Timing of Revascularization and Parenteral Antibiotic Treatment Associated with Therapeutic Failures in Ischemic Diabetic Foot Infections

For ischemic diabetic foot infections (DFIs), revascularization ideally occurs before surgery, while a parenteral antibiotic treatment could be more efficacious than oral agents. In our tertiary center, we investigated the effects of the sequence between revascularization and surgery (emphasizing the perioperative period of 2 weeks before and after surgery), and the influence of administering parenteral antibiotic therapy on the outcomes of DFIs. Among 838 ischemic DFIs with moderate-to-severe symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, we revascularized 608 (72%; 562 angioplasties, 62 vascular surgeries) and surgically debrided all. The median length of postsurgical antibiotic therapy was 21 days (given parenterally for the initial 7 days). The median time delay between revascularization and debridement surgery was 7 days. During the long-term follow-up, treatment failed and required reoperation in 182 DFI episodes (30%). By multivariate Cox regression analyses, neither a delay between surgery and angioplasty (hazard ratio 1.0, 95% confidence interval 1.0-1.0), nor the postsurgical sequence of angioplasty (HR 0.9, 95% CI 0.5-1.8), nor long-duration parenteral antibiotic therapy (HR 1.0, 95% CI 0.9-1.1) prevented failures. Our results might indicate the feasibility of a more practical approach to ischemic DFIs in terms of timing of vascularization and more oral antibiotic use

Clinical outcomes of a balloon-expandable stent for symptomatic obstructions of the subclavian or innominate arteries

Background: Upper-extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) may present with a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms. If an endovascular treatment is planned, percutaneous angioplasty and stent placement may lead to a better patency compared to percutaneous angioplasty alone. We assessed the characteristics and clinical course of patients with upper-extremity PAD who received angioplasty and a balloon-expandable stent. Patients and methods: We analyzed data from consecutive patients treated with angioplasty and placement of a balloon-expandable BeSmooth Peripheral Stent System$^{®}$ (Bentley, Germany) at the Angiology Department (University Hospital Zurich) between 2018 and 2022. The primary outcome was re-intervention at the target lesion within 6 months from index angioplasty and during available follow-up. The study was approved by the local ethical commission. Results: A total of 27 patients were treated. The median age was 70 (Q1-Q3: 60-74) years and 59% were men. The subclavian artery (74%) represented the most frequently treated target lesion, followed by the innominate artery (26%). The mean improvement in blood pressure in the treated arm was 21 (95%CI 7 to 35) mmHg at 24 hours and 29 (95%CI 15 to 43) mmHg at 6 months. At 6 months, 2 (8%) patients required a target lesion re-intervention. During the remaining follow-up period up to 24 months, one of these two patients required additional intervention and a total of 3 (11%) patients died due to sepsis, cancer, and unknown causes, respectively. Conclusions: Percutaneous catheter-based treatment with a balloon-expandable stent for symptomatic upper extremity PAD appeared to be effective and safe

Clinical outcomes of ultrasound-assisted coagulation monitoring-adjusted catheter-directed thrombolysis for acute pulmonary embolism

BACKGROUND Ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis (USAT) may reverse right ventricular dysfunction due to acute pulmonary embolism (PE) with a favorable safety profile. METHODS We studied intermediate-high- and high-risk acute PE patients who underwent USAT at the University Hospital Zurich, 2018-2022. The USAT regimen included alteplase 10 mg per catheter over 15 h, therapeutic-dosed heparin, and dosage adaptations based on routinely monitored coagulation parameters, notably anti-factor Xa activity and fibrinogen. We focused on the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) before and after USAT, and reported the incidence of hemodynamic decompensation, PE recurrence, major bleeding, and death over 30 days. RESULTS We included 161 patients: 96 (59.6 %) were men and the mean age was 67.8 (SD 14.6) years. Mean PAP decreased from a mean of 35.6 (SD 9.8) to 25.6 (SD 8.2) mmHg, whereas the NEWS decreased from a median of 5 (Q1-Q3 4-6) to 3 (Q1-Q3 2-4) points. No cases of hemodynamic decompensation occurred. One (0.6 %) patient had an episode of recurrent PE. Two (1.2 %) major bleeding events occurred, including one (0.6 %) intracranial, fatal hemorrhage in a patient with high-risk PE, severe heparin overdosing, and a recent head trauma (with negative CT scan of the brain performed at baseline). No other deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS USAT resulted in a rapid improvement of hemodynamic parameters among patients with intermediate-high risk acute PE and selected ones with high-risk acute PE, without any recorded deaths related to PE itself. A strategy including USAT, therapeutic-dosed heparin, and routinely monitored coagulation parameters may partly explain the overall very low rate of major bleeding

