Ochsner Journal最新文献

{"title":"Impella-Induced Incessant Ventricular Tachycardia","authors":"Amir Kaki, A. Subahi, Mohamed Shokr, Walid Ibrahim, A. Yassin, R. Hasan, M. Alraies, T. Schreiber","doi":"10.31486/toj.18.0018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31486/toj.18.0018","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The Impella 2.5 and Impella Cardiac Power (CP) devices (ABIOMED) are used to provide mechanical circulatory support for high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions or cardiogenic shock as a bridge to recovery or destination therapy. The Impella device has shown both efficacy and safety in patients presenting with cardiogenic shock. Performing clinical and hemodynamic assessments of patients presenting with cardiogenic shock is an important step to determine if mechanical circulatory support with an Impella device is indicated. Case Report: A 62-year-old male presented with cardiogenic shock requiring Impella device support. Two days later, the patient developed incessant ventricular tachycardia. Transthoracic echocardiography showed that the Impella device had migrated out of the ventricular cavity. Once the position of the Impella device was adjusted, ventricular tachycardia immediately resolved. Conclusion: Our case emphasizes the importance of using imaging modalities such as transthoracic echocardiography to ensure correct positioning of an Impella device in the left ventricle to avoid complications.","PeriodicalId":47600,"journal":{"name":"Ochsner Journal","volume":"19 1","pages":"248 - 251"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2019-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45507839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid","authors":"Blake S. Raggio, J. Barr, Zahraa Ghandour, P. Friedlander","doi":"10.31486/toj.18.0002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31486/toj.18.0002","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid (PSCCT) is a rare malignancy of the head and neck, with fewer than 60 cases reported in the literature. We report a case of PSCCT and provide a brief review of the literature. Case Report: A 66-year-old female with a history of a hemithyroidectomy for a benign thyroid lesion presented with 3 months of progressively worsening compressive symptoms and shortness of breath. Physical examination revealed right-sided thyromegaly and right-sided true vocal fold immobility. Preoperative imaging with ultrasound and computed tomography scan confirmed an enlarged right thyroid, as well as right anterior cervical lymphadenopathy, subglottic stenosis, and bilateral pulmonary nodules. Fine needle aspiration of the thyroid was suggestive of carcinoma. Intraoperative findings of gross tracheal invasion during a planned completion thyroidectomy prompted limited resection and impromptu tracheotomy. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluation confirmed a squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid origin. Further oncologic workup with core lung biopsy and positron emission tomography scan demonstrated metastasis to the lung and cervical spine. Palliative chemotherapy was begun, but the patient died 1 week into therapy. Conclusion: PSCCT is a rare but aggressive malignancy of the head and neck. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluations are essential for diagnosis. While locoregional surgery and radiation therapy may improve the length of survival, the prognosis of patients with PSCCT is poor. Physicians should be mindful of this unique but deadly disease process, as early diagnosis and rapid treatment initiation are essential to optimize treatment outcomes.","PeriodicalId":47600,"journal":{"name":"Ochsner Journal","volume":"19 1","pages":"290 - 292"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2019-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49006341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of Infertility Among Patients With Isthmocele and Fertility Outcome After Isthmocele Surgical Treatment: A Retrospective Study","authors":"S. Calzolari, G. Sisti, Dora Pavone, E. Ciocia, Natalia Bianchini, M. Cozzolino","doi":"10.31486/toj.18.0048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31486/toj.18.0048","url":null,"abstract":"Background: An isthmocele is a diverticulum on the anterior wall of the uterine isthmus at the site of a cesarean delivery scar. We evaluated the prevalence of infertility among patients with isthmocele, the resolution of symptoms, and infertility outcomes after hysteroscopic isthmoplasty. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 35 consecutive patients with symptomatic isthmocele between 2010 and 2015 at Hospital Piero Palagi in Florence, Italy. Patients with symptomatic isthmocele had postmenstrual abnormal uterine bleeding, sovrapubic pain, and infertility. Results: The study population was divided into Group A – Fertile Patients (n=19) and Group B – Infertile Patients (n=16) according to the prevalence of infertility after the diagnosis of isthmocele. Group B was subdivided into Group B1 (became pregnant, n=9) and B2 (did not become pregnant, n=7) according to infertility resolution after isthmocele treatment. We found statistically significant differences between Groups A and B regarding the number of cesarean sections (P=0.0205), the grade of isthmocele (P=0.0421), and body mass index (P=0.0001). In the subgroup analysis, we found statistically significant differences between Groups B1 and B2 for age (P=0.0151), grade of isthmocele (P=0.0361), and cervical dilatation (P=0.0293). Conclusion: We identified a subgroup of patients at higher risk of being infertile after the diagnosis of isthmocele and a subgroup of patients who could benefit the most in terms of fertility after minimally invasive hysteroscopic surgery.","PeriodicalId":47600,"journal":{"name":"Ochsner Journal","volume":"19 1","pages":"204 - 209"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2019-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47878056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Intracrine Biology: An