Rotational thrombectomy versus balloon maceration in dialysis access salvage.

BACKGROUND: Although end stage renal disease patients who undergo hemodialysis frequently experience dialysis-associated thrombotic complications, there remains a paucity of literature comparing the efficacy of different endovascular salvage techniques for grafts and fistulas. This study aims to compare primary patency in dialysis access following salvage mechanical thrombolysis/thrombectomy with a rotational thrombolysis device versus balloon maceration. METHODS: Using a database of patient records at a tertiary medical center, all patients who underwent rotational thrombectomy with the Cleaner XT™ Rotational Thrombectomy System for endovascular salvage of arteriovenous fistula or arteriovenous graft from August 2016 to July 2022 were included in the population. Fourteen patients who underwent balloon maceration for endovascular salvage were matched to the patients in the rotational thrombectomy group based on date of procedure. The primary patency of the fistula or graft for the two groups was measured. RESULTS: A total of 13 patients who underwent dialysis access salvage with rotational thrombectomy (10 grafts, 3 fistulas) were matched with 14 patients who underwent balloon maceration for dialysis access salvage (10 grafts, 4 fistulas). Six patients in both groups required additional graft access salvage (46% rotational thrombectomy; 43% balloon maceration). The median time to next dialysis salvage was 51 days for rotational thrombectomy and 43.5 days for balloon maceration (W + 9, critical value 1; compatible with statistically significant difference). CONCLUSION: Endovascular access salvage by rotational thrombectomy may provide longer primary patency compared to salvage by balloon maceration. However, a longer follow-up prospective study of a larger study population is necessary to clarify the safety and efficacy of rotational thrombectomy using the Cleaner XT™ device.

Rare Case of Gallbladder Neuroendocrine Carcinoma.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are very uncommon, though when seen, they are typically found within the gastrointestinal tract. Rarely NETs can be seen within the lumen of the gallbladder. An 83-year-old woman presented to our hospital with vague abdominal pain and distention. She was found to have a mass within her gallbladder on imaging, and she was treated with surgical resection. Pathology revealed a gallbladder NET with lymphovascular involvement. NETs of the gallbladder remain a rare occurrence with a limited number of previous case reports.

Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy Following COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination.

A 21-year-old female developed bilateral acute-onset paracentral scotomas three days after receiving the second dose of her Moderna COVID-19 vaccination. A clinical diagnosis of acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) was confirmed after classic findings were demonstrated on near-infrared reflectance imaging, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and colored fundus photography. The patient presented with visual acuity of 20/100-1 OD and 20/20 OS. After treatment with brimonidine and difluprednate, at a two-week follow-up, her visual acuity was 20/100-2 OD and 20/25-2 OS. There have been reported cases of AMN following flu-like illnesses as well as after receiving vaccines. However, this is the first report of AMN following vaccination with a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Cardiac metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

We present a case of isolated cardiac metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. An 89-year-old woman was due to undergo curative resection of a histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the retromolar region. On admission, it was noted that there were ECG changes, and following further investigations, the patient was diagnosed with a cardiac metastasis of her oral malignancy. The presentation, including the diagnostic difficulties, as well as the clinical features of this rare case, are discussed.

Raman spectroscopy in head and neck cancer.

In recent years there has been much interest in the use of optical diagnostics in cancer detection. Early diagnosis of cancer affords early intervention and greatest chance of cure. Raman spectroscopy is based on the interaction of photons with the target material producing a highly detailed biochemical 'fingerprint' of the sample. It can be appreciated that such a sensitive biochemical detection system could confer diagnostic benefit in a clinical setting. Raman has been used successfully in key health areas such as cardiovascular diseases, and dental care but there is a paucity of literature on Raman spectroscopy in Head and Neck cancer. Following the introduction of health care targets for cancer, and with an ever-aging population the need for rapid cancer detection has never been greater. Raman spectroscopy could confer great patient benefit with early, rapid and accurate diagnosis. This technique is almost labour free without the need for sample preparation. It could reduce the need for whole pathological specimen examination, in theatre it could help to determine margin status, and finally peripheral blood diagnosis may be an achievable target.

Throat swabs taken on the operating table prior to cleft palate repair and their relevance to outcome: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to determine whether bacteria cultured from oral swabs taken at the time of surgery predicted postoperative fistula formation. DESIGN: The study was a prospective longitudinal audit. SETTING: The setting was a designated U.K. N.H.S. cleft center. PATIENTS: Subjects consisted of the patients of a single cleft surgeon who were undergoing surgery for cleft palate repair or cleft fistula repair. INTERVENTIONS: Oral microbiological swabs were taken from patients while they were on the operating table just before surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The results from microbiological culture of the swabs were recorded, as was the presence or absence of a fistula at 6 months postoperatively. Additional collected information was related to the severity of the cleft, whether the operating microscope was used during surgery, and whether the patient had developed a postoperative upper respiratory tract infection. RESULTS: Positive swab cultures were not significantly associated with fistula formation. Use of the operating microscope was not associated with an increase or decrease in the number of fistulas. A fistula developed in all patients who experienced a postoperative upper respiratory tract infection. CONCLUSIONS: The practice of performing routine preoperative mouth swabs should be abandoned because the presence of bacteria in the mouth does not increase the risk of fistula formation.

Quality of dying in head and neck cancer patients: a retrospective analysis of potential indicators of care.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of the dying experience in a cohort of head and neck cancer patients by a retrospective analysis of potential indicators of care. STUDY DESIGN: The study design included retrospective case note analysis of previously evaluated factors considered important in the care of terminally ill patients and validated indicators of care obtainable from administrative data. The documented factors were analyzed to indicate specific elements of the quality of death and dying experience. RESULTS: Pain was a common symptom (84%) and was managed successfully in all patients, with 93% receiving opioids. Management of other symptoms, except neuropsychological problems, were satisfactory. Sixty-three percent of patients died in hospital and only 22% had a relative present at the time of death. Resuscitation status was documented in only 65% of the notes, though none were admitted to the intensive care unit or underwent resuscitation. Fifty-three percent of patients were admitted as an emergency in the last month of life and bleeding was the most common cause of admission. CONCLUSION: Valuable information can be obtained from a focused retrospective analysis. The indicators evaluated suggest that biomedical aspects of care are being recognized and addressed, although there is room for improvement. Psychosocial and spiritual aspects of care were not documented and must be taken into account to assess the "complete quality of dying" experience.