Mitigating disparity?: Treatment patterns, survival, and recurrence rates by race, ethnicity, and hospital site across a large urban health system.

Objective: National data have shown worse endometrial cancer (EC) outcomes among racial and ethnic minorities. We aimed to analyze EC patient outcomes within a large urban academic health system, with a focus on patterns of care and recurrence rates. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of EC patients at three system hospitals from 1/1/07-12/31/17. Demographic and clinical factors, including time from EMB to surgery, rate of chemotherapy completion, persistent or recurrent disease, and palliative care referrals were extracted. Descriptive statistics and survival curves were generated. Analysis was done using SAS version 9.4. Results: Black patients had lower overall survival compared to all others on univariate analysis only (p < 0.0001). Hospital site was associated with OS, with the academic anchor and satellite 1 having higher rates of all-cause mortality compared to satellite 2 (HR 4.68 academic anchor, 95 % CI 1.72-12.76, HR 5.36 satellite 1, 95 % CI 1.85-15.52). Time from EMB to surgery and rates of persistent disease following primary treatment were higher in Black patients. After adjusting for stage and grade, chemotherapy completion rate was significantly associated with race. Palliative care was utilized more for Black than White patients after adjusting for stage and grade (p = 0.005). Conclusions: Racial disparities in EC are caused by a complex web of interconnected factors that ultimately lead to worse outcomes in Black women. While precision medicine has helped to close the gap, social determinants of health should be addressed, and models focusing on the complex interactions between biologic, genetic, and social factors should be utilized.

Adjuvant misoprostol or mifepristone for cervical preparation with osmotic dilators before dilation and evacuation.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare effectiveness and safety of cervical preparation with osmotic dilators plus same-day misoprostol or overnight mifepristone prior to dilation and evacuation (D&E). STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 664 patients initiating abortion between 18 and 22 weeks at an ambulatory health center. We abstracted medical record data from two consecutive 12-month periods in 2017 to 2019. All patients received overnight dilators plus: 600 mcg buccal misoprostol 90 minutes before D&E (period 1); 200 mg oral mifepristone at time of dilators (period 2). Our primary outcome was procedure time. We report frequency of patients experiencing any acute complication, defined as unplanned procedure (i.e., reaspiration, cervical laceration repair, uterine balloon tamponade) or hospital transfer and bleeding complications. RESULTS: We observed higher mean procedure time in the mifepristone group (9.7 ± 5.3 minutes vs 7.9 ± 4.4, p = 0.004). After adjusting for race, ethnicity, insurance, body mass index, parity, prior cesarean, prior uterine surgery, gestational age, provider, trainee participation, and long-acting reversible contraception initiation, the difference remained statistically significant (relative change 1.09, 95% CI 1.01, 1.17) but failed to reach our threshold for clinical significance. The use of additional misoprostol was more common in the mifepristone group, but the use of an additional set of dilators was not different between groups. Acute complications occurred at a frequency of 4.1% in misoprostol group and 4.3% in mifepristone group (p = 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: We found procedure time to be longer with adjunctive mifepristone compared to misoprostol; however, this difference is unlikely to be clinically meaningful. Furthermore, the frequency of acute complications was similar between groups. IMPLICATIONS: Overnight mifepristone at the time of cervical dilator placement is a safe and effective alternative to adjuvant same-day misoprostol for cervical preparation prior to D&E and may offer benefits for clinic flow and patient experience.

Characteristics of the post-surgical decrease in platelet counts in orthopedic surgery patients, observations and insights.

INTRODUCTION: A reduced platelet count (PLT) is a frequent post-operative finding in orthopedic surgery patients. Despite its prevalence, the characteristics of post-surgical thrombocytopenia have not been well described. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients who underwent a knee or hip replacement from 2012 to 2015. Patients who received heparin were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 56 patients were analyzed on post-operative days 0 to 4. By day 1, 90.9% of the patients experienced a reduction in their platelet counts. The lowest mean platelet count (nadir) occurred on day 2 (201.3 × 109/L). The average decrease in the platelet count from the baseline was 24% (95%CI: 20.6 - 27.2). The change in the platelet count from the baseline ranged from a 49.6% drop to a 14.2% increase. A substantial portion of patients experienced thrombocytopenia, with 28% occurring on day 2. Platelet counts less than 100 × 109/L occurred only once. The percent decrease in the platelet count from the baseline to any other time point was significantly larger in patients aged > 65 years, compared to patients aged ≤ 65 years (p = 0.007). Specifically, the average drop in the platelet count at the nadir (day 2) relative to the baseline was 27.8% in patients aged > 65 years, compared to 19.5% in patients aged ≤ 65 years. CONCLUSIONS: A reduction in the platelet count is a frequent post-operative finding in orthopedic surgery patients, even after removing confounding factors, such as heparin exposure, but clinical thrombocytopenia is uncommon. Alternative etiologies should be considered when the platelet count is less than 100 × 109/L. Vigilance should also be considered regarding elderly patients.

