Takayasu arteritis with recurrent coronary artery disease.

Takayasu arteritis is a rare type of large vessel vasculitis that commonly affects individuals of Asian descent. Coronary artery involvement is rare. We report the case of a young female with history of Takayasu arteritis who underwent stenting and reported with in-stent restenosis. She was managed with robot-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting using bilateral internal mammary arteries.

Multi-Institutional Study Evaluating the Role of Circulating Tumor DNA in the Management of Appendiceal Cancers.

PURPOSE: Conventional surveillance methods are poorly sensitive for monitoring appendiceal cancers (AC). This study investigated the utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in evaluating systemic therapy response and recurrence after surgery for AC. METHODS: Patients from two specialized centers who underwent tumor-informed ctDNA testing (Signatera) were evaluated to determine the association between systemic therapy and ctDNA detection. In addition, the accuracy of ctDNA detection during surveillance for the diagnosis of recurrence after complete cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for grade 2-3 ACs with peritoneal metastases (PM) was investigated. RESULTS: In this cohort of 94 patients with AC, most had grade 2-3 tumors (84.0%) and PM (84.0%). Fifty patients completed the assay in the presence of identifiable disease, among which ctDNA was detected in 4 of 7 (57.1%), 10 of 16 (62.5%), and 19 of 27 (70.4%) patients with grade 1, 2, and 3 diseases, respectively. Patients who had recently received systemic chemotherapy had ctDNA detected less frequently (7 of 16 [43.8%] v 26 of 34 [76.5%]; odds ratio, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.06 to 0.82]; P = .02). Among 36 patients with complete CRS for grade 2-3 AC-PM, 16 (44.4%) developed recurrence (median follow-up, 19.6 months). ctDNA detection was associated with shorter recurrence-free survival (median 11.3 months v not reached; hazard ratio, 14.1 [95% CI, 1.7 to 113.8]; P = .01) and showed high accuracy for the detection of recurrence (sensitivity 93.8%, specificity 85.0%). ctDNA was more sensitive than carcinoembryonic antigen (62.5%), CA19-9 (25.0%), and CA125 (18.8%) and was the only elevated biomarker in four (25%) patients with recurrence. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a reduced ctDNA detection frequency after systemic therapy and accurate recurrence assessment after CRS. These findings underscore the role of ctDNA as a predictive and prognostic biomarker for grade 2-3 AC-PM management.

Intubation and In-Hospital Mortality After Trauma With Glasgow Coma Scale Score Eight or Less-A Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Most trauma societies recommend intubating trauma patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores ≤8 without robust supporting evidence. We examined the association between intubation and 30-d in-hospital mortality in trauma patients arriving with a GCS score ≤8 in an Indian trauma registry. METHODS: Outcomes of patients with a GCS score ≤8 who were intubated within 1 h of arrival (intubation group) were compared with those who were intubated later or not at all (nonintubation group) using various analytical approaches. The association was assessed in various subgroup and sensitivity analyses to identify any variability of the effect. RESULTS: Of 3476 patients who arrived with a GCS score ≤8, 1671 (48.1%) were intubated within 1 h. Overall, 1957 (56.3%) patients died, 947 (56.7%) in the intubation group and 1010 (56.0%) in the nonintubation group, with no significant difference in mortality (odds ratio = 1.2 [confidence interval, 0.8-1.8], P value = 0.467) in multivariable regression and propensity score-matched analysis. This result persisted across subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Patients intubated within an hour of arrival had longer durations of ventilation, intensive care unit stay, and hospital stay (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Intubation within an hour of arrival with a GCS score ≤8 after major trauma was not associated with differences in-hospital mortality. The indications and benefits of early intubation in these severely injured patients should be revisited to promote optimal resource utilization in LMICs.

Venous Thromboembolism in Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Uncovering the Hidden Risk.

