Does thyroid-sparing total laryngectomy decrease the risk of hypothyroidism?

BACKGROUND: Thyroid lobectomy is recommended with total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network ('NCCN') guidelines. However, it is associated with a 32-89 per cent risk of hypothyroidism, with or without adjuvant radiotherapy. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine whether preserving the whole thyroid, compared to a single lobe, does indeed significantly lower the incidence of hypothyroidism in the setting of total laryngectomy. METHOD: A retrospective study was conducted at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients met the inclusion criteria. The overall incidence of hypothyroidism was 45.2 per cent. The incidence of hypothyroidism was significantly reduced in patients who underwent thyroid-sparing total laryngectomy compared to hemithyroidectomy (p = 0.037). Adjuvant radiotherapy was associated with a higher incidence of hypothyroidism (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Thyroid-preserving laryngectomy should be advocated in carefully selected patients with advanced laryngeal carcinoma, as it reduces the incidence of hypothyroidism.

Medical risk factor treatment in peripheral arterial disease. Need for further improvement.

AIM: Risk factors for development of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are the same as for atherosclerotic coronary or precerebral disease, and patients with PAD have a high prevalence of concomitant atherosclerotic disease in coronary and precerebral arteries. However, these patients are still less likely to receive appropriate pharmacological secondary prevention than patients with coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment of risk factors for patients undergoing open or endovascular surgery for PAD in our vascular department. METHODS: We evaluated pharmacological treatment, lipid levels, blood pressures (BP), and smoking habits one month postoperatively in 953 patients (age [mean ± SD] 71±11 years, 524 [55%] men) undergoing open or endovascular surgical interventions for PAD. RESULTS: We found that 89% of patients received statins and 98% received either platelet aggregation inhibitors or anticoagulants at the one month follow-up. Four hundred nineteen (70%) patients had achieved target level <4.5 mmol/L for s-total cholesterol, and 394 (67%) target level <2.5 mmol/L for s-LDL cholesterol. BP (mean ± SD) was 144±22/76±12 mmHg, systolic and diastolic target BPs (<140 mmHg and <90 mmHg, respectively) were achieved in 482 (51%) and 887 (95%) patients, respectively. The proportion of active smokers had been reduced from 41% preoperatively to 24% at the one month follow-up (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Even though our practice has improved, there is still room for better follow-up of pharmacological risk factor treatment in PAD patients.

Oxidative stress and endothelin-1 in atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and effects of renal angioplasty.

AIMS: To examine biomarkers of oxidative stress (oxs), and endothelin (ET)-1, in hypertensive patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) and to evaluate the effect of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA). METHODS: Baseline measurements were made immediately before renal angiography in patients with suspected ARAS (significant ARAS, n = 83, and non-RAS, n = 59) and in 20 healthy, matched controls. In patients with ARAS, analyses were repeated 4 weeks after PTRA. All patients were treated with statins and acetylsalicylic acid throughout. RESULTS: At baseline there were no significant differences between groups in biomarkers of oxs, whereas high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and blood leukocytes were significantly elevated in group ARAS versus both healthy controls and group non-RAS. Plasma levels of ET-1 and uric acid were significantly increased in group ARAS versus healthy controls prior to angiography and were significantly reduced compared to baseline 4 weeks after PTRA. PTRA had no significant effects on biomarkers of oxs, inflammation or serum creatinine concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: ARAS patients on treatment with antihypertensive agents, acetylsalicylic acid and statins showed elevated inflammatory indices but no increase in oxs. PTRA had no significant effects on inflammatory indices 4 weeks after intervention but reduced plasma ET-1 and uric acid.

The clinical importance in differentiating portal from mesenteric venous thrombosis.