Outcomes for patients with high-risk endometrial cancer undergoing sentinel lymph node assessment versus full lymphadenectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) among patients with high-risk endometrial cancer (EC) who underwent sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping and dissection compared to patients who underwent pelvic +/- para-aortic lymphadenectomy (LND). METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed high-risk EC were identified. Inclusion criteria included patients who underwent primary surgical management from January 1, 2014 to September 1, 2020 at our institution. Patients were categorized into either the SLN or LND group based on their method of planned lymph node assessment. Patients in the SLN group had dye injected followed by successful bilateral lymph node mapping, retrieval, and processing per our institutional protocol. Clinicopathological and follow-up data were extracted from patient's medical records. The t-test or Mann-Whitney test was used to compare continuous variables and Chi-squared or Fisher's exact test were used for categorical variables. Progression-free survival (PFS) was calculated from the date of initial surgery to the date of progression, death, or last follow-up. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the date of surgical staging to the date of death or last follow-up. Three-year PFS and OS were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test was used to compare cohorts. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to assess the relationship between nodal assessment cohort and OS/PFS while adjusting for age, adjuvant therapy, and surgical approach. A result was considered statistically significant at the p < 0.05 level of significance and all statistical analysis was done using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). RESULTS: Out of 674 patients diagnosed with EC during the study period, 189 were diagnosed with high-risk EC based on our criteria. Forty-six (23.7%) patients underwent SLN assessment and 143 (73.7%) underwent LND. No difference was observed between the two groups in regards to age, histology, stage, body mass index, tumors myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space invasion, or peritoneal washing positivity. Patients in the SLN group underwent robotic-assisted procedures more frequently than those in the LND group (p < 0.0001). The three-year PFS rate was 71.1% (95% CI 51.3-84.0%) in the SLN group and 71.3% (95% CI 62.0-78.6%) in the LND group (p = 0.91). The unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) for recurrence in the SLN versus LND group was 1.11 (95% CI 0.56-2.18; p = 0.77), and after adjusting for age, adjuvant therapy, and surgical approach, the HR for recurrence was 1.04 (95% CI 0.47-2.30, p = 0.91). The three-year OS rate was 81.1% (95% CI 51.1-93.7%) in the SLN group and 95.1% (95% CI 89.4-97.8%) in the LND group (p = 0.009). Although the unadjusted HR for death was 3.74 in the SLN vs LND group (95% CI 1.39-10.09; p = 0.009), when adjusted for age, adjuvant therapy, and surgical approach, it was no longer significant with a HR of 2.90 (95% CI 0.94-8.95, p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in three-year PFS in patients diagnosed with high-risk EC who underwent SLN evaluation compared to those who underwent full LND in our cohort. The SLN group did experience shorter unadjusted OS; however, when adjusting for age, adjuvant therapy and surgical approach, there was no difference OS in patients who underwent SLN compared to LND.

The role of the first trimester screen in the face of normal cell free DNA.

OBJECTIVE: There is no consensus for the method of aneuploidy screening in pregnancy. Cell free DNA (cfDNA) is the most sensitive screen for trisomies 21, 13, and 18, however the first trimester screen (FTS) is a marker for other adverse outcomes, such as structural anomalies, growth restriction, and preeclampsia. In 2019, we offered FTS (nuchal translucency (NT) and analytes) with or without cfDNA. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical relevance of abnormal FTS in women with normal cfDNA. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed women undergoing screening in our Fetal Evaluation Unit in 2019. Women included had normal cfDNA and abnormal FTS; consisting of NT >95%, PAPP-A < 0.4 MoM, beta-HCG >2.5 MoM, or overall increased risk of trisomies. RESULTS: 195 patients had abnormal FTS and normal cfDNA. 41 (21%) had adverse maternal outcomes including hypertension, abnormal placentation, and placental abruption. 34 (17%) had adverse fetal outcomes including growth restriction, structural anomalies, fetal demise, polyhydramnios, previable PPROM, necrotizing enterocolitis after a preterm birth, and a balanced translocation. CONCLUSION: Abnormal FTS predicts adverse outcomes in 33% of women with normal cfDNA. Our data suggests that offering universal FTS with cfDNA may have clinical benefit.