INTRODUCTION: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication in patients with abdominal malignancies. Despite known associations between pleural mesothelioma and increased VTE risk, the characteristics of VTE in patients with peritoneal mesothelioma (PeM) remain undescribed. METHODS: Patients treated for PeM were retrospectively identified from our institutional database. The frequency of VTE was assessed and logistic regression modeling was employed to assess VTE risk factors. The association between VTE and overall survival was also ascertained. Recommended thromboprophylaxis for patients who underwent surgery at our institution comprised a single preoperative dose of prophylactic anticoagulation, followed by daily dosing for four weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: Among 120 PeM patients, 26 (21.7%) experienced VTE, including 19/91 (20.9%) surgical patients, 4/23 (17.4%) patients who received systemic therapy, and 3/6 (50%) patients who underwent observation (p = 0.21). Most events were symptomatic (n = 16, 62%) and were attributable to pulmonary emboli (n = 16, 62%). The 90-day postoperative VTE rate was 4.4% (4/91), including 1 of 60 patients who underwent index surgical intervention at our institution and 3 patients with surgery elsewhere. A low serum albumin concentration was associated with VTE in non-surgical patients (odds ratio 0.12, confidence interval [CI] 0.02-0.72; p = 0.03). No significant difference in overall survival was observed between patients with and without VTE (median 46.0 months [CI 24.9-67.0] vs. 55.0 months [CI 27.5-82.5]; hazard ratio 0.98 [CI 0.54-1.81], p = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: A high risk of VTE was observed in PeM patients, warranting suspicion throughout the disease trajectory. Postoperative VTE rates were within acceptable limits with 4-week thromboprophylaxis.

Utility of Circulating Tumor DNA Assessment in Characterizing Recurrence Sites after Optimal Resection for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising biomarker for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC); however, its role in characterizing recurrence sites after mCRC resection remains poorly understood. This single-institution study investigated the timing of ctDNA detection and its levels in the context of recurrence at different sites after mCRC resection. STUDY DESIGN: Patients who underwent optimal resection of CRC metastases involving the peritoneum, distant lymph nodes, or liver, with serial postoperative tumor-informed ctDNA assessments (Signatera) were included. Recurrence sites, as defined by surveillance imaging or laparoscopy, were categorized as peritoneal-only and other distant sites (liver, lung, lymph nodes, or body wall). RESULTS: Among the 31 included patients, ctDNA was detected in all 26 (83.4%) patients with postoperative recurrence and was persistently undetectable in 5 patients who did not experience recurrence. At 3 months postsurgery, ctDNA was detected in 2 (25%) of 8 patients with peritoneal-only recurrence and 17 (94.4%) of 18 patients with distant recurrence (p < 0.001). Beyond 3 months, ctDNA was detected in the remaining 6 patients with peritoneal-only disease and 1 patient with distant disease. ctDNA detection preceded the clinical diagnosis of recurrence by a median of 9 weeks in both groups. At recurrence, peritoneal-only recurrent cases exhibited lower ctDNA levels (median 0.4 mean tumor molecules/mL, interquartile range 0.1 to 0.8) compared with distant recurrence (median 5.5 mean tumor molecules/mL, interquartile range 0.8 to 33.3, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Peritoneal-only recurrence was associated with delayed ctDNA detection and low levels of ctDNA after optimal resection for mCRC. ctDNA testing may effectively characterize recurrence sites and may help guide subsequent treatments specific to the disease sites involved.

Fragmentation of Care in Patients with Peritoneal Metastases Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The delivery of multimodal treatment at a high-volume center is known to optimize the outcomes of gastrointestinal malignancies. However, patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for peritoneal metastases often must 'fragment' their surgical and systemic therapeutic care between different institutions. We hypothesized that this adversely affects outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adults undergoing CRS for colorectal or appendiceal adenocarcinoma at our institution between 2016 and 2022 were identified retrospectively and grouped by care network: 'coordinated care' patients received exclusively in-network systemic therapy, while 'fragmented care' patients received some systemic therapy from outside-network providers. Factors associated with fragmented care were also ascertained. Overall survival (OS) from CRS and systemic therapy-related serious adverse events (SAEs) were compared across the groups. RESULTS: Among 85 (80%) patients, 47 (55%) had colorectal primaries and 51 (60%) received fragmented care. Greater travel distance [OR 1.01 (CI 1.00-1.02), p = 0.02] and educational status [OR 1.04 (CI 1.01-1.07), p = 0.01] were associated with receiving fragmented care. OS was comparable between patients who received fragmented and coordinated care in the colorectal [32.5 months versus 40.8 months, HR 0.95 (CI 0.43-2.10), p = 0.89] and appendiceal [31.0 months versus 27.4 months, HR 1.17 (CI 0.37-3.74), p = 0.55] subgroups. The frequency of SAEs (7.8% versus 17.6%, p = 0.19) was also similar. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in survival or SAEs based on the networks of systemic therapy delivery. This suggests that patients undergoing CRS at a high-volume center may safely receive systemic therapy at outside-network facilities with comparable outcomes.

