Risk-Adapted Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) for Breast Cancer: A Novel Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Randomized trials have shown that risk-adapted intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) after breast-conserving surgery for low-risk breast cancer patients is a safe alternative to whole-breast radiation therapy (WBRT). The risk-adapted strategy allows additional WBRT for predefined high-risk pathologic characteristics discovered on final histopathology. The greater the percentage of patients receiving WBRT, the lower the recurrence rate. The risk-adapted strategy, although important and necessary, can make IORT appear better than it actually is. METHODS: Risk-adapted IORT was used to treat 1600 breast cancers. They were analyzed by the intention-to-treat method and per protocol to better understand the contribution of IORT with and without additional whole-breast treatment. Any ipsilateral breast tumor event was considered a local recurrence. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 63 months, local recurrence differed significantly between the patients who received local treatment and those who received whole-breast treatment. For 1393 patients the treatment was local treatment alone. These patients experienced 79 local recurrences and a 5-year local recurrence probability of 5.95 %. For 207 patients with high-risk final histopathology, additional whole-breast treatment was administered. They experienced two local recurrences and a 5-year local recurrence probability of 0.5 % (p = 0.0009). CONCLUSIONS: Whole-breast treatment works well at reducing local recurrence, and it is a totally acceptable and necessary addition to IORT as part of a risk-adapted program. However, the more whole-breast treatment that is given, the more it dilutes the original plan of simplifying local treatment and the less we understand exactly what IORT contributes to local control as a stand-alone treatment.

Axillary lymph node recurrence following wire-directed sentinel lymph node dissection for breast cancer patients with biopsy-proven axillary metastases prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy at a safety net medical center.

BACKGROUND: Although sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is feasible, axillary management for patients with pretreatment biopsy-proven axillary metastases and who are clinically node-negative after NAC (ycN0) remains unclear. This retrospective study was performed to determine the rate of axillary lymph node recurrence for such patients who had wire-directed (WD) SLND. METHODS: Patients treated with NAC from 2015 to 2020 had axillary nodes evaluated by pretreatment ultrasound. Core biopsies were done on abnormal nodes, and microclips were placed in nodes during biopsy. For patients with biopsy-proven node metastases who received NAC and were ycN0 by clinical exam, WD SLND was done. Patients with negative nodes on frozen section had WD SLND alone; those with positive nodes had WD SLND plus axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). RESULTS: Of 179 patients receiving NAC, 62 were biopsy-proven node-positive pre-NAC and ycN0 post-NAC. Thirty-five (56%) patients were node-negative on frozen section and had WD SLND alone. Twenty-seven (43%) patients had WD SLND + ALND. Forty-seven patients had postoperative regional node irradiation. With median follow-up of 40 months, there were recurrences in 4 (11%) of 35 patients having WD SLND and 5 (19%) of 27 having WD SLND + ALND, but there was only one axillary lymph node recurrence, identified by CT scan. CONCLUSIONS: Axillary node recurrence was very uncommon after WD SLND for patients who had pretreatment biopsy-proven node metastases and were ypN0 after NAC. These patients would be unlikely to derive clinical benefit from the addition of completion ALND to SLND.

Safety and Efficacy of Prophylactic Enoxaparin Adjusted by Anti-Factor Xa Peak Levels in Pancreatic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Recommended prophylactic doses of enoxaparin (Lovenox) are associated with subprophylactic anti-Factor Xa (anti-Xa) levels. This study examines the safety and efficacy of anti-Xa-guided dosing of enoxaparin in pancreatic surgery. METHODS: Prospectively enrolled patients undergoing pancreatic surgery received enoxaparin dosing adjusted based on peak anti-Xa levels and were compared to a historical cohort of patients. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar between the intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, 73.9% initially had subprophylactic peak anti-Xa levels. There were no differences in the venous thromboembolism (VTE) rates between the intervention and control groups (0% vs. 7.69%; P = .084), major bleeding events (4.35% vs. 2.56%; P = .627), RBC transfusion (15.2% vs. 25.6%; P = .257), or Hgb on discharge (9.82 vs. 9.44 g/dL; P = .244). Subtherapeutic anti-Xa levels were correlated with a higher BMI (P = .033), longer OR time (P = .011), and length of stay (P = .018). CONCLUSIONS: Enoxaparin 40 mg once daily is associated with subprophylactic peak anti-Xa levels. Dose adjustment based on anti-Xa levels trended toward a lower rate of in-hospital VTE without an increase in bleeding or transfusion requirement.

