The reliability of nipple aspirate and ductal lavage in women at increased risk for breast cancer--a potential tool for breast cancer risk assessment and biomarker evaluation.

PURPOSE: Ductal lavage, a technique used to sample epithelial cells from breast ducts, has potential use in risk assessment and biomarker evaluation among women at increased risk for breast cancer. However, little is known about the reliability of the procedure. METHODS: We evaluated the reliability of nipple aspirate (NAF) and ductal lavage at two time points 6 months apart in women at increased risk for breast cancer. Eligible women had a 5-year Gail risk >or=1.66% or lifetime risk of >20%, and/or a family history or personal history of breast cancer. All ducts that produced NAF were cannulated. The kappa statistic was used to evaluate reliability of NAF production, cellular yield, and cytologic diagnosis. RESULTS: Sixty-nine women (mean age, 47 years) were enrolled over 35 months. Forty-seven returned for a second visit. At baseline, 65% of premenopausal and 41% of postmenopausal women produced NAF (P = 0.05), of which 72% underwent successful lavage of at least one duct. Samples of inadequate cellular material for diagnosis were significantly more likely in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women (P = 0.04). Of the women who returned for a second visit, 18 of 24 who produced NAF had at least one duct successfully cannulated. Twenty-four ducts in 14 women were lavaged twice. Among these ducts, cellular yield for the two time points was inconsistent (kappa = 0.33 +/- 0.13), and only fair cytologic agreement was observed (kappa = 0.32 +/- 0.15). Ductal lavage was associated with moderate discomfort. CONCLUSION: Currently, the use of ductal lavage is limited by technical challenges in duct cannulation, inconsistent NAF production, a high rate of inadequate cellular material for diagnosis, fair cytologic reproducibility, and low participant return rates.

Pharmacoeconomic issues of sedation, analgesia, and neuromuscular blockade in critical care.

Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are commonly prescribed as adjunct therapy for many critically ill patients. Controversy exists regarding the appropriate long-term use of these agents, particularly since there are severe potential clinical consequences. The expanded use of NMBAs has had a significant effect on the cost of ICU care. One should determine whether or not NMBAs are being used as adjunct therapy, or as a replacement for optimal sedation and/or analgesia. This article reviews some of the indicative economic issues surrounding the use of sedatives, analgesics, and NMBAs in the critical care arena. Understanding the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences of these agents can aid in drug selection and route of administration. Appropriate drug selection can influence the pharmacoeconomics of these agents in the ICU.

Pharmacoeconomic impact of critically ill surgical patients.

Financial information on 131 patients and drug-related information on 176 patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) were prospectively collected. The average stay was nearly five days and patients received 8.6 drugs per day for a total average exposure of 12.2 different drugs. Antibiotics and analgesics were used in over 90 percent of patients. The patients' diagnoses fit into 53 different diagnosis-related groups (DRG). Hospital costs were significantly greater than DRG payment for an average revenue loss of $17,803 per patient. Patients with a primary diagnosis of sepsis had the largest revenue loss, averaging $54,738. One hundred patients were revenue losers. Total hospital stay was statistically longer than DRG-projected length of stay. Pharmacy charges averaged 13.6 percent of total hospital charges. Patients receiving systemic antifungals, triple antibiotics, catecholamines, and total parenteral nutrition had high hospital and pharmacy costs. This study suggests that ICU patients are costly to hospitals and that drug use is expensive. We suggest that increased pharmacy involvement in the care of ICU patients may help curtail escalating drug costs in these patients.