Carotid body tumors: A retrospective case series of 11 patients.

BACKGROUND: Carotid body tumors (CBTs) are uncommon neuroendocrine tumors located near the carotid bifurcation within the carotid body. CBTs are slow-growing; affected individuals may remain asymptomatic for years and are often diagnosed incidentally following imaging studies. When present, symptoms are nonspecific. Because incidence is low, retrospective review of CBT case series is an ideal study design for investigating common symptomology, identifying successful diagnostic tools, and evaluating treatment outcomes. METHODS: This article describes a case series of 11 patients treated for CBTs at an academic medical center in the Southeastern US. A retrospective chart review of 11 patients who had been discharged from the hospital following treatment for CBTs between 2017 and 2021 was conducted. Descriptive statistics were used to delineate the case series. RESULTS: There were four males (36%) and seven females (64%) included in the retrospective case series. The age range was 34 to 79 with a mean of 56.73 (standard deviation 16.038). Three patients were found to have a neck mass on physical exam. Additional symptoms included vocal cord paralysis, facial paralysis, ischemic stroke, Bell palsy, dysphonia, and dizziness. Two patients had familial CBTs. Ten patients underwent surgical excision. CONCLUSION: This case series showed that patients with CBTs should be assessed with a combination of history and physical exams along with imaging studies to confirm the diagnosis. Because CBTs may become malignant and metastasize, it is important for NPs to be knowledgeable about presenting symptoms and appropriate diagnostic studies to be able to refer patients to vascular surgeons early to prevent complications.

Continuous betadine-bacitracin irrigation for vascular graft infections: A case series.

The aim of the study was to conduct a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent betadine/bacitracin continuous irrigation (BBCI) for vascular graft infections (VGIs) to review its use as a treatment option. A retrospective chart review from 2013 to 2017 was conducted of patients with VGIs that were treated with BBCI postremoval of the infected graft. The BBCI is a continuous infusion of 0.25% betadine in normal saline at 0.3 mL/kg/h for 48 hours then followed by bacitracin infusion with a concentration of 50,000 units bacitracin/per liter normal saline at 0.3 mL/kg/h for 72 hours. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. The nine adult patients who received postoperative BBCI had an age range of 30-81 years, with average age of 58.8 years. Five of the subjects were females with four males. A total of nine patients with groin infections were identified, with two aortobifemoral bypasses, two axillofemoral bypasses, three femoral-femoral bypasses, one femoral artery pseudoaneurysm repair with Dacron patch, and one common femoral endarterectomy with Dacron patch. VGIs were identified from 10 days up to 72 months from the original vascular procedure. Six patients had negative wound cultures, while two had wound cultures positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and one patient had positive culture for Escherichia coli. The length of time of BBCI ranged from 48 to 84 hours with average of 57.6 hours (standard deviation [SD] = 12.7 hours). The length of time of the bacitracin irrigation ranged from 30 to 72 hours with average of 48.4 hours (SD = 14.9 hours). All patients healed their groin wounds except for an 81-year-old patient with aortobifemoral bypass graft who developed ischemic bowel and expired. Patients received at least 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotics followed by oral antibiotic suppression therapy for life. VGIs are a devastating complication associated with a high morbidity. BBCI provides an option for antiseptic irrigation of the vascular graft site postgraft removal to promote wound closure.

Endovascular interventions for descending thoracic aortic aneurysms: The pivotal role of the clinical nurse in postoperative care.

Descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (dTAA) comprise 40% of all aneurysms arising from the thoracic aorta. Because rupture of thoracic aneurysms is associated with a 94% mortality rate, timely detection, surveillance and treatment is imperative. Endovascular stent-graft repair of thoracic aneurysms was first performed in 1992 and has become an accepted treatment option for this condition in select candidates. There is an abundance of information for the care of patients after open surgical repair of dTAA. However, still relatively few written guidelines exist in the nursing literature for postoperative care and complications associated with endovascular stent-graft repair. The prevalence of aortic endografting, however, now makes it necessary for nurses to have a solid knowledge base in the operative procedure, complications and postoperative care for this patient population. Ideal candidates for aortic endografting undergo CTA or MRI preoperatively and fit a set of strict anatomic criteria to ensure proper delivery and fixation of the device. The early postoperative care focuses on minimizing pulmonary complications, paraplegia, renal failure and embolic complications such as stroke and limb ischemia through skilled nursing assessment and interventions. Late complications such as stent-graft migration, kinking, stent fracture and endoleak are often without symptoms, making it necessary for patients to be educated about these potential complications and to be encouraged to comply with lifelong follow up. This overview provides a sound cognitive framework for nurses practicing in a vascular surgery milieu.