Surgical and Oncological Outcomes in Locally Advanced Thymoma.

This study aimed at reporting the surgical management of locally advanced thymoma (Masaoka stages III and IVA) and evaluating the factors predicting the survival. This is a retrospective analysis of patients operated for locally advanced thymoma from March 2012 to December 2019 in a thoracic surgery center in India. An analysis of all perioperative variables including complications was carried out. The influence of various predictors on survival was assessed by log-rank test. Out of total 54 patients, 42 (77.8%) had stage III and 12 (22.2%) had stage IVA. Upfront surgery was done in 34 (63%) patients, and induction chemotherapy was given in 20 (37%) patients. Pericardium was the commonest structure resected (79.6%) followed by the lung (51.8%), phrenic nerve (48.1%), major vascular structures (40.7%), parietal pleura (22.2%), diaphragm (9.2%), and right atrial appendage (1.8%). Forty-seven (87%) cases had complete (R0) resection, and the remaining 7 (12.9%) cases had incomplete (R1/R2) resection. There were no perioperative deaths (< 90 days). The median follow-up was 58 months. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) at 5 years were 77.8% and 75.9%. Higher age (> 60 years), incomplete surgical resection, type B histology, and "> 3" structures resected with tumor were the poor prognostic factors for survival. An aggressive surgical approach, by an experienced team of cardiac and thoracic surgeons, aimed at complete resection is vitally important and can achieve excellent surgical and oncological outcomes even in locally advanced thymomas.

Accomplishment of probiotics in human health pertaining to immunoregulation and disease control.

It is a well-established fact that the microbiome harboring the human body plays a critical role in maintaining human health and can influence treatments against various ailments. Human microbiome-based research contemplates the possibility of selecting and administering specific commensal bacterial strains to modulate the gut microbiota to attain favorable outcomes to the therapies. Consumption of probiotics and probiotic-based dietary supplements as functional foods has been a promising treatment strategy against various diseases. Clinical studies demonstrate that probiotic administration alters gut microbiota composition and instigates immune modulation in the host. The benefits of probiotics are reported to be strain-specific and depend on the host's baseline immune competence. This review explores the role of probiotics in alleviating symptoms of allergy, cancer, cardio vascular (CV) diseases, diabetes mellitus (DM), bowel diseases (IBD and IBS), periodontal disease, diseases affecting liver and kidney, neuroinflammatory diseases, and viral infections. Also, it surveyed the broad spectrum bioactive compounds produced by probiotics and possible mechanisms that trigger the immune system.

Superior Vena Cava Resection in Locally Advanced Thymoma-Surgical and Survival Outcomes.

This study was aimed at reporting the surgical management of superior vena cava invasion in patients with locally advanced thymoma and to evaluate surgical and survival outcomes. This is a retrospective analysis of 12 patients operated for superior vena cava resection for locally advanced thymoma over 8 years in a thoracic surgery centre in India. An analysis of peri-operative variables including complications was carried out. The influence of various predictors on survival was assessed by log-rank test. Intra-operatively, superior vena cava (SVC) alone was involved in 3 (25%) cases, SVC with BCV involvement was there in 8 cases (66.7%) and in 1 patient, the SVC involvement extended into the right atrium also. In all cases, the tumour was resected en bloc with the involved part of SVC. Repair with primary closure was sufficient in 2 cases (16.6%) in view of < 1/3rd of circumferential involvement. However, in remaining 10 cases, SVC was replaced with PTFE graft (single graft in 6 cases, Y-graft in 2 cases and twin grafts in 2 cases). No peri-operative deaths. Overall survival (OS) at 1, 3 and 5 years was 100%, 91.6% and 83.3%, respectively. Myasthenia gravis and higher Masaoka stage (IV A) of the disease were poor predictors of survival. Superior vena cava resection and reconstruction is a feasible and oncologically superior option in invasive thymoma with SVC involvement. This challenging surgical procedure should only be attempted by an experienced team of thoracic and cardiac surgeons at high-volume centre to achieve best outcomes.

