Pregnancy in Women with Metastatic Sarcomas.

Successful pregnancy in women with metastatic cancer is rare in the published literature. We report here on four women with sarcoma who started and conducted their first pregnancies while in metastatic disease. All four pregnancies were first pregnancies, and all four women are long-term survivors from 20 to 248 months after pregnancy. One patient had three pregnancies. All four women stopped systemic cancer treatment during their pregnancies, and two had RECIST progression during treatment interruption. Three patients still have unresectable metastatic disease, whereas one is in complete remission. In selected metastatic sarcomas with indolent courses, successful pregnancies are possible with no or minor impact on cancer progression and with prolonged life duration after pregnancy. As metastatic cancer becomes more often a chronic disease, this possibility opens important practical and ethical questions on how to best to advise women of childbearing age with metastatic cancers who are long-term survivors.

Correction to: Safety considerations regarding Methotrexate of label use in tubal ectopic pregnancy.

In the original article publication, the authors given name and family name were interchanged.

Can early ßhCG change and baseline progesterone level predict treatment outcome in patients receiving single dose Methotrexate protocol for tubal ectopic pregnancy?

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to assess the prognostic significance of early ßhCG change and baseline progesterone level on treatment outcome among women receiving single dose Methotrexate protocol for tubal ectopic pregnancy (EP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study involving all consecutive patients diagnosed with EP and receiving Methotrexate therapy form January 2015 to December 2016. Patients were stratified into 2 groups according to treatment outcome: success group (n = 66) involved women who displayed complete resolution of serum ßhCG levels following a single course of Methotrexate; failure group (n = 55) included patients who required repeated Methotrexate administration and/or surgical management. Predictive performances of baseline progesterone and ratio"ßhCG level on day 4/ ßhCG level on day 1″ (d4/d1) on treatment outcome were assessed using Receiving Operating Characteristics curves. RESULTS: The ratio d4/d1 displayed good performances in predicting treatment outcome (AUC = 0.826). A ratio ≤ 0.7 was associated with a success rate of 94% after 1 course of Methotrexate and 100% after 2 courses. In contrast, a ratio >1.7 was associated with a failure rate of 100%. Conversely, baseline progesterone showed poor performances (AUC = 0.611). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with extreme ßhCG changes (n = 33) on day 4 might benefit from a more personalized approach: simplified monitoring in those with a decline ≥30%, anticipated second course of treatment in those with an increase > 70%.

Pulse pressure variation predicts fluid responsiveness in elderly patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the ability of pulse pressure variation to predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated elderly patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. DESIGN: A prospective, interventional study. SETTING: An academic, tertiary referral hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty patients >70 years old and mechanically ventilated after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Intravascular volume expansion using 6% hydroxyethyl starch solution, 7 mL/kg over 20 minutes. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Heart rate, arterial blood pressure, pulse pressure variation, central venous pressure, pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, and stroke volume index were measured immediately before and after volume expansion. Fluid responsiveness was defined as an increase in stroke volume index ≥ 15% after volume expansion. Forty-one patients were fluid responders and 19 patients were nonresponders. In contrast to central venous pressure or pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, pulse pressure variation was higher in the responders than in the nonresponders (22 ± 6% v 9.3 ± 3%, p = 0.001) and correlated with the percent changes in the stroke volume index after volume expansion (r = 0.47, p = 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for pulse pressure variation was 0.85 (95% confidence interval 0.75-0.94). The threshold value of 11.5% allowed the discrimination between responders and nonresponders with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 74%. CONCLUSIONS: Pulse pressure variation is a reliable predictor of fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated elderly patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Undergraduate medical education in Lebanon.

BACKGROUND: Lebanon, located on the eastern side of the Mediterranean Sea, is a multi-confessional, multi-cultural country with a long history of medical education. One of the first medical schools in the Middle East was established in Beirut, Lebanon's capital, in 1868. AIMS: The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the current status of undergraduate medical education in Lebanon. METHODS: The descriptive data were collected from the medical schools' institutional website and the analysis was performed by the authors. No statistical analysis was required. RESULTS: Currently, seven medical schools serve a population of 4 million people. Those schools adopt different curricular systems reflected in their admissions, study length, and language of instruction, mainly based on the French or the American model. CONCLUSION: Lebanon's diversity translates into medical education, with the various schools adopting different systems.

[Does nasal decontamination reduce the incidence of infections after cardiac surgery?]. / La décontamination nasale diminue-t-elle la fréquence des infections après chirurgie cardiaque?

