Severe chronic rhinosinusitis treated with dupilumab, a real-life analysis of early effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the safety and efficacy of dupilumab in severe uncontrolled type 2 chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of adult patients affected by severe CRSwNP treated with dupilumab. Maxillofacial computed tomography, evaluation of blood eosinophils and serum IgE levels, measurement of nasal polyp score (NPS), smell identification test (SSIT-16), sinonasal outcome test-22 (SNOT-22) and asthma control test (ACT) were performed. Follow-up was conducted at 2 weeks, and at 1, 3, and 6 months. Adverse events and the efficacy of treatment were monitored. RESULTS: 23 patients were enrolled. After 15 days, scores of the SNOT-22, NPS and SSIT-16 significantly improved. These outcomes were also maintained after 1, 3, and 6 months (p < 0.001). At this latter follow-up time, SNOT-22 showed a change of -33.10 (p < 0.001), NPS -3.36 (p < 0.001) and SSIT-16 +5.60 (p < 0.001). In all, 26.1% of patients experienced early minor complications. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, dupilumab was effective in the treatment of severe uncontrolled CRSwNP, demonstrating a quick significant improvement in both questionnaires and endoscopic evaluation. Only minor complications were observed.

A multicenter validation of the revised version of the Milan system for reporting salivary gland cytology (MSRSGC).

INTRODUCTION: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a basic step in the diagnosis of salivary gland tumors that have a wide variety of histological types. The recent Milan system for reporting salivary gland cytopathology (MSRSGC) can correlate the risk of malignancy with precise cytological features. A revised version was recently proposed to improve the surgical relevance and facilitate uniform management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicenter study retrospectively used the original and revised MSRSGC criteria to classify a series of patients who received surgery after FNAC. RESULTS: We enrolled 503 patients from three tertiary centers. The risk of malignancy for the MSRSGC resulted 19.5% in cat. I, 14.3% in cat. II, 17.6% in cat. III, 3.6% in cat. IVa, 24.6% in cat. IVb, 66.7% in cat. V, and 96.8% in cat. VI. The results from the revised MSRSGC were consistent with the original values. CONCLUSION: The MSRSGC is a promising classification system. In our opinion, the revised version of the MSRSGC supplements FNAC with some crucial clinical information and can better identify the appropriate treatment in each category.

Novel EM Guided Endovascular Instrumentation for In Situ Endograft Fenestration.

Objective: This work aims at providing novel endovascular instrumentation to overcome current technical limitations of in situ endograft fenestration including challenges in targeting the fenestration site under fluoroscopic control and supplying mechanical support during endograft perforation. Technology: Novel electromagnetically trackable instruments were developed to facilitate the navigation of the fenestration device and its stabilization at the target site. In vitro trials were performed to preliminary evaluate the proposed instrumentation for the antegrade in situ fenestration of an aortic endograft, using a laser guidewire designed ad hoc and the sharp end of a commercial endovascular guidewire. Results: In situ fenestration was successfully performed in 22 trials. A total of two laser tools were employed since an over bending of laser guidewire tip, due to its manufacturing, caused the damage of the sensor in the first device used. Conclusions: Preliminary in vitro trials demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed instrumentation which could widespread the procedure for in situ fenestration. The results obtained should be validated performing animal studies. Clinical Impact: The proposed instrumentation has the potential to expand indications for standard endovascular aneurysm repair to cases of acute syndromes.

Hybrid procedures and femoral endarterectomy in diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of common femoral endarterectomy (CFE) in critical limb ischemia (CLI) associated with proximal and distal endovascular (EV) revascularization in diabetic (type 1 and type 2) and non-diabetic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed patients from January 2008 to December 2011 who underwent one-staged hybrid procedures. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 = EV reconstruction proximal to the CFE, group 2 = EV procedures distal to the CFE, group 3 = both proximal and distal EV procedures. Patients were evaluated at 6 and 36 months after the procedures, and the mean follow-up was 42 ± 20.3 months. RESULTS: A total of 43 (79% men; aged 74.4 ± 8.6 years) out of 635 (5.5%) patients operated for CLI fulfilled the inclusion criteria; 23 (53.5%) had type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). DM patients were younger than controls (p = 0.048). The patient distribution was 14 in Group 1 (32.5%), 24 in Group 2 (55.8%) and 5 in Group 3 (11.7%). CFE was successful in all cases, while associated EV procedures were successful in 90.7% of patients. Peri-operative morbidity and mortality were 11.6% and 2.3%, respectively. Survival rates at 6 and 36 months were 93% and 71.9%, respectively. Three patients (6.98%) underwent a major amputation. The cumulative limb salvage was 95.2% at 6 months and 92.1% at 36 months. No recurrent CFE stenosis was observed. No differences in survival, amputation or patency rates emerged between DM and non-DM patients or among the three EV revascularization groups. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid procedures are safe and effective both in CLI patients with or without DM, and they should be taken into consideration whenever indications are present.