Outpatient intravenous diuresis in a rural setting: safety, efficacy, and outcomes.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and outcomes of outpatient intravenous diuresis in a rural setting and compare it to urban outcomes. Methods: A single-center study was conducted on 60 patients (131 visits) at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) from 1/2021-12/2022. Demographics, visit data, and outcomes were collected and compared to urban outpatient IV centers, and inpatient HF hospitalizations from DHMC FY21 and national means. Descriptive statistics, T-tests and chi-squares were used. Results: The mean age was 70 ± 13 years, 58% were male, and 83% were NYHA III-IV. Post-diuresis, 5% had mild-moderate hypokalemia, 16% had mild worsening of renal function, and 3% had severe worsening of renal function. No hospitalizations occurred due to adverse events. The mean infusion-visit urine output was 761 ± 521 ml, and post-visit weight loss was -3.9 ± 5.0 kg. No significant differences were observed between HFpEF and HFrEF groups. 30-day readmissions were similar to urban outpatient IV centers, DHMC FY21, and the national mean (23.3% vs. 23.5% vs. 22.2% vs. 22.6%, respectively; p = 0.949). 30-day mortality was similar to urban outpatient IV centers but lower than DHMC FY21 and the national means (1.7% vs. 2.5% vs. 12.3% vs. 10.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). At 60 days, 42% of patients had ≥1 clinic revisit, 41% had ≥1 infusion revisit, 33% were readmitted to the hospital, and two deaths occurred. The clinic avoided 21 hospitalizations, resulting in estimated cost savings of $426,111. Conclusion: OP IV diuresis appears safe and effective for rural HF patients, potentially decreasing mortality rates and healthcare expenses while mitigating rural-urban disparities.

Maximizing the Benefit-Cost Ratio of Anthracyclines in Metastatic Breast Cancer: Case Report of a Patient with a Complete Response to High-Dose Doxorubicin.

Despite the clinical efficacy of anthracycline agents such as doxorubicin, dose-limiting cardiac toxicities significantly limit their long-term use. Here, we present the case of a 33-year-old female patient with extensive metastatic ER+/PR+/HER2- mucinous adenocarcinoma of the breast, who was started on doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide therapy after progressing on paclitaxel and ovarian suppressor goserelin with aromatase inhibitor exemestane. The patient was comanaged by cardiology, who carefully monitored measures of cardiac function, including EKGs, serial echocardiograms, and profiling of lipids, troponin, and pro-BNP every 2 months. The patient was treated with the cardioprotective agent dexrazoxane, and changes in cardiac markers [e.g. decreases in ejection fraction (EF)] were immediately addressed by therapeutic intervention with the ACE inhibitor lisinopril and beta-blocker metoprolol. The patient had a complete response to doxorubicin therapy, with a cumulative dose of 1,350 mg/m2, which is significantly above the recommended limits, and to our knowledge, the highest dose reported in literature. Two and a half years after the last doxorubicin cycle, the patient is asymptomatic with no cardiotoxicity and an excellent quality of life. This case highlights the importance of careful monitoring and management of doxorubicin-mediated cardiotoxicity, and that higher cumulative doses of anthracyclines can be considered in patients with ongoing clinical benefit.