterine anomalies. CONCLUSION: This article reviews the common congenital uterine anomalies,characteristic imaging features of each anomaly by hysterosalpingography and MRI, and the clinical importance of diagnosing and properly categorizing each anomaly.

Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in patients with complex abdominal wall hernias.

BACKGROUND: Chronic muscle wasting, or sarcopenia, has been associated with poor-health outcomes after major surgical procedures. Here, we explore the utility of CT-generated determinations of sarcopenia as markers of risk in patients undergoing evaluation for complex ventral hernia repair. METHODS: In 148 successive patients being evaluated for complex ventral hernia repair, CT scans were analyzed retrospectively for attributes of the hernia and indices of core-muscle mass, correlating them with preoperative clinical/laboratory profiles and outcomes in 82 patients who had undergone surgery. RESULTS: Prevalence of sarcopenia, and sarcopenia corrected for obesity, was 26% and 20% respectively. Sarcopenia was associated with age, some laboratory indicators, and increased hospital length of stay but not with a higher likelihood of surgical site occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity may obscure the value of sarcopenia as a marker of metabolic disturbance and postoperative outcome. Image-based measurements of core-muscle mass should be used with caution as predictors of risk in similar surgical populations.

Intravenous contrast extravasation during CT: a national data registry and practice quality improvement initiative.

PURPOSE: Establish 3 performance benchmarks for intravenous contrast extravasation during CT examinations: extravasation frequency, distribution of extravasation volumes, and severity of injury. Evaluate the effectiveness of implementing practice quality improvement (PQI) methodology in improving performance for these 3 benchmarks. METHODS: The Society of Abdominal Radiology and ACR developed a registry collecting data for contrast extravasation events. The project includes a PQI initiative allowing for process improvement. RESULTS: As of December 2013, a total of 58 radiology practices have participated in this project, and 32 practices have completed the 2-cycle PQI. There were a total of 454,497 contrast-enhanced CT exams and 1,085 extravasation events. The average extravasation rate is 0.24%. The median extravasation rate is 0.21%. Most extravasations (82.9%) were between 10 mL and 99 mL. The majority of injuries, 94.6%, are mild in severity, with 4.7% having moderate and 0.8% having severe injuries. Data from practices that completed the PQI process showed a change in the average extravasation rate from 0.28% in the first 6 months to 0.23% in the second 6 months, and the median extravasation rate dropped from 0.25% to 0.16%, neither statistically significant. The distribution of extravasation volumes and the severity of injury did not change between the first and second measurement periods. CONCLUSIONS: National performance benchmarks for contrast extravasation rate, distribution of volumes of extravasate, and distribution of severity of injury are established through this multi-institutional practice registry. The application of PQI failed to have a statistically significant positive impact on any of the 3 benchmarks.

Oxidized regenerated cellulose resembling vaginal cuff abscess.

INTRODUCTION: Application of oxidized regenerated cellulose is commonly performed in laparoscopy to achieve hemostasis during surgery. The appearance of an abscess resembles oxidized regenerated cellulose, causing imaging studies to be difficult to interpret. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe the cases of 3 patients who underwent oxidized regenerated cellulose placement during laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. They subsequently presented with signs and symptoms resembling an abscess. Computed tomographic imaging can be challenging to interpret in such cases; radiologic findings can be used to differentiate between the characteristics of oxidized regenerated cellulose and those of abscess formation on the vaginal cuff. DISCUSSION: Oxidized regenerated cellulose has an appearance that often mimics postsurgical abscess formation. There are distinct characteristics that distinguish both findings. It is essential that patients' records accurately describe the presence and location of regenerated oxidized cellulose when placed intraoperatively, and this information must be relayed to the interpreting radiologist to facilitate medical diagnosis and guide clinical management.

Prevalence of systemic inflammation and micronutrient imbalance in patients with complex abdominal hernias.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of low-grade inflammation, micronutrient imbalances and associated clinical profiles in patients being evaluated for complex abdominal hernia repair. METHODS: Review of 127 consecutive adult patients for evaluation of complex ventral hernias from January 2012 to March 2013. Records were analyzed to determine the prevalence and correlations of clinical risk factors, attributes of hernias identified by computerized tomography, and laboratory indices of metabolism, inflammation and micronutrient imbalances. RESULTS: Strong correlations (p < 0.001) were established for body mass index (BMI) with volume of hernia content and C-reactive protein (CRP) level. CRP levels correlated strongly with red cell distribution width and inversely with zinc (p < 0.01). Evidence of micronutrient imbalance (abnormal zinc or red cell distribution width [RDW]) was observed in 48%. CONCLUSIONS: In this comorbidity-rich population with known variability in surgical outcomes, the prevalence of chronic inflammation and micronutrient deficiency are high enough to warrant systemic preoperative evaluation given their possible effect on wound healing and convalescence. Simple repletion is unlikely to improve outcomes without attention to the biological stresses that are associated with micronutrient imbalance.