How does a medical team in the Oncology Department react to the Covid-19 pandemic?

The Covid-19 pandemic was and still is a great challenge for the entire world population. People in the first line, among them doctors being a very important category, faced the risk of disease and, in some cases, even became infected. The emotional consequences of this risk are highlighted in this paperwork which tries to stress, with the help of applied questionnaires, the presence of psycho-emotional disorders among the medical staff of the Oncology Department of St. Luke\u27s Hospital, Bucharest, during the pandemic. The medical staff had a low level of stress, adapting to the evolution of the pandemic to some extent . The main fear was that of illness and the most common emotional states experienced by the subjects were: worry, nervousness and dissatisfaction. Most of the medical staff showed negative emotions, but there were also people who felt positive emotions of relaxation, calmness or joy. The most common ways of managing the stress caused by the pandemic were: communicating with colleagues, family and friends, watching movies and enjoying various activities with the family at home

Major adverse limb events in patients with femoro-popliteal and below-the-knee peripheral arterial disease treated with either sirolimus-coated balloon or standard uncoated balloon angioplasty: a structured protocol summary of the "SirPAD" randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial disease is a progressive atherosclerotic disease with symptoms ranging from an intermittent claudication to acute critical limb ischemia and amputations. Drug-coated balloons and stents were developed to prevent neo-intimal proliferation and restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Randomized controlled trials showed that drug-coated, notably paclitaxel-coated, devices reduce restenosis, late lumen loss, and the need for target lesion re-vascularization compared with uncoated ones. However, the size of these trials was too small to prove superiority for "hard" clinical outcomes. Moreover, available studies were characterized by too restrictive eligibility criteria. Finally, it remains unclear whether paclitaxel-coated balloons may impair long-term survival. Alternative drug-coated balloons, the so-called limus-based analogs, have been approved for clinical use in patients with peripheral arterial disease. By encapsulating sirolimus in phospholipid drug nanocarriers, they optimize adhesion properties of sirolimus and provide better bioavailability. METHODS: In this investigator-initiated all-comer open-label phase III randomized controlled trial, we will evaluate whether sirolimus-coated balloon angioplasty is non-inferior and eventually superior, according to a predefined hierarchical analysis, to uncoated balloon angioplasty in adults with infra-inguinal peripheral arterial disease requiring endovascular angioplasty. Key exclusion criteria are pregnancy or breastfeeding, known intolerance or allergy to sirolimus, and participation in a clinical trial during the previous 3 months. The primary efficacy outcome is the composite of two clinically relevant non-subjective "hard" outcomes: unplanned major amputation of the target limb and endovascular or surgical target lesion re-vascularization for critical limb ischemia occurring within 1 year of randomization. The primary safety outcome includes death from all causes. DISCUSSION: By focusing on clinically relevant outcomes, this study will provide useful information on the efficacy and safety of sirolimus-coated balloon catheters for infra-inguinal peripheral arterial disease in a representative ("all-comer") population of unselected patients. As regulatory agencies had raised safety concerns in patients exposed to paclitaxel-coated devices (versus uncoated ones), collect mortality data up to 5 years after randomization will be collected

Infected pancreatic necrosis: outcomes and clinical predictors of mortality. A post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study

