ABSTRACT
Objective: To synthesize the evidence for incidence, pathophysiology, etiology, and protocol-based management of hyperammonemia in lung transplant patients. Background: Elevated ammonia levels are toxic to the brain, and hyperammonemia results in a potentially fatal complication for lung transplant recipients. The hallmark of this condition is ammonia production being way out of proportion to the degree of liver derangement. While there are many hypotheses, the cause remains obscure. Methods: A retrospective review of patients with hyperammonemia following lung transplantation was done to understand the pathophysiology, various treatment modalities, and its impact on patient mortality and morbidity. Studies in the English literature were identified through an electronic database search from PubMed/MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Google Scholar, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov until June 2020. No restriction of dates were used, and the search was up until June 2020. Discussion: Mortality among patients with hyperammonemia following lung transplantation is high. Multi-modal treatment approaches include avoiding nephrotoxic drugs, use of bowel decontamination, nitrogen scavengers, branched-chain amino acids, adjustment of immunosuppression, antibiotics like fluoroquinolones or azithromycin, and renal replacement therapy. However, there remains a scarcity of preoperative screening protocol for patients at risk of hyperammonemia as well evidence-based post-operative management guidelines. Intermittent hemodialysis, compared to continuous venovenous hemodialysis, provides better patient outcomes. Conclusion: Early detection of patients at risk by appropriate screening, along with maintaining a high degree of suspicion for hyperammonemia and multi-modal treatment approach, is the key to successful patient outcomes. Further prospective observational studies would facilitate development of protocol-based treatment of this potentially fatal condition.
ABSTRACT
Radiotherapy (RT) is a treatment modality that uses high-energy rays or radioactive agents to generate ionizing radiation against rapidly dividing cells. The main objective of using radiation in cancer therapy is to impair or halt the division of the tumor cells. Over the past few decades, advancements in technology, the introduction of newer methods of RT, and a better understanding of the pathophysiology of cancers have enabled physicians to deliver doses of radiation that match the exact dimensions of the tumor for greater efficacy, with minimal exposure of the surrounding tissues. However, RT has numerous complications, the most common being radiation proctitis (RP). It is characterized by damage to the rectal epithelium by secondary ionizing radiation. Based on the onset of signs and symptoms, post-radiotherapy RP can be classified as acute or chronic, each with varying levels of severity and complication rates. The treatment options available for RP are limited, with most of the data on treatment available from case reports or small studies. Here, we describe the types of RT used in modern-day medicine and radiation-mediated tissue injury. We have primarily focused on the classification, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, treatment strategies, complications, and prognosis of RP.
ABSTRACT
Background/Aims@#Proinflammatory cytokines released from adipocytes can influence the development, progression, and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and may be associated with worse clinical outcomes. @*Methods@#For 2016–2018, we analyzed data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify adult (≥18 years) hospitalizations with a primary discharge diagnosis of IBD. The study sample was divided based on the presence or absence of obesity. The primary outcomes included inpatient mortality, while the secondary outcomes consisted of system-based complications and disease implications on the United States healthcare system. @*Results@#We identified 282,005 hospitalizations of IBD from 2016 to 2018. Of these hospitalizations, 26,465 (9.4%) had a secondary diagnosis of obesity while 255,540 (90.6%) served as controls. IBD hospitalizations with obesity had a higher mean age (47.9 years vs. 45.2 years, P<0.001), middle age (range, 40–65 years) predominance (37.7% vs. 28.9%, P<0.001), female predominance (64.1% vs. 52.5%, P<0.001) and higher proportion of patients with comorbidities compared to the non-obese cohort. White predominance was observed in both subgroups. No difference in the odds of inpatient mortality was noted between the 2 subgroups; however, IBD hospitalizations with obesity had higher mean total hospital charge ($50,126 vs. $45,001, P<0.001), longer length of stay (5.5 days vs. 4.9 days, P<0.001) and higher proportion of complications compared to the non-obese cohort. @*Conclusions@#Obese IBD hospitalizations had higher length of stay, total hospital charge, and complications compared to the non-obese cohort.
ABSTRACT
Hyperthyroidism is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular events and worse hospital outcomes. The Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) 2018 was used to determine the characteristics of 30-day readmission in patients with hyperthyroidism. The 30-day all-cause readmission rate for hyperthyroidism was 10.3%. About 21.7% had hyperthyroidism as the principal diagnosis on readmission. Readmissions were associated with an increased odds of inpatient mortality (odds ratio, 7.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.97 to 12.49), length of stay (5.2 days vs. 4.0 days; 95% CI, 0.7 to 1.8), total hospital charges, and cost of hospitalizations. Independent predictors of 30-day all-cause readmissions included Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3 (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.76; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.71), discharge against medical advice (aHR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.50 to 3.53), protein-energy malnutrition (aHR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.07), and atrial fibrillation (aHR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.79). Aggressive but appropriate monitoring is warranted in patients with hyperthyroidism to prevent readmissions.