Outcomes of Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease who Develop Anti-tumour Necrosis Factor-induced Skin Reactions.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Anti-tumour necrosis factor [anti-TNF] induced skin reactions are common adverse events in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. We aimed to report on outcomes of children with anti-TNF induced skin reactions who switched to ustekinumab [UST] vs. continued anti-TNF therapy. METHODS: Charts were reviewed for paediatric IBD patients with anti-TNF induced skin reactions. Skin reactions, including psoriasiform dermatitis [PD], were classified as mild or severe based on a severity score. Primary outcome was frequency of skin resolution at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were combined clinical remission and skin resolution at 6 months and skin resolution at latest follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 111/638 [17%] children ([85, 21%] infliximab [IFX]; [26, 11%] adalimumab [ADA]) developed skin reactions. Eighty [72%] had PD, 25 [23%] infections, and four [4%] alopecia areata; 71 [64%] continued anti-TNF; and 40 [36%] switched to UST. In all, 73 [66%] had severe reactions and were more likely to switch to UST than if mild (37 [51%] vs. 3 [8%]; p <0.0001). Switching to UST had a higher rate and odds of resolution (29 [73%] vs. 24 [34%]; p <0.0001; odds ratio [OR] = 19.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.6, 69.5; p <0.0001) and combined remission (21 [52%] vs. 22 [31%]; p = 0.03; OR = 8.5, 95% CI: 2.5, 28.4; p = 0.0005] vs. continuing anti-TNF at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Children who switched to UST after anti-TNF induced skin reactions were more likely to have improved outcomes than those who continued anti-TNF therapy. Future studies are needed to determine immune mechanisms of anti-TNF induced skin reactions and treatment response.

Exposure to biologic therapy and associated maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that biologic therapy is safe in pregnancies complicated by inflammatory bowel disease and that its use outweighs the risk of worsening disease activity, which is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. To our knowledge, there are limited data regarding the use of biologic therapy and the associated maternal adverse effects such as the risk of hypertensive outcomes, postoperative complications, and infectious risk. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate a variety of obstetrical complications including maternal infectious outcomes, hypertensive outcomes, other adverse maternal outcomes including postoperative complications, venous thromboembolism, and postpartum hemorrhage; we also evaluated the neonatal outcomes associated with biologic use in pregnancies affected by inflammatory bowel disease. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study including patients with inflammatory bowel disease who were pregnant and delivered at our institution. The maternal demographics and the incidence of maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared among groups on the basis of biologic exposure using the chi-square or Fisher exact test for categorical variables and the t test or Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed on composite outcomes adjusting for age, disease activity, maternal obesity, history of cesarean delivery, and history of corticosteroid use in pregnancy. The statistical significance was defined as P<.05. RESULTS: A total of 322 patients who were pregnant, had inflammatory bowel disease, and delivered at our institution from 2012 to 2019, were included for analysis. Of these, 112 (34%) were on biologics during pregnancy. The patients in the biologic group had significantly lower body mass indices than the patients in the nonbiologic group (median body mass index, 22.4 vs 24.0, respectively; P=.04), and they were less likely to be multiparous (41% vs 59%, respectively; P=.003). In addition, more patients in the biologic group were likely to have Crohn disease with previous inflammatory bowel disease surgery (33% vs 20%, respectively; P=.01); otherwise, the 2 groups had similar baseline characteristics. Maternal infectious and hypertensive outcomes occurred significantly more frequently in the biologic group than the nonexposed group (22% vs 7%; P=.0003 and 19% vs 8%; P=.003, respectively). This remained statistically significant in multivariable logistic regression models. Specifically, maternal infectious and hypertensive outcomes occurred significantly more frequently in the patients on a single-agent antitumor necrosis factor treatment than the patients on no inflammatory bowel disease medication (24% vs 6%; P=.002; 22% vs 6%; P=.004), which remained statistically significant in multivariable logistic regression models. There was no difference in the neonatal adverse outcomes between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest an association between antepartum biologic use- specifically antitumor necrosis factor alpha therapy-and an increased risk of maternal infectious and hypertensive outcomes. This increased risk may be related to underlying disease activity and the same should be incorporated into a discussion with the patient. However, the discussion must be balanced with the important benefit of optimal disease control associated with biologic use in patients being treated for IBD.

