Association between chronic intestinal failure etiology and eGFR trajectory in adults receiving home parenteral nutrition: A retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic intestinal failure (CIF) are at increased risk of developing renal impairment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients dependent on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and assess risk factors for renal impairment, including patients with all mechanisms of CIF. METHODS: This was a cohort study of patients initiated on HPN between March 1, 2015, and March 1, 2020, at a national UK IF Reference Centre. Patients were followed from their first discharge with HPN until HPN cessation or the end of follow-up on December 31, 2021. RESULTS: There were 357 patients included in the analysis. Median follow-up time was 4.7 years. At baseline, >40% of patients had renal impairment, with 15.4% fulfilling the criteria for CKD. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decreased significantly during the first year after initiation of HPN from 93.32 ml/min/1.73 m2 to 86.30 ml/min/1.73 m2 at the first year of follow-up (P = 0.002), with sequential stabilization of renal function. Increased age at HPN initiation and renal impairment at baseline were associated with decreased eGFR. By the end of follow-up, 6.7% patients developed renal calculi and 26.1% fulfilled the criteria for CKD. CONCLUSION: This is the largest study of renal function in patients receiving long-term HPN. After the first year following HPN initiation, the rate of decline in eGFR was similar to that expected in the general population. These findings should reassure patients and clinicians that close monitoring of renal function can lead to good outcomes.

Outcomes for central venous catheter repair in patients receiving long-term home parenteral support: A descriptive cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Central venous catheter (CVC) complications are frequently reported in patients receiving home parenteral support (HPS). Compromised CVC integrity or breakage is one such issue. Repairing such breakages can potentially avoid costly and risky catheter replacements. METHODS: We completed a retrospective descriptive cohort study using a prospectively maintained data set, in a national UK intestinal failure reference center. Repair success, CVC longevity, and catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) rates after repair were the primary outcome measures. RESULTS: A total of 763 patients received HPS. There were 137 CVC repairs: 115 (84%) tunneled CVCs and 22 peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) attempted in 72 patients. Of the 137 attempts at CVC repair, 120 (88%) were deemed to be successful, allowing a median duration of subsequent CVC use of 336 days following repair (range 3-1696 days), which equates to 99,602 catheter days of HPS infusion. Three patients had a CRBSI within 90 days of repair, and patients required admission to the hospital for refeeding on 14 occasions following repair, such that hospitalization was avoided in 103/120 (86%) occasions following successful CVC repair. There was no increase in the recorded rate of CRBSIs in patients undergoing CVC repair compared with the CRBSI rates of all HPS-dependent patients under our care during the study period (0.03 vs 0.344/1000 catheter days, respectively). CONCLUSION: This is the largest single-center experience to demonstrate that CVCs, including PICCs, used for the administration of HPS can be safely repaired, prolonging CVC longevity without leading to an increased risk of CRBSI.

Stress Perfusion Cardiac Magnetic Resonance vs SPECT Imaging for Detection of Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: GadaCAD2 was 1 of 2 international, multicenter, prospective, Phase 3 clinical trials that led to U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of gadobutrol to assess myocardial perfusion and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in adults with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). OBJECTIVES: A prespecified secondary objective was to determine if stress perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) was noninferior to single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for detecting significant CAD and for excluding significant CAD. METHODS: Participants with known or suspected CAD underwent a research rest and stress perfusion CMR that was compared with a gated SPECT performed using standard clinical protocols. For CMR, adenosine or regadenoson served as vasodilators. The total dose of gadobutrol was 0.1 mmol/kg body weight. The standard of reference was a 70% stenosis defined by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA). A negative coronary computed tomography angiography could exclude CAD. Analysis was per patient. CMR, SPECT, and QCA were evaluated by independent central core lab readers blinded to clinical information. RESULTS: Participants were predominantly male (61.4% male; mean age 58.9 ± 10.2 years) and were recruited from the United States (75.0%), Australia (14.7%), Singapore (5.7%), and Canada (4.6%). The prevalence of significant CAD was 24.5% (n = 72 of 294). Stress perfusion CMR was statistically superior to gated SPECT for specificity (P = 0.002), area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (P < 0.001), accuracy (P = 0.003), positive predictive value (P < 0.001), and negative predictive value (P = 0.041). The sensitivity of CMR for a 70% QCA stenosis was noninferior and nonsuperior to gated SPECT. CONCLUSIONS: Vasodilator stress perfusion CMR, as performed with gadobutrol 0.1 mmol/kg body weight, had superior diagnostic accuracy for diagnosis and exclusion of significant CAD vs gated SPECT.

