Palliative Care in Cholangiocarcinoma.

This chapter details all aspects of the general principles of palliative care for advanced stage cholangiocarcinoma patients. These include symptoms management, communication guide, advance care planning, and management for bereavement. Surgical and intervention techniques of palliative biliary drainage are described in detail for patients with obstructive jaundice with advanced stage CCA. Additionally, details are provided regarding the establishment of a multidisciplinary palliative care team which is critical to provide the most appropriate multimodal treatment for good quality of life and survival of patients.

Effect and correlation of patent vascular access flow on left ventricular hypertrophy in kidney transplant patients.

Background: Patency of vascular accesses (VA) is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in kidney transplant recipients (KTR). This level of VA flow (VAF) as related to LVH was assessed and an upward level of VA flow recommended for VA closure determined. This recommendation has not been previously reported. Methods: 123 KTR cohort patients were enrolled between August 2016 and December 2017 and their LVH and LV mass index (LVMI) by echocardiography and VAF by Doppler ultrasound were evaluated at baseline and for a 24-month follow-up period. Associations between VAF and LVH were adjusted for other factors. Results: Patients with patent VA (55.3%) had significantly greater LVH (47.1 vs. 29.1%, an adjusted odds ratio 2.44, p = 0.03) and LVMI (112.15 ± 34.4 vs. 97.55 ± 23.55 g/m2, p = 0.009) when compared with the non-VA group. A positive correlation between VAF rate and LVM was noted (r = 0.40, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed the VAF ≥ 900 ml/min had risks of LVH 3.61, and 2.86 times compared with the non-VA group and the VAF < 900 ml/min group. After a 24-month follow up, there was no significantly individual change in LVMI in patients with or without VA except 6 patients who lost their VA patency during follow-up time had a significant reduction of LVMI (120.17 ± 52.13 to 80.89 ± 22.72 g/m2, p = 0.046). Conclusions: Patency of VA in post-KT patients was associated with LVH. There was a significant reduction of LMVI after loss of VA patency. Patients with stable kidney graft function should be considered for VA closure especially if VAF is ≥ 900 ml/min.

Profiling of Bile Microbiome Identifies District Microbial Population between Choledocholithiasis and Cholangiocarcinoma Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Choledocholithiasis (CDL), a potential risk for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) development, is often a consequence of bacterial infection. Thus, the microbial population that contributes to CDL might also be involved in CCA development. We compared the microbiome in bile fluid of CDL patients and CCA patients. METHODS: Bile samples were collected from CDL (n = 30) and CCA (n =30) patients. Microbial profiling was performed individually by the sequencing of V3-V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. RESULTS: Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, and Stenotrophomonas species were much more abundant in bile samples from CCA compared to CDL (p.

Renal Artery Embolization for Acute Renal Hemorrhage: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Emergency renal artery embolization (RAE) is a useful method in treating renal trauma and bleeding renal tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of emergency RAE, and factors associated with RAE failure. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients treated with emergency RAE for acute renal hemorrhage between 1 January 2009 and 31 October 2019 in Srinagarind Hospital. The embolization was performed using coils, glues, and/or gel foams. Factors associated with unsuccessful outcomes were analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 94 patients were treated at the center during the study period with the clinical success rate of 91.5%. The most common cause of acute renal hemorrhage was iatrogenic injury (76.5%). Factors associated with unsuccessful RAE according to multivariate analyses were hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 24.2) and ruptured tumor/aneurysm (AOR 26.8). CONCLUSION: RAE is an effective procedure for acute renal hemorrhage. Hypertension and ruptured tumor/aneurysm were negative predictors for success.

Crizotinib-Associated Renal Cysts in Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase-Positive Lung Cancer Patients: A Single-Center Experience.

Crizotinib is an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor that was approved for ALK-harboring lung cancer. There have been reports about the development and progression of renal cysts from crizotinib. We report a series of 3 cases of crizotinib-associated renal cysts in patients admitted to our institution, with different kinds of presentation. A monitor for complex renal cysts is warranted in patients receiving crizotinib.

Classification of portal vein tributaries in Thai cadavers including a new type V.

PURPOSE: To compare portal vein tributaries in Thai with Thompson classification. METHODS: In 211 Thai cadavers, abdominal regions were dissected to identify the portal veins and their tributaries. The subjects were classified into types based on modes of drainage of the left gastric and inferior mesenteric veins. Percentages of all types of venous drainage were counted. RESULTS: There are four types of portal tributaries as defined by Thompson, type I_47.87 %, type II_13.27 %, type III_7.58 %, and type IV_29.86 %. There were 1.42 % of whose inferior mesenteric veins entered the joining angle of the superior mesenteric and splenic veins, and were classified as type V. The left gastric vein mostly drained into the portal vein in 79.15 %, while the inferior mesenteric vein emptied into the splenic vein mainly in 55.45 %. CONCLUSIONS: A new variance of portal tributaries in Thai cadavers is reported. The variations of portal vein formations are critical for liver surgery and interventional radiological procedures.