Telemonitoring with implantable electronic devices in young patients with congenital heart diseases.

AIMS: In paediatric patients with a pacemaker (PM) or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) device, interrogation during in-clinic visits is usually required to obtain information on arrhythmias or system failures. An automated telemonitoring system tracking patient- and system-related parameters provides this information on a daily basis and might assist patient management. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective analysis evaluates telemetric data obtained from 48 devices implanted in 45 patients (median age, 12.4 years; range, 5 weeks to 37.6 years) using an automated system [Home Monitoring (HM)] over the last 5 years. Regular transmissions were received on 72% of all days. The event messages and monitoring data of 34 (71%) devices induced system revisions, electrophysiological studies including ablation, programming changes, medication changes, and alterations in sporting activity. Approximately 47% of event messages and 50% of emergency messages arrived within 4 weeks of implantation or latest outpatient visit; 113 (17%) emergency messages reported acute changes in lead parameters or tachycardia, which required medical intervention. In four ICD patients, delivered shocks were unreported and only detected by HM. CONCLUSIONS: An automated telemonitoring system reporting patient- and system-related parameters, generated within the patient's home surrounding, can improve the safety and quality of PM and ICD therapy, especially in children, by allowing early detection of system failure and changes in arrhythmic events.

Vascular interventions in young patients undergoing transvenous pacemaker revision.

AIMS: Transvenous lead implantation for pacemaker (PM) or implantable cardioverter defibrillators systems in children and young patients with congenital heart disease is widely practiced. With longer implantation times, the risk for vascular occlusion increases. Transvenous angioplasty may be used to maintain venous patency for system revision in the future. Retrospective analysis of the interventional techniques employed in our young patients undergoing PM revision may identify its clinical benefit. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between May 2005 and August 2010, 28 procedures to maintain central venous patency were performed in 24 patients. Median age was 14.3 years (range, 3.6-29.5 years). The median lead age at time of intervention was 6.8 years (range, 8 days-21.5 years). Balloon dilation of the stenotic vessels was performed with and without prior lead removal. Revascularization with stent implantation was successfully attempted in all clinically relevant obstructions. All PM systems retained full function or were upgraded as planned. There were no major complications and acute surgical referral was not required. CONCLUSION: Angioplasty techniques may be used to maintain and increase the longevity of transvenous pacing pathways in young patients.

Lead removal in young patients in view of lifelong pacing.

AIMS: In young patients with or without a congenital heart disease, transvenous leads for pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators can cause later vascular obstruction or infection. Removal of non-functional leads is controversial as it bears the risk of vascular disrupture and embolizations. We report the data of a single centre for paediatric cardiology on efficiency and safety of transvenous lead removal. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between May 2005 and August 2009 in 22 patients with a mean age of 12.9 years (range: 3.6-29.5 years) removal of 28 transvenous leads (mean lead age: 5.1 years) was attempted. The main indications for removal were vascular obstruction, increased threshold, and lead dislocation. Commercially available retraction tools were used, if necessary. Twenty-five leads (89%) were retrieved with clinical success, of which 22 (79%) were removed with complete procedural success. In three leads the lead tips were retained, while three leads could not be retrieved. No major complications occurred. Additional interventions such as recanalization, balloon dilation, or stent implantation were performed as indicated. Procedure and X-ray times could be correlated to the implant age of the leads. CONCLUSION: Using non-electrical techniques, transvenous lead removal can be performed with a success rate of 89% in young patients. In the case of vessel obstructions, lead replacement combined with revascularization should be performed early, as the older the lead, the more prolonged and more hazardous the extraction procedure becomes. The use of new leads and precautionary implantation techniques may facilitate later lead removal.

Medical Nutrition Therapy in Critically Ill Patients Treated on Intensive and Intermediate Care Units: A Literature Review.