Hepatic fat as a novel marker for high-risk coronary atherosclerotic plaque features in familial hypercholesterolaemia.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatic steatosis has been associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease. Individuals with familial hypercholesterolaemia have accelerated but variable progression of coronary artery disease. We investigated whether hepatic steatosis is associated with novel coronary atherosclerosis biomarkers in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, using comprehensive coronary computed tomographic angiography. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 213 asymptomatic patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (median age 54.0 years, 59 % female) who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography for cardiovascular risk assessment in an outpatient clinic. High-risk plaque features, plaque volume and pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation were assessed. From concurrently captured upper abdominal images, severity of hepatic steatosis was computed, as liver minus spleen computed tomography attenuation and stratified into quartiles. RESULTS: Of 213 familial hypercholesterolaemia patients, 59 % had coronary artery calcium, 36 % obstructive coronary artery disease (≥50 % stenosis) and 77 % high-risk plaque features. Increasing hepatic steatosis was associated with higher calcium scores, more high-risk plaque features and presence of obstructive coronary artery disease. Hepatic steatosis was associated with the presence of high-risk plaque features (OR: 1.48; 95 % CI: 1.09-2.00; p = 0.01), particularly in the proximal coronary segments (OR: 1.52; 95 % CI: 1.18-1.96; p = 0.001). Associations persisted on multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusting for cardiometabolic factors, obstructive coronary artery disease and calcium score. Hepatic steatosis was associated with higher plaque volumes (Q4: 499 mm3 vs Q1: 414 mm3, p = 0.02), involving mainly low attenuation and noncalcified plaques (both p = 0.03). No differences in pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic steatosis is associated with multiple indices of advanced coronary atherosclerosis in familial hypercholesterolaemia patients, particularly high-risk plaque features, independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors and markers. This may involve specific mechanisms related to hepatic steatosis. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: N/A.

Factors associated with strong opioid use for noncancer pain in patients with chronic intestinal failure.

BACKGROUND: Chronic analgesic use is described in home parenteral nutrition (HPN)-dependent patients, but there are limited data on factors associated with opioid use for noncancerous pain. METHODS: Patients attending a national UK intestinal failure reference center were divided in two groups according to strong opioid (SO) usage; risk factors for SO usage were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 168 HPN-dependent patients were included. During the study period, 73 patients (43.5%) had documented SO usage (SO group), whereas the remainder did not (No-SO group). The prevalence of Crohn's disease among the No-SO group was twofold higher than among the SO group (43.2% vs 24.7%; P = 0.013), whereas those with surgical complications were twice as prevalent among the SO group (19.2% vs 8.4%, respectively; P = 0.04). The rate of working-age unemployment was significantly higher in the SO group (90.6%) than the No-SO group (55.6%; P = 0.001). Multivariate regression showed unemployment as an independent risk factor for SO usage (OR, 6.005; 95% CI, 1.435-25.134), whereas Crohn's disease (OR, 0.284; 95% CI, 0.09-0.898) and <4 intravenous support (IVS) nights per week (OR, 0.113; 95% CI, 0.012-1.009) were protective factors. The life-long incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) was comparable between groups (34.2% SO vs 27.4% No-SO; P = 0.336). CONCLUSION: SO use is frequent among HPN-dependent patients and associated with high rates of unemployment and ≥4 IVS nights per week, but not with increased rate of CRBSI. The reduced usage among patients with Crohn's disease warrants further evaluation but might be due to the chronicity as compared with other IF etiologies.

Long-term survival following fungal catheter-related bloodstream infection for patients with intestinal failure receiving home parenteral support.