Adenoidectomy: Inpatient criteria study.

OBJECTIVES: Current practices for admission for overnight observation after an adenoidectomy alone vary from hospital to hospital, as there are currently no studies that provide evidence for overnight observation criteria. The objective of this study is to determine any relationships between risk factors and postoperative complications or interventions in patients under 2-years-old who undergo adenoidectomy and use this data to form a set of guidelines that may be used to stratify patients for inpatient observation. METHODS: Consecutive pediatric adenoidectomy without tonsillectomy cases in children younger than 2-years-old with subsequent inpatient observation from January 2014 to October 2018 were reviewed at a single tertiary children's institution using electronic medical records. Patient demographics, surgical data, and comorbidities were analyzed for correlations with postoperative complications or interventions. RESULTS: Out of the 76 patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) examined, one patient (1.3%) required readmission for postoperative dehydration and seven patients (9.2%) required intervention. The presence of at least one major comorbidity was significantly associated with increased incidence of complication or intervention compared to patients with no major comorbidities (18.9% vs. 2.6%, p = 0.03). Specifically, O2 nadir <80% (p = 0.01), craniofacial syndrome (p = 0.01) and seizure history (p = 0.007) were significant factors of complication or intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Otherwise healthy children (>18-month-old) with SDB may be considered for discharge the same day of surgery. Children younger than 2-years-old with ≥1 major comorbidities may benefit from overnight inpatient observation. Otherwise healthy children younger than 18-months-old or children with a history of RAD or CLD should be managed on a case-by-case basis.

Complexity of Aortic Arch Anatomy Affects the Outcomes of Transcarotid Artery Revascularization Versus Transfemoral Carotid Artery Stenting.

BACKGROUND: Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) has been shown to have half the rates of transient ischemic attack (TIA), stroke, and death compared with transfemoral carotid artery stenting (TFCAS). Successful outcomes of TFCAS require careful patient selection. The aim of this study was to determine the outcomes of TFCAS versus TCAR in both simple (type I) and complex (type II and III) aortic arches. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed comparing the outcomes of patients undergoing TFCAS versus TCAR with simple and complex aortic arches using the Vascular Quality Initiative registry from August 2011 to May 2019. The primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital TIA/stroke/death. RESULTS: About 6,108 carotid artery interventions were analyzed, including 3,536 (57.9%) patients with type I, 2,013 (33.0%) with type II, and 559 (9.2%) with type III aortic arch. In 3,535 patients with a simple arch, 1,917 underwent TFCAS and 1,619 had TCAR. Mean age was 70.6 (±9.5) years, and 2,382 (67.4%) patients were males. The primary outcome of postoperative TIA/stroke/death was seen significantly less frequently in those undergoing TCAR compared with TFCAS in simple arches (odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.43-0.94; P = 0.0236). Although the individual outcome of death occurred less often in TCAR (P = 0.0025), there was no difference in the occurrence of in-hospital stroke (P = 0.8836) or TIA (P = 0.4608). On multivariable analysis, TCAR was associated with improved outcomes (P = 0.0062). A worse outcome was associated with increasing age (P < 0.001), a prior stroke (P < 0.0001), and increasing number of stents (P = 0.0483). In 2,572 patients with a complex arch, 1,416 underwent TFCAS and 1,156 had TCAR. Mean age was 73.0 (±9.1) years, and 1,655 (64.4%) were males. In complex arch anatomy, the primary outcome of in-hospital TIA/stroke/death was seen significantly less frequently in TCAR compared with TFCAS (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.31-0.77; P = 0.0022). Again noted was a significant difference in death, with better outcomes in TCAR (P = 0.0133). Although the occurrence of in-hospital TIA was no different between the 2 approaches (P = 0.6158), there were significantly fewer strokes in those treated with TCAR (P = 0.0132). TCAR (P = 0.0146) was associated with improved outcomes. A worse outcome was seen with advancing age (P = 0.0003), prior strokes (P = 0.01), and a left-sided lesion (P = 0.0176). CONCLUSIONS: TCAR has improved outcomes of TIA/stroke/death compared with TFCAS in both simple and complex aortic arch anatomy. In simple aortic arches, there is no difference in neurologic outcomes between both approaches. In complex arch anatomy, TCAR has fewer strokes.