INTRODUCTION: Mupirocin applied to the anterior nares four times daily usually eliminates Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin resistant, within 48 hours. Prophylactic intranasal mupirocin is safe, inexpensive and effective in reducing the overall sternal wound infection after open-heart surgery. This study was designed to determine whether decreasing nasal bacterial colonization by applying mupirocin intra nasally decreases mediastinal, sternal, pulmonary and cutaneous infections after open-heart surgery. MATERIAL & METHODS: After institutional approval and informed consent, 392 patients were included in a randomized, prospective study. Nasal cultures were taken for all patients before surgery. Patients were divided in two groups: Group I (n = 190) receiving mupirocin in the anterior nares 4 times daily for 48 hours before surgery; Group II (n = 202) was the control group. Patients were followed for a month after surgery. All mediastinal, sternal, pulmonary and cutaneous infections were documented and treated with appropriate antibiotics. A Student test for quantitative data and a chi2 test for qualitative data were used for statistical analysis. p < or = 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The two groups had the same demographic characteristics and risk factors. Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus was 36.2% in the two groups. Neither mediastinitis nor sternitis were noticed in any of the two groups. There was no statistical difference between the groups according to the frequency of the cutaneous infections (Group I: 19/190 - Group II: 13/202) and pneumonia (Group I: 7/190 - Group II: 13/202). In patients who had nasal carriage of Staphylococcus, nasal decontamination has not shown a statistical difference of cutaneous infections of the lower limbs nor pneumonia. Although nasal decontamination reduced the incidence of sternal wound infection (Gr I 0/190 - Gr II 4/202 ; p = 0.017). Staphylococcus aureus, in the control group, induced more cutaneous infections (30.8% vs 11.7% ; p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: The usage of mupirocin for nasal decontamination before open-heart surgery reduces the incidence of the sternal wound infection, and does not seem to affect the frequency of cutaneous infections of the lower limbs nor pneumonia after this surgery.

Haematogenous prosthetic knee infections: Prospective cohort study of 58 patients.

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a rare (incidence, 0.15% to 0.9%) but serious complication of knee arthroplasty. Haematogenous PJI of the knee (KhPJI) which accounts for 10% of cases, has been less studied than PJI due to other mechanisms. The primary objective of this study in patients with KhPJI of the knee was to determine the 2-year infection eradication failure rate after either exchange arthroplasty or arthrotomy/synovectomy/irrigation (ASI), combined with prolonged peri-operative antibiotic therapy, at a referral centre for complex osteo-articular infections. HYPOTHESIS: ASI within 2 weeks after symptom onset and one-stage exchange arthroplasty produce similar 2-year success rates in patients with KhPJI of the knee. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective observational cohort study was performed in patients managed for PJI of the knee between 2003 and 2015. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of a septic event or of KhPJI -related death during a minimum follow-up of 2 years. RESULTS: Of 265 patients with PJI after total knee arthroplasty, 58 (22.1%) had KhPJI with onset more than 3 months after the last arthroplasty procedure and were included in the study. Among them, one-third had immune deficiencies. The most common causative organisms were streptococci (n=25, 43%) and Staphylococcusaureus (n=20, 34%). The primary focus of infection was identified in only 64% of patients and was most often cutaneous (n=19, 33%) or dental (n=11, 19%). A septic event or KhPJI-related death occurred in 5/34 (15%) patients after one-stage exchange arthroplasty and 6/19 (32%) patients after ASI within 15 days after symptom onset (p=0.03). Patient characteristics, type of prosthesis, and causative organism were not significantly associated with failure to eradicate the infection. CONCLUSION: ASI carried a high failure rate despite being performed within 15 days after symptom onset. One-stage exchange arthroplasty seems to be the best surgical option, particularly as the exact time of symptom onset may be difficult to determine. Identifying and eradicating the primary focus of infection is crucial. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II, low-powered prospective cohort study.

Comparison of central venous to mixed venous oxygen saturation in patients with low cardiac index and filling pressures after coronary artery surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation and agreement between mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO(2)) and central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO(2)) in patients with low cardiac index and filling pressures after coronary artery surgery. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Tertiary care academic hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty consecutive patients with a cardiac index <2 L/min/m(2) and a pulmonary artery occlusion pressure <12 mmHg after coronary artery surgery were included. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were monitored by a pulmonary artery catheter and a central venous catheter positioned in the superior vena cava. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: SvO(2) and ScvO(2) were simultaneously measured before (T0) and after (T1) normalization of the cardiac index (>2.5 L/min/m(2)) by fluid therapy. Sixty pairs of measures were obtained at T0 and at T1. Bias between SvO(2) and ScvO(2) was -0.6% (T0) and -0.8% (T1). Limits of agreement were from -19.2% to 18% (T0) and from -15.6% to 14% (T1), and the correlation coefficient was 0.463 (T0) and 0.72 (T1). SvO(2) and ScvO(2) changes from T0 to T1 (DeltaSvO(2) and DeltaScvO(2)) were calculated. The bias between DeltaSvO(2) and DeltaScvO(2) was -0.25. Limits of agreement were from -20% to 19.5%, and the correlation coefficient was 0.6. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with low cardiac index and filling pressures after coronary artery surgery, ScvO(2) could not be used as a direct alternative for SvO(2). After fluid therapy and normalization of the cardiac index, differences between individual values remained large, and the disagreement between ScvO(2) and SvO(2) changes was significant.

