ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Long-term lithium therapy has a well-established but under-recognized association with primary hyperparathyroidism. Rates of hypercalcemia, screening for primary hyperparathyroidism, and referral for parathyroidectomy were evaluated among United States veterans on long-term lithium therapy. METHODS: Patients undergoing chronic long-term lithium therapy (>12 months) were identified from 1999 to 2022. Demographics, long-term lithium therapy duration, post-treatment calcium, parathyroid hormone, creatinine, and vitamin D levels were abstracted. Rates of screening for hypercalcemia (calcium ≥10.2 mg/dL), primary hyperparathyroidism (parathyroid hormone ≥30 pg/mL in the setting of hypercalcemia), referral for parathyroidectomy, and outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 1,356 patients underwent long-term lithium therapy, 514 of whom received chronic long-term lithium therapy. Baseline characteristics of patients with and without post-treatment hypercalcemia were compared. Of 148 patients with post-treatment hypercalcemia, 112 (74.7%) underwent no further evaluation for primary hyperparathyroidism, while 36 (25.3%) patients had a parathyroid hormone level recorded. Although 33 (91.7%) hypercalcemic patients screened positive for primary hyperparathyroidism, only 5 (13%) were referred for parathyroidectomy. Of the 4 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy, mean calcium was 11.2 mg/dL (range 11.1-11.4), and mean parathyroid hormone was 272 pg/mL (range 108-622). Three patients were localized on preoperative imaging, 2 of whom underwent unilateral exploration with cure, with 1 experiencing recurrence at 31 months. The remaining patient who localized preoperatively underwent bilateral exploration and had 2 ipsilateral glands resected and persistence. The patient who did not localize preoperatively underwent bilateral exploration with 3 gland resection and cure. CONCLUSIONS: Screening for primary hyperparathyroidism and referral for parathyroidectomy are underutilized in United States veterans undergoing chronic long-term lithium therapy. Institutional protocols to standardize screening, surveillance, and referrals to endocrinology/endocrine surgery could benefit this population at increased risk for primary hyperparathyroidism.
Subject(s)
Hypercalcemia , Hyperparathyroidism, Primary , Veterans , Humans , Lithium/adverse effects , Calcium , Hyperparathyroidism, Primary/diagnosis , Hyperparathyroidism, Primary/surgery , Hyperparathyroidism, Primary/complications , Hypercalcemia/chemically induced , Hypercalcemia/diagnosis , Hypercalcemia/epidemiology , Parathyroid Hormone , Parathyroidectomy/adverse effects , Parathyroidectomy/methods , Lithium CompoundsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Same day discharge (SDD) may be considered in some patients undergoing minimally invasive adrenalectomy (MIA). Recent studies have demonstrated similar outcomes between SDD and admitted patients; however, most excluded pheochromocytoma and adrenal metastases. This study evaluates 30-day complications and hospital readmission in a large cohort of patients undergoing MIA. METHODS: Adult patients undergoing MIA (2010-2020) for benign adrenal disorders, pheochromocytoma, and adrenal metastases were identified within the ACS-NSQIP database. Comparisons between patients having SDD versus admission were performed. Factors associated with 30-day complications and unplanned readmission were evaluated by multivariable regression modeling. RESULTS: Of 7316 patients who underwent MIA, 254 had SDD. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, although SDD patients had lower ASA class (p < 0.001) and were more likely to undergo MIA for nonfunctioning adenoma or primary aldosteronism (p = 0.001). After adjusting for covariates, higher ASA class and presence of medical comorbidities were associated with increased complications (p < 0.001; p < 0.05) and unplanned readmission (p < 0.001; p < 0.05). Additionally, prolonged operative time was associated with 30-day complications (p < 0.001). Notably, SDD was not associated with increased complications (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.38-1.61, p = 0.502) or unplanned readmission (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.35-1.64, p = 0.490). The rate of SDD for MIA increased from 1.48% in 2017 to 10.81% in 2020. CONCLUSIONS: Not all patients undergoing MIA should have SDD; however, the current analysis demonstrates a trend toward SDD and supports its safety in select patients with adrenal metastases and benign adrenal disorders including pheochromocytoma.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms , Pheochromocytoma , Adult , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Patient Discharge , Pheochromocytoma/surgery , Adrenalectomy/adverse effects , Patient Readmission , Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/surgery , Postoperative Complications/epidemiology , Postoperative Complications/etiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Gracilis flap reconstruction (GFR) following abdominoperineal resection (APR) or proctocolectomy (PC) can reduce pelvic wound complications but has not been adequately assessed in the setting of immunosuppression, fistulous disease, and neoadjuvant chemoradiation. METHODS: Patients undergoing APR/PC with GFR were retrospectively analyzed with regard to perioperative characteristics, and morbidity was assessed. RESULTS: Patients underwent GFR for rectal cancer (n = 28), anal cancer (n = 3), inflammatory bowel disease (n = 13), or benign fistulizing disease (n = 1). 22.2% were chronically immunosuppressed, and 66.7% underwent preoperative chemoradiation. Twenty (44.4%) patients had minor wound complications, all treated nonoperatively. Nine patients had major complications with 4 patients requiring reoperation. The 4 threatened flaps were unilateral, and all were salvaged. Donor site morbidity was minimal. Patients with major complications were older (56 vs. 71 years, P = .030), and less likely to have pelvic drains (P = .018). CONCLUSION: In high-risk perineal wounds, GFR offers durable reconstruction with acceptably low morbidity.