AIM: To relate the extent of portomesenteric thrombosis to the risk of intestinal infarction, concomitant venous thromboembolism and underlying diseases. METHODS: Identification of patients with mesenteric (MVT) and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) at Malmö University Hospital from a clinical series from 2000 - 2006 as well as an autopsy cohort of 24000 consecutive autopsies from 1970 - 1982. RESULTS: In the clinical comparative study, MVT (n=51) was associated with more thrombophilic disorders (P=0.040) and intestinal infarctions (P=0.046), whereas patients with PVT without extension to the superior mesenteric vein (n=20) more often had liver disease (P<0.001). At autopsy, 270 patients with portomesenteric venous thrombosis were found; twenty-nine out of the 31 cases with MVT had intestinal infarction. None (0%) of the 239 patients with PVT without extension into the superior mesenteric vein had intestinal infarction. Portomesenteric venous thrombosis and intestinal infarction was associated with concomitant venous thromboembolism (O. R. 6.1 [95% CI 1.8-21]). CONCLUSION: MVT carries a high risk of developing intestinal infarction and is associated with concomitant venous thromboembolism, whereas PVT is associated with liver disease.

Mid-term outcome of endovascular revascularization for chronic mesenteric ischaemia.

BACKGROUND: : This study aimed to assess mid-term outcome after endovascular revascularization of chronic occlusive mesenteric ischaemia (CMI) and to identify possible predictors of mortality. METHODS: : Consecutive patients undergoing primary elective stenting for CMI between 1995 and 2007 were registered prospectively in a database. Patients with acute ischaemia were excluded. Retrospective case-note review and data analysis were performed. RESULTS: : Forty-three patients (10 men) were treated for stable (n = 30) or exacerbated (n = 13) CMI. Their median (interquartile range (i.q.r.)) age was 70 (60-79) years. Revascularization was successful in 47 of 49 vessels. The superior mesenteric artery (SMA), either alone (n = 34) or in combination with the coeliac trunk (n = 6), was the predominant target vessel. No patient died within 30 days. Median follow-up was 43 (i.q.r. 25-63) months and the estimated (s.e.) 3-year overall survival rate was 76(7) per cent. Two patients died from distal SMA occlusive disease and intestinal infarction after 6 and 18 months respectively. Previous stroke (P = 0.016), male sex (P = 0.057) and age (P = 0.066) were associated with mid-term mortality on univariable, but not multivariable analysis. Reintervention was needed in 14 patients, achieving a 3-year cumulative rate of freedom from recurrent symptoms of 88(5) per cent. CONCLUSION: : Endovascular treatment provided high early and mid-term survival rates in this series of patients with CMI, with low complication rates.

Predictors of long-term beneficial effects on blood pressure after percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty in atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

AIM: This retrospective study evaluated long-term effects of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) in atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS), and predictors of benefit on blood pressure (BP). METHODS: During 1997-2003, 234 patients (age 69+/-11 years, 138 [59%] males) underwent PTRA for ARAS at Malmö Vascular Centre. Cure was defined as diastolic (D)BP<90 mmHg and systolic (S)BP <140 mmHg off antihypertensive medication. Improvement was defined as DBP <90 mmHg and/or SBP <140 mmHg on the same or reduced number of medications, or reduction in DBP of >or=15 mmHg with the same or reduced number of medications. Benefit was defined as cure or improvement. RESULTS: After PTRA, SBP and DBP decreased (P<0.001), and remained lower (P<0.001) until last follow-up after 4.1+/-3.3 years. Antihypertensive medication decreased (P<0.001), and remained lower at one month (P<0.001), one year (P<0.01), and last follow-up (P<0.05). Renal function was unchanged until last follow-up, when it deteriorated (P<0.001). Patients showing benefit of PTRA on BP at last follow-up (N.=150 [64%]) used more antihypertensive drugs before PTRA (P=0.012), especially angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) (P=0.010), and diuretics (P=0.015). In logistic regression, use of ACEi or ARBs failed to reach significancy (P=0.054). Patients dying during follow up (N.=100 [43%]) showed higher age (P<0.0001) and s-creatinine (P<0.0001), lower glomerular filtration rate (P<0.0001), and higher frequency of diabetes mellitus (P<0.005). In logistic regression only age (P=0.009) and diabetes mellitus (P=0.014) predicted mortality. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed beneficial effects on BP with PTRA in ARAS. ACEi, ARB and diuretic treatment before PTRA predict favourable long-term BP-response in univariate analysis.

Findings in multi-detector row CT with portal phase enhancement in patients with mesenteric venous thrombosis.

