Hepatic Encephalopathy After TIPS Placement: Predictive Factors, Prevention Strategies, and Management.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a challenging complication after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement. Despite recent advances, much is still uncertain regarding risk factors, preventative measures, and the management of HE after TIPS placement. Appropriate patient selection and pre-procedural risk stratification remain areas of focus. In this manuscript, we discuss the current state of research related to HE after TIPS placement, including information regarding risk stratification, complication prevention, and treatment options.

Epidemiology of neuroendocrine tumors of the appendix in the USA: a population-based national study (2014-2019).

BACKGROUND: The appendix is the third most common place for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) along the digestive tract and NETs are the most common neoplasms of the appendix. However, there are limited population-based data on the epidemiology of this disease. Using a large database, we sought to describe the epidemiology and risk association of NETs of the appendix. METHOD: We queried a multi-institutional database (Explorys Inc., Cleveland, OH, USA), comprising 360 hospitals in the United States (US), for patients with a diagnosis of NETs of the appendix from 2014-2019. RESULTS: Of the 30,324,050 individuals in the database, 2020 patients had an appendiceal NET diagnosis (0.007%). The most common presenting symptoms included abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Patients with appendiceal NETs were more likely to be female (odds ratio [OR] 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-1.49), Caucasian (OR 2.71, 95%CI 2.40-3.07), with a history of smoking (OR 1.82, 95%CI 1.65-2.01), family history of primary gastrointestinal malignancy (OR 7.26, 95%CI 6.31-8.33), diagnosis of multiple endocrine tumor type 1 (OR 52.31, 95%CI 23.15-118.23), or neurofibromatosis type 1 (OR 16.37, 95%CI 7.24-37.01). CONCLUSIONS: In a population-based study in the US, using the Explorys database, we found the overall prevalence of NETs of the appendix to be 7 per 100,000 persons. The incidence in the year January 2019-January 2020 was 0.4 per 100,000 individuals. These rates are higher than previously reported and may be more accurate, given the more comprehensive nature of the Explorys database.

Increasing Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression Disorders After Diagnosis of Chronic Pancreatitis: A 5-Year Population-Based Study.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is often associated with poor quality of life. Only a few small associative studies have reported the prevalence of mood disorders in CP. Using a large database, we sought to describe the epidemiology and risk association of anxiety and depression in CP and evaluate their outcomes. METHODS: A multicenter database (Explorys), an aggregate of electronic health record data from 26 US healthcare systems, was surveyed. A cohort of patients with a diagnosis of CP between 2014 and 2019 was identified. Within this cohort, rates of anxiety and depression were calculated. Demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes were described. RESULTS: Of the 30,276,810 individuals in the database (2014-2019), 67,260 patients had a CP diagnosis (0.22%). When compared with patients with no history of CP, patients with CP were more likely to develop anxiety (odds ratio, 6.94; 95% confidence interval, 6.85-7.04) and depression (odds ratio, 5.09; 95% confidence interval, 5.01-5.17). Chronic pancreatitis patients with depression had an increased risk of suicidal ideation compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CP are at a higher risk of developing anxiety and depression compared with those without CP, with overall worse outcomes. Clinicians should screen CP patients and make appropriate referral to psychiatry when indicated.

Predictors of Occurrence and Risk of Hepatic Encephalopathy After TIPS Creation: A 15-Year Experience.

PURPOSE: To identify clinical variables, including use of newer Viatorr TIPS endoprosthesis with controlled expansion (VCX) that may affect the occurrence and risk of hepatic encephalopathy after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation. METHODS: A total of 376 patients who underwent TIPS creation at our institution between 2003 and 2018 were retrospectively identified. Of these patients, 71 received a Viatorr controlled expansion endoprosthesis and 305 received a Viatorr TIPS endoprosthesis (older version without controlled expansion). Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify factors predicting the occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy after TIPS creation; a Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess risk of HE through time to HE onset RESULTS: A total of 194 patients (52%) developed hepatic encephalopathy after TIPS creation, including 28 of 71 patients (39%) who received a VCX endoprosthesis. Older patient age and the use of Viatorr endoprosthesis without controlled expansion were significantly associated with the development of hepatic encephalopathy overall. Pre-TIPS pressure variables, patient age, plasma international normalized ratio, and model for end-stage liver disease score were risk factors for time to hepatic encephalopathy. CONCLUSION: Several variables are mild predictors of early hepatic encephalopathy development after TIPS creation, and the use of VCX endoprosthesis in TIPS creation is associated with a modest lower risk of hepatic encephalopathy. These preliminary findings should be considered in regard to patient selection, endoprosthesis selection, and post-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation monitoring for the development of hepatic encephalopathy.

Institutional Outcomes Should Be a Determinant in Decision to Perform Laparoscopic Proctectomies for Rectal Cancer.

Purpose Minimally invasive rectal cancer (RC) resection has become common, despite recent high-profile trials failing to show non-inferiority to open proctectomy. We hypothesized that at a high-volume center, laparoscopic resection may have superior outcomes compared to those seen in ALaCaRT and ACOSOG Z6051. Methods Retrospective review of patients undergoing laparoscopic proctectomy from 2007 to 2015 for RC was performed at a high-volume center. Primary outcome was successful resection defined by negative circumferential resection margin (CRM) and distal margin (DM), and complete total mesorectal excision (TME). Results A total of 89 patients were included. Of 33 patients with TME grading, 31 (93.9%) had complete/near complete TME, and 29 (87.9%) had a "successful resection" compared with 81.7% in ACOSOG and 82% in ALaCART trials using same criteria. CRM was ≥1 mm in 87 (97.8%) of patients. Mean DM was 3.8 cm; 97.8% of patients had negative DM. Conclusion High-volume centers can achieve similar high quality RC outcomes to those demonstrated in recent trials. Institutional outcomes should determine optimal surgical technique.