Insights Into Differences in Pulmonary Hemodynamics in Hispanic Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Background: Emerging data suggest that Hispanic patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) exhibit improved survival rates compared to individuals of other ethnicities with similar baseline hemodynamics. However, the underlying reasons for this survival advantage remain unclear. This study focused on comparing pulmonary hemodynamics in Hispanic and non-Hispanic PAH patients and how these differences may contribute to varied clinical outcomes. Methods: A retrospective analysis of right heart catheterization data was conducted on a treatment-naive PAH patient cohort from a single center. Results: Over a 10-year period, a total of 226 PAH patients were identified, of which 138 (61%) were Hispanic and 88 (39%) were non-Hispanic. Hispanic patients presented with lower pulmonary artery pressures, lower pulmonary vascular resistance, and exhibited significantly higher pulmonary arterial compliance (PAc). Hispanic patients had better 5-year survival rates. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of exploring phenotypic differences in ethnically diverse PAH cohorts.

Optimizing Anesthetic Selection in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Striking a Delicate Balance between Efficacy and Minimal Intervention.

Patients with severe calcific native aortic valve stenosis (AS) who require valve replacement have two options, surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). TAVR was approved in late 2011 for extremely high-risk patients and was subsequently approved for high-risk (2012), intermediate-risk (2016), and low-risk (2019) patients. In 2019, TAVR procedures surpassed SAVR procedures for the first time in the United States. The approach to anesthesia for this procedure has also evolved. Initially, general anesthesia (GA) was preferred, but currently, conscious sedation (CS) is favored. This review aims to clarify the indications and contraindications for both approaches, as well as the advantages of one approach over the other. Recent studies show that conscious sedation has better outcomes in terms of all-cause mortality, procedure complications such as stroke, myocardial infarction, infection requiring antibiotics, acute kidney injury, and the need for inotropes or vasopressors.

COVID-19-related mortality in Texas border counties vs non-border counties.

The state of Texas ranked second in total cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States during the pandemic. Counties near the US-Mexico border were severely impacted by the pandemic. Mortality and long-term consequences from COVID-19 are associated with comorbidities, illness severity, and patient demographics. However, differences in outcomes between border and non-border counties are unknown. In this retrospective observational study, data were obtained for analysis from the Texas hospital inpatient discharge public use data file from 2020 to 2021 for adult patients with COVID-19 based on the associated international classification of disease 10 codes. Patients were categorized into border or non-border counties. The clinical outcomes included mortality, length of stay, mortality risk, illness severity, and intensive care unit (ICU) or critical care unit (CCU) admissions. Cost differences between border and non-border counties were analyzed. Age, gender, race, ethnicity, admission type, location, and year of diagnosis were covariates. A total of 1,745,312 patients were included in this analysis. 25% of COVID-19 patients admitted in Texas were from border counties. Patient mortality was 5.35% in border counties compared to 3.87% in non-border counties (p = 0.003). In border counties, 36.51% and 32.96% of patients required ICU and CCU admissions compared to 32.96% and 10.72%, respectively in non-border counties. Border counties had significantly higher risk of mortality (relative risk (RR) = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.09-1.46, p = 0.002), ICU admission (RR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.01-1.32, p = 0.038), CCU admission (RR = 2.87; 95% CI: 1.93, 4.27, p < 0.001), and ICU/CCU admission (RR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.48, p < 0.001) which reflects health disparities in the management of COVID-19 in border counties of Texas.

Perianal Mucinous Adenocarcinoma Found Incidentally From Perianal Mass.

