A simple nomogram identifies patients with refractory ascites with worse outcome after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

OBJECTIVES: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is increasingly used in the management of refractory ascites. Controversy exists regarding the predictive factors of unfavorable outcomes, useful for patient selection. The primary aim was to identify predictive factors of 1-year survival or recurrent severe hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis undergoing covered TIPS for refractory ascites. The secondary aim was overall survival. METHODS: Observational, retrospective, multicentric study, that included all cirrhotic patients treated with covered-TIPS for refractory ascites since 2001. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and hemodynamic data were collected at baseline and consecutively until dead, liver transplant or end of follow-up. The Cox model was used to identify predictive factors of overall survival. A Fine-Gray competing risk regression model was used to identify predictive factors of 1-year mortality or recurrent hepatic encephalopathy. A predictive nomogram was created based on those factors. RESULTS: In total 159 patients were included. Predictive factors of survival or recurrent severe encephalopathy were renal dysfunction [hazard ratio, 2.12 (95% CI, 1.11-4.04); P = 0.022], albumin [hazard ratio, 0.58 (95% CI, 0.34-0.97); P = 0.036], serum sodium [hazard ratio, 0.94 (95% CI, 0.89-0.98); P = 0.008] and international normalized ratio [hazard ratio 4.27 (95% CI, 1.41-12.88); P = 0.010]. In the competing risk analysis, predictive factors of 1-year mortality/recurrent severe encephalopathy in multivariate analysis were age [sub-distribution hazard ratio (sHR) 1.05 (95% CI, 1.02-1.09); P = 0.001], creatinine [sHR 1.55 (95% CI, 1.23-1.96); P = 0.001] and serum sodium [sHR 0.94 (95% CI, 0.90-0.99); P = 0.011] at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Age, creatinine and sodium baseline levels strongly influence 1-year survival/recurrent severe hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis undergoing covered TIPS for refractory ascites. A simple nomogram accurately and easily identifies those patients with worse prognosis.

Fracturas de pelvis con hematoma retroperitoneal asociado: tiempo hasta la angioembolización y resultados / Pelvic fractures with associated retroperitoneal hematoma: time until angioembolization and results

Introducción: El tratamiento de las fracturas de pelvis con hematoma retroperitoneal (HRP) es controvertido. Especialmente la necesidad de angioembolización (AE) cuando no hay extravasación de contraste (EC) en la tomografía computarizada (TC) o angiografía. Otro aspecto relevante es el retraso hasta la misma. Nuestro objetivo ha sido determinar si existen diferencias en el tiempo hasta la AE entre los pacientes admitidos durante el horario laboral y los admitidos fuera del mismo y durante los fines de semana y festivos. Nuestra hipótesis era que la angiografía y AE serían más frecuentes en el horario laboral, y el tiempo hasta las mismas sería superior fuera del horario laboral habitual, con una mortalidad mayor en este grupo para una gravedad global similar. Un objetivo secundario ha sido valorar la correlación entre EC en la TC y la angiografía. Métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de 2 cohortes de pacientes con HRP por fractura de pelvis. Se estudia la realización de angiografía dividiendo a los pacientes según su hora de llegada a lo largo de un periodo de 24 años (grupo A: horario laboral, y grupo B: fuera del mismo). La indicación de angiografía y AE fue realizada por la guardia de cirugía general, en consenso con el radiólogo intervencionista. Se han analizado variables demográficas, mecanismo lesivo, lesiones asociadas, gravedad fisiológica y anatómica, EC en la TC y la angiografía, necesidad de AE, estancia en unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) y mortalidad. Resultados: Se admitió a 104 pacientes con diagnóstico de HRP por fractura pélvica. Se realizó angiografía, con AE en 63 casos (61%). Los grupos eran comparables en las variables analizadas. En el 70% de los pacientes del grupo A se realizó angiografía, frente al 57% del grupo B, sin diferencias en tiempo hasta la AE. Se demostró EC en la TC en 53 de los 96 pacientes en los que se hizo, lo que se confirmó mediante angiografía en el 85%. No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas de mortalidad entre ambos grupos. Conclusiones: Se demuestra un tiempo corto entre la admisión en Urgencias y la AE, sin relación con el momento del ingreso durante el día, y una buena correlación entre la EC en la TC y la angiografía

