Single-Dose Lignocaine-Based Blood Cardioplegia in Single Valve Replacement Patients.

OBJECTIVE:: Myocardial protection is the most important in cardiac surgery. We compared our modified single-dose long-acting lignocaine-based blood cardioplegia with short-acting St Thomas 1 blood cardioplegia in patients undergoing single valve replacement. METHODS:: A total of 110 patients who underwent single (aortic or mitral) valve replacement surgery were enrolled. Patients were divided in two groups based on the cardioplegia solution used. In group 1 (56 patients), long-acting lignocaine based-blood cardioplegia solution was administered as a single dose while in group 2 (54 patients), standard St Thomas IB (short-acting blood-based cardioplegia solution) was administered and repeated every 20 minutes. All the patients were compared for preoperative baseline parameters, intraoperative and all the postoperative parameters. RESULTS:: We did not find any statistically significant difference in preoperative baseline parameters. Cardiopulmonary bypass time were 73.8±16.5 and 76.4±16.9 minutes (P=0.43) and cross clamp time were 58.9±10.3 and 66.3±11.2 minutes (P=0.23) in group 1 and group 2, respectively. Mean of maximum inotrope score was 6.3±2.52 and 6.1±2.13 (P=0.65) in group 1 and group 2, respectively. We also did not find any statistically significant difference in creatine-phosphokinase-MB (CPK-MB), Troponin-I levels, lactate level and cardiac functions postoperatively. CONCLUSION:: This study proves the safety and efficacy of long-acting lignocaine-based single-dose blood cardioplegia compared to the standard short-acting multi-dose blood cardioplegia in patients requiring the single valve replacement. Further studies need to be undertaken to establish this non-inferiority in situations of complex cardiac procedures especially in compromised patients.

Single-dose lignocaine-based blood cardioplegia in single valve replacement patients

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Myocardial protection is the most important in cardiac surgery. We compared our modified single-dose long-acting lignocaine-based blood cardioplegia with short-acting St Thomas 1 blood cardioplegia in patients undergoing single valve replacement. METHODS: A total of 110 patients who underwent single (aortic or mitral) valve replacement surgery were enrolled. Patients were divided in two groups based on the cardioplegia solution used. In group 1 (56 patients), long-acting lignocaine based-blood cardioplegia solution was administered as a single dose while in group 2 (54 patients), standard St Thomas IB (short-acting blood-based cardioplegia solution) was administered and repeated every 20 minutes. All the patients were compared for preoperative baseline parameters, intraoperative and all the postoperative parameters. RESULTS: We did not find any statistically significant difference in preoperative baseline parameters. Cardiopulmonary bypass time were 73.8±16.5 and 76.4±16.9 minutes (P=0.43) and cross clamp time were 58.9±10.3 and 66.3±11.2 minutes (P=0.23) in group 1 and group 2, respectively. Mean of maximum inotrope score was 6.3±2.52 and 6.1±2.13 (P=0.65) in group 1 and group 2, respectively. We also did not find any statistically significant difference in creatine-phosphokinase-MB (CPK-MB), Troponin-I levels, lactate level and cardiac functions postoperatively. CONCLUSION: This study proves the safety and efficacy of long-acting lignocaine-based single-dose blood cardioplegia compared to the standard short-acting multi-dose blood cardioplegia in patients requiring the single valve replacement. Further studies need to be undertaken to establish this non-inferiority in situations of complex cardiac procedures especially in compromised patients.

Bicalutamide monotherapy preserves bone mineral density, muscle strength and has significant health-related quality of life benefits for osteoporotic men with prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: • To evaluate changes in bone mineral density (BMD), body composition, muscle strength and health-related quality of life (HRQL) during bicalutamide (150 mg) monotherapy in osteoporotic patients with non-metastatic locally advanced prostate cancer. Osteoporosis is prevalent in men presenting with prostate cancer and also a common side effect of treatment with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists, which are associated with decreased BMD and loss of lean body mass and suppress testosterone, unlike bicalutamide, which results in an increase in serum testosterone and oestrogen levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: • Forty-two men with non-metastatic locally advanced prostate cancer and osteoporosis (T-score ≤-2.5) were treated with bicalutamide (150 mg) monotherapy. BMD was measured at baseline and 1 year. HRQL was assessed 3-monthly using the RAND 36-Item Health Survey and University of California Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index questionnaires. Bone turnover markers, liver function tests, prostate-specific antigen, testosterone, oestradiol and haemoglobin were measured at baseline, at 3 weeks and 3-monthly thereafter. Arm anthropometry and dynamometry assessed fat mass, skeletal muscle mass and quadriceps strength. RESULTS: • BMD was maintained (+2.1% lumbar spine, +1.2% total hip and +1.1% forearm). Prostate-specific antigen decreased by 88% at 3 months. Testosterone and oestradiol had increased at 1 year by 58% and 42%, respectively. No increase in bone turnover markers was seen over 1 year. Quadriceps muscle strength was maintained. General and prostate cancer-specific HRQL were maintained throughout the study, with no significant reductions in physical or sexual function. Adverse events included breast pain and gynaecomastia. CONCLUSIONS: • Bicalutamide preserves BMD, muscle strength and HRQL in osteoporotic men with non-metastatic locally advanced prostate cancer. It provides an alternative to medical castration for well informed men at high fracture risk and those wishing to retain physical and sexual activity, with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists being reserved for those failing to respond or relapsing.

