Reasons for Delay in Time to Initiation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer.

PURPOSE: Adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) improves survival among patients with colon cancer (CC). Two meta-analyses have demonstrated a decrease in survival with increasing time to AC (TTAC). Here, we examine the predominant factors leading to delay in TTAC. METHODS: Individual medical records of 580 patients with CC who initiated AC August 2005-November 2010 at two large academic cancer centers in Eastern Ontario were reviewed. Information regarding patient, disease, and treatment characteristics, including time intervals between each step in the cancer care pathway from surgery to AC, was captured. Patients were then categorized into three groups for comparison: (I) postoperative complication, (II) oncologist- or patient-initiated delay, (III) no delay. These groups were compared using χ(2) tests and one-way analysis of variance. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with TTAC > 8 weeks in all patients and in group 1 alone. RESULTS: TTAC among the three groups was (I) 10.1 ± 2.7 weeks, (II) 10.5 ± 3.6 weeks, (III) 8.5 ± 2.1 weeks (P < .001). The only significant predictor of TTAC > 8 weeks on multivariable analysis in group I was route of AC via central venous catheter (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.9). When multivariable analysis was performed on all patients, the presence of postoperative complications (OR = 2.4; 95% CI, 1.6 to 3.8) and oncologist- or patient-initiated delay were the strongest predictors of delay (OR = 3.5; 95% CI, 2.1 to 6.0). The percentages of patients with TTAC > 8 weeks were (I) 76.4% (n = 110), (II) 81.4% (n = 92), (III) 57.9% (n = 187). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with no reason for delay, most experienced TTAC > 8 weeks. This likely reflects delays in referral, consultation, and chemotherapy booking. These health-system factors are modifiable, and future quality improvement initiatives should focus on how to reduce them.

Factors influencing the yield of mesenteric angiography in lower gastrointestinal bleed.

AIM: To assess if certain triaging rules could be established to optimize the yield of mesenteric angiography. METHODS: Medical records of 101 patients were retrospectively reviewed and parameters relating to age, gender, pulse rate, blood pressure, serum hemoglobin, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and the number of packed red blood cells (PRBC) transfused in the 12 and 24 h prior to the angiography were tabulated in two groups with positive and negative angiography results. RESULTS: We found no correlation between gender, pulse rate, blood pressure or serum hemoglobin and positivity of the mesenteric angiogram. But patients with positive angiogram were found to be on average 7 years older (73.2 years vs 65.9 years old) (P = 0.02). Angiogram was positive in 39.3 % (11/28) of patients admitted in ICU vs 23.2% (17/73) who were admitted elsewhere in the hospital (P = 0.03). In the 12 and 24 h prior to angiography, patients with a positive angiogram received a mean of 2.7 ± 2.3 and 3.3 ± 2.6 units of PRBC s respectively, while patients with a negative angiogram had a mean of 1.6 ± 1.9 (P = 0.02) and 2.1 ± 2.6 units (P = 0.04) received respectively in the same period. CONCLUSION: Older age, ICU admission, having received at least 4 units PRBC over 12 h or 5 units over 24 h prior to angiogram are leading indicators for a positive study.