Hypothesis.","authors":"Richard N Re","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This laboratory has studied the intracellular actions of angiotensin II and other signaling proteins that can act in the intracellular space-peptides/proteins we have called intracrines. Moreover, we have suggested that general principles of intracrine action exist and can help explain the progression of some chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetic nephropathy and congestive heart failure. Here, a similar analysis is carried out in the case of age-related macular degeneration. We propose that intracrine mechanisms are operative in this disorder. In particular, we hypothesize that intracrine loops involving renin, angiotensin II, transforming growth factor-beta, vascular endothelial growth factor, bone morphogenetic protein-4, and p53, among other factors, are involved. If this analysis is correct, it suggests a commonality of mechanism linking chronic progressive renal diseases, congestive heart failure, and macular degeneration.</p>","PeriodicalId":47600,"journal":{"name":"Ochsner Journal","volume":"16 4","pages":"502-510"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5158158/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141201163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Metaanalysis of Interventions to Improve Adherence to Lipid-Lowering Medication.","authors":"Richard E Deichmann, Michael D Morledge, Robin Ulep, Johnathon P Shaffer, Philippa Davies, Mieke L van Driel","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Inadequate patient adherence to a medication regimen is a major factor in the lack of success in treating hyperlipidemia. Improved adherence rates may result in significantly improved cardiovascular outcomes in populations treated with lipid-lowering therapy. The purpose of this metaanalysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving adherence to lipid-lowering drugs, focusing on measures of adherence and clinical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases through January 14, 2015, and also used the results from previous Cochrane reviews of this title. Randomized controlled trials of adherence-enhancing interventions for lipid-lowering medication in adults in an ambulatory setting with measurable outcomes were evaluated with criteria outlined by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-seven studies randomly assigning 899,068 participants to a variety of interventions were analyzed. One group of interventions categorized as intensified patient care showed significant improvement in adherence rates when compared to usual care (odds ratio 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29-2.88). Additionally, after <6 months of follow-up, total cholesterol decreased by a mean of 17.15 mg/dL (95% CI 1.17-33.14), while after >6 months total cholesterol decreased by a mean of 17.57 mg/dL (95% CI 14.95-20.19).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Healthcare systems that can implement team-based intensified patient care interventions, such as electronic reminders, pharmacist-led interventions, and healthcare professional education of patients, may be successful in improving adherence rates to lipid-lowering medicines.</p>","PeriodicalId":47600,"journal":{"name":"Ochsner Journal","volume":"16 3","pages":"230-7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5024803/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140207944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Catheter Ablation to Treat Supraventricular Arrhythmia in Children and Adults With Congenital Heart Disease: What We Know and Where We Are Going.","authors":"Patricia E Thomas, Scott L Macicek","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Catheter ablation has been used to manage supraventricular arrhythmia in children since 1990. This article reviews the history of catheter ablation used to treat arrhythmia in children and discusses new frontiers in the field. We also address ablation in adult patients with a history of congenital heart disease (CHD) that was diagnosed and initially treated in childhood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted an evidence-based literature review to gather available data on ablation for supraventricular tachycardia in children and adult patients with CHD.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ablations can be performed safely and effectively in children. Complication rates are higher in children <4 years and <15 kg. In one study, the overall success rate of radiofrequency ablation in pediatrics was 95.7%, with the highest success rate in left free wall pathways (97.8%). Recurrence was higher in septal pathways. Cryoablation has been reported to have a 93% acute success rate for atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentrant tachycardia and septal pathways with no risk of AV block and a 5%-9% risk of recurrence. Three-dimensional mapping, intracardiac echocardiography, remote magnetic navigation, and irrigated catheter ablation are new technologies used to treat pediatric and adult patients with CHD. The population of adult patients with CHD is growing, and these patients are at particularly high risk for arrhythmia. A paucity of data is available on ablation in adult patients with CHD.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Electrophysiology for pediatric and adult patients with CHD is a rapidly growing and progressing field. We benefit from continuous development of ablation techniques for adults with structurally normal hearts and have the unique challenge and responsibility to ensure the safe and effective application of these techniques in the vulnerable population of pediatric and adult patients with CHD.