The Diagnostic Accuracy of EXTEM and HEPTEM Clotting Times Versus Standard Laboratory Tests in Cardiac Surgical Patients With and Without Normal FIBTEM Values.

OBJECTIVES: There is extensive evidence to support the use of FIBTEM to identify hypofibrinogenemia during cardiac surgery, but less to support the use of EXTEM and INTEM clotting times (CTs) to identify other plasmatic coagulation factor deficiencies. The aim of the current study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of EXTEM, INTEM, and HEPTEM CTs, using laboratory international normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) as reference standards. DESIGN: This was a retrospective diagnostic accuracy study. SETTING: The work took place at a tertiary referral hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 176 cardiac surgical patients were enrolled. INTERVENTIONS: INR, aPTT, ROTEM EXTEM, INTEM, and HEPTEM were measured post-heparin reversal after cardiopulmonary bypass. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, and positive (PPVs) and negative predictive values (NPVs) for EXTEM CT >80 seconds and HEPTEM CT >280 seconds to detect INR ≥2.0, and INTEM CT >205 seconds to detect aPTT ≥38.5 seconds were calculated for all patients and the subset with normal FIBTEM A5 (>6 mm). The prevalence of INR ≥2.0 was 13%. EXTEM CT >80 seconds had a sensitivity of 1.00, specificity of 0.25, PPV of 0.17, and NPV of 1.00. HEPTEM CT >280 seconds had a sensitivity of 0.91, specificity of 0.38, PPV of 0.18, and NPV of 0.97. INTEM CT >205 seconds had a sensitivity of 0.97, specificity of 0.11, PPV of 0.57, and NPV of 0.75 for aPTT ≥38.5 seconds. These values were similar for the subset of patients with normal FIBTEM A5. CONCLUSIONS: EXTEM CT >80 seconds and HEPTEM CT >280 seconds have high sensitivities and NPVs for INR >2.0, which would effectively "rule out" INR >2.0 as a cause for excessive bleeding. However, the low specificities and PPVs indicate they would be less effective in ruling it in. INTEM CT >205 seconds had low PPV and NPV in identifying aPTT >38.5 seconds.

Opportunistic detection of anal intraepithelial neoplasia at colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Human papilloma virus-associated anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) precedes most anal cancers and can be detected at colonoscopy. We aimed to quantify AIN detection rates in a general population undergoing colonoscopy. METHODS: A retrospective review of a community-based practice for 2 years until December 2019 was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 2525 patients (1051 males and 1474 females; median age 59 years) had 2608 colonoscopies. Ten patients (two males and eight females; median age 57.5 years) had incidentally detected AIN (condyloma acuminatum or AIN1, n = 4; AIN2 or 3, n = 6). AIN was detected in 1 of 261 (95% CI 1/142-1/480) colonoscopies and 1 of 163 (95% CI 1/83-1/321) colonoscopies in women over 40 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Opportunistically detecting AIN, especially in women over 40 years old, should be an important adjunct to colonoscopy-based colorectal neoplasia detection.