ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To retrospectively assess treatment outcome of image and laparoscopic guided interstitial pulsed dose rate brachytherapy (PDR-BT) for locally advanced gynaecological cancer using the adaptive GEC ESTRO target concept. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 2005 and December 2010, 28 consecutive patients were treated for locally advanced primary vaginal (nine), recurrent endometrial (12) or recurrent cervical cancer (seven) with combined external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and interstitial PDR-BT. Treatment was initiated with whole pelvic EBRT to a median dose of 45 Gy followed by PDR-BT using the Martinez Universal Perineal Interstitial Template (MUPIT). All implants were virtually preplanned using MRI of the pelvis with a dummy MUPIT in situ. The GEC ESTRO high risk clinical target volume (HR CTV), intermediate risk clinical target volume (IR CTV) and the organs at risk (OAR) were contoured and a preplan for implantation was generated (BrachyVision, Varian). The subsequent implantation was performed under laparoscopic visualisation. Final contouring and treatment planning were done using a post-implant CT. Planning aim of PDR-BT was to deliver 30 Gy in 50 hourly pulses to HR CTV. Manual dose optimisation was performed with the aim of reaching a D90>80 Gy in the HR CTV calculated as the total biologically equivalent to 2 Gy fractions of EBRT and BT (EQD2). Dose to the OAR were evaluated using dose volume constraints for D(2cc) of 90 Gy for bladder and 70 Gy for rectum and sigmoid. RESULTS: For HR CTV the median volume was 26 cm(3) (7-91 cm(3)). Coverage of the HR CTV was 97% (90-100%) and D90 was 82 Gy (77-88 Gy). The D(2cc) for bladder, rectum, and sigmoid were 65 Gy (47-81 Gy), 61 Gy (50-77 Gy), and 52 Gy (44-68 Gy), respectively. Median follow up was 18 months (6-61 months). The actuarial 2 years local control rate was 92% (SE 5), while disease-free survival and overall survival were 59% (SE 11) and 74%, respectively (SE 10). No complications to the laparoscopic guided implantation were encountered. Late grade 2 (CTC v 3.0) complications were recorded in nine (32%) patients. One patient had a grade 3 vaginal complication. No grade 4-5 complications have been recorded so far. CONCLUSION: Image and laparoscopic guided interstitial PDR-BT using the GEC ESTRO target concept is applicable for locally advanced primary vaginal or recurrent endometrial and cervical cancer resulting in an excellent local control rate and limited morbidity.
Subject(s)
Brachytherapy/methods , Genital Neoplasms, Female/radiotherapy , Laparoscopy , Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Interventional , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/radiotherapy , Radiography, Interventional , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Colon, Sigmoid/radiation effects , Dose Fractionation, Radiation , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Genital Neoplasms, Female/pathology , Humans , Middle Aged , Multimodal Imaging , Neoplasm Staging , Positron-Emission Tomography , Radiotherapy Dosage , Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted , Rectum/radiation effects , Retrospective Studies , Survival Rate , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Treatment Outcome , Urinary Bladder/radiation effectsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: In Aarhus, Denmark, advanced prehospital care was carried out by anaesthetists working in a rendezvous model with ordinary ambulances. The effect on the patient was evaluated by the physician on scene. The purpose of the study was to evaluate survival rate, health status and functional level in patients after lifesaving prehospital care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive data were reported to a prehospital database and the National Patient Registry. Data on survival from 1998 to 2000 were retrieved. Functional level was studied in lifesaving cases in the year 2000. We interviewed the general practitioners (GPs) involved according to EuroQol. The EuroQol interview concerned health status and function level. RESULTS: In 1998-2000, prehospital anaesthetists attended a total of 11,684 patients. Treatment was described as lifesaving in 238 (2%) of the cases, and 63% of the patients (151/238) were alive one year later. In the year 2000, 79 patients were identified as having had lifesaving treatment, and 48 were alive one year later; 67% (32/48) were without functional impairment according to EuroQol. The most frequent diagnoses were self-intoxication and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. CONCLUSION: Lifesaving prehospital care, as evaluated by the prehospital physician on scene, was performed in 2 percent of all cases attended by a prehospital anaesthetist. Of these patients, the majority were alive after one year and without functional impairment, according to their GP. The diagnoses were varied.
Subject(s)
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation , Emergency Medical Services , Family Practice , Life Support Care , Resuscitation , Activities of Daily Living , Adult , Aged , Ambulances/organization & administration , Anesthesiology , Denmark , Family Practice/organization & administration , Female , Health Status , Humans , Life Support Care/organization & administration , Male , Middle Aged , Recovery of Function , Registries , Surveys and Questionnaires , Survival Rate , Treatment Outcome , WorkforceABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The Mobile Emergency Care Unit (MECU) in Arhus includes an experienced anaesthesiologist and a specially trained rescuer. It covers a radius of 25 km from the centre of Arhus with 330,000 inhabitants. Rescue workers in Denmark are permitted to give basic life support and defibrillation. The MECU carriers out advanced cardiac life support in accordance with "The 1998 Guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council". MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data collected by the MECU doctor on a standardised chart and survival data received from the Central Hospital Database were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: In 1998, 4725 emergency calls were received. Twenty-five per cent of the calls were for trauma, 515 patients had cardiac disease, 158 of whom had cardiac arrest. In 86 patients, death was determined on the spot and no treatment was given. Seventy-two patients received advanced cardiac life support. Twenty-five patients were admitted to hospital. Thirteen patients were alive one year later, which gives a survival rate of 52% of the patients admitted to hospital. Of the 25 patients who were resuscitated and admitted to hospital, 21 received defibrillation, 16 were intubated, 19 had adrenaline, 11 lidocaine, and 9 amidarone. Other drugs used were atropine, NaHCO3, sotalol, and CaCl. DISCUSSION: These results illustrate that for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest early treatment with advanced cardiac life support performed by experienced doctors probably had a positive impact on survival, as compared to basic cardiac life support.