Unusual left ventricle to left atrial fistula.

Left ventricular to left atrial fi stula is a very uncommon finding. Most of the cases are secondary to surgical procedures or paravalvular infectious process. The present case depicted an unusual regurgitation (apart from transmitral MR) through LV-LA fistula causing deterioration of the patient's symptoms.

Perioperative management in a patient with panhypopituitarism - evidence based approach: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hypopituitarism is characterized by partial or complete deficiency of vital endocrinological hormones such as steroid and thyroid hormones. Generally, normal individual can exhibit 2- to 10-folds rise in serum cortisol levels during stressful period. But patients with panhypopituitarism are more prone to develop metabolic and haemodynamic instability particularly during stressful perioperative period. This can potentially increase significant morbidity and mortality. CASE SUMMARY: A 62-year-old female patient presented with breathlessness on exertion. Her coronary angiography revealed critical triple vessel coronary artery disease, and she was scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. She had been diagnosed with Sheehan's syndrome (postpartum hypopituitarism) since 20 years. She was taking steroid and thyroxine regularly. After uneventful off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery, patient had severe haemodynamic compromise with Addisonian crisis in the post-operative phase. Left ventricular dysfunction was refractory to maximal inotropic therapy. Addisonian crisis was treated with higher 'Stress doses' of intravenous hydrocortisone and routine oral thyroxin. DISCUSSION: Acute Addisonian crisis after stressful surgery is a life-threatening complication. Evidence-based approach plays an important role in appropriate biochemical assessments and specific therapeutic decisions regarding hormonal over-replacement or under-replacement in the perioperative period.

Massive subcutaneous emphysema after off-pump coronary bypass surgery.

Subcutaneous emphysema is a condition when air gets accumulated into the tissues under the skin and in the soft tissues of the chest wall or neck but can also spread to other parts of the body. It generally causes minimal symptoms and nonlethal; sometimes, it may be severe and life-threatening if deeper tissues of the thoracic outlet and chest are involved. It is essential to know the mechanisms of subcutaneous emphysema after cardiac surgery.

Superior vena cava clamping during thoracic surgery: Implications for the anesthesiologist.

Resection and reconstruction of the SVC is a challenging Intraoperative situation owing to the potential complications after clamping a patent vessel. Hemodynamic imbalance and neurological effects of SVC clamping can be life threatening. These complications can be prevented by careful intraoperative monitoring and management. Anaesthesiologist must be aware of different options to manage such challenging situations.

Awareness of 'Systolic Anterior Motion' in Different Conditions.

Perioperative echocardiography, especially transesophageal echocardiography, is of paramount importance in evaluating and managing refractory hypotension, a potential cause of which is systolic anterior motion (SAM) of anterior mitral leaflet. Dynamically moving anterior mitral valve leaflet towards the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) is described as SAM. Although SAM was initially observed in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, it can also be seen in patients with complex dynamic anatomy of the left ventricle. Interestingly, SAM may or may not give rise to clinically significant LVOT obstruction. Hence, it is of paramount importance for perioperative physician to know such 'dynamic SAM' which can potentially and significantly affect and alter perioperative management.

Rising Central venous pressure: Impending right-sided failure?

Central venous pressure generally indicates right sided cardiac filling pressure. Although it is a static hemodynamic parameter, however trend of CVP gives important information regarding the patient's management. Patient with left ventricular assist device is prone to develop right ventricular dysfunction which can easily be suspected by trend of CVP. However rising CVP does not always imply right heart dysfunction.

Inadequate venous drainage-transesophageal echocardiography as rescue.

Malposition of venous cannula can cause inadequate venous drainage during cardiopulmonary bypass. It would be good clinical practice to use TEE to check the position of inferior venous cannula to avoid this problem at the earliest.