A prospective observational study evaluating two patient immobilisation methods in lung stereotactic radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: The main objective of this study was to assess inter- and intrafraction errors for two patient immobilisation devices in the context of lung stereotactic body radiation therapy: a vacuum cushion and a simple arm support. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients who were treated with lung stereotactic body radiation therapy in supine position with arms above their head were included in the study. Ten patients were setup in a vacuum cushion (Bluebag™, Elekta) and ten other patients with a simple arm support (Posirest™, Civco). A pretreatment four-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography and a post-treatment three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography were acquired to compare positioning and immobilisation accuracy. Based on a rigid registration with the planning computed tomography on the spine at the target level, translational and rotational errors were reported. RESULTS: The median number of fractions per treatment was 5 (range: 3-10). Mean interfraction errors based on 112 four-dimensional cone-beam computed tomographies were similar for both setups with deviations less than or equal to 1.3mm in lateral and vertical direction and 1.2° in roll and yaw. For longitudinal translational errors, mean interfraction errors were 0.7mm with vacuum cushion and -3.9mm with arm support. Based on 111 three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomographies, mean lateral, longitudinal and vertical intrafraction errors were -0.1mm, -0.2mm and 0.0mm respectively (SD: 1.0, 1.2 and 1.0mm respectively) for the patients setup with vacuum cushion, and mean vertical, longitudinal and lateral intrafraction errors were -0.3mm, -0.7mm and 0.1mm respectively (SD: 2.3, 1.8 and 1.4mm respectively) for the patients setup with arm support. Intrafraction errors means were not statistically different between both positions but standard deviations were statistically larger with arm support. CONCLUSION: The results of our study showed similar inter and intrafraction mean deviations between both positioning but a large variability in intrafraction observed with arm support suggested a more accurate immobilization with vacuum cushion.

Upright patient positioning for pelvic radiotherapy treatments.

Radiotherapy is typically delivered in supine position. However, upright positioning may affect organ volume, positioning, and movement, compared to supine/prone positioning which might have beneficial impacts. In this study, we report patient positioning data in an upright positioning system designed by Leo Cancer Care®. Sixteen patients with pelvic tumors were included in this study. They had 3 setups in an upright position: an initial setup with acquisition of reference optical images, and 2 repositioning setups. The intra-fraction motion was assessed during two 20-minute chair rotation sessions. The patient comfort in supine and upright position was assessed with a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. Eight women and 8 men treated on regular linacs between October 2021 and June 2022 were included. Their median age and weight were 62.5 years (35 to 81 years) and 75.1 kg (41 to 107 kg). The inter-fraction shift means were -0.5 mm (SD = 2.5), -0.4 mm (SD = 1.3) and -0.9 mm (SD = 2.7) in left-right (LR), antero-posterior (AP), and cranio-caudal (CC) directions, respectively. The intrafraction shifts after 20 min were 0.0 mm (SD = 1.5), 0.2 mm (SD = 1.1) and 0.0 mm (SD = 0.3) in LR, CC, and AP directions, respectively. Average global comfort was 4.1 (3 to 5) for the upright position and 3.9 (2 to 5) for the supine position. In conclusion, the first study on pelvic cancer patients positioned in upright position on a chair is promising, and it opens a potential new direction for the treatment of cancer patients. Evaluation of thoracic and head and neck tumors is ongoing, and imaging with vertical CT is expected to start soon.

[Does laparoscopic nephrectomy with vaginal extraction affect the sexual quality of life of patients?]. / La néphrectomie laparoscopique avec extraction vaginale est-elle délétère sur la sexualité des patientes?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the consequences of laparoscopic nephrectomy with vaginal extraction on sexual quality of life. METHODS: Sixteen patients (mean age: 53.8 years) who underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy with vaginal extraction between September 2010 and February 2014 were included in this monocentric prospective study. All patients underwent a preoperative gynecological examination to evaluate the feasibility of vaginal extraction. The sexual function of the patients was evaluated using the French version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The patients completed an initial FSFI preoperatively then another postoperatively after the resumption of sexual activities. RESULTS: The mean hospital stay was 2.2 days (0-5 days). No postoperative complications were observed except for one case of bleeding at the vaginal incision 4 days after surgery, resolved with a single suture under local anesthesia. Fifteen patients (94%) completed both the pre- and postoperative FSFIs. Three patients were sexually inactive and one was a virgin. The pre- and postoperative mean FSFI overall scores were 24.2 and 24.3 respectively (p=0.39). Scores were comparable in all six of the domains assessed by the questionnaire. Particularly, the pre- and postoperative scores for satisfaction were 4.5 and 4.4 respectively. No increase in dyspareunia was observed after surgery, nor was it more difficult for our patients to reach orgasm after the intervention. No statistically significant differences were observed between the pre- and postoperative FSFI scores. CONCLUSIONS: Although preliminary, our results suggest that laparoscopic nephrectomy with vaginal extraction has no effect on the sexual quality of life of patients.

