Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Score Predicts Development of First Episode of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Patients With Cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether baseline model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in patients with cirrhosis and ascites predicts the future development of first spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) episode. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was performed at three academic centers to select patients admitted with first SBP episode (cases) and those with ascites admitted for decompensation without SBP (controls). Medical records from these centers were reviewed between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2013. Cases and controls were matched (1:2) for age, sex, and race. Conditional logistic recession models were built to determine whether baseline MELD score (within a month before hospitalization) predicts first SBP episode. RESULTS: Of 697 patients (308, 230, and 159 from centers A, B, and C, respectively), cases and controls were matched in 94%, 89%, and 100% at three respective centers. In the pooled sample, probability of SBP was 11%, 31%, 71%, and 93% at baseline MELD scores less than or equal to 10, from 11 to 20, from 21 to 30, and greater than 30, respectively. Compared with MELD score less than or equal to 10, patients with MELD scores from 11 to 20, 21 to 30, and greater than 30 had six- (3- to 11-), 29- (12- to 69-), and 115- (22- to 598-) folds (95% CI) risk of SBP, respectively. Based on different MELD score cutoff points, MELD score greater than 17 was most accurate in predicting SBP occurrence. Analyzing 315 patients (152 cases) with available data on ascitic fluid protein level controlling for age, sex, and center, MELD score but not ascitic fluid protein associated with first SBP episode with respective odds ratios of 1.20 (1.14 to 1.26) and 0.88 (0.70 to 1.11). CONCLUSION: Baseline MELD score predicts first SBP episode in patients with cirrhosis and ascites.

Correction: Patients with stage 3 compared to stage 4 liver fibrosis have lower frequency of and longer time to liver disease complications.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197117.].

Patients with stage 3 compared to stage 4 liver fibrosis have lower frequency of and longer time to liver disease complications.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Advanced liver fibrosis is an important predictor of liver disease progression and mortality, and current guidelines recommend screening for complications of cirrhosis once patients develop F3 fibrosis. Our study compared liver disease progression and survival in patients with stage 3 (F3) and stage 4 (F4) fibrosis on liver biopsy. METHODS: Retrospective study of patients with F3 or F4 on liver biopsy followed for development of liver disease complications (variceal bleeding, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy); hepatocellular carcinoma, and survival (overall and transplant free survival). RESULTS: Of 2488 patients receiving liver biopsy between 01/02 and 12/12, a total of 294 (171 F3) were analyzed. Over a median follow up period of 3 years, patients with F4 (mean age 53 years, 63% male) compared to F3 (mean age 49 years, 43% male) had higher five year cumulative probability of any decompensation (38% vs. 14%, p<0.0001), including variceal bleed (10% vs. 4%, p = 0.014), ascites (21% vs. 9%, p = 0.0014), and hepatic encephalopathy (14% vs. 5%, p = 0.003). F4 patients also had lower overall 5-year survival (80% vs. 93%, p = 0.003) and transplant free survival (80% vs. 93%, p = 0.002). Probability of hepatocellular carcinoma in 5 years after biopsy was similar between F3 and F4 (1.2% vs. 2%, p = 0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to F4 stage, patients with F3 fibrosis have decreased risk for development of liver disease complications and better survival. Prospective well designed studies are suggested with large sample size and overcoming the limitations identified in this study, to confirm and validate these findings, as basis for modifying guidelines and recommendations on follow up of patients with advanced fibrosis and stage 3 liver fibrosis.

Palliative Care and Hospice Interventions in Decompensated Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Rapid Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: Patients with decompensated cirrhosis (DC) and/or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have a high symptom burden and mortality and may benefit from palliative care (PC) and hospice interventions. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to search published literature to determine the impact of PC and hospice interventions for patients with DC/HCC. METHODS: We searched electronic databases for adults with DC/HCC who received PC, using a rapid review methodology. Data were extracted for study design, participant and intervention characteristics, and three main groups of outcomes: healthcare resource utilization (HRU), end-of-life care (EOLC), and patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS: Of 2466 results, eight were included in final results. There were six retrospective cohort studies, one prospective cohort, and one quality improvement study. Five of eight studies had a high risk of bias and seven studied patients with HCC. A majority found a reduction in HRU (total cost of hospitalization, number of emergency department visits, hospital, and critical care admissions). Some studies found an impact on EOLC, including location of death (less likely to die in the hospital) and resuscitation (less likely to have resuscitation). One study evaluated survival and found hospice had no impact and another showed improvement of symptom burden. CONCLUSION: Studies included suggest that PC and hospice interventions in patients with DC/HCC reduce HRU, impact EOLC, and improve symptoms. Given the few number of studies, heterogeneity of interventions and outcomes, and high risk of bias, further high-quality research is needed on PC and hospice interventions with a greater focus on DC.

Challenges and successes in non-operative management of high-grade malignant bowel obstruction.

Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) occurs in between 3% and 15% of patients with cancer, and portends a poor mean survival of four weeks for patients who are not able to undergo operative intervention. Surgical interventions may be fraught with complications since these patients typically have compromised nutritional status and progressive metastatic disease burden, with tumor type and degree of aggressiveness affecting outcomes. MBO is a dynamic and difficult process to treat, with adequate pain control being limited by unpredictable enteral absorption and need for prolonged parenteral analgesia (given limited enteral access) with its inherent risks. To explore these difficulties, we report the case of a 43-year-old patient who presented with multi-level MBO from metastatic rectal carcinoma, and explore the challenges and successes of symptom management in a non-operative MBO.

Anchoring of self-expanding metal stents using the over-the-scope clip, and a technique for subsequent removal.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Standard clips do not consistently prevent the migration of covered self-expanding metal stents (SEMS). The aims of this study were to assess the efficacy and safety of the over-the-scope clip (OTSC) system for anchoring SEMS to the esophagus, and to evaluate a novel OTSC removal technique. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective, cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing SEMS anchoring with OTSC. Removal of the OTSC was accomplished using an inject-and-resect technique. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients were included. The indications for endoscopic stenting were: tracheo-esophageal fistula (n = 7), postoperative leak or fistula (n = 4), perforation (n = 1). Successful application of the OTSC system was accomplished in all patients (100 %). Stent migration during follow-up (mean 3 weeks, range 2 - 4 weeks) occurred in two patients (16.7 %). After healing of the underlying condition, the stent was removed in six patients (50.0 %). In four patients (33.3 %), the anchored stent was left indefinitely in order to treat the underlying condition. There were no complications associated with deployment of the OTSC or SEMS removal. CONCLUSIONS: Although endoscopic anchoring of fully covered SEMS with the OTSC was feasible, easy to accomplish, safe, and prevented stent migration in most cases, larger studies are needed to confirm these encouraging early findings. The inject-and-resect technique was safe and efficient for OTSC and stent removal in all cases in which it was attempted.