Congenital portosystemic shunt occlusion with an Amplatzer PFO occlusion device: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Congenital portosystemic shunts are embryological malformations in which portal venous flow is diverted to the systemic circulation. High morbidity and mortality are seen in patients with concurrent hepatic encephalopathy, hepatopulmonary syndrome, and pulmonary hypertension. Endovascular therapy, in the correct patient population, offers a less invasive method of treatment with rapid relief of symptoms. CASE PRESENTATION: In this report, we discuss the treatment of a two-year-old male with abnormal chorea-like movements, altered mental status, anisocoria and hyperammonemia diagnosed with an intrahepatic congenital portosystemic shunt between the inferior vena cava and right portal vein. Given the patient's amenable anatomy and shunt type, embolization was performed with an 18 mm Amplatzer patent foramen ovale occlusion device. CONCLUSIONS: Portosystemic shunts are a rare congenital abnormality without universal treatment guidelines. An Amplatzer PFO occlusion device can provide a novel method of shunt closure given appropriate shunt type, size and anatomy.

Considering self-reported baseline function and cognition in predicting post-operative complications among older adults.

BACKGROUND: Older adults experience high rates of postoperative complications and poorer outcomes. Current perioperative risk assessments lack specific measures and are too time-consuming for busy surgeons. METHODS: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study Survey linked with Medicare data, we performed a cross-sectional study, evaluating all adults ≥65 years old who underwent high-risk elective surgery between 1992-2012. Primary exposure variables included self-reported preoperative functional and cognitive abilities using activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and a 27-point self-administered test of memory and mental processing. Primary outcome was the development of a serious postoperative complication within 30-days following index operation. RESULTS: Overall, 42% (n=501) developed at least one serious postoperative complication. Patients with moderate (aOR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.14-2.04) and severe (aOR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.00-2.46) baseline functional limitations were at higher risk of serious postoperative complications compared to those with no functional limitation. Cognitive impairment was not associated with serious postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported functional measures may help to quickly identify patients at high-risk for surgical complications and better inform pre-operative discussions including earlier initiation of palliative care services.

Hemosuccus pancreaticus from superior mesenteric artery pseudoaneurysm within perceived pancreatic mass.

Bleeding from the pancreatic duct is a rare source of gastrointestinal hemorrhage and is referred to as hemosuccus pancreaticus. Often a result of pseudoaneurysm formation from chronic pancreatitis, hemosuccus pancreaticus is a difficult diagnosis due to its peculiar clinical presentation. This is a case of a 51-year-old male with a history of chronic pancreatitis, who initially presented with a pancreatic mass found on CT scan. The mass was found to be inconclusive for malignancy on endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration. The patient subsequently was lost to follow-up and returned with melena and evidence of a superior mesenteric pseudoaneurysm in the previous mass on CT angiography. The pseudoaneurysm was successfully treated with endovascular embolization. Diagnosis of hemosuccus pancreaticus can be challenging due to the intermittent nature of hemorrhage and the variable clinical presentation-which initially appeared as a pancreatic neoplasm in our patient. Repeat imaging and angiography are invaluable for both the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding from an unknown source in the setting of chronic pancreatitis.

Nationally Representative Readmission Factors in Patients with Claudication and Critical Limb Ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Hospital readmissions are associated not only with increased mortality, morbidity, and costs but also, with current health-care reform, tied to significant financial and administrative penalties. Some studies show that patients undergoing vascular surgery may have higher than average readmission rates. The recently released Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) is the most comprehensive national source of readmission data, gathering discharge information from 22 geographically dispersed states, accounting for 51.2% of the total U.S. resident population and 49.3% of all U.S. hospitalizations. The aim of this study is to use the power of the NRD and obtain nationally representative readmission information for patients admitted with claudication or critical limb ischemia (CLI) who underwent revascularization procedures. METHODS: The NRD was queried for all patients admitted for claudication (International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision [ICD-9] 440.21) or CLI (ICD-9 440.22-440.24) and who underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, peripheral bypass, or aortofemoral bypass. Patient demographics, comorbidities, length of stay (LOS), mortality, readmission rates, and associated costs were collected. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was implemented on claudication and CLI groups on all outcomes of interest. The most common readmission diagnosis codes and diagnosis groups were also identified. RESULTS: A total of 92,769 patients were admitted for peripheral vascular disease (33,055 with claudication and 59,714 with CLI). The 30-day readmission/any readmission rate was 8.97%/21.49% and 19.26%/40.36%, for claudication and CLI, respectively. Significant differences were found for claudication and CLI, respectively, on initial cost of admission ($18,548 vs. $29,148, P < 0.001), readmission costs ($14,726 vs. $17,681 P < 0.001), LOS (4 days vs. 9 days, P < 0.001), days to readmission (73 days vs. 59 days, P < 0.001), mortality during initial admission (256 vs. 1,363, P < 0.001), and mortality during any admission (538 vs. 3,838, P < 0.001). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis found that claudication, CLI, angioplasty, peripheral bypass, aortofemoral bypass, female sex, age >65, Charlson Comorbidity Index, LOS, and primary expected payer status were all significant predictors of 30-day and overall readmissions at varying degrees. The 5 most common disease readmission groups found were other vascular procedures (12.6%), amputation of lower limb except toes (6.3%), sepsis (5.4%), heart failure (4.9%) and postoperative or other device infections (4.8%). Of the abovementioned groups, the 4 most common diagnoses included "other postoperative infections," sepsis, atherosclerosis of native arteries with gangrene, and "other complications due to other vascular device, implant, or graft." CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that there is a significant difference in readmission rates, cost, and morbidity between patients admitted for claudication and CLI. Furthermore, based on regression analysis, there are multiple other clear risk factors associated with worse clinical and economic outcomes. Further study is needed to predict which patients will require increased vigilance during their hospital stay to prevent readmissions and worse outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Care management/epidemiological, level IV.