Total arterial revascularization using robot assisted minimally invasive coronary artery bypass: an Indian experience.

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the early outcomes of Total Arterial Revascularization using Robot Assisted Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass at our center between June 2019 and January 2023. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 195 patients who underwent Total Arterial Coronary Revascularization through Robot Assisted Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass procedure (RA-CABG) during the period of June 2019 and January 2023 in a quaternary care center in India. Primary outcome variables were in-hospital and 30-day mortality. Secondary outcome variables included duration of surgery, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, in-hospital stay and perioperative morbidity. The entire patient population was divided into two groups for a subgroup analysis based on when the surgery was conducted i.e. the years since the robotic program was begun at our institution with 81 patients in group I (2019-2021), and 114 patients in group II (2022-2023). Results: 195 patients [88.7% male, mean age of 61.34 ± 9.58 years] underwent RA-CABG during the 5-year period (2019-2023) by a single experienced surgeon and his team. Conversion to larger thoracic incisions was required in 5 cases (2.59%). In-hospital and 30-day mortality was 1.02% each. The average length of ICU stay and hospital stay were 2.82 ± 1.17 days and 5.84 ± 1.71 days respectively. The duration of ICU stay correlated with the number of internal mammary artery grafts procured (p = 0.0022). Median duration of follow-up was 11 months. Overall mortality was 3.62% and cardiac related mortality was 2.07%, and 5 patients (2.59%) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Results of the sub-group analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of number of internal mammary artery grafts procured (p = 0.010), need for transfusions (p = 0.00031), ICU stay (p = 0.0005) and in-hospital stay (p = 0.0006). Conclusions: Total Arterial Coronary Revascularization through RA-CABG is a viable procedure in select patients. An experienced surgeon and team are required. Further studies in the form of randomized trials with long term follow-up are required to establish the overall utility, effectiveness and benefits to the patients.

Widening Health Disparities: Increasing Cholangiocarcinoma Incidence in an Underserved Population.

Background and Aims: Cholangiocarcinoma is a relatively rare malignancy with high mortality. In the U.S., incidence rates of cholangiocarcinoma have increased, particularly affecting younger age groups and Hispanic and Asian individuals. We investigated the incidence of cholangiocarcinoma in a largely under-represented, minority population. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study from 2005 to 2017 among adults in a county-funded healthcare system in Harris County, Texas. Incidence rate ratios were computed to compare age-standardized rates using U.S. standard population between 2 time periods: 2005-2011 and 2012-2017. Results: We identified 139 cholangiocarcinoma cases (64% intrahepatic, 36% extrahepatic). The median age at diagnosis was 57 years; 62% were Hispanic, and 56% were born outside the U.S. The incidence rate increased from 1.2 to 2.4 per 100,000 person-years (rate ratio 2.1 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.5, 3.0]). Hispanic individuals and those aged 40-69 years had the highest rate of incidence increase (respectively, rate ratio: 2.5 [95% CI: 1.6, 4.0] and rate ratio: 2.0 [95% CI: 1.2, 3.0]) between time periods. In 2012-2017, the risk of cholangiocarcinoma among patients with diabetes was 1.4 times relative to those without (relative risk: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1, 1.5) and 1.2 times among those who were overweight/obese relative to those who were not (relative risk: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1, 1.6). Conclusion: Incidence of cholangiocarcinoma doubled during the 12-year study period, with Hispanic and middle-aged individuals disproportionately affected. Individuals with diabetes mellitus and those who were overweight or obese had a high risk of being diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma in the later time period. Further studies should focus on preventing and improving earlier diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma among Hispanics.