COVID-19 infection in patients with intestinal failure: UK experience.

BACKGROUND: The direct effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on patients with intestinal failure (IF) has not been described. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide study of UK IF centers to evaluate the infection rates, presentations, and outcomes in patients with types 2 and 3 IF. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients with IF contracted COVID-19 between March and August 2020; this included 26 of 2191 (1.2%) home parenteral nutrition (HPN)-dependent adults and 19 of 298 (6.4%) adults hospitalized with type 2 IF. The proportion of patients receiving nursing care for HPN administration was higher in those with community-acquired COVID-19 (66.7%) than the proportion in the entire HPN cohort (26.1%; P < .01). Two HPN-dependent and 1 hospitalized patient with type 2 IF died as a direct consequence of the virus (6.7% of 45 patients with types 2 or 3 infected). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to describe the outcomes of COVID-19 in a large cohort of patients requiring long-term PN. Methods to reduce hospital and community nosocomial spread would likely be beneficial.

Relationship between preoperative comorbidity, systemic inflammatory response, and survival in patients undergoing curative resection for colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Besides tumor characteristics, colorectal cancer (CRC) outcomes are also determined by host factors, in particular the systemic inflammatory response. The basis of this relationship with survival is not known; however, systemic inflammation may reflect comorbidity. The present study examines relationships between host factors (including age, comorbidity, deprivation, and systemic inflammation) and survival in CRC. METHODS: A total of 302 patients underwent curative elective CRC resection between 1997 and 2005. Data was collected on patient comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index [CCI], Lee Cardiac Risk Index [LCRI], National Institute on Aging and National Cancer Institute Comorbidity Index [NIA/NCI], and Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 [ACE-27]), systemic inflammatory response (Glasgow Prognostic Score [mGPS]), deprivation [Carstairs Deprivation Index], body mass index, and smoking status. RESULTS: For cancer-specific survival, age (P = 0.047), tumor, node, metastasis system stage (P < 0.001), high-risk Petersen Index (P < 0.001), LCRI (P = 0.021), and mGPS (P < 0.001) were independent factors by multivariate analysis. For overall survival, age (P < 0.001), tumor, node, metastasis system stage (P = 0.001), high-risk Petersen Index (P = 0.002), postoperative infective complications (P = 0.002), ACE-27 (P = 0.008), and mGPS (P < 0.001) were independent factors. Older age related to increasing comorbidity (ACE-27, CCI, LCRI [P < 0.005]) and increased mGPS (P < 0.005). Smoking and deprivation related to increasing comorbidity (P < 0.05). The mGPS was associated with high comorbidity burden assessed with ACE-27 (P = 0.065), CCI (P = 0.016), LCRI (P = 0.095), and NIA/NCI (P = 0.084). CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidity does not fully explain the relationship between the mGPS and cancer-specific survival in CRC patients. Furthermore, comorbidity, in particular that measured by the LCRI, is an important independent indicator of cancer survival.

The relationship between patient physiology, the systemic inflammatory response and survival in patients undergoing curative resection of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: It is increasingly recognised that host-related factors may be important in determining cancer outcome. The aim was to examine the relationship between patient physiology, the systemic inflammatory response and survival after colorectal cancer resection. METHODS: Patients undergoing potentially curative resection of colorectal cancer were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Patient physiology was assessed using the physiological and operative severity score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity (POSSUM) criteria. The systemic inflammatory response was assessed using the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS). Multivariate 5-year survival analysis was carried out with calculation of hazard ratios (HR). RESULTS: A total of 320 patients were included. During follow-up (median 74 months), there were 136 deaths: 83 colorectal cancer related and 53 non-cancer related. Independent predictors of cancer-specific survival were age (HR: 1.46, P<0.01), Dukes stage (HR: 2.39, P<0.001), mGPS (HR: 1.78, P<0.001) and POSSUM physiology score (HR: 1.38, P=0.02). Predictors of overall survival were age (HR: 1.64, P<0.001), smoking (HR: 1.52, P=0.02), Dukes stage (HR: 1.64, P<0.001), mGPS (HR: 1.60, P<0.001) and POSSUM physiology score (HR: 1.27, P=0.03). A relationship between mGPS and POSSUM physiology score was also established (P<0.006). CONCLUSION: The POSSUM physiology score and the systemic inflammatory response are strongly associated and both are independent predictors of cancer specific and overall survival in patients undergoing potentially curative resection of colorectal cancer.

