Experience in intra-arterial chemotherapy using two protocols for the treatment of OSCC over two decades at the University Hospital Vienna

OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study performed a comprehensive analysis of the usage of intra-arterial chemotherapy (iaCh) for locally recurrent UICC stage IV oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) over two decades at the Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery at the University Hospital Vienna to assess the utility of its future use. METHODS: Between 1994 and 2014, iaCh was indicated in 48 OSCC cases. In these, the two most frequent iaCh schemes, cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (Cis/5-FU) and methotrexate/bleomycin (MTX/Bleo), were chosen for further analysis. The effect on survival of two distinct intra-arterial protocols and their covariates were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method as well as univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 29.91 months. The two intra-arterial chemotherapy groups did not differ significantly in sample size, demographic data or therapeutic covariates. The Cis/5-FU iaCh regimen was associated with significantly better overall survival (median OS 2.6 years vs. 1.3 years; p=0.002) and had a beneficial effect on survival (HR=3.62, p=0.015). Side effects occurred at a frequency similar to that described in the literature for intravenous chemotherapy (ivCh). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a preference for administering Cis/5-FU for iaCh. Nevertheless, due to economic considerations in healthcare expenditures, there is no future for iaCh in the treatment of head and neck carcinomas because ivCh is known to be equivalent.

Effects of intraoperative diltiazem infusion on flow changes in arterial and venous grafts in coronary artery bypass graft surgery / Efeitos da infusão intraoperatória de diltiazem sobre as mudanças do fluxo em enxertos arteriais e venosos em cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio

AbstractObjective:This study aimed to show the effects of intra-operative diltiazem infusion on flow in arterial and venous grafts in coronary artery bypass graft surgery.Methods:Hundred fourty patients with a total of 361 grafts [205 (57%) arterial and 156 (43%) venous] underwent isolated coronary surgery. All the grafts were measured by intraoperative transit time flow meter intra-operatively. Group A (n=70) consisted of patients who received diltiazem infusion (dose of 2.5 microgram/kg/min), and Group B (n=70) didn't receive diltiazem infusion.Results:Mean graft flow values of left internal mammary artery were 53 ml/min in Group A and 40 ml/min in Group B (P<0.001). Pulsatility index (PI) values of left internal mammary artery for Group A and Group B were 2.6 and 3.0 respectively (P<0.001). No statistically significant difference was found between venous graft parameters.Conclusion:We recommend an effect of diltiazem infusion in increasing graft flows in coronary artery bypass graft operations.

ResumoObjetivo:Este estudo teve como objetivo mostrar os efeitos da infusão de diltiazem intraoperatória no fluxo arterial e enxertos venosos em cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio.Métodos:Cento e quarenta pacientes com um total de 361 enxertos [205 (57%) arteriais e 156 (43%) venosos] passaram por uma cirurgia coronária isolada. Todos os enxertos foram medidos pelo medidor de fluxo de tempo de trânsito intraoperatório. Grupo A (n=70), formado por pacientes que receberam infusão de diltiazem (dose de 2,5 micrograma/kg/min), e Grupo B (n=70), por aqueles que não receberam infusão de diltiazem.Resultados:Os valores médios de fluxo de enxerto de artéria mamária interna esquerda foram 53 ml/min no grupo A e 40 ml/min no Grupo B (P<0,001). Valores do índice de pulsatilidade da artéria mamária interna esquerda para o Grupo A e do Grupo B foram de 2,6 e 3,0, respectivamente (P<0,001). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os parâmetros do enxerto venoso.Conclusão:Sugerimos um efeito da infusão de diltiazem em aumentar os fluxos de enxerto em operações de bypass de artéria coronária.