Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings最新文献

Introduction: Previous research has established that smoking significantly increases the complication rate of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Risk of infection, prosthetic loosening, fractures, wound healing issues, and revisions are increased in smokers, but research is limited on the long-term clinical outcomes of pain, range of motion, stability, and functionality between smokers, nonsmokers, and former smokers, specifically utilizing Knee Society Scores (KSS).

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of primary TKA patients (n = 203) at a single university hospital. The patients were divided by smoking status: nonsmoker, current smoker, or former smoker. One-way analysis of variance with associated f ratios was performed to assess variance in KSS by smoking status over time. Relative risk ratio analyses were employed to assess patients' predictive risk of acquiring postoperative infection and requiring additional surgery following TKA based on smoking status.

Results: Postoperative KSS were significantly lower in the smoker group compared to nonsmokers and former smokers at 6 weeks and 1 year. For every 20 months a former smoker used tobacco, an approximate 1-point decrease in KSS was expected. The relative risk ratios for postoperative infection rates and patients requiring additional surgery were 2.13 and 1.44, respectively, when current smokers were compared to nonsmokers.

Conclusions: This analysis found that current smokers had lower KSS and higher infection rates following TKA when compared to nonsmoking controls. In addition, increased duration of smoking was correlated with poorer outcomes within the former smoker group.

Background: Medicare payment, practice, and patient characteristics give perspective on the lifestyle, challenges, and attractiveness unique to each orthopedic surgery subspecialty. Changes to Medicare reimbursement may also affect health care delivery, warranting policy change. We analyzed differences in orthopedic surgery subspecialty characteristics and Medicare payments.

Methods: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data set was filtered by Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes unique to each orthopedic surgery subspecialty in 2019. After filtering by unique CPT codes, 100 randomized physicians were validated for each subspecialty: adult reconstruction and arthroplasty, trauma, sports medicine, hand surgery, shoulder and elbow surgery, foot and ankle surgery, and spine surgery. Data gathered included unique procedural codes, number of beneficiaries, services provided, and the total Medicare allowed amount. Differences were assessed with post hoc tests. Subspecialty changes in Medicare payment were assessed using the Physician Fee Schedule and compared using a single-factor analysis of variance.

Results: On average, hand surgery recorded the most unique CPT codes (106) and the highest volume of beneficiaries (571). Adult reconstruction and arthroplasty had the fewest unique codes (60) and the greatest total Medicare payment ($328,000). Spine surgery had the lowest number of beneficiaries (387) and lowest number of services provided (1752). Lastly, sports medicine provided the largest volume of services (4221). Mean total codes, unique codes, and total patients differed between subspecialties. Varying differences in average Medicare payment, total billed codes, total unique codes, total patients, patient race, patient age, patient sex, and patient health were found for all orthopedic surgery subspecialties in 2019.

Conclusions: These data may illustrate financial incentives for orthopedic surgery residents to pursue certain subspecialties.

Background and aims: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is common among patients with cirrhosis, but the independent impact on outcomes and management is uncertain. We aimed to determine whether the development of PVT is independently associated with mortality, bleeding, and hospitalization and whether anticoagulation improves these outcomes.

Methods: Patients with cirrhosis and PVT were identified using billing codes from a large health system between 2016 and 2023 and compared to matched control cirrhosis patients without PVT. Among the cohort with PVT, those who received anticoagulation were compared to those who did not. Outcomes included mortality, gastrointestinal bleeding, and hospitalization. Adjustment for confounding was performed using propensity score analysis.

Results: Among 48,596 patients with cirrhosis, 1332 formed the PVT cohort and 3440 formed the non-PVT matched cohort. On adjusted analysis, patients with PVT had higher mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.33, P < 0.001), bleeding (HR 1.41, P < 0.001), and hospitalization (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.25, P < 0.001). Among the 1161 PVT patients meeting inclusion criteria, 768 received no anticoagulation, 309 received anticoagulation for ≤90 days, and 84 received anticoagulation for >90 days. In the unadjusted analysis, anticoagulation was associated with lower mortality (log-rank P = 0.004), with a dose-response relationship. After propensity score adjustment, the association between anticoagulation and lower mortality persisted but no longer reached statistical significance (HR 0.8, P = 0.075). However, anticoagulation remained associated with higher bleeding (HR 1.67, P = 0.004) and hospitalization (IRR 1.43, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Among patients with cirrhosis, PVT is independently associated with a higher risk of mortality, bleeding, and hospitalization. Anticoagulation may improve overall survival but is associated with a higher risk of bleeding and hospitalization.

Introduction: Melanoma is a common cancer worldwide. Introduction of new treatments through clinical trials is essential to reduce the global burden from melanoma; however, it is estimated that 22% of oncological clinical trials are terminated early. We conducted the first cross-sectional study to assess melanoma clinical trial termination and nonpublication with an aim to guide scientists conducting such trials.

Methods: We identified all phase III/IV clinical trials evaluating melanoma therapies in the ClinicalTrials.gov database between 2010 and 2024. For each trial, we extracted data on the trial's status, melanoma stage, melanoma subtype, included age, funding sources, trial locations, publication status, and reasons for termination. A descriptive and frequency analysis was performed in JASP 0.19 software.