The Clinical Utility of MRI in Evaluating for Osteomyelitis in Patients Presenting with Uncomplicated Cellulitis.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is vital in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis (OM) in patients presenting with cellulitis. Typically, cellulitis is treated with oral antibiotics; however, patients with concomitant OM may require long-term intravenous antibiotics or surgical intervention. We reviewed lower extremity MRIs in patients presenting with cellulitis and clinical concern for OM. We found 488 patient examinations spanning 5 years (2011 to 2016); 47 patients were excluded (final N = 441). Each MRI was interpreted by a radiologist to determine the rate of OM, abscess, ulceration, and imaging diagnosis of cellulitis. Concurrent assessment of the electronic medical record was performed to review patient demographics, the presence of abscess and/or ulceration, and comorbidities such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia (HLD), atherosclerotic disease, and peripheral vascular disease. Of the 441 lower extremity MRIs included, 170 (39%) were diagnosed with OM, 236 (54%) had ulcers, and 66 (15%) had abscesses. Age, laterality, and reporting physician were not statistically significant independent variables in the rate of reported OM. Diabetes and HLD/atherosclerotic disease were both statistically significant variables with regard to OM rates. Clinical documentation and MRI diagnosis of ulceration were both statistically significant variables in the rate of OM. Regression analysis determined that body part, ulceration, HLD/atherosclerosis, and sex were independent predictors of OM. In our study, of the population of patients with a high clinical suspicion for OM, 39% had OM diagnosed on MRI. However, the incidence of OM in uncomplicated cellulitis was only 11.8% compared with 43.9% in complicated cellulitis. When considering the forefoot alone, patients with ulceration at MRI were 5.6 times more likely to have underlying OM than those without.

Association Between Inhaled Corticosteroids and Tracheobronchomalacia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess any association between use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and tracheobronchomalacia (TBM). METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of patients with asthma and COPD, with and without TBM. Patients were diagnosed with TBM on the basis of CT imaging, flexible bronchoscopy, or both. Patients were deemed to be on ICS if they had been receiving treatment for at least 3 months. Simple logistic regression models were used to assess the association between TBM status and each proposed factor. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the association between TBM and steroid dose. RESULTS: A total of 463 patients with COPD (n = 153) and asthma (n = 310) were studied. In multivariate analysis, the odds of TBM were 3.5 times higher in patients on high-dose steroids compared with patients not on steroids (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.4-8.5; P = .007). Age (P < .0001), presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (P < .0001), use of long-acting muscarinic antagonists (P < .0001), and type of pulmonary disease (P = .002) were also associated with TBM. In patients using ICS, the odds of having TBM were 2.9 times greater in patients on high-dose inhaled steroids compared with those on low-dose inhaled steroids (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.2-7.1; P = .02). Age (P = .003), presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (P = .002), use of long-acting muscarinic antagonists (P = .004), type of ICS (P = .04), and number of months on ICS (P < .0001) were all associated with TBM. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association between ICS use in higher doses for a longer duration of time with TBM. Prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to show causality of this observed association.

Extreme obesity is associated with angulation during inferior vena cava filter placement.

BACKGROUND: Placement of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters can be complicated by venous injury, filter misplacement, angulation, insertion site injury, and procedure-related death. Currently, no studies exist evaluating the correlation between obesity and adverse outcomes of IVC filters. We aimed to assess the outcomes of IVC filter placement in the obese population using the Vascular Quality Initiative database. METHODS: The Vascular Quality Initiative registry identified 7258 patients who underwent IVC filter placement from January 2013 to June 2017. Patients were divided into three groups based on their body mass index (BMI): normal/overweight (BMI <30), obese (BMI 30-40), and extremely obese (BMI >40). Periprocedural outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age was 63.6 ± 16.6 years and 3444 patients (47%) were female. BMI was less than 30 in 4115 (56.7%), 30 to 40 in 2148 (29.6%), and greater than 40 in 995 (13.7%) patients. A complication or IVC filter-related death occurred in 142 patients (2.6%). Adverse events included angulation (1.3%), IVC filter misplacement (0.5%), insertion site injury (0.3%), IVC filter-related death (0.1%), and venous injury (0.06%). In multivariable analysis, increased BMI was found to be associated with angulation (P = .03), but was not associated with IVC filter misplacement (P = .43), or any complication or IVC filter-related death (P = .22). A subgroup analysis of IVC filter placements using only fluoroscopy demonstrated that the risk of angulation was significantly higher in patients with a BMI of greater than 40 compared with a BMI of less than 30 (odds ratio, 2.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-4.21; P = .03). There was not enough evidence to conclude that BMI was associated with any other outcome. CONCLUSIONS: IVC filter insertion has low complication rates. Increased BMI is associated with an increased risk of IVC filter angulation; there is no evidence of association between BMI and other periprocedural complications.