There exists no systematic evaluation on the findings in multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) with portal phase enhancement in patients with mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT). Patients with MVT between 2004 and 2006 were identified at Malmö University Hospital, Sweden. Thirty patients had MVT. Median age was 58 years (interquartile range, 46-72), and 57% (17) were men. MDCT with portal phase enhancement showed MVT in 19 out of 20 investigated patients at first evaluation, even though there was clinical suspicion in only one, and conservative management was possible in 19 (95%). Central and peripheral MVT was seen in 20 (100%) and six (30%) cases, respectively. Extra-hepatic and intra-hepatic portal and splenic vein thrombosis was seen in 17 (85%), nine (45%) and 15 (75%) cases, respectively. Venous collaterals were visible in 12 (60%) cases. The most frequent extra-vascular pathologies were mesenteric oedema (50%), ascites (40%), small bowel wall oedema (25%) and local small bowel wall dilatation (20%). The vascular findings in MVT are more pronounced than the intestinal findings in MDCT with portal phase enhancement, and evaluation of the mesenteric vessels should be included in routine MDCT scans for unclear acute abdomen.

Epidemiology, risk and prognostic factors in mesenteric venous thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological reports on risk and prognostic factors in patients with mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT) are scarce. METHODS: Patients with MVT were identified through the inpatient and autopsy registry between 2000 and 2006 at Malmö University Hospital. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients had MVT, diagnosed at autopsy in six. The highest incidence (11.3 per 100,000 person-years) was in the age category 70-79 years. Activated protein C resistance was present in 13 of 29 patients tested. D-dimer at admission was raised in all five patients tested. Multidetector row computed tomography (CT) in the portal venous phase was diagnostic in all 20 patients investigated, of whom 19 were managed conservatively. The median length of resected bowel in 12 patients who had surgery was 0.6 (range 0.1-2.2) m. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 20 percent; intestinal infarction (P = 0.046), treatment on a non-surgical ward (P = 0.001) and CT not done (P = 0.022) were associated with increased mortality. Cancer was independently associated with long-term mortality: hazard ratio 4.03, 95 percent confidence interval 1.03 to 15.85; P = 0.046. CONCLUSION: Portal venous phase CT appeared sensitive in diagnosing MVT. As activated protein C resistance was a strong risk factor, lifelong anticoagulation should be considered.

Management of renal artery stenosis - an update.

The role of the renal vasculature in eliciting renovascular hypertension (RVH) was established in 1934, when Goldblatt et al. [1] in a classical experimental study demonstrated that partial obstruction of the renal artery increased mean arterial blood pressure (BP). The pathophysiology of renal artery stenosis (RAS) is incompletely understood but has been postulated to be related to increased afterload from neurohormonal activation and cytokine release [2]. Atherosclerotic RAS (ARAS) is increasingly diagnosed in the expanding elderly population, which also has a high prevalence of arterial hypertension. There is still considerable uncertainty concerning the optimal management of patients with RAS. Many hypertensive patients with RAS have co-existing essential hypertension and furthermore, it is often difficult to determine to what degree the RAS is responsible for the impairment of renal function. There are three possible treatment strategies: medical management, surgery, or percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) with or without stent implantation. The use of stents has improved the technical success rate of PTRA and also led to lower risk of restenosis, in particular for ostial RAS. PTRA with stenting has therefore replaced surgical revascularisation for most patients with RAS and has led to a lower threshold for intervention. The treatment of choice to control hypertension in fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is generally accepted to be PTRA [3]. In ARAS, on the other hand, the benefits with PTRA are less clear [4] and the challenge to identify which patients are likely to benefit from revascularisation remains unknown.

Revascularisation of renal artery stenosis caused by fibromuscular dysplasia: effects on blood pressure during 7-year follow-up are influenced by duration of hypertension and branch artery stenosis.

