Analytic Morphomics Predict Outcomes After Lung Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify morphomic factors on standard, pretransplantation computed tomography (CT) scans associated with outcomes after lung transplantation. METHODS: A retrospective review of 200 patients undergoing lung transplantation at a single institution from 2003 to 2014 was performed. CT scans obtained within 1 year before transplantation underwent morphomic analysis. Morphomic characteristics included lung, dorsal muscle group, bone, and subcutaneous and visceral fat area and density. Patient data were gathered from institutional and United Network for Organ Sharing databases. Outcomes, including initial ventilator support greater than 48 hours, length of stay, and survival, were evaluated using univariate and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: On multivariable Cox regression, subcutaneous fat/total body area (hazard ratio [HR] 0.60, p = 0.001), lung density 3 volume (HR 0.67, p = 0.013), and creatinine (HR 4.37, p = 0.010) were independent predictors of survival. Initial ventilator support more than 48 hours was associated with decreased vertebral body to linea alba distance (odds ratio [OR] 0.49, p = 0.002) and Zubrod score 4 (OR 14.0, p < 0.001). Increased bone mineral density (p < 0.001) and increased cross-sectional body area (p < 0.001) were associated with decreased length of stay, whereas supplemental oxygen (p < 0.001), bilateral transplantation (p = 0.002), cardiopulmonary bypass (p < 0.001), and Zubrod score 3 (p < 0.001) or 4 (p = 0.040) were associated with increased length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Morphomic factors associated with lower metabolic reserve and frailty, including decreased subcutaneous fat, bone density, and body dimensions were independent predictors of survival, prolonged ventilation, and increased length of stay. Analytic morphomics using pretransplantation CT scans may improve recipient selection and risk stratification.

Strategies for treating scoliosis in children with spinal muscular atrophy.

Progressive pulmonary dysfunction is a major complication of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Growing constructs are a well-established alternative to spinal arthrodesis to maximize pulmonary growth. We describe patients who demonstrated sustained pulmonary function and improved quality of life following hybrid growing construct implantation. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate a range of approaches for managing scoliosis in children with SMA by utilizing vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib implantation or growing rods with lateral rib fixation to improve clinical and patient-reported outcomes. Pulmonary compromise and quality of life decline are leading concerns in the SMA population. This case series highlights important surgical strategies that can be utilized to treat scoliosis in patients with SMA.

Increased serum vitamin A and E levels after lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients experience significant increases in serum vitamin A and E levels after lung transplantation. It is unclear whether this finding is specific to the CF population or inherent to the lung transplantation process. METHODS: The objectives of this study were to assess pre- and postlung transplantation serum vitamin A and E levels in subjects with end-stage lung disease secondary to all causes. The study population consisted of adults who received a lung transplant at the Toronto Lung Transplant Program between 2004 and 2009. The mean change in serum vitamin A and E levels pre- and postlung transplant was evaluated using a paired t test, while differences in vitamin A and E levels between CF and non-CF subjects were determined using a Student's t test. RESULTS: Thirty-two CF and 21 non-CF subjects who underwent lung transplantation were included in the study. Mean serum vitamin A and vitamin E levels increased significantly after transplant, from 1.2 to 3.5 µmol/L (P<0.0001) and from 21.9 to 33.2 µmol/L (P<0.0001), respectively. The proportion of individuals with serum levels above the upper limit of normal increased from 7.6% to 88.7% (P<0.0001) and from 11.3% to 24.5% (P=0.02) for vitamin A and vitamin E, respectively. The dosage of vitamin supplementation did not increase after transplant. CONCLUSIONS: Significant increases in serum vitamin A and E levels were seen in both CF and non-CF subjects after lung transplantation. Further research is needed to understand the cause and clinical implications of these findings.

Laparoscopic diaphragm pacing for tetraplegia.

