Delaying Cardiac Catheterization in Favor of Endoscopy in Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Is Associated with Worse Outcomes: A Nationwide Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. We evaluated inpatient outcomes of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) before cardiac catheterization in patients with NSTEMI and NVUGIB. METHODS: We utilized the National Readmission Database (2016-2019) to identify all index hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of NSTEMI and a secondary diagnosis of NVUGIB that underwent EGD before cardiac catheterization (cases). A matched comparison cohort of similar hospitalizations that undergo EGD after cardiac catheterization were identified (controls) after 1:1 propensity score matching for age, gender, cardiac comorbidities, causes, and severity of bleeding. RESULTS: A total of 796 cases were matched with 796 controls. There was a higher median length of hospital stay (8 vs. 5 days, P = 0.01) and median hospital charges ($111,218 vs. $99,115, P = 0.002) for cases compared to controls. There was a higher all-cause inpatient mortality in cases compared to controls (5.5% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.26). Furthermore, there was a higher proportion of patients with ICU admission (7% vs. 3%, P < 0.001), septic shock (7.1% vs. 5.8%, P = 0.41), atrial fibrillation (27.1% vs. 19.8%, P < 0.001) and acute kidney injury (42.8% vs. 29.1%, P < 0.001) for cases compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Delaying cardiac catheterization in favor of EGD is associated with increased hospital stay, costs, and cardiac complications. Further studies are warranted to establish our findings.

Liver Transplantation for Malignant Primary Pediatric Hepatic Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Malignant primary pediatric hepatic tumors (MPPHTs) are rare and account for approximately 1% of all childhood malignancies. In recent years, liver transplantation has emerged as a viable treatment options for select patients with MPPHTs. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a single-center retrospective study using a prospective database to compare outcomes of pediatric liver transplant recipients, with and without cancer, between January 2000 and December 2014. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-three children underwent 173 liver transplantations during the study period. Of these, 21 (12%) children received 23 (13.3%) transplants for unresectable MPPHTs: 16 hepatoblastomas (HBs), 3 embryonal cell sarcomas (ECS), and 2 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). There was no significant difference in 1-, 3-, and 10-year patient and graft survival rates between MPPHT and non-MPPHT patients (95.2%, 81.2%, 81.2%, and 95.2%, 72,2%, 72.2% for MPPHT vs 92.7%, 89.8%, 87.6% and 85.4%, 81.1%, 75% for the non-MPPHT group, respectively) (p > 0.05). Rates of 1-, 5-, and 10-year disease-free survival for MPPHT patients were 76%, 76%, and 76%, respectively. Median age at transplantation for MPPHT patients was 3.1 years (range 58 days to 17 years), median listing time was 81 days, and median wait list time was 15 days. Eight (38%) children had 2 tumors or more and 4 of 16 (25%) HB patients had metastatic disease at presentation. All children received neoadjuvant treatment, with radiographic response in 19 of 21 patients. Presence of metastatic HB at presentation, International Society of Pediatric Oncology Epithelial Liver (SIOPEL) high risk status, and persistently elevated alpha fetoprotein levels after neoadjuvant chemotherapy might be risk factors for tumor recurrence and decreased survival. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplantation is an excellent option for select patients with unresectable MPPHTs, with outcomes comparable to those after transplantation for nonmalignant causes.

Prospective, pilot, open-label, short-term study of conversion to leflunomide reverses chronic renal allograft dysfunction.

Leflunomide (LEF) is a synthetic isoxazole derivative with anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, which has been reported to prevent acute rejection and delay progression of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) in animal models. We performed a pilot, crossover trial in 22 renal transplant recipients who were converted from azathioprine (AZA) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to LEF in an effort to slow progression of renal dysfunction [deteriorating renal function (n = 5), cyclosporine (CyA) nephrotoxicity (n = 4) or biopsy-proven CAN (n = 13)]. Baseline maintenance immunosuppression consisted of CyA, AZA or MMF and prednisone. Six-month postconversion patient and graft survival was 100% and 91%, respectively. Mean serum creatinine 6months preconversion was 2.2 +/- 0.6mg/dL, at initiation was 3.0 +/- 1.1 mg/dL, and 6 months postconversion was 2.8 +/- 1.3 mg/dL. The rate of change in serum creatinine was 35 +/- 39%/6 months preconversion and -5 +/- 21%/6 months postconversion to LEF (p = 0.003). Two patients discontinued LEF for diarrhea and myalgia. No readmissions, increase in liver function tests, infections or acute rejection episodes occurred. Mean CyA levels did not change, 146 +/- 72 ng/ mL pre-LEF vs. 132 +/- 51 ng/mL post-LEF, p = NS. Conversion to LEF reversed progression of chronic renal allograft dysfunction with minimal toxicity.