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) mainly affects renal arteries. Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) and surgery are effective treatments, but long-time follow-up is lacking. Retrospective follow-up for 7.0+/-4.7 years of 69 consecutive patients (age 44+/-13 years) treated for hypertension due to FMD, 59 patients underwent PTRA and eight patients surgery. In two patients no PTRA was performed. Technical success was achieved in 56 (95%) patients undergoing PTRA and all eight undergoing surgery. After successful PTRA, both systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) had decreased at discharge (from 174+/-33/100+/-13 to 138+/-19/80+/-15 mmHg; P<0.0001), and remained lower at 1 month, 1 year, and last follow-up after 7.0+/-4.7 years (140+/-25/83+/-12 mmHg; P<0.0001). Serum-creatinine had decreased both at 1 year (from 84+/-28 to 75+/-13 micromol/l; P=0.0030) and last follow-up (75+/-16 micromol/l; P=0.0017). The number of antihypertensive drugs decreased (from 2.3+/-1.2 before PTRA to 1.4+/-1.3 at discharge and at 1 month; P<0.0001, and 1.6+/-1.5 at last follow-up; P=0.0011). SBP decreased more after PTRA among patients with FMD only in the main renal artery than in those with branch artery involvement (43+/-29 vs 20+/-41 mmHg; P=0.0198). Beneficial effects on BP, creatinine and antihypertensive drugs also occurred after surgery. Patients on antihypertensive drugs at last follow-up had longer hypertension duration before PTRA than those without (5.9+/-7.7 vs 1.8+/-4.1 years; P=0.0349). Cure was achieved in 16 (24%), improvement in another 26(39%), and benefit in 42(63%). In conclusion, renal artery FMD, PTRA and surgery have beneficial long-term effects, negatively affected by hypertension duration and branch artery involvement.

Sustained beneficial effects on blood pressure during long time retrospective follow-up after endovascular treatment of renal artery occlusion.

We retrospectively evaluated short- and long-term effects of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) with or without stent placement of renal artery occlusion (RAO) upon blood pressure (BP), serum (s)-creatinine, and the need for antihypertensive treatment in 34 RAO patients who underwent PTRA during 1996-2002. In 24/34 (71%) treatment was considered technically successful, 22/24 (92%) were treated with PTRA + stent, two with only PTRA. Patients were followed for mean 2.6 (range 0-8) years, during which 14/34 (41%) patients died. In all 34 patients, systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) before treatment were 184 +/- 30/95 +/- 15 mmHg and had decreased at discharge (to 157 +/- 21/80 +/- 10 mmHg; P < 0.001 for both SBP and DBP), and remained lower after 1 year (154 +/- 20/83 +/- 7 mmHg; P < 0.001 for SBP and P < 0.01 for DBP), and at last follow-up (148 +/- 20/80 +/-12 mmHg; P < 0.001 for both SBP and DBP). No changes occurred in s-creatinine or the number of antihypertensive drugs. Similar results were seen in the subgroup of 24/34 (71%) patients in whom treatment was technically successful. Among the 24 patients undergoing technically successful PTRA, absence of nephrosclerosis (P = 0.035) and a shorter duration of hypertension (P = 0.020) predicted favourable clinical outcome. No adverse effects upon s-creatinine or the need for antihypertensive medication were seen in patients in whom treatment was considered a technical failure. Seven of these patients were treated with PTRA of another renal artery than the occluded, or with embolisation. In conclusion, RAO can be treated with endovascular techniques. Technically successful results with decreasing blood pressure levels were obtained in 71% of patients.

Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) and surgical revascularisation in renovascular disease--a retrospective comparison of results, complications, and mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate results, complications and mortality following percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) and open surgical revascularisation for renovascular disease. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of 381 renovascular patients (median age 64, range 9-99 years, 152 women) treated at Malmö University Hospital during 1987-1996. Two hundred and sixty-two (69%) of the patients were treated with PTRA, 106 (28%) with open revascularisation. RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality was 2% in the PTRA group and 9% after open surgery (p<0.001). There were no differences between groups concerning the number of re-do procedures, but first re-do was performed after seven (IQR 3-14) months in the PTRA group, and after 15 (IQR 10-44) months after open revascularisation (p<0.0001). After a median follow-up of 4 months (IQR 0-13) systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) had decreased (p<0.0001) in both groups. The number of antihypertensive drugs was reduced (p<0.0001) and S-creatinine levels were unchanged in both groups. Long-time survival assessed with log-rank analysis was better (p<0.01) in the PTRA group. The risk ratio for death with open revascularisation was 1.69 (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective comparison, PTRA was as effective as open revascularisation, with lower complication rate and lower early and long-time mortality, but with shorter time to first re-do.