Epidemiology and Characteristics of Episodic Breathlessness in Advanced Cancer Patients: An Observational Study

CONTEXT: Episodic breathlessness is a relevant aspect in patients with advanced cancer. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the different aspects of this clinical phenomenon. METHODS: A consecutive sample of patients with advanced cancer admitted to different settings for a period of six months was surveyed. The presence of background breathlessness and episodic breathlessness, their intensity (numerical scale 0-10), and drugs used for treatment were collected. Factors inducing episodic breathlessness and its influence on daily activities were investigated. RESULTS: Of 921 patients, 29.3% (n = 269) had breathlessness and 134 patients (49.8%) were receiving drugs for background breathlessness. In the multivariate analysis, the risk of breathlessness increased with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, although it decreased in patients receiving disease-oriented therapy and patients with gastrointestinal tumors. The prevalence of episodic breathlessness was 70.9% (n = 188), and its mean intensity was 7.1 (SD 1.6). The mean duration of untreated episodic breathlessness was 19.9 minutes (SD 35.3); 41% of these patients were receiving drugs for episodic breathlessness. The majority of episodic breathlessness events (88.2%) were triggered by activity. In the multivariate analysis, higher Karnofsky Performance Status levels were significantly related to episodic breathlessness, although patients receiving disease-oriented therapy were less likely to have episodic breathlessness. CONCLUSION: This study showed that episodic breathlessness frequently occurs in patients with breathlessness in the advanced stage of disease, has a severe intensity, and is characterized by rapid onset and short duration, which require rapid measures

Persistent left superior vena cava: Review of the literature, clinical implications, and relevance of alterations in thoracic central venous anatomy as pertaining to the general principles of central venous access device placement and venography in cancer patients

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) represents the most common congenital venous anomaly of the thoracic systemic venous return, occurring in 0.3% to 0.5% of individuals in the general population, and in up to 12% of individuals with other documented congential heart abnormalities. In this regard, there is very little in the literature that specifically addresses the potential importance of the incidental finding of PLSVC to surgeons, interventional radiologists, and other physicians actively involved in central venous access device placement in cancer patients. In the current review, we have attempted to comprehensively evaluate the available literature regarding PLSVC. Additionally, we have discussed the clinical implications and relevance of such congenital aberrancies, as well as of treatment-induced or disease-induced alterations in the anatomy of the thoracic central venous system, as they pertain to the general principles of successful placement of central venous access devices in cancer patients. Specifically regarding PLSVC, it is critical to recognize its presence during attempted central venous access device placement and to fully characterize the pattern of cardiac venous return (i.e., to the right atrium or to the left atrium) in any patient suspected of PLSVC prior to initiation of use of their central venous access device

Intrinsic third ventricle craniopharyngiomas with normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Two observations of intrinsic third ventricle craniopharyngiomas, both involving males in the fifth decade, are reported. Histologically, the tumours, one entirely solid and the other one chiefly cystic, were composed of squamous epithelium with microcysts and no calcifications. In the literature primary third ventricle craniopharyngiomas are considered to be exceedingly rare. However, if a more precise preoperative diagnosis, using computerised axial tomography, were made as a matter of routine, to verify third ventricular masses, it might demonstrate that these tumours are more common than previously believed. In both cases striking clinical pictures of normal pressure hydrocephalus were observed. The relations between intracranial pressure, CSF circulation and ventricular size are discussed. On mechanical grounds, it is very difficult to explain the poastoperative reduction in ventricular size, since there was no significant change in intracranial pressure

Mass lesions of the frontal lobes in acute head injuries. A comparison with temporal lesions.

Contusions and lacerations of the frontal lobes are very frequent; 43.4% in the whole series of traumatic brain mass lesions. Clinical ICP, CT scan data and neuropathological findings in patients with such lesions are analysed and correlated. Moreover, the clinical features and the outcome of frontal masses undergoing surgery are also compared with similar lesions located in the temporal lobes. Frontal lesions cannot be differentiated on purely clinical grounds and the factors governing the outcome in both lactations are the same. On the whole, surgical indications nowadays seem to be rather rare; only lesions behaving truly as expanding lesions with obvious intracranial hypertension benefiting from surgery. Brain contusion-laceration syndromes in general can no longer be considered separate entities. Neither should they be included in the miscellaneous group of "traumatic intracranial mass lesions", since the pathophysiological significance of purely extracerebral effusions is entirely different. Traumatic contusions and lacerations and/or intracerebral haematomas, whether frontal or located elsewhere, should instead, be considered in the context of head injuries of a different degree of gravity, as having collateral features which, on occasion, may call for surgical management

Intracranial hypertension in severe head injuries.