Cytokine secretion in breast cancer cells - MILLIPLEX assay data.

Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage of breast cancer and the leading cause of breast cancer mortality. Although understanding of the cancer progression and metastasis process has improved, the bi-directional communication between the tumor cell and the tumor microenvironment is still not well understood. Breast cancer cells are highly secretory, and their secretory activity is modulated by a variety of inflammatory stimuli present in the tumor microenvironment. Here, we characterized the cytokine expression in human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, T-47D, and BT-474) in vitro using 41 cytokine MILLIPLEX assay. Further, we compared cytokine expression in breast cancer cells to those in non-tumorigenic human breast epithelial MCF-10A cells.

Cross-clamp location affects short-term survival in patients undergoing open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

INTRODUCTION: Open abdominal aortic aneurysm (oAAA) repair in the era of advanced endovascular aortic techniques is used in challenging anatomy. The impact of the location of the proximal aortic cross-clamp (suprarenal [SR] vs infrarenal [IR]) on outcomes remains to be determined. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of proximal aortic cross-clamp location on short-term and overall survival after oAAA repair in a contemporary series. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed comparing the outcomes of patients undergoing oAAA repair with SR and IR aortic cross-clamping using the Vascular Quality Initiative registry from January 2003 to September 2018. Our primary end point was short-term mortality. RESULTS: There were 7601 patients who underwent oAAA repair. Their mean age was 69.3 ± 8.5 years and 5555 patients (73.1%) were male. The aortic cross-clamp location was IR in 4044 patients (53.2%). The SR group had increased maximum AAA diameter (58 mm vs 56 mm; P < .0001), hypertension (85.5% vs 82.0%; P < .0001), preoperative creatinine (1.11 vs 1.08; P = .001), and were more likely to be in American Society of Anesthesiologists class IV (37.4% vs 30.6%; P < .0001). Postoperative renal failure occurred significantly more often in the SR group (24.4 vs 11.4%; P < .0001). Short-term mortality was 2.7% in the IR group and 4.7% in the SR group (P < .0001). Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were 93.7% and 83.8% in the IR group and 90.9% and 81.2% in the SR group at 1 and 5 years, respectively (P = .007). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that SR cross-clamping was significantly associated with short-term mortality (hazard ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.78; P = .01); however, it did not affect overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.28; P = .06). CONCLUSIONS: A SR cross-clamp location is associated with an increased short-term mortality in patients undergoing oAAA repair. Overall survival is not affected by a SR cross-clamp location.

Long-term Visual Outcomes and Causes of Vision Loss in Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term visual outcomes and causes of vision loss in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). DESIGN: Retrospective, longitudinal study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 133 participants (217 eyes) with chronic CSC. METHODS: A retrospective review of clinical and multimodal imaging data of patients with chronic CSC managed by 3 of the authors between May 1977 and March 2018. Multimodal imaging comprised color photography, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and OCT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the final visit; change in BCVA between first visit and 1-, 5-, and 10-year follow-up visits; and causes of vision loss at final visit. RESULTS: Data from 6228 individual clinic visits were analyzed. Mean age of patients at the first visit was 60.7 years, and mean period of follow-up from first to last visit was 11.3 years. The cohort included 101 male patients (75.9%). At the final visit, 106 patients (79.7%) maintained driving-standard vision with BCVA of 20/40 or better in at least 1 eye, and 17 patients (12.8%) were legally blind with BCVA of 20/200 or worse in both eyes. Mean BCVA at first visit was not significantly different from mean BCVA at 1- or 5-year follow-up visits (both P ≥ 0.65) but was significantly better than the mean BCVA at the 10-year follow-up visit (P = 0.04). Seventy-nine percent of eyes with 20/40 or better vision at the first visit maintained the same level of vision at the 10-year follow-up visit. Ninety-two percent of eyes with 20/200 or worse vision at the first visit maintained the same level of vision at the 10-year follow-up visit. Cystoid macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization (CNV), outer retinal disruption on OCT, and FAF changes were associated with poorer vision at the final visit (all P ≤ 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that greater age at first visit was associated with greater BCVA change at the 10-year follow-up visit (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic CSC can be a sight-threatening disease leading to legal blindness. Age at presentation and outer retinal changes on multimodal imaging were associated with long-term BCVA changes and may be predictors of long-term visual outcomes.

