Frailty Assessment Predicts Acute Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Screening Colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Colonoscopy is associated with multiple adverse outcomes. With an aging population undergoing colorectal cancer screening, few modalities exist to assess the patient risk prior to colonoscopy. Frailty, the age-related decline in reserve and function across multiple organ systems, predicts poor surgical outcomes, but its role in endoscopy is unclear. AIMS: This prospective cohort study assesses the efficacy of frailty in predicting acute colonoscopy outcomes. METHODS: Participants aged ≥ 50 years undergoing screening colonoscopy at a tertiary care center were recruited over 2 months ending in July 2017. Frailty was assessed using a validated 20-s upper-extremity frailty test, which measures the capacity of muscle performance. Demographic data, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status, and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) were evaluated. Procedure-related adverse events and cardiopulmonary changes during and in the immediate post-procedure period were recorded. Adverse events were stratified into minor and major events. Chi-square and ANCOVA models were used in the analysis. RESULTS: Ninety-nine adults (mean age 62.8 years) were enrolled, among which 49 were non-frail and 50 were pre-frail/frail; 50 were female. Overall, 55 participants experienced a total of 87 adverse events. Frailty and ASA status were significantly associated with colonoscopy adverse events (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). Age and CCI did not predict colonoscopy outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to age and CCI, frailty status better predicts colonoscopy outcomes in older adults. Among adults undergoing colonoscopy, routine frailty screening should be considered for risk stratification. Additional prospective studies evaluating frailty measurements in endoscopy will further clarify its role in forecasting adverse events.

A rare case of pyogenic pericarditis secondary to Streptococcus constellatus.

We report an extremely rare case of purulent pericarditis caused by the normally commensal oral flora, Streptococcus constellatus, a viridans Streptococcal species and member of the S. anginosus group (previously also known by the eponymous 'S. milleri', for American Willoughby Dayton Miller). This case is a previously healthy 71-year-old immunocompetent woman from Arizona who presented with a 5-day history of progressive shortness of breath and chest tightness, and subjective fever and chills, but without history of nausea, vomiting, night sweats, recent travel, autoimmune disease or sick contacts. Early recognition and intervention of purulent pericarditis allow patients like the one outlined in this case to achieve full recovery.

Pentobarbital-induced lactic acidosis following status epilepticus barbiturate coma.

We present a rare case of pentobarbital infusion causing propylene glycol-induced lactic acidosis, during refractory status epilepticus treatment in a 66-year-old man without seizure history.

Low-Dose d-Amphetamine Induced Regression of Liver Fat Deposits in Dercum Disease.

BACKGROUND: Dercum disease is a rare disorder of painful subcutaneous adipose tissue masses typically presenting as a constellation of signs and symptoms affecting most organs, including slow lymphatic flow and fatty liver. METHOD: The University of Arizona Institutional Review Board considered this report exempt after patient consent. Multislice, multisequence magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen and pelvis was performed prior to and after d-amphetamine, with and without intravenous gadolinium. RESULTS: Initial MRI demonstrated hepatic steatosis in Case 1; Case 2 had 2-subcentimeter lipid foci within the liver. Initiation of 10-20 mg d-amphetamine decreased liver lipid deposition from 16% to 4% in Case 1 and resolved fat deposits in Case 2 after ~1 year. CONCLUSION: There is a dire need for novel treatment options for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to prevent progression to cirrhosis. Reduction of liver fat by d-amphetamine suggests a potential therapeutic role in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Abciximab-induced acute profound thrombocytopenia postpercutaneous coronary intervention.

Abciximab (c7E3 Fab) is one of the three potent intravenous glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors (along with eptifibatide and tirofiban) that have shown significant positive outcomes when used in patients with intracoronary thrombus. However, major side effects have been reported with its use including hypotension, major bleeding and thrombocytopenia. This case is a 53-year-old man presenting with acute chest pain diagnosed with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with abciximab and heparin infusion and developed acute profound thrombocytopenia (platelet count <20,000/L) within 9 hours of infusion. This case demonstrates the importance of routinely monitoring the platelet count prior to and 2-4 hours following abciximab infusion and differentiating other causes of acute profound thrombocytopenia, particularly pseudothrombocytopenia and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Advanced gastric cancer linitis plastica presented with disseminated intravascular coagulation.

An old man was found unconscious; on admission found to have disseminated intravascular coagulation with concern of upper gastrointestinal bleed after he was found to have melena. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy on admission showed diffuse thickened gastric folds, and biopsy showed mucosal oedema. Bone marrow biopsy concerning for lymphoma was obtained showed adenocarcinoma. MRI of the abdomen was significant for diffuse gastric wall thickening. A repeat endoscopic ultrasound showed a diffuse gastric wall thickening of 15 mm and submucosal tunneling technique biopsy suggested high-grade, invasive, signet ring adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Oncology was consulted to initiate palliative chemotherapy. In retrospect, the patient was questioned regarding gastrointestinal symptoms; he reported gradual early satiety, dysphagia and unintentional weight loss over the course of 4 months.

Case of Steven-Johnson Syndrome in a male with breast cancer secondary to docetaxel/cyclophosphamide therapy.

The mortality rate for Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is estimated to be ∼12% and for toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) it is around 30%. It continues to be a severe life-threatening drug reaction. We present a 60-year-old Caucasian man with a medical history significant for breast cancer status post mastectomy and chemotherapy with docetaxel and cyclophosphamide who presented with severe mucositis and a progressing skin rash consistent with SJS. He was started on high-dose corticosteroids and IVIG but continued to have worsening mucosal ulcerations and severe bleeding from the oral, conjunctival and genital mucosa. He underwent several rounds of plasmapheresis and additional high-dose steroids with mild improvement in the mucocutaneous manifestations. He subsequently developed respiratory failure, which required mechanical ventilation, as well as disseminated intravascular coagulation, diffuse alveolar haemorrhage, with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia which led to his demise on hospital day 15.