BACKGROUND: A fungal-related catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) is less frequent than those induced by bacteria. In the past, a single episode of fungal CRBSI has been used as a marker of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) failure and thus a possible indication for intestinal transplantation. METHODS: Survival outcomes were assessed from a prospectively maintained database of patients initiated on HPN for underlying chronic intestinal failure between 1993 and 2018, with a censoring date of December 31, 2020. Cox regression was performed to assess predictors of mortality with univariable and multivariable analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1008 patients were included in the study, with a total of 1 364 595 catheter days. There were 513 CRBSI events recorded in 262 patients, equating to a CRBSI rate of 0.38/1000 catheter days. A total of 38/262 (14.5%) patients had at least one episode of fungal CRBSI, whereas 216/262 (82.4%) had at least one bacterial but no fungal CRBSI. The median time between HPN initiation and the first CRBSI episode was 20.6 months (95% confidence interval, 16.5-24.1). Episodes of fungal or bacterial CRBSI and the number of CRBSI episodes were not associated with increased mortality. Overall, 15 CRBSI-related deaths were observed in the observation period (0.01 CRBSI deaths/1000 catheter days), two of these were fungal in origin. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of a fungal CRBSI does not increase the risk of death compared with patients who have bacterial CRBSI or those without a CRBSI event.

Standardised survival and excess Life Years Lost in patients with type 3 intestinal failure.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Long term outcomes have been reported in home parenteral nutrition (HPN)-dependent patients with type 3 intestinal failure (IF), but there are limited survival data standardised to the general population that would help provide a meaningful prognosis for patients and clinicians. The primary aim of this study was therefore to investigate the survival of HPN-dependent patients and to evaluate the specific impact of type 3 IF on their life expectancy standardised to that of the general population. METHODS: This was a cohort study of adult patients initiated on HPN between 1978 and 2018 at a national UK IF reference centre and followed up until death or censoring date of 31st December 2020. The standardised mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated as observed deaths divided by expected deaths using UK Office for National Statistics database. Excess Life Years Lost (LYL) were calculated separately for each sex as the differences in average life expectancy between patients with type 3 IF and the general population. Survival data were evaluated using cox regression models adjusting for confounding. RESULTS: In total, 1046 patients were identified, with a total observation time of 7344.1 patient-years. Patients with malignancy (n = 206) were excluded from the survival analysis. Of the remaining 840 patients, 398 were alive by the end of follow-up. The probability of survival was 91.8% at 1 year, 69.3% at 5 years, 54.3% at 10 years, 29.8% at 20 years and 16.7% at 30 years. Patients who did not achieve nutritional autonomy had an increased likelihood of death compared to patients who ceased HPN. In total, 40 (9.0%) deaths were HPN or IF-related, while underlying disease leading to IF accounted for 98 (22.2%) deaths. There were 270 (61.1%) deaths not related to IF, with the majority of these patients dying from infections unrelated to HPN. Overall mortality rates were higher among patients with a diagnosis of type 3 IF compared with the general UK population with a SMR of 7.48 (95% CI 6.80 to 8.21) and an excess mortality rate of 54.0 per 1000 person-years. All mechanisms of IF were associated with excess mortality, with SMR ranging from 6.82 (95% CI 5.98 to 7.72) for short bowel syndrome to 15.51 (95% CI 11.73 to 20.03) for dysmotility. On average, the excess LYL was 17.45 years for males and 17.39 years for females compared with the general population of the same age. CONCLUSION: This the largest single-centre series reporting survival outcomes in patients with type 3 IF over more than a four-decade period and the first to report LYL in this patient cohort. Type 3 IF was associated with more than seven-fold higher mortality rates than for the general UK population and shorter life expectancies of more than 17 years. Survival, however, was better in those able to achieve nutritional autonomy. Since the majority of deaths were due to non-HPN or non-IF causes, there is clearly a need now to further explore these causes of death in order to improve our understanding of excessive mortality in type 3 IF and develop ways to prevent it.

Home Parenteral Nutrition in Patients with Advanced Cancer: Quality Outcomes from a Centralized Model of Care Delivery.