[Oligometastatic disease, a new concept: stereotactic irradiation for lung metastases. Literature review]. / Maladie oligométastatique, un nouveau concept : irradiation en conditions stéréotaxiques de métastases pulmonaires. Revue de la littérature.

Metastatic lung disease has long been the preserve of systemic treatments, local treatments being considered in a purely palliative intention. Several studies have objectified benefit to the local treatment of metastases, especially oligometastases. Surgery then took an important place in this setting, but the development of techniques for stereotactic radiotherapy on the one hand and the refusal or contraindication for surgery on the other hand led authors to conduct studies in this direction. This literature review describes the realization of stereotactic radiotherapy in treating pulmonary oligometastases and evaluates criteria for the selection of patients who would benefit. A comparison between the results of different studies on this technique allowed to show its effectiveness for local control, overall survival and tolerance. Stereotactic radiotherapy has emerged as a viable alternative, effective and well tolerated with local control rates comparable to that obtained by surgery (74 to 100%). Quality of life after stereotactic radiotherapy should be in a near future an important parameter to support this therapeutic choice, and needs to be precisely assessed.

[Adjusting the dosage of netilmicin from two measurements. Program validation]. / Adaptation des posologies de la nétilmicine à partir de deux points. Validation d'un programme.

The aim of this study is to give to clinicians a well validated usefull tool allowing an increase of safety in the monitoring of netilmicin. During the first administration of the drug, two plasmatic concentrations are measured, and input in a preprogrammed hand-held calculator. A posology and a rythm of administration are returned by the calculator. After six days of this dosage regiment, the peak and the valley concentrations are compared with those previously given by the computer as values at equilibrium. No significant difference can be observed. There is no change in plasmatic creatinine level from the first to the sixth day of treatment. So, a preprogrammed hand-held computer can be convenient and safe to monitor netilmicin.

[Influence of epidural anesthesia on postoperative nitrogen sparing in major digestive surgery]. / Influence de l'anesthésie péridurale sur l'épargne azotée postopératoire en chirurgie viscérale majeure.

In order to determine the role of epidural anaesthesia on protein sparing, eighteen patients undergoing major visceral surgery were randomly divided into three different groups according to the mode of anaesthesia used (general anaesthesia, epidural anaesthesia, continuous epidural anaesthesia for 24 h). These patients were intravenously fed for five days postoperatively; their nitrogen balance was studied. Compared with the "general anaesthesia" group, only the daily averages of nitrogen balance of the "continuous epidural" group were significantly better. IN order to correlate stress with nitrogen saving, the early evolution of several parameters (cortisol, glucose, prolactin) used as "stress markers" was studied : there was no evidence of any significant difference between the three groups.

[Muscle calcium deposits in an acute alcoholic rhabdomyolysis with renal failure]. / Dépôts calciques musculaires au cours d'une rhabdomyolyse alcoolique aiguë avec insuffisance rénale.

A 41 year old man was admitted to hospital for acute alcoholic rhabdomyolysis and renal failure. Calcium deposits in the damaged muscles of the inferior limbs were detected by technetium-99 m methylene diphosphonate. Repeat bone imaging studies showed a decrease in the deposits with time. The mechanisms responsible for the rhabdomyolysis and the characteristic disturbances in serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations during such renal failure are recalled. The interest of 99mTc-MDP is reviewed. Early dialysis is advocated, in particular in case of extensive muscular damage.

[Severe anaphylactoid complications in anesthesia. Apropos of 35 cases]. / Les accidents anaphylactoïdes graves en anesthésie. A propos de trente-cinq cas.

35 cases of severe anaphylactoid accidents during anesthesia are reported. Clinical symptomatology is dominated by cardiovascular collapse and/or bronchospasm and/or cutaneous and mucous manifestations. The course is always favourable. The usual risk factors (drug allergy, atopic background, spasmophilia, multiple anesthesia) are found. Pentothal alone or added to succinylcholine is most incriminated, followed by C-T 1341, curare-like agents, propanidid and macromolecular solutions. The immunoallergic investigation is incomplete, founded on the inhibition of leukocyte migration test TIML. The principal mechanisms responsible for these accidents and the most frequent causal products are recalled. Laboratory tests are reviewed. In conclusion, the authors propose a curative and preventive action to be taken when faced with this severe and non-exceptional accident of anesthesia.

