Deciphering excess healthcare burden in head and neck cancer patients with cardiovascular comorbidity.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the perioperative surgical outcomes for head and neck cancer patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was performed using data from the Nationwide Readmissions Database between 2010 and 2014. Logistic regression analysis by enter and backward stepwise methods were used. RESULTS: A total of 8346 patients met the inclusion criteria. Patients with concomitant CVD had a higher frequency of complications (57.6%) compared with those without (47.4%) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.23-1.48, p < 0.001). Patients with CVD comorbidities were prone to experience in-patient mortality at both admission (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.42-4.05) and readmission (OR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.10-5.87). CVD patients have prolonged hospital admission (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.02-1.27, p = 0.020) and higher cost (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.15-1.43, p < 0.001). Patients with congestive heart failure were prone to 30 days readmission (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.10-2.53, p = 0.019) and 90 days (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.14-2.39, p = 0.010). CONCLUSION: This is the first study identifying factors predicting higher risk of perioperative complications of surgical management of head and neck cancer. Those with CVD had higher risk of adverse events.

The Effect of Patient Positioning on Intraoperative Neuromonitoring During Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) has been accepted as a routine adjunct among surgeons who perform thyroid and parathyroid surgeries. Thyroid and parathyroid surgeries use various patient positioning strategies that have poorly understood effects on IONM. The aim of this study was to compare IONM signals between the transaxillary and transcervical approaches. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated 463 adult patients who underwent a total of 502 procedures. The procedures performed included total thyroidectomy, right or left hemithyroidectomy, and parathyroidectomy. Vagus nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) latency and amplitude measurements were analyzed intra-operatively. The distances between the vagus nerve and the trachea were measured via ultrasound during transaxillary procedures. RESULTS: Compared to the transcervical approach, the right vagus nerve latency was significantly decreased in the transaxillary approach. Transaxillary surgery was not associated with increased latency or decreased amplitude on IONM. The distance between the vagus nerve and trachea was significantly decreased post-positioning during transaxillary approaches. DISCUSSION: Despite differences in patient positioning, a transaxillary approach was not associated with increased stress on the vagus nerve or RLN, according to IONM data. The decreased right vagus nerve latency associated with a transaxillary approach highlights the importance of considering patient positioning and laterality while interpreting IONM data.

Usefulness of routine periodic fasting to lower risk of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is common and multifactorial. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, or Mormons) in Utah may have lower cardiac mortality than other Utahns and the US population. Although the LDS proscription of smoking likely contributes to lower cardiac risk, it is unknown whether other shared behaviors also contribute. This study evaluated potential CAD-associated effects of fasting. Patients (n(1) = 4,629) enrolled in the Intermountain Heart Collaborative Study registry (1994 to 2002) were evaluated for the association of religious preference with CAD diagnosis (> or = 70% coronary stenosis using angiography) or no CAD (normal coronaries, <10% stenosis). Consequently, another set of patients (n(2) = 448) were surveyed (2004 to 2006) for the association of behavioral factors with CAD, with routine fasting (i.e., abstinence from food and drink) as the primary variable. Secondary survey measures included proscription of alcohol, tea, and coffee; social support; and religious worship patterns. In population 1 (initial), 61% of LDS and 66% of all others had CAD (adjusted [including for smoking] odds ratio [OR] 0.81, p = 0.009). In population 2 (survey), fasting was associated with lower risk of CAD (64% vs 76% CAD; OR 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.35 to 0.87, p = 0.010), and this remained after adjustment for traditional risk factors (OR 0.46, 95% confidence interval 0.27 to 0.81, p = 0.007). Fasting was also associated with lower diabetes prevalence (p = 0.048). In regression models entering other secondary behavioral measures, fasting remained significant with a similar effect size. In conclusion, not only proscription of tobacco, but also routine periodic fasting was associated with lower risk of CAD.

A case of central diabetes insipidus after ketamine infusion during an external to internal carotid artery bypass.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We report the first teenage case of ketamine-induced transient central diabetes insipidus. CASE SUMMARY: The patient was an 18-year-old woman with moyamoya disease undergoing an external carotid to internal carotid bypass and given a low-dose ketamine infusion. After approximately 2 hours in the supine position, with 0.5 Minimum Alveolar Concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane, a propofol infusion at 50 µg/kg/min, a remifentanil infusion at 0.5 µg/kg/min, and a ketamine infusion at a dose of 10 µg/kg/min, this patient had an excessive urine output. Initially, the Foley catheter contained 50 mL of urine. She was given 1500 mL of crystalloid during the case but produced 2700 mL of urine output. Increasing urine output was noted 1 hour into the procedure around the time that the patient experienced a 2-minute Cushing-like response characterized by bradycardia and hypertension. Several I-Stat samples revealed a worsening hypernatremia. The decision was made to check the urine osmolality and treat the patient with 4 µg of desmopressin (DDAVP). Urine output began to slow down to a normal rate of 2 mg/kg/h, as the patient was transferred from the operating room to the computed tomographic (CT) scanning room for a CT and CT angiogram; both were unremarkable. The neurosurgery team waited until the next day to complete the procedure. The procedure was completed successfully and uneventfully the next day without a ketamine infusion as part of the general anesthetic plan. DISCUSSION: The Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction score of 4 suggested a possible relationship between the patient's ketamine infusion and subsequent central diabetes insipidus. The 2 previous cases on this topic have suggested that ketamine, as an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist, inhibits vasopressin release in the neurohypophysis. CONCLUSION: Urine output, urine osmolarity, and serum osmolarity should be monitored in patients given ketamine anesthetic; desmopressin should be present to prevent dangerous long-term sequela.

A case of paradoxical presentation of a postural postdural puncture headache after combined spinal-epidural anesthesia.

We report a case of paradoxical presentation of a postural postdural puncture headache secondary to dural puncture with a 25-gauge Whitacre needle for combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. This 27-year-old female patient presented to the emergency department with elevated blood pressure and a global headache 9 days after administration of epidural anesthesia for a spontaneous vaginal delivery after an uncomplicated pregnancy. The patient reported that the headache was more intense when lying down and immediately improved when she sat or stood up from a recumbent position. The patient was discharged from emergency department after an improvement following treatment with labetalol, ondansetron, ketorolac, and fluid resuscitation.