Distinct Approaches to Perioperative Management of Anticoagulation and Antiplatelet Therapy among Providers Performing Cutaneous Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing cross-collaboration between providers who perform cutaneous surgery, a disparity still exists in the current practices regarding perioperative management. This could lead to treatment delays, patient confusion, and increased morbidity, such as clotting, infection, and discomfort of patients. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the management practices of different providers in regards to perioperative anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy for cutaneous surgery. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This study used an electronic survey to assess current perioperative management practices of dermatologic surgeons and plastic and reconstructive surgeons. RESULTS: 177 physicians (115 dermatologic surgeons and 62 plastic and reconstructive surgeons) responded to the survey. For all therapeutic agents, dermatologic surgeons were significantly more likely than their plastic and reconstructive surgery colleagues to continue all anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents perioperatively for cutaneous surgery (vitamin K antagonists, antiplatelets, LMWH, direct Xa inhibitors, direct thrombin inhibitors, NSAIDS: P<0.001; fish oil, vitamin E: P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Our data highlight the significant practice gaps that exist between dermatologic surgeons and plastic and reconstructive surgeons. Reducing this disparity will facilitate improved continuity of care, especially when patients are referred from dermatologic surgeons to plastic and reconstructive surgeons for more complex repairs, and potentially reduce morbidity and mortality associated with medication discontinuation. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(7):766-772. doi:10.36849/JDD.6726.

A review of phase III clinical trials of US FDA-approved biologic therapies for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis is a heterogenous disease with complex underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms. Biologics have been proven to be an effective add-on therapeutic option in severe and/or refractory cases. Currently, dupilumab, omalizumab and mepolizumab have phase III data to support their use in these patients and have received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration specifically for the treatment of nasal polyposis. Each of these biologics has shown its ability to reduce nasal polyp size and improve nasal congestion/obstruction and sense of smell, but additional research is needed to directly compare the efficacy and safety of the different biologic agents for different nasal polyposis endotypes.

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) is a complex disease that has many different causes. Biological therapies have been proven to be effective when added on to standard treatment in severe and/or cases that are not responsive to initial treatment. Currently, dupilumab, omalizumab and mepolizumab have data supporting their use in such patients and have received approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of CRSwNP. Each of these biologics has shown its ability to reduce nasal polyp size and improve nasal congestion/obstruction and sense of smell, but additional research is needed to directly compare the efficacy and safety of the different biologic agents for different CRSwNP subtypes.

Dupilumab in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) imparts a significant healthcare challenge, resulting in diminished quality of life for patients and high costs with resource utilization for disease management. Understanding of CRSwNP pathophysiology has progressively evolved and the identification of various inflammatory biomarkers has led to the development of monoclonal antibodies that target the underlying mechanisms of inflammation. Dupilumab, which targets IL-4 and IL-13 signaling, serves as a novel agent for CRSwNP treatment. Three clinical trials, NCT01920893, SINUS-24 and SINUS-52, have shown that dupilumab improves both subjective patient-reported outcomes and objective physician-evaluated metrics for CRSwNP. The favorable findings have resulted in approval by the US FDA in June 2019 as the first biologic therapy for CRSwNP.

Clinical practice guideline: Allergic rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common diseases affecting adults. It is the most common chronic disease in children in the United States today and the fifth most common chronic disease in the United States overall. AR is estimated to affect nearly 1 in every 6 Americans and generates $2 to $5 billion in direct health expenditures annually. It can impair quality of life and, through loss of work and school attendance, is responsible for as much as $2 to $4 billion in lost productivity annually. Not surprisingly, myriad diagnostic tests and treatments are used in managing this disorder, yet there is considerable variation in their use. This clinical practice guideline was undertaken to optimize the care of patients with AR by addressing quality improvement opportunities through an evaluation of the available evidence and an assessment of the harm-benefit balance of various diagnostic and management options. PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this guideline is to address quality improvement opportunities for all clinicians, in any setting, who are likely to manage patients with AR as well as to optimize patient care, promote effective diagnosis and therapy, and reduce harmful or unnecessary variations in care. The guideline is intended to be applicable for both pediatric and adult patients with AR. Children under the age of 2 years were excluded from the clinical practice guideline because rhinitis in this population may be different than in older patients and is not informed by the same evidence base. The guideline is intended to focus on a limited number of quality improvement opportunities deemed most important by the working group and is not intended to be a comprehensive reference for diagnosing and managing AR. The recommendations outlined in the guideline are not intended to represent the standard of care for patient management, nor are the recommendations intended to limit treatment or care provided to individual patients. ACTION STATEMENTS: The development group made a strong recommendation that clinicians recommend intranasal steroids for patients with a clinical diagnosis of AR whose symptoms affect their quality of life. The development group also made a strong recommendation that clinicians recommend oral second-generation/less sedating antihistamines for patients with AR and primary complaints of sneezing and itching. The panel made the following recommendations: (1) Clinicians should make the clinical diagnosis of AR when patients present with a history and physical examination consistent with an allergic cause and 1 or more of the following symptoms: nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy nose, or sneezing. Findings of AR consistent with an allergic cause include, but are not limited to, clear rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, pale discoloration of the nasal mucosa, and red and watery eyes. (2) Clinicians should perform and interpret, or refer to a clinician who can perform and interpret, specific IgE (skin or blood) allergy testing for patients with a clinical diagnosis of AR who do not respond to empiric treatment, or when the diagnosis is uncertain, or when knowledge of the specific causative allergen is needed to target therapy. (3) Clinicians should assess patients with a clinical diagnosis of AR for, and document in the medical record, the presence of associated conditions such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, sleep-disordered breathing, conjunctivitis, rhinosinusitis, and otitis media. (4) Clinicians should offer, or refer to a clinician who can offer, immunotherapy (sublingual or subcutaneous) for patients with AR who have inadequate response to symptoms with pharmacologic therapy with or without environmental controls. The panel recommended against (1) clinicians routinely performing sinonasal imaging in patients presenting with symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of AR and (2) clinicians offering oral leukotriene receptor antagonists as primary therapy for patients with AR. The panel group made the following options: (1) Clinicians may advise avoidance of known allergens or may advise environmental controls (ie, removal of pets; the use of air filtration systems, bed covers, and acaricides [chemical agents formulated to kill dust mites]) in patients with AR who have identified allergens that correlate with clinical symptoms. (2) Clinicians may offer intranasal antihistamines for patients with seasonal, perennial, or episodic AR. (3) Clinicians may offer combination pharmacologic therapy in patients with AR who have inadequate response to pharmacologic monotherapy. (4) Clinicians may offer, or refer to a surgeon who can offer, inferior turbinate reduction in patients with AR with nasal airway obstruction and enlarged inferior turbinates who have failed medical management. (5) Clinicians may offer acupuncture, or refer to a clinician who can offer acupuncture, for patients with AR who are interested in nonpharmacologic therapy. The development group provided no recommendation regarding the use of herbal therapy for patients with AR.