Can femoral artery pressure monitoring be used routinely in cardiac surgery?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of femoral arterial pressure monitoring in cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: Cardiac surgery unit (CSU) in a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Of a total of 2,350 consecutive patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, 2,264 patients with femoral artery pressure monitoring were included. INTERVENTIONS: A femoral arterial catheter was inserted percutaneously before the induction of anesthesia. The catheter was withdrawn 40 to 96 hours after surgery. It was replaced by a radial artery catheter in patients staying for more than 4 days in the CSU or in case of pulse loss or lower limb ischemia. The catheter was removed and sent for cultures whenever it showed local changes, discharge, or if sepsis was suspected. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Pain on insertion ranged from 0 to 20 mm on the 100-mm visual analog scale. Complications related to femoral artery cannulation were recorded. No cases of femoral artery thrombosis, lower extremity ischemia, or hematoma requiring surgery were noted. Small hematomas were observed in 3.3% of patients. The incidence of oozing was 2.1% after the insertion of the catheter and 4.9% after its removal. Three cases (0.13%) of serious bleeding occurred; 2 required surgery. Eight percent of catheter tips were sent for culture, and positive bacterial growth was recorded in 18.6% of them. Catheter-related blood stream infection occurred in 0.5% of the total patient population included. CONCLUSIONS: Femoral artery pressure monitoring was associated with a low complication rate and, therefore, it can be used routinely in cardiac surgery.

Use of remifentanil and propofol without muscle relaxant combined with intrathecal morphine in children with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy undergoing spinal surgery.

Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common and severe form of myopathy occurring in pediatric patients. Sensitivity of patients with DMD to sedative, anesthetic and neuromuscular blocking agents may result in intraoperative and early postoperative cardiovascular and respiratory complications, as well as prolonged recovery from anesthesia. Anesthetic management of these patients is challenging and may cause serious problems to the anesthesiologist. We report the use of a total intravenous anesthesia technique (TIVA) with remifentanil and propofol without muscle relaxants, associated with intrathecal morphine in three children with DMD undergoing posterior spinal surgery (PSS). Tracheal intubation was successfully done with good conditions. The intraoperative course of these patients was uneventful. Controlled hypotension, rapid recovery and uneventful postoperative period were achieved with this technique. In conclusion, good conditions for tracheal intubation, controlled hypotension, rapid recovery and uneventful postoperative period can be achieved with this anesthesia technique in patients with DMD.

Prevention of hypotension after spinal anesthesia for cesarean section: 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 (Voluven) versus lactated Ringer's solution.

GOALS: The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of HES 130/0.4, a new hydroxyethyl starch, to lactated Ringer's solution (LR) in the prevention of hypotension after spinal anesthesia for cesarean section (CS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty nonlaboring ASA I and II women having non urgent CS were enrolled in this prospective and randomized study. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive prior to anesthesia either 1 liter of LR (Gr I: n = 59) or 500 ml of HES 130/0.4 (Gr II : n = 61). Blood pressure was measured until discharge from the post anesthesia care unit. Hypotension was treated with i.v. boluses of 3 mg of ephedrine. The nausea scale was recorded. Arterial and venous umbilical blood gazes were obtained. Data were compared using Mann-Whitney U-test and Student's t-test (p < 0.05 was significant). RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients in Gr II while 48 pts in Gr I experienced hypotension (p = .033). The total dose of ephedrine was statistically smaller in Gr II compared with Gr I (p = .001). Nausea after induction of spinal anesthesia occurred with similar frequency in both groups. Neonatal outcome was excellent and similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: HES 130/0.4 is more effective than LR to prevent hypotension following spinal anesthesia for CS; its routine use in this purpose should be considered.

Mini-gastric bypass by mini-laparotomy: a cost-effective alternative in the laparoscopic era.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass (MGB) is being increasingly performed worldwide. Results of MGB by mini-laparotomy (minilap MGB) are hereby reported. METHODS: 126 patients undergoing minilap MGB from October 2004 to October 2006, were reviewed at an academic institution. RESULTS: Mean age was 35 +/- 11.4 years (range 15-72), preoperative BMI was 44 +/- 6.9 kg/m2 (range 35-61.8) and 80 (63.4%) were women. Co-morbidities were present in 42 (33.3%). Operative time was 144 +/- 15.8 minutes (range 120-160) and length of hospital stay was 3.32 +/- 0.62 days (range 2-18). There was no hospital mortality, and the in-hospital complication rate was 4.7%. No anastomotic leakage occurred, and the incidence of wound sepsis was 2.3%. The mean total cost of the procedure was 3408 +/- 547 USD (range 2967-6876). Five patients (3.9%) developed incisional hernias and 3 (2.3%) marginal ulcers. BMI at 6 months was 33.0 +/- 3.1 kg/m2 (range 26.8-43.5, P < 0.001) compared with preoperative value. At 1 year, mean excess weight loss was 68.4% and comorbidities resolved in 85%. CONCLUSION: Minilap MGB is a simple, safe, effective and low-cost gastric bypass. It represents an attractive cost-effective alternative to laparoscopic MGB.