Subject(s)
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , Myocutaneous Flap , Plastic Surgery Procedures , Proctocolectomy, Restorative , Rectal Neoplasms , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Perineum/surgery , Rectal Neoplasms/surgery , Rectal Neoplasms/pathology , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/surgery , Myocutaneous Flap/pathology , Myocutaneous Flap/surgery , Postoperative Complications/epidemiology , Postoperative Complications/surgeryABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: While adrenal venous sampling (AVS) differentiates between the unilateral and bilateral disease in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA), it is unknown if AVS can determine laterality of pheochromocytoma in patients with bilateral adrenal masses. This study analyzes adrenal vein (AV) epinephrine and norepinephrine levels in nonpheochromocytoma patients to determine the "normal" range. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed patients who underwent AVS for PA between 2009 and 2019 at a single institution; pheochromocytoma was excluded. Aldosterone, cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine levels were obtained from the inferior vena cava (IVC), left adrenal vein (LAV), and right adrenal vein (RAV). Successful AV cannulation was defined by an AV/IVC cortisol ratio of ≥3:1 or an AV epinephrine level ≥364 pg/mL. Plasma measurements (pg/mL) are median values with interquartile ranges; normal ranges for epinephrine and norepinephrine are 10-200 pg/mL and 80-520 pg/mL, respectively. RESULTS: AVS was performed in 172 patients in 405 AVs (173 LAV and 232 RAV). Median epinephrine levels were IVC = 19 (14 and 34), LAV = 3811 (1870 and 6915), and RAV = 2897 (1500 and 5288). Median norepinephrine levels were IVC = 325 (186 and 479), LAV = 1450 (896 and 2050), and RAV = 786 (436 and 1582). There was a difference between LAV and RAV epinephrine levels (P = 0.024) and between LAV and RAV norepinephrine (P = 0.002) levels. CONCLUSIONS: This extensive experience with AVS demonstrated a wide range of "normal" AV catecholamine levels in patients without pheochromocytoma, which suggests that the utility of AVS to determine disease laterality in patients with pheochromocytoma and bilateral adrenal nodules is likely to be limited.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms , Hyperaldosteronism , Pheochromocytoma , Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/diagnosis , Adrenal Glands/blood supply , Epinephrine , Humans , Hydrocortisone , Hyperaldosteronism/diagnosis , Norepinephrine , Pheochromocytoma/diagnosis , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
CONTEXT: An institutional study previously demonstrated that cosyntropin stimulation testing on postoperative day 1 (POD1-CST) identified patients at risk for adrenal insufficiency (AI) following unilateral adrenalectomy (UA) for adrenal-dependent hypercortisolism (HC) and primary aldosteronism (PA), allowing for selective glucocorticoid replacement (GR). OBJECTIVE: This study re-evaluates the need for GR following UA for patients with HC and PA in a larger cohort. METHODS: A prospective database identified 108 patients who underwent UA for mild autonomous cortisol excess (MACE) (nâ =â 47), overt hypercortisolism (OH) (nâ =â 27), PA (nâ =â 22), and concurrent PA/HC (nâ =â 12) from September 2014 to October 2020; all underwent preoperative evaluation for HC. MACE was defined by the 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (cortisol >1.8 µg/dL), with ≥5 defined as OH. GR was initiated for basal cortisol ≤5 or stimulated cortisol ≤14 (≤18 prior to April 2017) on POD1-CST. RESULTS: Fifty-one (47%) patients had an abnormal POD1-CST; 54 (50%) were discharged on GR (27 MACE, 20 OH, 1 PA, 6 PA/HC). Median duration of GR was OH: 6.0 months, MACE: 2.1 months, PA: 1 month, PA/HC: 0.8 months. Overall, 26% (nâ =â 7) of patients with OH and 43% (nâ =â 20) of patients with MACE did not require GR. Two (2%) patients with OH had normal POD1-CST but developed AI several weeks postoperatively requiring GR. None experienced life-threatening AI. CONCLUSION: POD1-CST identifies patients with HC at risk for AI after UA, allowing for selective GR. One-quarter of patients with OH and nearly half of patients with MACE can forgo GR after UA. Patients with PA do not require evaluation for AI if concurrent HC has been excluded preoperatively.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Insufficiency/epidemiology , Adrenalectomy/adverse effects , Cushing Syndrome/surgery , Hormone Replacement Therapy/statistics & numerical data , Hyperaldosteronism/surgery , Postoperative Complications/epidemiology , Adrenal Glands/drug effects , Adrenal Glands/metabolism , Adrenal Glands/surgery , Adrenal Insufficiency/drug therapy , Adrenal Insufficiency/etiology , Aged , Cosyntropin/administration & dosage , Female , Glucocorticoids/administration & dosage , Glucocorticoids/blood , Glucocorticoids/metabolism , Hormone Replacement Therapy/methods , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Complications/drug therapy , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Postoperative Period , Prospective Studies , Retrospective Studies , Risk Assessment/methodsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although advocated by some, minimally invasive adrenalectomy (MIA) for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is controversial. Moreover, the oncologic implications for patients requiring conversion to an open procedure during attempted MIA for ACC are not extensively reported. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The National Cancer Database was queried for patients undergoing resection for ACC. Overall survival (OS) for patients undergoing successful MIA was compared with those requiring conversion, and additionally evaluated with a multivariable Cox regression analysis including other factors associated with OS. After propensity matching, those experiencing conversion were further compared with patients who underwent planned open resection. RESULTS: Among 196 patients undergoing attempted MIA for ACC, 38 (19.4%) required conversion. Independent of 90-day postoperative mortality, conversion was associated with significantly reduced OS compared with successful MIA (median 27.9 months versus not reached, p = 0.002). Even for tumors confined to the adrenal, conversion was associated with worse median OS compared with successful MIA (median 34.2 months versus not reached, p = 0.003). After propensity matching for clinicopathologic covariates to establish well-balanced cohorts (N = 38 per group), patients requiring conversion during MIA had significantly worse OS than those having planned open resection (27.9 months versus 50.5 months, p = 0.020). On multivariable analysis for predictors of OS, conversion during MIA (HR 2.32, p = 0.003) was independently associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: ACC is a rare tumor for which adequate oncologic resection is the only chance for cure. Given the relatively high rate of conversion and its associated inferior survival, open resection should be considered standard of care for known or suspected ACC.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms , Adrenalectomy , Adrenocortical Carcinoma , Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms/surgery , Adrenocortical Carcinoma/surgery , Humans , Laparoscopy , Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures , Postoperative PeriodABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor and the role of lymph node dissection remains ill-defined. This study evaluates the effect of nodal examination on prognosis and survival in patients undergoing curative-intent resection of ACC. METHODS: The National Cancer Database (2004-2015) was queried for patients undergoing margin-negative resection for ACC. Patients with distant metastases, neoadjuvant therapy, multivisceral resection and T4 tumors were excluded. RESULTS: Among 897 patients, 147 (16.4%) had lymph nodes examined. Factors associated with lymph node examination included increasing tumor size (P < .001), extra-adrenal extension (P < .001), open operation (P < .001), and resection at an academic facility (P = .003). Lymph node metastasis was significantly associated with extra-adrenal tumor extension (P = .04). Lymph node harvest, regardless of the number of nodes examined, was not associated with a survival benefit. Median overall survival was incrementally worse with increasing number of positive lymph nodes (88.2 months for N0, 34.9 months for 1-3 positive nodes, and 15.6 months for ≥4 positive nodes, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Lymph node harvest and lymph node metastasis were associated with more advanced tumors. Although nodal harvest did not offer a survival advantage, stratifying the nodal staging classification may provide important prognostic information.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms/pathology , Adrenocortical Carcinoma/pathology , Lymph Node Excision/mortality , Lymph Nodes/pathology , Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms/surgery , Adrenocortical Carcinoma/surgery , Adult , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Lymph Nodes/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Survival RateABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic disparities in gastric cancer have been associated with differences in care and inferior outcomes. We evaluated the presentation, treatment, and survival for patients with gastric cancer (GC) in a metropolitan setting with a large African American population. METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis of patients with GC (2003-2018) across a multi-hospital system was performed. Associations between socioeconomic and clinicopathologic data with the presentation, treatment, and survival were examined. RESULTS: Of 359 patients, 255 (71%) were African American and 104 (29%) Caucasian. African Americans were more likely to present at a younger age (64.0 vs 72.5, P < .001), have state-sponsored or no insurance (19.7% vs 6.9%, P = .02), reside within the lowest 2 quintiles for median income (67.4% vs 32.7%, P < .001), and have higher rates of Helicobacter pylori (14.9% vs 4.8%, P = .02). Receipt of multi-modality therapy was not impacted by race or insurance status. On multivariable analysis, only AJCC T class (HR 1.68) and node positivity (HR 2.43) remained significant predictors of disease-specific survival. CONCLUSION: Despite socioeconomic disparities, African Americans, and Caucasians with GC had similar treatment and outcomes. African Americans presented at a younger age with higher rates of H. pylori positivity, warranting further investigation into differences in risk factors and tumor biology.