Musculoskeletal Pain and Interest in Meditation and Yoga in Home Health Aides: Evidence From the Home Health Occupations Musculoskeletal Examinations (HHOME) Study.

Home healthcare aides (HHAs) are a growing U.S. workforce highly susceptible to workplace stressors and musculoskeletal pain. In the present study we: 1) examine the association of musculoskeletal pain to life satisfaction and emotional exhaustion; and 2) characterize interest in meditation and yoga in a sample of HHAs. A nonprobabilistic sample of HHAs employed at home healthcare agencies in Florida, Massachusetts, and Oregon (n = 285 total) completed a self-administered questionnaire with standard survey measures on musculoskeletal pain location, duration, and severity; life satisfaction; emotional exhaustion; and interest in meditation techniques and yoga. Among HHAs responding, 48.4% reported pain in the last 7 days and 46.6% reported pain in the last 3 months. Home healthcare aides who reported current pain and chronic pain had a significant (P < .05) decrease in satisfaction with life score and a significant increase in emotional exhaustion score. The majority of HHAs reported an interest in learning about the benefits (65.6%) and practice (66.4%) of meditation and a willingness to participate in a yoga class (59.2%) or stress management meeting (59.1%). The HHAs reported both acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain that was correlated with lower life satisfaction and greater emotional exhaustion. More efforts are needed to reduce the sources of injury and emotional exhaustion.

New common program requirements for the resident physician workforce and the omission of strategic napping: A missed opportunity.

OBJECTIVES: Napping has known benefits for fatigue mitigation and improved alertness. However the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) New Common Program Requirements recently removed the 16 h work limit for PGY1 residents and removed any suggestions of napping. METHODS: We utilized a cross-sectional study design to administer a 44-item questionnaire in June 2016 to 858 residents and fellows at one large urban academic medical center. We assessed: 1) resident physician sentiment of work environment supportiveness for napping at work; and 2) agreement with 2011 ACGME guidelines on workweek hour limitations and strategic napping recommendations. RESULTS: While 89% of residents reported access to an on-call room at work, only 20% felt their work environment supported a culture of napping while at work. Over 76% expressed agreement with the 2011 ACGME work-hour restrictions. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to support napping and well-being within the resident physician workforce and organizational setting are warranted.

Transsplenic portal vein reconstruction-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a patient with portal and splenic vein thrombosis.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a potential complication of cirrhosis and can worsen outcomes after liver transplant (LT). Portal vein reconstruction-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (PVR-TIPS) can restore flow through the portal vein (PV) and facilitate LT by avoiding complex vascular conduits. We present a case of transsplenic PVR-TIPS in the setting of complete PVT and splenic vein (SV) thrombosis. The patient had a 3-year history of PVT complicated by abdominal pain, ascites, and paraesophageal varices. A SV tributary provided access to the main SV and was punctured percutaneously under ultrasound scan guidance. PV access, PV and SV venoplasty, and TIPS placement were successfully performed without complex techniques. The patient underwent LT with successful end-to-end anastomosis of the PVs. Our case suggests transsplenic PVR-TIPS to be a safe and effective alternative to conventional PVR-TIPS in patients with PVT and SV thrombosis.