Off-label use of cetuximab plus sorafenib and panitumumab plus regorafenib to personalize therapy for a patient with V600E BRAF-mutant metastatic colon cancer.

Sorafenib, the first agent developed to target BRAF mutant melanoma, is a multi-kinase inhibitor that was approved by the FDA for therapy of kidney and subsequently liver cancer, and is currently in clinical trials for thyroid, lung and brain cancer. Colorectal cancer with V600E BRAF mutation has shown relative resistance to standard chemotherapy regimens, as well as lack of efficacy to vemurafenib in clinical trials. New treatments are needed for BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer. We report a case of a patient with BRAF-mutant metastatic colon cancer whose disease had progressed on FOLFOX plus bevacizumab and subsequent FOLFIRI plus cetuximab. Based on preclinical data published in Nature in 2012 suggesting that successful therapeutic targeting of BRAF in colorectal cancer may require concomitant targeting of the EGFR, we offered this patient without other attractive options the combination of sorafenib plus cetuximab, in off-label use with informed consent. Sorafenib and cetuximab therapy led to a mixed radiographic response with some areas showing dramatic improvement and other areas showing stable disease over a 7-month period which is a notably long period of progression-free survival for V600E BRAF mutated colon cancer. The cetuximab plus sorafenib therapy was very well-tolerated by the patient who remained on it long enough until another therapy option, regorafenib, was approved in September 2012. The patient was offered single agent regorafenib at the time of progression. At the time of progression on single agent regorafenib, panitumumab was combined with regorafenib and this was also well-tolerated and appeared to slow disease progression. Further study of these approaches in the clinic as personalized treatment of BRAF-mutant advanced colorectal cancer is warranted.

Endoscopic and radiographic evaluation of the small bowel in 2012.

Traditionally, the diagnosis of small bowel disorders has been challenging secondary to the small intestine's length, tortuosity, and anatomic location. Recent technologic advancements in the field of enteroscopy and radiographic imaging have facilitated a more thorough endoscopic evaluation of patients with small bowel disease ranging from obscure gastrointestinal bleeding to inflammatory bowel disease and small bowel tumors. Such developments have made it possible to avoid invasive surgical procedures in certain clinical scenarios where they were previously the gold standard. In this review, we report an update on the diagnostic and management approach to patients with small bowel disease, emphasizing the advantages and limitations of the latest modalities now available to primary care physicians and gastroenterologists for evaluating patients with presumed disease of the small intestine.

Percutaneous thrombin injection of a femoral artery pseudoaneurysm with simultaneous venous balloon occlusion of a communicating arteriovenous fistula.

An 82-year-old woman developed acute occlusion of her right coronary artery. She underwent percutaneous coronary stent placement and aortic balloon pump installation. In the postprocedural period, she developed a common femoral artery pseudoaneurysm (PSA) that communicated with the common femoral vein via an arteriovenous fistula (AVF). After unsuccessful ultrasound-guided compression, ultrasound-guided thrombin injection of the PSA was performed, with simultaneous balloon occlusion of the common femoral vein at the level of the AVF. There was complete thrombosis of the PSA and AVF.

Retrograde cannulation of the thoracic duct and embolization of the cisterna chyli in the treatment of chylous ascites.

The authors offer a previously undescribed technique for cisterna chyli embolization in the treatment of chylous ascites. After the failure of conventional percutaneous direct cisterna chyli cannulation, the authors accessed the thoracic duct directly from the subclavian vein. Retrograde microcatheter access through the thoracic duct enabled embolization of the cisterna chyli. Embolization materials included fibered endovascular coils, gelatin sponge, and doxycycline. The patient's symptoms returned 10 days after embolization. This technique provided short-term success in the treatment of the patient's chylous ascites.

Effect of body position on renal parenchyma perfusion as measured by nuclear scintigraphy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare differential renal perfusion in various body positions in healthy volunteers, to help postulate factors responsible for recurrent unilateral stone formation. METHODS: Ten volunteers with normal renal function and no history of urinary disease were evaluated with diuretic renography using mercaptoacetyl-triglycine. Scintigraphy was performed 1 week apart in each of three typical sleep positions (supine, left lateral decubitus, right lateral decubitus), and renal perfusion was measured. RESULTS: Symmetric renal perfusion was noted in all volunteers in the supine position. Subjects positioned in the left lateral decubitus position had a mean renal perfusion of 61.3% in the dependent (left) kidney, compared with 38.7% in the nondependent (right) kidney (P <0.05). In the right lateral decubitus position, the mean renal perfusion in the right kidney was 63.3%, whereas that in the left kidney measured 36.7% (P <0.05). Renal perfusion in the dependent kidney was increased when compared with the same kidney in the supine position in both the left and right kidneys. CONCLUSIONS: Body position had a significant effect on renal perfusion as measured by nuclear renal scintigraphy. If altered renal blood flow contributes to urinary calculogenesis, these data suggest that the urinary and vascular milieu in the decubitus position may contribute to risk factors for stone formation.