Pelvic Outlet Obstruction Secondary to Salmonella enterica serovar Bovismorbificans Abscess.

We present a case of a 30-year-old Hispanic male with pelvic outlet obstruction syndrome secondary to a large pelvic abscess caused by Salmonella enterica Bovismorbificans. This case demonstrates a potentially serious complication of a rare foodborne illness in the United States, in which an urgent surgical intervention was warranted. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated a large pelvic cystic mass causing near-total pelvic outlet obstruction of both gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems. A total of 1,250 mg of IV vancomycin and 3.375 mg of IV piperacillin-tazobactam were administered every eight hours, and an urgent decompressive transverse loop colostomy, Foley catheter placement, and percutaneous drainage were performed. Culture of the abscess fluid identified Salmonella enterica serotype Bovismorbificans, and the antibiotic regimen was changed to 1,000 mg IV ceftriaxone every 24 hours. Subsequent CT imaging displayed a reduction in abscess size. The patient was then discharged with a 14-day course of 500 mg of oral ciprofloxacin every 12 hours and 500 mg of oral metronidazole every eight hours. Imaging at three weeks post-discharge displayed resolution of the abscess, and the drain was removed. The patient had complete recovery and did well several months following treatment. While rare, Salmonella enterica serotype Bovismorbificans could potentially lead to serious complications such as giant pelvic abscess, in which a multidisciplinary team approach (i.e., medical, surgical, and interventional) is critical for a good outcome.

Collaborative Antimicrobial Stewardship for Surgeons.

Antimicrobial stewardship efforts that include surgeons rely on healthy and open communications between surgeons, infectious diseases specialists, and pharmacists. These efforts most frequently are related to surgical prophylaxis, the management of surgical infections, and surgical critical care. Policy should be based on best evidence and timely interactions to develop consensus on how to develop appropriate guidelines and protocols. Flexibility on all sides leads to increasingly strong relationships over time.

Prophylactic Enoxaparin Adjusted by Anti-Factor Xa Peak Levels Compared with Recommended Thromboprophylaxis and Rates of Clinically Evident Venous Thromboembolism in Surgical Oncology Patients.

BACKGROUND: Studies among populations at high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) have demonstrated that recommended doses for enoxaparin thromboprophylaxis are associated with high incidence of subprophylactic anti-factor Xa (anti-Xa) levels. This study examines the efficacy and safety of dose-adjusted enoxaparin guided by anti-Xa levels. STUDY DESIGN: Patients undergoing abdominal cancer operation had dose adjustments based on peak anti-Xa levels to attain a target of >0.20 IU/mL were prospectively enrolled and compared with a historic cohort of patients receiving recommended thromboprophylaxis. Incidence of in-hospital VTE and major bleeding after changes in enoxaparin dosing were monitored. RESULTS: The study population comprised 197 patients-64 patients in the prospective intervention group and 133 patients in the control group. Baseline characteristic were similar between the intervention and control groups, with the exception of the Caprini score (8.09 vs 7.26; p = 0.013). In the intervention group, 50 of 64 patients (78.1%) initially had subprophylactic peak anti-Xa levels. The VTE rates were lower in the intervention group than the control group (0% vs 8.27%; p = 0.018). There were no differences in major bleeding events (3.12% vs 1.50%; p = 0.597), rates of postoperative packed RBC transfusion (17.2% vs 23.3%; p = 0.426), or mean Hgb on discharge (9.58 vs 9.37g/dL; p = 0.414). Therapeutic anti-Xa levels correlated positively with age (65.7 vs 58.2 years; p = 0.022) and correlated negatively with operating room time (203 vs 281 minutes; p = 0.032) and BMI (25.3 vs 29.2 kg/m2; p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Thromboprophylactic enoxaparin 40 mg daily is often associated with subprophylactic peak anti-Xa levels. Dose adjustment based on anti-Xa levels increased the daily enoxaparin dose, resulting in a lower rate of in-hospital VTE without increased risk of bleeding.