(1) The NeuRx DPS is a laparoscopically implanted device that provides ventilatory support. (2) This device stimulates the diaphragm muscle, rather than the phrenic nerve, and is intended to lead to less risk of nerve damage than other therapies.(3) This technology provides an alternative to mechanical ventilation, and allows patients to increase day-to-day freedom and minimize the risk of respiratory infection. (4) The NeuRx DPS safety profile is based on clinical testing, which began with clinical trials starting in 2000. It has the potential to reduce costs, but this has not been well established.

Is there a place for thyroidectomy in older patients with thyrotoxic storm and cardiorespiratory failure?

Early thyroidectomy is the treatment of choice for thyrotoxic storm in patients with thyroid autonomy often induced by iodine. However, older patients who are mostly affected by this condition often have underlying chronic cardiopulmonary diseases, apparently contradicting surgical intervention. The published evidence for suitable treatment strategies in these patients is limited. We report the outcome of a series of older critically ill patients who were treated by thyroidectomy because of thyrotoxic storm. We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of 10 patients (4 males, 6 females; 70 years of age, range, 54-79, Burch-Wartofsky point scale, 61; range, 40-85) with thyrotoxic storm, thyroid autonomy, and severe cardiorespiratory and renal failure with cardiac arrhythmia, coronary artery or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or acute inflammation. Thyroidectomy was performed for the following reasons: symptoms of thyrotoxic storm deteriorated or did not improve within 24-48 hours despite intensive medical treatment, or patients developed thionamide-induced agranulocytosis or severe thrombocytopenia. All patients with severe accompanying diseases survived thyroidectomy (early post-operative mortality, 0%). The two oldest patients died 2-3 weeks after thyroidectomy because of myocardial infarction or respiratory failure (late postoperative mortality, 20%). In contrast, in the few previous reports of patients who underwent thyroidectomy for thyrotoxic storm and severe accompanying diseases (n = 7), late postoperative mortality was 43%. The overall mortality for all reported patients including our own, who underwent thyroidectomy for thyrotoxic storm with and without severe accompanying disease (n = 49) was 10%. Our results suggest that early total thyroidectomy should be considered as the method of choice for older, chronically ill patients with thyrotoxic storm complicated by cardiorespiratory and renal failure, especially if high-dose thionamide treatment, iopanoic acid, glucocorticoids, and intensive care fail to improve the patient's conditions within 12-24 hours.

Electrophrenic respiration after intercostal to phrenic nerve anastomosis in a patient with anterior spinal artery syndrome: technical case report.

Long-term positive pressure mechanical ventilation has been the standard of care for patients with respiratory insufficiency caused by high cervical spine injury. Stimulation of the phrenic nerves, and thus the diaphragm, with an implanted phrenic nerve pacemaker has provided adequate ventilation and an alternative to the standard. Diaphragmatic pacing, also known as electrophrenic respiration, requires an intact phrenic nerve to act as a conduit for the applied stimulus. Propagation of the stimulus is impossible if the injury sustained has led to axonal loss in the phrenic nerve. This may be expected if the damage to the spinal cord is at the C3-C5 level. If the cell bodies of the motor neurons in this region have been damaged, or direct injury to the phrenic nerve has occurred, then diaphragmatic pacing is not feasible by the traditional method. Microsurgical repair of peripheral nerves and nerve grafting have provided the impetus for research into anastomosis of a viable intercostal nerve to a nonfunctional phrenic nerve, with subsequent reinnervation of the diaphragm. Once successful axonal regeneration and diaphragmatic reinnervation have occurred, the distal phrenic nerve may then be paced. This case documents the first successful institution of electrophrenic respiration after intercostal to phrenic nerve anastomosis.

Endoscopic laser therapy for respiratory distress due to obstructive airway tumors.

Neodymium-YAG laser therapy for unresectable malignant airway obstructions has a promising future. Nine patients with moderate to severe respiratory distress all experienced rapid relief of dyspnea and substantial improvement in pulmonary function within hours to days after treatment with laser phototherapy. The quality of life and survival was improved in otherwise hopeless cases. A nonfatal case of pneumothorax was the only major complication.