Medical nutrition therapy in critically ill patients remains challenging, not only because of the pronounced stress response with a higher risk for complications, but also due to their heterogeneity evolving from different phases of illness. The present review aims to address current knowledge and guidelines in order to summarize how they can be best implemented into daily clinical practice. Further studies are urgently needed to answer such important questions as best timing, route, dose, and composition of medical nutrition therapy for critically ill patients and to determine how to assess and to adapt to patients' individual needs.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation for patients with locally unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma: feasibility, efficacy, and survival.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation for patients with locally unresectable pancreatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2000 to August 2006, 245 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma underwent surgical exploration at our institution. Of these, 78 patients (32%) had undergone neoadjuvant therapy for initially unresectable disease, whereas the remaining patients (serving as the control group) were explored at presentation (n=167). All neoadjuvant patients received gemcitabine-based chemotherapy, often in conjunction with docetaxal and capecitabine in a regimen called GTX (81%). Seventy-five percent of neoadjuvant patients also received preoperative abdominal radiation (5,040 rad). RESULTS: Neoadjuvant patients were younger than control-group patients (60.8 vs 66.2 years, respectively, p<0.002). Seventy-six percent of neoadjuvant patients were resected as compared to 83% of control patients (NS). Concomitant vascular resection was required in 76% of neoadjuvant patients but only 20% of NS (p<0.01). Complications were more frequent in the neoadjuvant group (44.1 vs 30.9%, p<0.05), and mortality was higher (10.2 vs 2.9%, p<0.03). Among the neoadjuvant patients, all but one of the deaths were in patients that underwent arterial reconstruction. Mortality for patients undergoing a standard pancreatectomy without vascular resection was 0.8% in this series. Of patients resected, negative margins were achieved in 84.7% of neoadjuvant patients and 72.7% of NS. Within the cohort of neoadjuvant patients, radiation significantly increased the complication rate (13.3 vs 54.6%, p<0.006), but did not affect median survival (512 vs 729 days, NS). Median survival for patients who received neoadjuvant therapy (503 days) was longer than NS that were found to be unresectable at surgery (192 days, p<0.001) and equivalent to NS that were resected (498 days). CONCLUSIONS: Resection rate, margin status, and median survivals were equivalent when neoadjuvant patients were compared to patients considered resectable by traditional criteria, demonstrating equal efficacy. Surgical resection with venous reconstruction following neoadjuvant therapy for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality. This approach extended the boundaries of surgical resection and greatly increased median survival for the "inoperable" patient with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic α Cell-Derived Glucagon-Related Peptides Are Required for ß Cell Adaptation and Glucose Homeostasis.

Pancreatic α cells may process proglucagon not only to glucagon but also to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). However, the biological relevance of paracrine GLP-1 for ß cell function remains unclear. We studied effects of locally derived insulin secretagogues on ß cell function and glucose homeostasis using mice with α cell ablation and with α cell-specific GLP-1 deficiency. Normally, intestinal GLP-1 compensates for the lack of α cell-derived GLP-1. However, upon aging and metabolic stress, glucose tolerance is impaired. This was partly rescued with the DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin, but not with glucagon administration. In isolated islets from these mice, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was heavily impaired and exogenous GLP-1 or glucagon rescued insulin secretion. These data highlight the importance of α cell-derived GLP-1 for glucose homeostasis during metabolic stress and may impact on the clinical use of systemic GLP-1 agonists versus stabilizing local α cell-derived GLP-1 by DPP-4 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes.

Prophylactic pancreatectomy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm does not negatively impact quality of life: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Uncertainties remain over whether prophylactic surgery or surveillance is the better management option for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas. The aim of this preliminary study was to determine if differences in anxiety and quality of life exist between patients who have surgery or undergo surveillance. METHODS: Recruited patients were given the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, a general survey that evaluates anxiety, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Pancreas, a disease-specific survey that assesses quality of life. Questionnaires were scored by standardized algorithms and compared using Student's t test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS: Sixteen patients had surgery and 16 patients were undergoing surveillance. Mean age was 66.8 ± 19.9 years. Responses from both groups were remarkably similar. Surgery patients scored higher on the anxiety questionnaire than surveillance patients, although not statistically significant (p = 0.09). Surgery patients scored lower on the functional well-being domain of the quality-of-life instrument (p = 0.03), though there were no differences in overall quality of life. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic surgery does not reduce quality of life, and a protocol of surveillance does not appear to generate undue anxiety in this select patient group. Further investigation with more patients is required to validate these findings.