</p>","PeriodicalId":47600,"journal":{"name":"Ochsner Journal","volume":"16 3","pages":"290-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5024812/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141176580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Breaking Down the Barriers: Why the Delay in Referral for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension?","authors":"Stacy A Mandras, Hector O Ventura, Paul A Corris","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and fatal disease. While many treatment options have been shown to improve quality of life, exercise tolerance, and hemodynamics in PAH, survival remains poor, in part due to the advanced stage at which patients present to PAH specialists.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This perspective paper explores challenges related to the timing of referral, diagnosis, and initiation of therapy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Multiple factors account for the delay in referral, including fallacies in physician education, commercial influence resulting in inappropriate prescribing practices, and barriers in access to care.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Improving physician education, encouraging the prescription of PAH medications to be done predominantly by PAH specialists, overcoming barriers to care, and promoting screening for PAH will help ensure early referral, diagnosis, and treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":47600,"journal":{"name":"Ochsner Journal","volume":"16 3","pages":"257-62"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5024807/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72211329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Melanoma in Situ Treated with Topical Imiquimod for Management of Persistently Positive Margins: A Review of Treatment Methods.","authors":"Qing Fan, Stephanie Cohen, Becky John, Adam I Riker","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Imiquimod is a topical cream approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, and genital-perianal warts. Its successful use in patients with persistently positive margins of melanoma in situ (MIS) after surgical excision has been previously reported.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>A 75-year-old female presented with a primary melanoma that was removed through an elliptical excision with 1 cm margins. Pathology revealed 3 involved margins with residual MIS without an invasive component. After a second operation removed an additional 1 cm margin, pathology revealed 2 positive margins with residual MIS. Rather than undergoing a third excision, the patient decided to pursue a nonsurgical approach with topical imiquimod, and at the 4-month follow-up examination, the incision was completely healed with no clinical evidence of tumor recurrence.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A nonsurgical approach with 5% topical imiquimod cream applied along the incision was utilized. In specific patient populations, the use of imiquimod is a reasonable alternative approach for the management of persistently positive MIS margins. Long-term follow-up is necessary to assess for evidence of recurrence and the ultimate success of this nonsurgical approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":47600,"journal":{"name":"Ochsner Journal","volume":"15 4","pages":"443-7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2015-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4679308/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141071316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating Outcomes from an Integrated Health Service for Older Patients.","authors":"Kyle D Severinsen, Anne Tufton, Emma Hannan, Jessica S Schwind, Dana Schmucker, Allison Cutler","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hospital-associated disability is the loss of the ability to complete one activity of daily living (ADL), with this decline occurring between the onset of acute illness and discharge from the hospital. Approximately 30% of patients who are >70 years old and admitted to hospitals are discharged with an ADL disability. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) models use a multidimensional, interdisciplinary process of diagnosis and treatment with the goal of improving outcomes and decreasing lengths of stay.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective clinical audit of Ipswich Hospital's medical records included patients for random selection who were >75 years of age and had an acute admission to the Older Person Evaluation Review and Assessment (OPERA) or general medicine (GM) service from July 2012 to December 2012. Data were collected for the entire admission period on length of stay, comorbidities, allied health visits, functional ability, and delirium and dementia at admission.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 267 patients evaluated, 133 were admitted to the OPERA service, and 134 were admitted to the GM service. Patients admitted to the OPERA service were significantly more ill than patients admitted to the GM service as measured by the Charlson Comorbidity Index scores (6.53 ± 1.83 vs 6.02 ± 1.96, respectively, P=0.02), Katz Index of Independence in ADL scores (3.77 ± 2.22 vs 4.72 ± 2.00, respectively, P<0.001), presence of delirium at admission (28% vs 15%, respectively, P=0.02), and presence of dementia at admission (42% vs 21%, respectively, P=0.002). However, patients in both groups had a mean acute length of stay of 4 days (P=0.33), the readmission rate was <20% for both groups (P=0.33), and the mortality rate for each group was similar (3%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>By showing that patients admitted to the OPERA service were more ill than patients admitted to the GM service but health outcomes were maintained, researchers hope to justify the need for such CGA models. Additional goals include garnering support for the maintenance and growth of CGA models; decreasing mortality, cost, and readmission rates; and improving the quality of life for older patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":47600,"journal":{"name":"Ochsner Journal","volume":"15 4","pages":"423-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2015-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4679304/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141071289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}