[Transthoracic electrical impedance plethysmography and thermodilution: comparative evaluation of two methods for cardiac output measurement in man]. / Pléthysmographie électrique d'impédance et thermodilution. Etude comparative chez l'homme de deux méthodes de mesure du débit cardiaque.

The measurement of cardiac output by electrical impedance plethysmography (non invasive technic) seems to be attractive but is still the subject of a certain number of critics. The authors have tried to compare it with a method which validity is well documented, the thermodilution. By these two methods, 87 measures of cardiac output have been performed in 14 hospitalized patients in intensive care, attained of various affections but exempts of cardiac or pulmonary lesions and in stable hemodynamic state. The stroke volume measured by electrical impedance plethysmography is calculated using Kubicek's formula: SV = Q (L2/Zo2) (dz/dt min) t. Results were as follows: absence of significative difference between the coefficients of variation of each series of measures (coefficient of mean variation, 5,6 +/- 3,4 p. cent for impedance and 3,8 +/- 3,2 p. cent for thermodilution); absence of significative difference between the mean values of cardiac output (7,59 +/- 2,69 l . min-1 for impedance and 7,72 +/- 1,99 l . min-1 for thermodilution); highly significant correlation between values for cardiac output obtained for each of these two methods )r = 0,804; n = 87; p less than 0,001). The authors conclude that in patients in intensive care whose pulmonary or cardiovascular system is not in critical situation, the electrical impedance plethysmography appear as a secure method for cardiac output measurement. However its generalisation still require other works.

[Postoperative gas gangrene. Apropos of 22 cases]. / Gangrènes gazeuses post-opératoires. A propos de 22 cas.

The authors report twenty two cases of post-operative gas gangrene. In the series studied mortality was 40.9 p. 100, independent of age and sex. Rapidly progressive forms were the most severe. The delay before effective treatment was prescribed influenced prognosis. In clinical terms, shock and associated renal insufficiency were grave, as well as a picture of respiratory distress which led, in certain cases, to contra-indication of one of the therapeutic possibilities, i.e. that of hyperbaric oxygen. Responsible organisms could be isolated in nineteen cases from local samples. There was a marked predominance (15 cases) of clostridium perfringens. Contamination with aerobic flora was common. Examination to assess favourizing circumstances led essentially to a conclusion of the role of microbial contamination, ischemia, broad spectrum antibiotics, absence of appropriate antibiotics and underlying immuno-depression. Treatment was based in the majority of cases on the triple combination of antibiotics, surgery and hyperbaric oxygen, as well as the correction of any general systemic disorders. Mortality was markedly reduced (31 p. 100) in patients receiving complete and early treatment. The gravity and recrudescence of disorders due to anaerobic organisms lead the authors to review current therapeutic possibilities. Appropriate treatment should be prescribed in all situations where an infection due to anaerobic organisms is feared, and should cover the risk of clostridial infection (penicillin 200,000 mu/kg/24 h) as well as the risk of bacteroides (metronidazole 25 mg/kg/24 h). Curative treatment should be prescribed, even in the absence of bacteriological proof, on the basis of presumptive clinical evidence, this being a true emergency which should not be delayed under any circumstances.

[Measurement of cardiac output by electrical impedance plethysmography during respiration and in apnea]. / Mesure du débit cardiaque par pléthysmographie électrique d'impédance au cours de la respiration et en apné.

The measurement of cardiac output by electrical impedance plethysmography (non-invasive technique) may be disturbed by a certain number of factors, including respiration. The authors sought to demonstrate that this factor could be eliminated during measurement calculations. By this method, in 18 adult subjects with coronary artery disease, 50 measurements during respiration and 50 measurements in apnoea (paired measurements) of stroke volume and of cardiac output were performed. Stroke volume was calculated using Kubicek's formula: SV = P(L2/Zo2) (dz/dt min)t Results were as follows: highly significant correlation between values for stroke volume obtained during respiration and in apnoea (r ;.9767; n=50; P < 0.001); highly significant correlation between values for cardiac output obtained under the same conditions (r = 0.9744; n=50; P < 0.001). The authors conclude that with the limits of certain technical conditions of measurement, respiration does not disturb measurements of stroke volume and of cardiac output by electrical impedance plethysmography.