Mini-gastric bypass for revision of failed primary restrictive procedures: a valuable option.

BACKGROUND: Despite the initial success of primary gastric restrictive operations, many patients require revision for weight regain, mechanical complications or intolerance to restriction. The mini-gastric bypass (MGB) for revision of failed primary restrictive procedures was evaluated. METHODS: 33 patients undergoing revisional surgery to a MGB for a failed silastic ring vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) or a gastric banding (GB) from June 2005 to September 2006, were reviewed at an academic institution. The patients had had a minilaparotomy. Revision of the VBGs was further compared with revision of the GBs. RESULTS: The MGB was completed in all except 2 patients who required Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) because of gastric tube damage. Mean age was 41 years (range 20-64), preoperative BMI was 39.5 kg/m2 (range 28-58), and 20 (65%) were women. The revision was performed after an average of 36.3 months (range 12-84), and was more time-consuming in patients with prior VBG than GB (184 vs 155 min, P=0.007). Postoperative complications occurred in 2 (6.4%) with prior VBG, and length of hospital stay was 4.65 days (range 3-17). Mean BMI at 6 months was 30.6 (range 24.8-50.0, P<0.001) compared with the preoperative BMI. Reflux disease was cured, and all patients noted major improvement in the eating dimension. CONCLUSION: Open MGB through a previous mini-incision is a safe and effective operation for revision of failed gastric restrictive operations. The revision procedure was technically more difficult in patients with prior VBG and hazardous in patients with prior redo VBG.

Combined coronary surgery and aortic valve replacement after previous right pneumonectomy.

Cardiac surgery in patients with previous pneumonectomy is infrequently reported. We report a case of combined coronary artery bypass grafting and aortic valve replacement in a patient with left ventricular ejection fraction less then 35% and a previous right pneumonectomy. All steps in operative management of this rare condition are discussed.

The accuracy of non-invasive nasal capnography in morbidly obese patients after bariatric surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: to assess the accuracy of nasal capnography for the monitoring of ventilation in extubated morbidly obese patients, following bariatric surgery. DESIGN: prospective descriptive study. SETTING: Post-anesthesia care unit. PATIENTS: 25 consecutive morbidly obese patients admitted to the PACU after open bariatric surgery. INTERVENTION: Patients had a nasal cannula designed to administer oxygen (3 L/min) and to sample expired CO2 by a coaxial catheter. MEASUREMENTS: Capnographic waveform, end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) and respiratory rate (RRd) were displayed by a capnometer (Datex-Ohmeda). Arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) was measured by blood gas analysis. Respiratory rate was measured by visual inspection of chest breathing motions (RRm). Differences between PaCO2 and ETCO2 and between RRd and RRm were calculated for every simultaneous set of measurements. RESULTS: Bias, precision, limits of agreement (bias +/- 2 precisions) between PetCO2 and PaCO2 were respectively as follows: 3.1, 1.4, 0.3 to 5.9 mmHg with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.6 and a P value of 0.001. As for RRd v/s RRm the values were: 2, 0.5, 1 to 3 breaths per minute and 0.8 with the same P value for the Pearson coefficient. CONCLUSION: Limits of agreement between PaCO2 and ETCO2 pressure and between RRd and RRm are clinically acceptable. Nasal capnography is accurate for the monitoring of ventilation in extubated morbidly obese patients, following bariatric surgery.

Fetal and neonatal abnormalities due to congenital rubella syndrome: a review of literature.

OBJECTIVE: Rubella virus infection during the first trimester of pregnancy can cause congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). We aimed to describe the abnormalities in order to define the ultrasound features to look for when performing prenatal scans. The goal of this review is to focus specifically on the signs of CRS accessible to prenatal diagnosis. METHODS: We analyzed every case of CRS described before and/or after birth that we identified in the Pubmed database and classified them as accessible or not to prenatal diagnosis. RESULTS: The most frequently reported malformations accessible to prenatal diagnosis were: cardiac septal defects, pulmonary artery stenosis, microcephaly, cataract, microphtalmia, and hepatosplenomegaly. CONCLUSION: This extensive literature review shows that the ultrasound features of CRS are not well known, even though rubella was the first teratogenic virus described. This review will help clinicians in the management of rubella during pregnancy by clarifying the findings to be sought.