Frequency of zoledronic acid to prevent further bone loss in osteoporotic patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of zoledronic acid (ZA) in osteoporotic patients with prostate cancer receiving either luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists (LHRHA, which accelerate bone loss) or bicalutamide (which preserves bone mineral density, BMD) as androgen-deprivation therapy is the mainstay of treatment for advanced prostate cancer, and many patients are osteoporotic at presentation, with others becoming so on treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-eight osteoporotic men with non-metastatic prostate cancer were followed for 3 years. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either LHRHA (29) or bicalutamide (29). All received 4 mg ZA 3-monthly for 1 year. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at four times: 1 year before ZA; immediately before ZA; after five infusions; and 1 year afterwards. Bone turnover markers (BTMs) were measured at 3-monthly intervals on ZA and 1 year later. All patients had radiography of the thoracolumbar spine at baseline and after ZA. RESULTS: Patients on LHRHA showed a 4.9% decrease in BMD before ZA, a 1.6% increase after ZA and a 3.0% decrease 1 year later, compared to 2.0% increase, 7.8% increase and 1.9% decrease, respectively, in those on bicalutamide. BTMs decreased significantly after ZA. Seven patients (12%) had vertebral fractures at baseline, with none deteriorating at 1 year; two (3.5%) developed mandibular osteonecrosis. CONCLUSION: Before ZA, BMD decreased on LHRHA, but was maintained on bicalutamide. Treatment with 3-monthly ZA increased BMD and suppressed BTMs in osteoporotic patients both on LHRHA and bicalutamide, but to a greater extent in the latter. However, 1 year after the last infusion, BMD declined, suggesting that annual administration is inadequate in these patients. The optimum frequency might be related to BMD at time of bisphosphonate initiation.

Long-term changes in bone mineral density and predicted fracture risk in patients receiving androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer, with stratification of treatment based on presenting values.

OBJECTIVE: To study the long-term effects of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) using luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists or antiandrogen therapy with bicalutamide on bone mineral density (BMD) of selected groups of patients with newly diagnosed advanced prostate cancer, stratified by BMD at presentation and to predict alterations in fracture risk. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 618 men with a mean (sd, range) age of 73 (7.1, 49-94) years, initiating ADT for prostate cancer were prospectively recruited and followed from October 1999 to January 2007. BMD was measured by forearm dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) before ADT and repeated annually. Patients with osteoporosis (T-score < or =-2.5) were commenced on bicalutamide; patients with osteopenia (T-score between -1.0 and -2.5) and normal BMD (T-score > -1.0) were commenced on an LHRH agonist. Patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis received calcium and vitamin D supplements. RESULTS: Over 7 years, 1690 DEXA scans were performed. In all, 41% of patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer were osteoporotic, 39% were osteopenic and 20% had normal BMD. In the normal group, treated with an LHRH agonist, there were significant decreases in BMD (1 year 1.2%; 2 year 3.7%; 3 year 6.5%; 4 year 8.9%; 5 year 9.9%; 6 year 12.7%), which also occurred in the patients with osteopenia with 60% developing osteoporosis after 2 years (1 year 1.8%; 2 year 5.1%; 3 year 8.0%; 4 year 8.2%; 5 year 11.5%; 6 year 14.1%). By contrast, the osteoporotic group maintained BMD (1 year 0.5%; 2 year 0%; 3 year +1.2%; 4 year 0.5%; 5 year 1.7%; 6 year 2.2%). CONCLUSION: Patients treated with an LHRH agonist have significant and sustained decreases in BMD, whereas bicalutamide maintains BMD. We advocate routine assessment of BMD before ADT, with surveillance thereafter.

Peripheral or axial bone density measurements to identify osteoporosis in prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy?

OBJECTIVES: To compare aDEXA and pDEXA in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa) undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). A significant proportion of patients presenting with advanced PCa are osteoporotic, and many will become so because of ADT. Guidelines have recommended bone densitometry assessment before beginning ADT, with subsequent monitoring. However, axial dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (aDEXA) scanners, being large, expensive, and hospital-based, are not always widely available. Peripheral DEXA (pDEXA), with portable, office-based machines can be used, but the results have mostly been compared with aDEXA in women without cancer. METHODS: A total of 73 men (mean age 76 years) with advanced PCa, who were receiving ADT and found to be osteoporotic (T score