Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on liver cancer management (CERO-19).

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems and it may have heavily impacted patients with liver cancer (LC). Herein, we evaluated whether the schedule of LC screening or procedures has been interrupted or delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An international survey evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical practice and clinical trials from March 2020 to June 2020, as the first phase of a multicentre, international, and observational project. The focus was on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, cared for around the world during the first COVID-19 pandemic wave. RESULTS: Ninety-one centres expressed interest to participate and 76 were included in the analysis, from Europe, South America, North America, Asia, and Africa (73.7%, 17.1%, 5.3%, 2.6%, and 1.3% per continent, respectively). Eighty-seven percent of the centres modified their clinical practice: 40.8% the diagnostic procedures, 80.9% the screening programme, 50% cancelled curative and/or palliative treatments for LC, and 41.7% modified the liver transplantation programme. Forty-five out of 69 (65.2%) centres in which clinical trials were running modified their treatments in that setting, but 58.1% were able to recruit new patients. The phone call service was modified in 51.4% of centres which had this service before the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 19/37). CONCLUSIONS: The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had a tremendous impact on the routine care of patients with liver cancer. Modifications in screening, diagnostic, and treatment algorithms may have significantly impaired the outcome of patients. Ongoing data collection and future analyses will report the benefits and disadvantages of the strategies implemented, aiding future decision-making. LAY SUMMARY: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems globally. Herein, we assessed the impact of the first wave pandemic on patients with liver cancer and found that routine care for these patients has been majorly disrupted, which could have a significant impact on outcomes

Portal hypertension increases the risk of hepatic decompensation after 90Yttrium radioembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a cohort study

Background: Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is increasingly used in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This treatment can induce or impair portal hypertension, leading to hepatic decompensation. TARE also promotes changes in liver and spleen volumes that may modify therapeutic decisions and outcomes after therapy. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the impact of TARE on the incidence of decompensation events and its predictive factors. Design: In all, 63 consecutive patients treated with TARE between February 2012 and December 2018 were retrospectively included. Methods: We assessed clinical (including Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage, portal hypertension assessment, and liver decompensation), laboratory parameters, and liver and spleen volumes before and 6 and 12 weeks after treatment. A multivariate analysis was performed. Results: In total, 18 out of 63 (28.6%) patients had liver decompensation (ascites, variceal bleeding, jaundice, or encephalopathy) within the first 3 months after therapy, not associated with tumor progression. Clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) and bilobar treatment independently predicted the development of liver decompensation after TARE. A significant volume increase in the non-treated hemi-liver was observed only in patients with unilobar treatment (median volume increase of 20.2% in patients with right lobe TARE; p  = 0.007), especially in those without CSPH. Spleen volume also increased after TARE (median volume increase of 16.1%; p  = 0.0001) and was associated with worsening liver function scores and decreased platelet count. Conclusion: Bilobar TARE and CSPH may be associated with an increased risk of liver decompensation in patients with intermediate or advanced HCC. A careful assessment considering these variables before therapy may optimize candidate selection and improve treatment planning

Transarterial chemoembolisation in intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Survey on clinical practice in hospitals in the Madrid Region

Background. Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE), having demonstrated survival benefits, is the treatment of choice in intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma, although there is great heterogeneity in its clinical application.Material and methods. A survey was sent to the Madrid Regional hospitals to assess applicability, indications and treatment protocols. The assessment was made overall and according to the type of hospital (groups A vs. B and C).Results. Seventeen out of 22 hospitals responded (8/8 group A, 9/ 14 group B-C). All do/indicate transarterial chemoembolisation, 13/17 at their own facilities. Eight of the 17 hospitals have multidisciplinary groups (5/8 A, 3/9 B-C). Nine hospitals perform > 20 procedures/year (7 group A), and 6 from group B-C request/perform < 10/year. It is performed on an “on-demand” basis in 12/17. In 5 hospitals, all the procedures use drug-eluting beads loaded with doxorubicin. The average number of procedures per patient is 2. The mean time from diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma to transarterial chemoembolisation is ≤ 2 months in 16 hospitals. In 11/17 hospitals, response is assessed by computed tomography. Radiological response is measured without specific criteria in 12/17 and the other five hospitals (4 group A) assessed using standardised criteria.Conclusion. Uniformity among the Madrid Regional hospitals was found in the indication and treatment regimen. The use of DEB-TACE has become the preferred form of TACE in clinical practice. The differentiating factors for the more specialised hospitals are a larger volume of procedures, decision-making by multidisciplinary committees and assessment of radiological response more likely to be standardised

Estàndard de diagnòstics d'infermeria a l'Atenció Primària (NANDA)

Diagnòstic; Infermeria; Atenció primàriaDiagnóstico; Enfermería; Atención primariaDiagnosis; Nursery; Primary careUn grup d'infermeres expertes en cures i sensibles a les necessitats d'aprofundir en el desenvolupament de l'especificitat de l'atenció infermera han seleccionat d'una manera empírica els diagnòstics infermers més freqüents en l'atenció primària i han establert amb la mateixa metodologia els objectius i les activitats corresponents. L'objectiu d'aquest manual és servir de guia per a la pràctica i establir el nivell de qualitat de forma que les infermeres puguin conèixer els resultats finals de les seves cures, millorar aspectes del seu treball i detectar àrees de coneixement poc tractades per la investigació

Estàndard de diagnòstics d'infermeria a l'Atenció Primària (NANDA)

Diagnòstic; Infermeria; Atenció primàriaDiagnóstico; Enfermería; Atención primariaDiagnosis; Nursery; Primary careUn grup d'infermeres expertes en cures i sensibles a les necessitats d'aprofundir en el desenvolupament de l'especificitat de l'atenció infermera han seleccionat d'una manera empírica els diagnòstics infermers més freqüents en l'atenció primària i han establert amb la mateixa metodologia els objectius i les activitats corresponents. L'objectiu d'aquest manual és servir de guia per a la pràctica i establir el nivell de qualitat de forma que les infermeres puguin conèixer els resultats finals de les seves cures, millorar aspectes del seu treball i detectar àrees de coneixement poc tractades per la investigació

Down syndrome as risk factor for respiratory syncytial virus hospitalization : A prospective multicenter epidemiological study

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in childhood, particularly in premature infants, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. To compare the hospitalization rates due to RSV infection and severity of disease between infants with and without Down syndrome (DS) born at term and without other associated risk factors for severe RSV infection. In a prospective multicentre epidemiological study, 93 infants were included in the DS cohort and 68 matched by sex and data of birth (±1 week) and were followed up to 1 year of age and during a complete RSV season. The hospitalization rate for all acute respiratory infection was significantly higher in the DS cohort than in the non-DS cohort (44.1% vs 7.7%, P<.0001). Hospitalizations due to RSV were significantly more frequent in the DH cohort than in the non-DS cohort (9.7% vs 1.5%, P=.03). RSV prophylaxis was recorded in 33 (35.5%) infants with DS. The rate of hospitalization according to presence or absence of RSV immunoprophylaxis was 3.0% vs 15%, respectively. Infants with DS showed a higher rate of hospitalization due to acute lower respiratory tract infection and RSV infection compared to non-DS infants. Including DS infants in recommendations for immunoprophylaxis of RSV disease should be considered