Introduction: Two areas of controversy in the management of bleeding pelvic fractures are the need to perform angioembolization (AE) in patients with a retroperitoneal hematoma (RPH) but no contrast extravasation (CE) on Computerized Tomography (CT) and/or angiography, and the delay to AE. Our main objective was to assess whether there had been differences in the percentage and delay to AE between patients admitted on weekdays versus off-hours (weekends and admission after 3pm) at our hospital. Our hypothesis was that angiography and AE would be more frequent on weekdays, and the time delay would be longer during off-hours, with a higher mortality in this latter group for a similar overall severity. A secondary objective was to assess the correlation between CE on CT scan and angiography. Methods: Retrospective review of two cohorts of patients with RPH from a pelvic fracture during a period of 24 years. Patients were divided depending on the time of arrival (Group A: weekdays, and Group B: off-hours). The decision to perform angiography and AE was made by the general surgeons on call, in consensus with the interventional radiologist. We analyzed demographics, mechanism of injury, associated injuries, physiologic and anatomic trauma scores, CE on CT scan, need of AE, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay and mortality. Results: 104 patients were admitted with RPH from a pelvic fracture. We performed AE in 63 cases (61%). The groups were comparable in the variables analyzed. In 70% of patients in group A, angiography was done, vs 57% in group B, with the same median time delay. CE on CT scan was seen in 53 out of 96 patients and confirmed by angiography in 45 (85%) of them. No significant differences were found in mortality between the two groups. Conclusions: There was a short delay from admission to AE, even during off-hours, and a good correlation of CE on CT scan and angiography

Pelvic fractures with associated retroperitoneal hematoma: time until angioembolization and results. / Fracturas de pelvis con hematoma retroperitoneal asociado: tiempo hasta la angioembolización y resultados.

INTRODUCTION: Two areas of controversy in the management of bleeding pelvic fractures are the need to perform angioembolization (AE) in patients with a retroperitoneal hematoma (RPH) but no contrast extravasation (CE) on Computerized Tomography (CT) and/or angiography, and the delay to AE. Our main objective was to assess whether there had been differences in the percentage and delay to AE between patients admitted on weekdays versus off-hours (weekends and admission after 3pm) at our hospital. Our hypothesis was that angiography and AE would be more frequent on weekdays, and the time delay would be longer during off-hours, with a higher mortality in this latter group for a similar overall severity. A secondary objective was to assess the correlation between CE on CT scan and angiography. METHODS: Retrospective review of two cohorts of patients with RPH from a pelvic fracture during a period of 24 years. Patients were divided depending on the time of arrival (Group A: weekdays, and Group B: off-hours). The decision to perform angiography and AE was made by the general surgeons on call, in consensus with the interventional radiologist. We analyzed demographics, mechanism of injury, associated injuries, physiologic and anatomic trauma scores, CE on CT scan, need of AE, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay and mortality. RESULTS: 104 patients were admitted with RPH from a pelvic fracture. We performed AE in 63 cases (61%). The groups were comparable in the variables analyzed. In 70% of patients in group A, angiography was done, vs 57% in group B, with the same median time delay. CE on CT scan was seen in 53 out of 96 patients and confirmed by angiography in 45 (85%) of them. No significant differences were found in mortality between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was a short delay from admission to AE, even during off-hours, and a good correlation of CE on CT scan and angiography.

Intracardiac thrombosis in Behçet's Disease successfully treated with immunosuppressive agents: A case of vascular pathergy phenomenon.

Behçet's Disease (BD) is a rare multi-systemic inflammatory disorder classified as a systemic vasculitis of unknown aetiology. Vascular involvement occurs in approximately 5-51.6% cases, affecting venous and arterial vessels. Cardiac involvement is rare in BD (6%). There have been published approximately 93 cases of BD associated with intracardiac thrombosis, with different treatments and courses. We present a case of a 35-year-old spanish male that, after a percutaneous pharmacomechanical thrombectomy with venous stent placement, developed high fever and extensive venous thrombosis despite anticoagulation including intracardiac thrombosis (ICT) in the right ventricle and pulmonary embolism that leaded to the diagnosis of BD. The patient was successfully treated with immunosuppressants, achieving the complete resolution of ICT. We hypotesize that the endovenous procedure could have acted as a trigger for the posterior acute attack of the disease, representing a 'vascular pathergy phenomenon'. Vascular BD has to be suspected in cases of thrombosis recurrence despite correct anticoagulation, and intense immunosuppressive treatment should be considered.