Lack of expertise in home parenteral nutrition (HPN) management has been reported as a barrier to its initiation in patients with advanced cancer (AC), and there are limited data describing hospital readmissions and HPN-related complications. We aimed to assess a centralized approach for managing HPN in AC and evaluate associated outcomes, including hospital readmissions and HPN-related complications. This was a cohort study of adults with AC requiring palliative HPN between 2010-2018 at a tertiary intestinal failure (IF) center, primarily utilizing a centralized model of HPN oversight to discharge patients remotely from an oncology center to their homes over a wide geographic area. A total of 126 patients were included, with a median distance between the patient's home and the IF center of 17.5 km (IQR 10.9-39.1; maximum 317.4 km). A total of 28 (22%) patients experienced at least one HPN-related complication, the most common being a central venous catheter (CVC) occlusion and electrolyte abnormalities. The catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) rate was 0.49/1000 catheter days. The CVC type, administration of concomitant chemotherapy via a distinct CVC lumen separate from PN, venting gastrostomy and distance between the patient's home and the IF center were not associated with CRBSI or mechanical CVC complications. A total of 82 (65.1%) patients were readmitted while on HPN, but only 7 (8.5%) of these readmissions were HPN-related. A total of 44 (34.9%) patients died at home, 41 (32.5%) at a hospice and 41 (32.5%) in a hospital. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that a centralized approach to IF care can provide HPN to patients over a large geographical area while maintaining low HPN-related complications that are comparable to patients requiring HPN for benign conditions and low hospital readmission rates.

Management of home parenteral nutrition catheter-related bloodstream infections in hospitals outside of a specialized intestinal failure center.

INTRODUCTION: Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) remain the commonest complication associated with home parenteral nutrition (HPN). Although the management outcomes of CRBSIs have been extensively reported by specialized intestinal failure (IF) centers, there are minimal data reporting CRBSI outcomes for HPN-dependent patients admitted to nonspecialized hospitals. METHOD: This was an observational study from a prospectively maintained database of CRBSIs in HPN-dependent patients managed outside of a specialized IF center. RESULTS: Three hundred and six patients from a total cohort of 1066 HPN-dependent patients suffered from 489 CRBSI events from 2003 to 2021; after 2017, 71 of these events were managed at the patient's local, nonspecialized hospital and the remainder at the specialized IF center. From 2017 to 2021, salvage of the central venous catheter (CVC) with antimicrobial therapy was attempted in 32 out of 71 (45.1%) patients admitted to the nonspecialized hospital, with successful salvage recorded in 23 (71.8%) cases. Notably, CVC salvage was attempted more commonly (77 out of 103 [74.8%]; P = 0.004 vs nonspecialized hospital), with a better salvage success rate (64 out of 77 [83.1%] P = 0.01 vs nonspecialized hospital) in patients who were admitted to the specialized IF center. CONCLUSION: In some instances, CRBSIs can be effectively managed when patients presenting to a nonspecialized hospital; however, overall salvage is more likely to be successful in the specialized setting. Further development of clinical and educational networks between IF centers and patients' local hospitals aimed at standardizing care may lead to improved CRBSI outcomes.

Hybrid model of compounded and multichamber bag parenteral nutrition for adults with chronic intestinal failure.

BACKGROUND: Although international guidelines support the use of commercially available multichamber bags (MCBs), the majority of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) in the United Kingdom has been compounded PN, tailored to the patient. However, national capacity limitations in aseptic facilities have necessitated the increased use of MCBs. There are no studies evaluating the appropriateness or benefits of using a "hybrid" regimen incorporating both MCBs and compounded PN in patients already established on compounded HPN. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional audit evaluation conducted on September 1, 2021, at a national United Kingdom reference center. All HPN-dependent adults prescribed HPN for chronic intestinal failure were assessed by a multidisciplinary team for their potential of being switched to a "hybrid" regimen of MCBs and compounded PN. RESULTS: Of 180 patients currently receiving compounded HPN that included intravenous nitrogen with glucose ± lipid, 65 (36.1%) were deemed clinically suitable for a hybrid PN regimen, with minimal variance in PN constituents per week (volume 0%, non-nitrogen kilocalories 0%, nitrogen 0%, fat -0.2%, glucose 0%, sodium 0%, potassium 0%, calcium 0%, magnesium 0%, and phosphate -0.1%) and requiring no additional central venous catheter manipulations. The potential reduction in compounded PN would reduce by 3627 bags per year, equating to a cost saving of £141,453 per year (equivalent to $178,885). CONCLUSION: Wider use of hybrid MCB/compounded HPN regimens could lead to a reduction in the need for compounded PN to be produced by aseptic facilities. Further evaluation of acceptability and tolerance of hybrid regimens by patients already receiving compounded HPN is required.

Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with Intestinal Failure Due to Short Bowel Syndrome and Intestinal Fistula.

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) and enterocutaneous or enteroatmospheric fistulas are common indications for home parenteral nutrition (HPN). However, there are few data describing factors influencing surgical decision-making or outcomes particularly following fistula development. We aimed to compare outcomes between patients with SBS and fistulas and explore surgical decision-making. HPN-dependent adults from 2001−2018 at a national reference centre were included in this study. HPN cessation was analysed using death as competing risk. In total, 465 patients (SBS (62%), fistula (38%)) were included, with median HPN dependency of 2.6 years. In total, 203 patients underwent reconstructive surgery; while frailty was the commonest reason for not undergoing surgery (49.2%), 22.7% declined surgery. Overall, 170 ceased HPN, with a probability of 13.8%, 34.1% and 38.3% at 1, 5 and 10 years, respectively. Patients undergoing surgery had higher nutritional autonomy rates (109.8 incidences/1000 patient years) compared to those not undergoing surgery (18.1 incidences/1000 patient years; p < 0.001). A total of 295 patients (63.4%) were predicted to cease HPN based on gastrointestinal anatomy but only 162/295 (54.9%) achieved this; those unable to do so were older with a higher comorbidity index. There were no differences in long-term nutritional and survival outcomes or surgical decisions between patients with SBS and fistulas, or between enterocutaneous and enteroatmospheric fistulas. This study represents one of the largest datasets describing the ability of HPN-dependent patients with SBS or fistulas to achieve nutritional autonomy. While reconstructive surgery facilitates HPN cessation, approximately one-fifth of patients declined surgery despite HPN dependency. These data will better inform patient expectation and help plan alternative therapies.

Catheter-related infection rates in patients receiving customized home parenteral nutrition compared with multichamber bags.

BACKGROUND: The risk of bloodstream infections may be increased in hospitalized patients receiving ready-made parenteral nutrition (PN) multichamber bags (MCBs) compared with customized PN; however, as highlighted in recent international guidelines, there are no comparable data relating to home PN (HPN). METHODS: Data from a prospectively maintained database were analyzed to compare incidence rates of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) between patients receiving customized HPN compared with MCB HPN at a national UK referral center between May 2018 and August 2020. RESULTS: Sixty patients with chronic intestinal failure were commenced on MCBs and 45 received customized HPN for a total of 5914 and 7641 catheter days, respectively. No difference in CRBSI incidence was found (0.51/1000 catheter days for MCBs, 0.39/1000 catheter days for customized HPN; incidence rate ratio, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.26-6.37). Eighteen patients were switched from customized HPN to MCB HPN. The study period covered 7401 catheter days receiving customized HPN and 4834 days on MCBs. No significant change was noted in the CRBSI rates following this switch (0.27/1000 catheter days receiving customized HPN vs 0.21/1000 catheter days on MCBs; incidence rate ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.12-14.3). CONCLUSION: The use of MCBs for HPN patients is not associated with an increased risk of CRBSI. This study will inform international guidelines and provide reassurance for the continued, safe use of MCB HPN.

Factors affecting antidepressant use by patients requiring home parenteral nutrition.

BACKGROUND: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a life-saving therapy for patients with chronic intestinal failure but can be associated with a degree of psychological distress. The factors associated with the need for antidepressants (ADs) in this cohort have not yet been described. METHODS: The study involved prospective data collection from patients attending an HPN clinic at a national intestinal failure referral center. Patients requiring HPN as a result of active malignancy were excluded. Patients were divided in 2 groups according to AD usage; demographic, anthropometric, socioeconomic characteristics, and intravenous supplementation (IVS) regimens were compared between groups. RESULTS: A total of 184 patients were recruited between July 2018 and April 2019, with an overall prevalence of AD use of 41.7% (70/168 patients). Daily mean IVS volume was significantly higher among patients taking AD ("AD" group; 2125.48 ± 991.8 ml/day, "no-AD" group; 1828.54 ± 847.0 ml/day, P = .039), with the proportion of patients needing high-volume IVS (≥3000 ml/day) being 3 times higher in the AD group (20.0%(14/70 patients) vs 6.1% (6/98 patients), P = .006). The average energy IVS infusion per day was similar between the groups. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to demonstrate that AD use correlates with higher IVS volume rather than energy requirements in HPN patients, suggesting that high IVS volume requirements may be better associated with the patient's disease burden. Early and tailored mental health intervention may be beneficial in those with high IVS volume requirements.