Long-term ICP monitoring was carried out in a series of 124 patients with severe head injuries admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Forty-nine percent of patients were admitted within six hours of injury. Most of them were referred by Community Hospitals. Only patients with diffuse brain lesions or patients operated on for mass lesions and remaining in a coma state after operation are taken into account. Altogether, 46 patients survived, but 15 of them remained severely disabled or in a vegetative state, and 78 died. Twenty-four percent of the whole series succumbed to fulminationg intracranial hypertension. The average survival in this group was 5.1 days. Twenty-nine percent died after exhibiting different levels of intracranial hypertension ranging from 20 to 50 mm Hg. In this group the role of extracerebral complications as a cause of death should not be underestimated. Death caused by cerebral lesions with ICP not exceeding 15 mm Hg was exceedingly rare in the first 72 hours. Normal or fairly raised ICP does not rule out the risk of devastating intracranial hypertension: reliable and harmless P/V tests are needed. All patients who survived after showing sustained intracranial hypertension exceeding 50 mm Hg were under 20 years of age. In the present series the results of treatment of intracranial hypertension were, on the whole, rather disappointing

Traumatic cerebral mass lesions: correlations between clinical, intracranial pressure, and computed tomographic data.

After surveying the different phases of their previous experience with the diagnosis and management of traumatic cerebral mass lesions, the authors analyze the correlation between clinical, computed tomographic (CT), and intracranial pressure (ICP) data in 29 patients with traumatic intracerebral hematomas and/or brain lacerations. Clinically, the patients are classified in three groups: (a) deeply comatose patients (Glascow coma scale (GCS), 4 to 5); (b) patients with intermediate disturbances of consciousness (GCS, 6 to 10); and (c) patients with minor impairment of consciousness (GCS, more than 10). Sixteen patients were operated upon. Operation was ineffective in the patients who were already deeply comatose in the first hours after injury, even though elevated ICP was definitely reduced after operation in some of them. Conversely, patients with well-limited lesions, moderate disorders of consciousness, and persisting intracranial hypertension despite medical therapy seemed to be good candidates for delayed operation by limited procedures. In patients with intermediate disturbances of consciousness and no tendency to improvement or deterioration, ICP monitoring correlated with CT scan appearance may be of practical use for making the decision to operate. However, most cases diagnosed on CT scan have a benign course; the patients recover uneventfully with conservative management. In such patients careful clinical observation is usually sufficient

Perioperative management of facial bipartition surgery

Marco Caruselli,1 Michael Tsapis,1,2 Fabrice Ughetto,1 Gregoire Pech-Gourg,3 Dario Galante,4 Olivier Paut1 1Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, La Timone Children’s Hospital, 2Pediatric Transport Team, SAMU 13, La Timone Hospital, 3Pediatric Neurosurgery Unit, La Timone Children’s Hospital, Marseille, France; 4Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Ospedali Riuniti of Foggia, Foggia, Italy Abstract: Severe craniofacial malformations, such as Crouzon, Apert, Saethre-Chotzen, and Pfeiffer syndromes, are very rare conditions (one in 50,000/100,000 live births) that often require corrective surgery. Facial bipartition is the more radical corrective surgery. It is a high-risk intervention and needs complex perioperative management and a multidisciplinary approach. Keywords: craniofacial surgery, facial bipartition surgery, craniofacial malformations, pediatric anesthesi

Sleep Disturbances in Patients with Advanced Cancer in Different Palliative Care Settings

Context Information regarding sleep disturbances in the population with advanced cancer is meager. Objectives To assess the prevalence of sleep disturbances and possible correlations with associated factors in a large number of patients with advanced cancer admitted to different palliative care settings. Methods This was an observational study performed in different settings of palliative care. A consecutive sample of patients with advanced cancer was prospectively assessed for a period of six months. Epidemiological and clinical data, treatments received in the last month, Karnofsky status, Edmonton Symptom Assessment System scores, and concomitant medical treatment were recorded. Patients were administered the Athens Insomnia Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results A total of 820 patients were surveyed. Mean age was 69.7 years (SD 12.7), and 429 patients were males. Consistent sleep disturbances (moderate to maximum) were found in 60.8% of patients. Aged patients were less likely to have sleep disturbances, whereas a poor Karnofsky level was significantly associated with sleep problems. Breast, gastrointestinal, head and neck, lung, and prostate cancers were associated with sleep problems. Patients who had a secondary school or undergraduate education had less sleep disturbances. Hormone therapy and use of opioids and corticosteroids were positively associated with sleep disturbances, and there was a positive correlation of HADS-Anxiety and HADS-Depression scores with sleep disturbances. Conclusion More than 60% of palliative care patients have relevant sleep disturbances. Several factors associated with sleep disorders have been identified and should prompt physicians to make a careful examination and subsequent treatment of these disturbances