Anal mucinous adenocarcinomas are very rare and usually arise from anal fistulas. We report a case of a 73-year-old man with a past medical history of hypertension admitted to our facility for evaluation of bleeding from a large, tender, left gluteal perianal mass. The patient reported the mass had been growing for over six years. On examination, an ulcerated, fungating large exophytic lesion was found extending from the anal verge laterally engulfing the left gluteus. The patient was anemic with low hemoglobin and hematocrit, as well as an elevated carcinoembryonic antigen level. A colonoscopy was performed during which an internal opening of a left-sided anal fistula was identified. The mass was biopsied and returned positive for a mucinous adenocarcinoma. Staging imaging including a computed tomography scan of the chest abdomen and pelvis did not show any metastatic disease. A magnetic resonance image of the pelvis revealed a locally invasive, heterogeneous tumor extending from the perianal soft tissue to the posterior wall of the anal canal and lower rectum. The patient was discussed at the interdisciplinary tumor board and completed five weeks of concurrent chemotherapy and radiation with 5-fluorouracil and a total of 28 fractions of radiation. He then underwent abdominoperineal resection with a vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap. The patient was placed in the surgical intensive care unit and subsequently discharged in stable condition on postoperative day 14. This case highlights the presentation, diagnosis, and management of anal mucinous adenocarcinoma.

Coccidioides-Induced Pyopneumothorax in an Immunocompetent Patient.

Coccidioidomycosis is a rare infection caused by the dimorphic fungi Coccidiodes immitus or Coccidioides posadasii. This fungal infection is very common in the American Southwest as well as northern Mexico. Though the fungus is ubiquitous, symptomatic coccidioidomycosis usually occurs in the elderly or immunocompromised. This case report discusses a unique instance of an immunocompetent 29-year-old male without any notable past medical history who was found to have a coccidioidal cavitary lung lesion with concomitant pyopneumothorax.

Refractory Escherichia Coli Pneumonia: A Case Report.

Escherichia (E.) coli pneumonia is a rare infection commonly presenting with a cavitary lesion. We report a case of a 44-year-old Hispanic male with comorbidities who was admitted to our facility with multiple falls for two days, shortness of breath, continuous diarrhea, and urinary urgency. Lab results showed leukocytosis with neutrophil predominance, anemia, and respiratory alkalosis. The patient was also noted to have uncontrolled diabetes mellitus with an A1c of 17.6%. Prior to admission to the medical intensive care unit (MICU), the patient was administered vancomycin and cefepime. The patient was then started on fluconazole while admitted to the MICU. In addition, a chest X-ray was conducted, showing patchy airspace opacities in the right upper lobe. A chest and abdominal CT also showed multiple cavitary lesions, pulmonary nodules, and nodular liver contour. Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage conferred trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole-resistant E. coli without fungal or acid-fast bacilli growth and was subsequently started on ampicillin/sulbactam. Infectious disease was consulted and advised to begin ertapenem. The patient developed increased respiratory demands and was subsequently started on mechanical ventilation with vasopressors. The patient was successfully weaned off and downgraded to the telemetry floor. The patient was successfully discharged in stable condition. This case highlights a severe and uncommon complication of E. coli infection causing pneumonia with cavitary lesions.

Effects of statins on outcomes in Hispanic patients with COVID-19.

The Hispanic population is regarded among those who are at greater risk of adverse prognoses due to higher rates of diabetes and obesity in the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Statin medications are speculated to help treat the infection by decreasing inflammation caused by COVID-19. In this retrospective, observational study, outcomes of statin use were assessed among Hispanic patients with COVID-19 by screening all patients hospitalized between March, 2020 and March, 2021 at a tertiary care hospital in El Paso, Texas, resulting in a total of 1039 patients. The patients were categorized into a group of either being on statins or not. The considered outcomes were mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization, oxygen supplementation at discharge, hospital length of stay, and mortality. Patients receiving statins were observed to be older with more comorbidities. In the propensity-scores adjusted analysis, no association was found between statin use and: mortality (adjusted risk ratio (aRR)=0.96, p=0.754), mechanical ventilation (aRR=0.91, p=0.503), ICU transfer (aRR=0.96, p=0.395), and O2 supplementation at discharge (aRR=1.03, p=0.729). These outcomes were also evaluated in patients who had myocardial infarction and stroke with COVID-19. Among these patients, association was found between statin use and: a reduced risk of mortality (aRR=0.61, p=0.005), mechanical ventilation (aRR=0.53, p=0.012) and ICU transfers (aRR=0.81, p=0.005). These results may not give us a reason to start patients on statins for the specific treatment of COVID-19, but it may be sufficient evidence to suggest statins should not be discontinued during hospitalization due to COVID-19.