Glucagon-like peptide 2 analogues in the treatment of intestinal failure: A qualitative exploration of the views of patients and their families in decision making.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with short bowel syndrome and type 3 intestinal failure (SBS-IF) are dependent on parenteral nutrition (PN), a lifesaving treatment but inconvenient and with risks. Glucagon-like peptide 2 analogue (teduglutide) can reduce patients' need for PN. However, it comes with the risk of a number of side effects. This qualitative study investigated patients' decision making process to start teduglutide and how family members contributed to the decision. METHODS: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine participants, six patients with SBS-IF and three family members about the decision to take teduglutide. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework analysis. RESULTS: The prominent motivation for taking teduglutide (Revestive® Takeda Pharmaceuticals Limited) was reducing or stopping PN. Other motivations were to help others by assisting in developing the knowledge base around teduglutide, patients felt that they had nothing to lose by trying the drug and the support of relatives. The reasons patients considered not taking the drug were that they had accepted being on PN, the potential side effects of teduglutide and undergoing extra monitoring. However, the monitoring programme also acted as a motivator providing reassurance that patients would be observed and supported with side effects. Family members were happy to support patients' decision to try teduglutide, although they had more reservations, indicating a higher risk threshold. CONCLUSION: Patients considered potential benefits of teduglutide outweighed any disadvantages. Relatives, although supportive, had more reservations.

Examining antidepressant use in palliative care patients by risk of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.

Antidepressant drugs, which are widely used in palliative care patients for both management of psychiatric disorders and non-psychiatric symptoms, may cause a cluster of distressing symptoms on discontinuation. In dying patients, cessation of oral intake may occur either temporarily or permanently for reasons related to disease or its treatment, as well as in the days before death. We examined antidepressant use in palliative care patients by risk of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADDS). Strategies for reducing the risk of ADDS, and for managing it that should occur, are discussed.

Infective Endocarditis in Patients With Intestinal Failure: Experience From a National Referral Center.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a recognized complication of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). Central venous access devices (CVADs) are essential for the delivery of long-term parenteral nutrition (PN), yet there are no published data as to the prevalence, characteristics and outcomes of IE in this population. METHODS: A prospectively maintained database of patients with intestinal failure (IF) types 2 and 3, managed by a national intestinal failure center between January 2010 and December 2018, was analyzed retrospectively and relevant factors extracted from case records. RESULTS: A total of 745 patients with IF and CVADs in situ on admission, or placed during their stay, were admitted over the duration of this study, 640 with type 2 IF and 105 with type 3 IF. Two hundred eighty-two echocardiograms were performed to investigate potential IE associated with a CLABSI event. Four cases of IE were identified in the entire cohort of 782,666 catheter days (IE incidence rate: 0.005 per 1000 catheter days and 187 per 100,000 person-years for the entire cohort; 0.048 per 1000 inpatient catheter days for acute type 2 IF, 0.0026 per 1000 outpatient catheter days [ie, 99 per 100,000 person-years for outpatients with type 3 IF]). CONCLUSION: IE is rare in the type 3 IF population and a rare consequence of CLABSI in inpatient acute type 2 IF. However, mortality and morbidity are high. Routine echocardiography may not be warranted for investigation of CLABSI unless there is a high risk of IE or a virulent organism is involved.