: The identification of high-risk patients in the early stages of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is critical, because it could help the clinicians to adopt more effective management strategies. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study to assess the association between clinical risk factors and mortality among adult patients with IPN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors of mortality. We identified 247 consecutive patients with IPN hospitalised between January 2019 and December 2020. History of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.135-15.882; aOR 4.245), qSOFA (p = 0.005; 95% CI 1.359-5.879; aOR 2.828), renal failure (p = 0.022; 95% CI 1.138-5.442; aOR 2.489), and haemodynamic failure (p = 0.018; 95% CI 1.184-5.978; aOR 2.661), were identified as independent predictors of mortality in IPN patients. Cholangitis (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.598-9.930; aOR 3.983), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.090-6.967; aOR 2.735), and gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal bleeding (p = 0.009; 95% CI 1.286-5.712; aOR 2.710) were independently associated with the risk of mortality. Upfront open surgical necrosectomy was strongly associated with the risk of mortality (p < 0.001; 95% CI 1.912-7.442; aOR 3.772), whereas endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.138-0.834; aOR 0.339) and enteral nutrition (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.143-0.716; aOR 0.320) were found as protective factors. Organ failure, acute cholangitis, and upfront open surgical necrosectomy were the most significant predictors of mortality. Our study confirmed that, even in a subgroup of particularly ill patients such as those with IPN, upfront open surgery should be avoided as much as possible. Study protocol registered in ClinicalTrials.Gov (I.D. Number NCT04747990)

Timing of Revascularization and Parenteral Antibiotic Treatment Associated with Therapeutic Failures in Ischemic Diabetic Foot Infections

For ischemic diabetic foot infections (DFIs), revascularization ideally occurs before surgery, while a parenteral antibiotic treatment could be more efficacious than oral agents. In our tertiary center, we investigated the effects of the sequence between revascularization and surgery (emphasizing the perioperative period of 2 weeks before and after surgery), and the influence of administering parenteral antibiotic therapy on the outcomes of DFIs. Among 838 ischemic DFIs with moderate-to-severe symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, we revascularized 608 (72%; 562 angioplasties, 62 vascular surgeries) and surgically debrided all. The median length of postsurgical antibiotic therapy was 21 days (given parenterally for the initial 7 days). The median time delay between revascularization and debridement surgery was 7 days. During the long-term follow-up, treatment failed and required reoperation in 182 DFI episodes (30%). By multivariate Cox regression analyses, neither a delay between surgery and angioplasty (hazard ratio 1.0, 95% confidence interval 1.0–1.0), nor the postsurgical sequence of angioplasty (HR 0.9, 95% CI 0.5–1.8), nor long-duration parenteral antibiotic therapy (HR 1.0, 95% CI 0.9–1.1) prevented failures. Our results might indicate the feasibility of a more practical approach to ischemic DFIs in terms of timing of vascularization and more oral antibiotic use

Prevalence and Prognostic Role of Lymphedema in Patients with Deep Venous Thrombosis and Thrombophlebitis

Background: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) poses a substantial disease burden. Lymphedema may present with similar symptoms making the diagnosis process more difficult. Data on the epidemiology of lymphedema are lacking. Methods: The German nationwide inpatient sample served to analyze all patients hospitalized owing to DVT and/or thrombophlebitis (referred to as DVT) of the legs in Germany between 2005 and 2020. We stratified these patients for additional lymphedema and analyzed the impact of lymphedema on adverse in-hospital events. Results: Overall, 1,136,574 hospitalizations related to DVT were recorded in Germany during 2005-2020 (53.3% women; 51.3% aged ≥70 years). Lymphedema was coded in 9974 (0.9%) patient-cases (82.0% not elsewhere classified, 17.7% secondary lymphedema). Annual numbers of hospitalizations with lymphedema among DVT patients increased from 450 (2005) to 613 (2016) (β 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.48-0.66], p < 0.001) and decreased thereafter. Despite similar age, DVT patients with lymphedema had higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, chronic organ failure, and all types of investigated cancer. Prevalence of pulmonary embolism (PE) with shock/CPR (4.1% vs. 1.5%), acute renal failure (6.7% vs. 2.5%), and stroke (5.2% vs. 4.2%) was higher in DVT patients with lymphedema than without. Lymphedema was independently associated with PE with shock/CPR (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.9-2.3) as well as death (OR: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.2-1.4). Conclusions: Comorbidity conditions like cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular risk factors, and also infectious complications, were more prevalent in DVT patients with lymphedema than in those without. Lymphedema was independently associated with severe in-hospital complications, particularly when its genesis was related to severe comorbidities

Early clinical outcomes for treatment of post-thrombotic syndrome and common iliac vein compression with a hybrid Oblique self-expanding nitinol stent - the TOPOS study.