Management of iatrogenic perforation during colonoscopy in ulcerative colitis patients: a survey of gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons.

PURPOSE: Patients with ulcerative colitis, a high-risk group for the development of colon cancer, undergo colonoscopy more frequently than the general population. This increase in endoscopic evaluation also exposes these patients to an increased risk of complications, including iatrogenic perforation. Our survey study aims to determine factors that affect the management choices for iatrogenic perforations for ulcerative colitis patients in remission and identify areas of consensus among general gastroenterologists, inflammatory bowel disease specialists, and colorectal surgeons. METHODS: An anonymous, cross-sectional survey was performed using an online platform. A matrix questionnaire posed five clinical scenarios with six management options for an iatrogenic perforation in ulcerative colitis patients with varying disease distribution, disease activity, and maintenance regimens. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-eight general gastroenterologists, 35 inflammatory bowel disease specialists, and 174 colorectal surgeons responded to the survey; 47, 41, and 23%, respectively, answered they did not feel comfortable managing perforations in ulcerative colitis patients in remission. We found the greatest concordance among gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons in cases of perforation in ulcerative colitis with a history of dysplasia; the majority of respondents chose staged total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis. We found discordance in decision making for ulcerative colitis in remission without dysplasia, with perforation occurring in colitis involved and uninvolved areas. CONCLUSION: Our survey revealed that a significant fraction of gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons are uncomfortable managing iatrogenic colonic perforations in ulcerative colitis patients. We have identified knowledge and practice gaps in defining the optimal management of iatrogenic perforations in ulcerative colitis patients.

Prevalence of Proteinuria and Albuminuria in an Obese Population and Associated Risk Factors.

Obesity has been increasingly recognized as a risk factor for kidney disease and both proteinuria and microalbuminuria have been associated with obesity. The actual prevalence of microalbuminuria and proteinuria in obese patients in the United States (US) has not been clearly described in the literature. Furthermore, obesity is associated with risk factors of kidney disease, such as diabetes and hypertension (HTN), and the prevalence of proteinuria and albuminuria excluding these risk factors is uncertain. In this study, we collected urine albumin/creatinine and urine protein/creatinine ratios on obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery to determine the prevalence of albuminuria and proteinuria in obese patients with and without associated diabetes and HTN. The study included 218 obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery at a New York City hospital. The mean age was 42.1 ± 11.3 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 43.9 ± 8.1. Diabetes (DM) was present in 25%. HTN was present in 47%. The prevalence of proteinuria and albuminuria was 21% (95% CI: 15.8-27.1%) and 19.7% (95% CI: 14.2-26.2%) respectively. Among those without DM but who had HTN, 22.6% (95% CI: 12.9-35) had proteinuria and 17% (95% CI 8.4-30.9) had albuminuria. Of patients with neither DM nor HTN, 13.3% (95% CI: 7.3-21.6) and 11% (95% CI: 5-17%) had proteinuria and albuminuria, respectively. Diabetics had a significantly higher prevalence of proteinuria and albuminuria than the non-diabetic groups. The non-diabetic groups did not differ significantly from each other in terms of prevalence of proteinuria and albuminuria. The BMI for diabetics did not differ from non-diabetics. On multivariate analysis, only the presence of diabetes was associated with proteinuria and albuminuria. BMI, age, and HTN were not predictive. In conclusion, we found a relatively high prevalence of microalbuminuria and proteinuria in an urban, US, obese population undergoing bariatric surgery. When diabetics were excluded, there was a lower prevalence. Even patients who had neither diabetes nor HTN, still, however, had much greater amounts than seen in the general US population, likely reflecting an adverse effect of obesity itself on renal physiology.

Outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair for chronic aortic dissections.

BACKGROUND: Open surgical repair remains the "gold standard" treatment for chronic type B aortic dissection (cTBD) with aneurysm. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has gained popularity in recent years for the treatment of thoracic aortic diseases, including cTBD. We assessed the effectiveness of TEVAR in the treatment of cTBD using the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) database. METHODS: The VQI registry identified 4713 patients treated with TEVAR from July 2010 to November 2015, including 125 repairs for cTBD. We analyzed TEVAR outcomes in this cohort per the Society for Vascular Surgery reporting standards for TEVAR. RESULTS: Median age was 65.0 years (interquartile range [IQR], 56.0-72.0 years), and 85 (68.0%) were male. Median aneurysm diameter was 5.5 cm (IQR, 4.8-6.3 cm). Sixty-two (49.6%) patients were asymptomatic on presentation, 57 (45.6%) were symptomatic, and 6 (4.8%) presented with rupture. Median length of stay was 8.0 days (IQR, 4.0-11.0 days). Fluoroscopy time was 17.3 minutes (IQR, 10.5-25.6 minutes). The distal landing zone was aortic zone 4 in 27 (21.6%) and aortic zone 5 and distal in 98 (78.4%) patients. Successful device delivery occurred in 123 (98.4%) patients. Conversion to open repair occurred in one (0.8%) patient. A type IA endoleak was present in 2 (1.6%), type IB endoleak in 2 (1.6%), and type II endoleak in 2 (1.6%) patients. Perioperative complications included stroke in 1 (0.8%), respiratory complications in 6 (4.8%), and spinal cord ischemia symptoms present at discharge in 3 (2.4%) patients. In-hospital mortality occurred in three (2.4%) patients. Reintervention was required in two (1.6%) patients for false lumen perfusion and in two (1.6%) patients for extension of the dissection. Follow-up was available for 43 patients at a median time of 239 days (IQR, 38-377 days). Median change in sac diameter was -0.2 cm (IQR, -0.5 to 0.1 cm). Sac shrinkage of 0.5 cm was noted in 12 (27.9%), with sac growth >0.5 cm in four (9.3%) patients. Extent of stent graft coverage did not affect sac shrinkage (P = .65). Patients with aneurysms ≥5.5 cm compared with <5.5 cm were more likely to demonstrate shrinkage (-0.6 cm vs 0.0 cm; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-11.7; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: TEVAR for cTBD may be performed with acceptable rates of morbidity and mortality. Changes in sac diameter in the midterm are promising. Long-term data are needed to determine whether this approach is durable.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of lytic bone lesions: An institution's experience.

OBJECTIVES: Fine needle aspiration (FNAB) is an effective, minimally-invasive, inexpensive, diagnostic technique. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of FNAB in the diagnosis of bone lesions. METHODS: FNABs of bone lesions diagnosed at our institution over a 2-year period were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: 241 samples were reviewed. Patients included 121 males and 120 females, with ages ranging from 4-95 years (mean = 66 years). Of these 241 cases, 43.2% had FNAB and 56.8% had FNAB with core needle biopsy (CNB). The cytologic diagnoses were categorized as nondiagnostic, benign, atypical, suspicious, and positive for malignant cells. Total of 84.3% of FNABs were diagnostic. Of the malignant cases, 78.5% were metastases from nonosseous primary sites, 17.1% were lymphoproliferative lesions, and 4.4% were primary bone tumors. The most common site of metastasis was the pelvic bones (43.5%) followed by the vertebral column (38.7%). Breast (21%), lung (12.7%), and prostate (11.3%) were the most common identifiable primary site in metastatic cases. FNA smears and cell blocks allowed identification of metastatic lesions in 94.3% cases with immunohistochemistry (IHC). Obtaining a concomitant CNB did not result in a statistically significant increase in overall diagnostic yields (P = .20), ascertaining presence of metastatic lesion (P = .96) or ability to identify site of primary tumor in cases of metastasis (P = .53) compared to FNAB alone. Diagnostic accuracy was improved by reviewing clinical history, performing cell block, and IHC. CONCLUSIONS: FNAB is a reliable tool for diagnosis of bone lesions with comparable diagnostic sensitivity to CNB.