Gadobutrol-Enhanced Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Detection of Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: Gadolinium-based contrast agents were not approved in the United States for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to the current studies. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of gadobutrol for detection of CAD by assessing myocardial perfusion and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging. METHODS: Two international, single-vendor, phase 3 clinical trials of near identical design, "GadaCAD1" and "GadaCAD2," were performed. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) included gadobutrol-enhanced first-pass vasodilator stress and rest perfusion followed by LGE imaging. CAD was defined by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) but computed tomography coronary angiography could exclude significant CAD. RESULTS: Because the design and results for GadaCAD1 (n = 376) and GadaCAD2 (n = 388) were very similar, results were summarized as a fixed-effect meta-analysis (n = 764). The prevalence of CAD was 27.8% defined by a ≥70% QCA stenosis. For detection of a ≥70% QCA stenosis, the sensitivity of CMR was 78.9%, specificity was 86.8%, and area under the curve was 0.871. The sensitivity and specificity for multivessel CAD was 87.4% and 73.0%. For detection of a 50% QCA stenosis, sensitivity was 64.6% and specificity was 86.6%. The optimal threshold for detecting CAD was a ≥67% QCA stenosis in GadaCAD1 and ≥63% QCA stenosis in GadaCAD2. CONCLUSIONS: Vasodilator stress and rest myocardial perfusion CMR and LGE imaging had high diagnostic accuracy for CAD in 2 phase 3 clinical trials. These findings supported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of gadobutrol-enhanced CMR (0.1 mmol/kg) to assess myocardial perfusion and LGE in adult patients with known or suspected CAD.

Successful implementation of remote video consultations for patients receiving home parenteral nutrition in a national UK Centre.

RATIONALE: Our intestinal failure unit provides care for patients from a wide geographical area. Patients dependent on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) are routinely reviewed in the clinic at 3-6 monthly intervals. Between March 2008 and 2015, we noted a significant rise in the number of patients under our care, with an associated 51% increase in clinic appointments offered. We evaluated whether telemedicine would provide a strategy to reduce patients' need to travel while maintaining safe clinical standards. METHODS: Implementation began in December 2015 via patient consultation and small tests of change. Clinical data were obtained from a prospectively maintained database. Remote video consultation discussions were carried out via internet video call service (Skype). An anonymous satisfaction questionnaire was offered to patients for completion following consultation. The number of miles saved by obviating the need to attend hospital was calculated for each patient. RESULTS: During the study period, patients receiving HPN rose by 18% to 288. Twenty-five patients used telemedicine for HPN follow-up, three of these for follow-up with the psychologist. By avoiding hospital attendance, this saved a mean travel distance of 56.7 miles with a total of 18 346.6 cumulative miles saved. Sixty-three per cent of patients rated their satisfaction with the system at ≥90%, with a mean satisfaction of 85%. Eight per cent of the telemedicine cohort was admitted with an HPN complication, compared with an admission rate of 24% for the whole HPN cohort. One emergency admission was avoided. CONCLUSION: Telemedicine can obviate the need for clinic attendance in HPN-dependent patients, so reducing the need of individuals with chronic illness to travel while maintaining standards for follow-up.

Causes and Prognosis of Intestinal Failure in Crohn's Disease: An 18-year Experience From a National Centre.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Intestinal failure [IF] is a feared complication of Crohn's disease [CD]. Although cumulative loss of small bowel due to bowel resections is thought to be the dominant cause, the causes and outcomes have not been reported. METHODS: Consecutive adult patients referred to a national intestinal failure unit over 2000-2018 with a diagnosis of CD, and subsequently treated with parenteral nutrition during at least 12 months, were included in this longitudinal cohort study. Data were extracted from a prospective institutional clinical database and patient records. RESULTS: A total of 121 patients were included. Of these, 62 [51%] of patients developed IF as a consequence of abdominal sepsis complicating abdominal surgery; small bowel resection, primary disease activity, and proximal stoma were less common causes [31%, 12%, and 6%, respectively]. Further, 32 had perianastomotic sepsis, and 15 of those had documented risk factors for anastomotic dehiscence. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, 40% of all patients regained nutritional autonomy within 10 years and none did subsequently; 14% of patients developed intestinal failure-associated liver disease. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, projected mean age of death was 74 years.2. CONCLUSIONS: IF is a severe complication of CD, with 60% of patients permanently dependent on parenteral nutrition. The most frequent event leading directly to IF was a septic complication following abdominal surgery, in many cases following intestinal anastomosis in the presence of significant risk factors for anastomotic dehiscence. A reduced need for abdominal surgery, an increased awareness of perioperative risk factors, and structured pre-operative optimisation may reduce the incidence of IF in CD.