Background: Physical attributes of conventional stents used in the ilio-caval territory are often unfavorable in the presence of external compression close to the bifurcation. A hybrid oblique stent was developed for the treatment of common iliac vein compression without compromising the contralateral iliac vein inflow. Patients and methods: The ongoing international monitored TOPOS study enrolled 60 patients with post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) treated with the sinus-Obliquus stent (optimed) and provisional distal stent extension. At 3-month follow-up, patency rates were obtained from duplex ultrasound, and clinical outcomes were assessed by the Villalta score, revised venous severity score (rVCSS), pain intensity score and chronic venous disease quality of life questionnaire (CIVIQ-20). Results: Mean age was 46.6 ± 14.9 years (68.3 % women). Mean number of implanted stents was 1.9 ± 0.6; 12 (20 %) patients received the hybrid oblique stent only. Forty-eight (80 %) patients had distal stent extension, and 42 (70 %) had stents below the inguinal ligament. Four (7 %) patients (all with stent extension) developed stent thrombosis. Primary and secondary patency rates at 3 months were 93.1 % (95 %CI 83.3-98.1 %), and 100 % (95 %CI 93.8-100 %), respectively. Improvement in Villalta, rVCSS, CIVIQ-20, and pain intensity score from baseline to 3-month follow-up was 6.9 ± 1.4 points (95 %CI 4.1-9.8; p < 0.0001), 3.4 ± 1.0 points (95 %CI 1.3-5.4 points; p < 0.01), 13.6 ± 2.7 points (95 %CI 8.2-19.0 points; p < 0.0001), and 2.4 ± 0.5 (95 %CI 1.4-3.3; p < 0.0001), respectively. At follow-up, 38 (63 %) patients were free from the PTS and none developed contralateral deep vein thrombosis. Conclusions: In patients with PTS and common iliac vein compression, treatment with the hybrid oblique stent with provisional stent extension resulted in high patency rates and improvement in PTS severity and quality of life at 3-month. Two-year results of TOPOS will assess the durability of this treatment

Percutaneous large-bore aspiration embolectomy with veno-arterial extracorporal membrane oxygenation support or standby in patients with high-risk pulmonary embolism and contraindications to thrombolysis: a preliminary single centre experience

AIMS Large-bore catheter aspiration embolectomy reduces thrombus burden and right ventricle strain and improves haemodynamics after pulmonary embolism (PE). Sparse data are available for patients with high-risk PE and contraindications to thrombolysis or thrombolysis failure, particularly if veno-arterial extracorporal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is required. METHODS AND RESULTS All patients with acute high-risk PE and contraindications to thrombolysis undergoing FlowTriever® percutaneous embolectomy and VA-ECMO circulatory support (or standby) at the University Hospital Zurich between April 2021 and August 2022 were retrospectively analysed. The primary outcome was the combination of recurrent PE, heart failure hospitalization, and all-cause death at 30 days. The analysis included 15 patients: mean age was 63.1 years and 14 (93%) were men. Overall, four (27%) patients presented with cardiac arrest, eight (53%) with ongoing obstructive shock, and three (20%) with persistent arterial hypotension. Veno-arterial extracorporal membrane oxygenation was implanted prior to aspiration embolectomy in eight (53%) patients. Three of seven patients without initial VA-ECMO support experienced periprocedural cardiac arrest, of whom two received ECMO support before completion of embolectomy. Veno-arterial extracorporal membrane oxygenation weaning was successful in all patients after a mean of 5.4 days. There was one periprocedural death in a patient who did not receive VA-ECMO support following a periprocedural cardiac arrest. The primary outcome at 30 days occurred in five (33.3%; 95% confidence interval 13.0-61.3%) patients. CONCLUSION This study provides preliminary evidence for the feasibility of percutaneous large-bore aspiration embolectomy in combination with VA-ECMO support (or standby) in patients with high-risk PE and contraindications to thrombolysis