Results: A total of 108 trials were analyzed; the majority of trials included stage III/IV melanoma (n = 95), and cutaneous melanoma was the most common subtype. Only 15 trials included pediatric patients. Industrial funding accounted for 74% (n = 80) of trials' financing. Most of the trials were conducted internationally in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, with a few trials conducted in South Africa (n = 1), South America (n = 1), or China (n = 5). Early termination was observed in 21% (n = 23) of trials, with no association between early termination and melanoma stage, subtype, age, funding source, or trial locations. Notably, the most common reason for early termination was publication of interim efficacy and safety results (n = 14/23).

Conclusion: Our study confirms that early termination of phase III and IV melanoma trials doesn't raise a significant concern; however, diversified funding and broader geographic representation are needed to create more equitable and inclusive trials. We also suggest conducting further cross-sectional studies on phase I/II melanoma trials.

Objective: The study aimed to determine the incidence of self-reported pain during office-based intrauterine device (IUD) placement.

Methods: The study included patients who had IUD placement at our clinic from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024 with no prior history of vaginal delivery, who were between the ages of 14 and 48 years, did not have cervicitis, and were not pregnant. Informed consent was obtained, a prequestionnaire was completed, the IUD was placed in accordance with clinician preference, and a postquestionnaire was administered.

Results: Thirty-seven patients answered the question about expected pain. Two (5%) reported that their pain during IUD placement was none, 22 (59%) reported that pain was better than expected, 10 (27%) reported that pain was just as bad as expected, two (5%) reported pain was worse than expected, and one (3%) indicated that their pain during IUD placement was much worse than expected. Thirty-three patients received an intracervical or paracervical block, and five patients did not receive an intracervical or paracervical block; these groups reported visual analog pain scores of 35 ± 25 mm and 58 ± 14 mm, respectively (P = 0.22).

Conclusion: Approximately 8% of patients in our study reported worse or much worse than expected pain with IUD placement. Patients who received an intracervical or paracervical block reported less pain, but this difference was not statistically significant. Paracervical or intracervical blocks can decrease perceived pain with IUD insertion, increasing contraceptive options for those who are concerned about painful insertions; however larger studies are needed.

Purpose: Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) following COVID-19 vaccination has been reported previously but the clinical characteristics, onset, treatment, and outcomes of these cases have not been previously systematically reviewed.

Methods: A systematic review, guided by PRISMA guidelines, surveyed PubMed and Embase databases from April 2021 to June 2023 for case reports and series detailing HZO following COVID-19 vaccination. Studies excluded were abstracts, reviews, and clinical trials. A subsequent descriptive analysis was performed, focusing on patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes.

Results: Sixteen publications involving 27 participants who developed HZO post-COVID-19 vaccination met the inclusion criteria. The onset of HZO averaged 13 days (SD 12) postvaccination, predominantly after the first dose (n = 20/27 HZO cases, 74%). Most patients (70%) had preexisting medical conditions. Antiherpetic antiviral therapy was utilized in all cases, with the majority achieving resolution of cutaneous and ocular symptoms. Long-term sequelae included postherpetic neuralgia in 7.4% of patients.

Conclusion: Cases of HZO following COVID-19 vaccination generally mirror the clinical trajectory of HZO in general. This review focused on case reports describing HZO occurring in an interval postvaccination; neither association nor causation can be addressed methodologically.

Introduction: Bleeding from gastric varices (GV) is more drastic and associated with higher mortality than that from esophageal varices. There are multiple therapeutic approaches for GV bleeding. Although endoscopic cyanoacrylate glue injection (ECGI) is recommended as the first-line management for GV bleeding worldwide, its implementation in the US is limited. We conducted a survey among health care providers to examine attitudes and practice related to GV management.

Methods: Collected data were cleaned using SPSS V24. Summary statistics and graphical analyses for continuous and categorical variables were used to describe the data. Continuous variables with a normal distribution are presented as mean ± standard deviation.

Results: A total of 339 providers completed the survey, for a response rate of 16.95%. Nearly a quarter of respondents reported performing ECGI in patients with GV bleeding. Male healthcare providers (odds ratio [OR]: 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22-3.75, P = 0.006), transplant hepatologists (OR: 2.6, 95% CI = 1.25-4.87, P = 0.019), and those working in hospitals with liver transplantation centers (OR: 2.5, 95% CI = 1.35-4.62, P = 0.002) were more likely to perform ECGI in GV bleeding cases. However, only gender was significant in the multivariate model.

Conclusions: Our results indicate the underutilization of ECGI in GV patients among US endoscopists. Key hurdles are lack of training and approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Background: In pregnant patients with von Willebrand disease who have reduced von Willebrand factor (VWF) activity but normal factor VIII activity, recombinant VWF may be considered to supplement VWF.

Methods: All patients with known diagnosis of von Willebrand disease who were admitted for delivery and received recombinant VWF between October 2019 and March 2023 were included. Demographic data, peripartum course, laboratory data, neuraxial use, and bleeding complications were reviewed.

Results: There were 8 deliveries in 6 patients who had von Willebrand disease and received recombinant VWF during the study period. All patients received neuraxial analgesia or anesthesia after administration of recombinant VWF without complications. No patient required additional recombinant VWF supplementation at delivery.

Conclusion: Recombinant VWF may be an option for peripartum management in parturients with selective reduction in VWF activity and normal factor VIII activity.