Preoperative systemic inflammation predicts postoperative infectious complications in patients undergoing curative resection for colorectal cancer.

The presence of systemic inflammation before surgery, as evidenced by the glasgow prognostic score (mGPS), predicts poor long-term survival in colorectal cancer. The aim was to examine the relationship between the preoperative mGPS and the development of postoperative complications in patients undergoing potentially curative resection for colorectal cancer. Patients (n=455) who underwent potentially curative resections between 2003 and 2007 were assessed consecutively, and details were recorded in a database. The majority of patients presented for elective surgery (85%) were over the age of 65 years (70%), were male (58%), were deprived (53%), and had TNM stage I/II disease (61%), had preoperative haemoglobin (56%), white cell count (87%) and mGPS 0 (58%) in the normal range. After surgery, 86 (19%) patients developed a postoperative complication; 70 (81%) of which were infectious complications. On multivariate analysis, peritoneal soiling (P<0.01), elevated preoperative white cell count (P<0.05) and mGPS (P<0.01) were independently associated with increased risk of developing a postoperative infection. In elective patients, only the mGPS (OR=1.75, 95% CI=1.17-2.63, P=0.007) was significantly associated with increased risk of developing a postoperative infection. Preoperative elevated mGPS predicts increased postoperative infectious complications in patients undergoing potentially curative resection for colorectal cancer.

Comparison of the prognostic value of selected markers of the systemic inflammatory response in patients with colorectal cancer.

There is increasing evidence that the presence of a systemic inflammatory response plays an important role in predicting survival in patients with colorectal cancer. However, it is not clear what components of the systemic inflammatory response best predict survival. The aim of the present study was to compare the prognostic value of an inflammation-based prognostic score (modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (Mgps) 0=C-reactive protein <10 mg l(-1), 1=C-reactive protein >10 mg l(-1), and 2=C-reactive protein >10 mg l(-1) and albumin<35 g l(-1)) with that of components of the white cell count (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and platelets using standard thresholds) in patients with colorectal cancer. Two patient groups were studied: 149 patients who underwent potentially curative resection for colorectal cancer and 84 patients who had synchronous unresectable liver metastases. In those patients who underwent potentially curative resection the minimum follow-up was 36 months and 20 patients died of their cancer. On multivariate survival analysis only TNM stage (HR 3.75, 95% CI 1.54-9.17, P=0.004), monocyte count (HR 3.79, 95% CI 1.29-11.12, P=0.015) and mGPS (HR 2.21, 95% CI 1.11-4.41, P=0.024) were independently associated with cancer-specific survival. In patients with synchronous unresectable liver metastases the minimum follow-up was 6 months and 71 patients died of their cancer. On multivariate survival analysis only single liver metastasis >5 cm (HR 1.78, 95% CI 0.99-3.21, P=0.054), extra-hepatic disease (HR 2.09, 95% CI 1.05-4.17, P=0.036), chemotherapy treatment (HR 2.40, 95% CI 1.82-3.17, P<0.001) and mGPS (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.01-2.04, P=0.043) were independently associated with cancer-specific survival. In summary, markers of the systemic inflammatory response are associated with poor outcome in patients with either primary operable or synchronous unresectable colorectal cancer. An acute-phase protein-based prognostic score, the mGPS, appears to be a superior predictor of survival compared with the cellular components of the systemic inflammatory response.

An unusual case of facial nerve palsy following soccer related minor head injury.

A 16 year old amateur soccer player sustained a minor head injury while contesting a ball in the air. He was unconscious for two minutes and remained "dizzy" for about an hour. After two days he developed a profound left lower motor neurone facial nerve palsy. He was found to have a complex fracture of the left petrous temporal bone, with fluid in the left middle ear and left mastoid. Treatment was conservative with oral steroids and oral co-amoxiclav and a left myringotomy to decompress his middle ear. The spectrum of aetiology, presentation, and prognosis for facial nerve injuries is discussed.