Aryal, Madan Raj

Abstract Background Morbidity and mortality in tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) remains high despite increasing efforts for prevention, early detection and treatment in recent years. The current risk stratification system and treatment guidelines are largely consensus based without strong evidence. There is paucity of data on the in-hospital mortality and predictors of poor clinical outcome in this population. Methods We used the 2009-2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to identify hospitalizations in patients ≥18 years with a diagnosis of TLS (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] code 277.88). Nationwide Inpatient Sample is the largest all-payer publicly available inpatient care database in the US. It contains data from five to eight million hospital stays from about 1,000 hospitals across the country and approximates a 20% sample of all US hospitals. The interval 2009-2011 was selected as ICD-9-CM code 277.88 for TLS was only introduced from the year 2009 onwards. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine the independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Data analysis was done using STATA version 13.0 (College Station, TX). Results Among the 997 admissions (mean age ± SD 67.58±3.33, 62.6 % males, and 80.4 % white) with TLS, in-hospital mortality was 14.44 %. Based on the results of univariate analyses (table 1), we used obesity, coronary artery disease, cardiac dysrhythmias, acute kidney injury and sepsis in the final regression model. We found that cardiac dysrhythmias (OR 4.79; 95% CI, 1.67-13.77; p=0.004) and sepsis (OR 19.70; 95% CI, 5.33-72.78; p<0.001) were independent predictors of increased in-hospital mortality in patients with TLS. Although certain myeloid and lymphoid malignancies are associated with higher risk of tumor lysis syndrome, we did not observe any statistically significant increased risk of mortality with one specific type of malignancy over the other. Similarly, none of the demographic characteristics (age <40 vs ≥40, sex or race), or hospital characteristics (rural vs urban, teaching vs non-teaching, small vs large bed-size or geographic region) predicted increased in-hospital mortality in these patients. Conclusion In this study of large national database, patients with TLS had an in-hospital mortality of 14.44 %. Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were cardiac dysrhythmias and sepsis. Our findings might help physicians to identify sub-group of patients with TLS that are at increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients with tumor lysis syndrome according to in-hospital survival Characteristics Survivors (n=853) Non-survivors (n=144) p Age( in years) Mean 68.40±3.06 67.58±3.33 0.73 Male sex 62.1 65.8 0.69 Race 0.16 White 81.52 73.54 Black 14.98 22.8 Hispanic 2.27 0 Others/unknown 1.22 3.66 Insurance status 0.41 Medicare 65.55 48.15 Medicaid 5.56 13.34 Private insurance 24.89 32.58 Self-Pay 0.65 2.99 No charge 0.63 0 Other 2.72 2.93 Region 0.13 Northeast 27.59 37.74 Midwest 28.23 12.92 South 31.34 39.9 West 12.84 9.44 Location/teaching status 0.59 Rural 7.87 10.16 Urban nonteaching 26.01 33.52 Urban teaching 66.12 56.32 Bed-size 0.84 Small 11.11 8.91 Medium 21.04 24.55 Large 67.85 66.54 Malignancies ALL 1.19 6.79 0.25 AML 2.34 6.99 0.29 CLL 27.86 16.83 0.18 CML 1.85 3.19 0.68 NHL 36.33 22.37 0.1 HD 0.53 0 0.32 Multiple Myeloma 7.39 6.56 0.82 Other hematologic malignancies 38.67 25.99 0.16 Solid tumors 35.87 26.8 0.32 Co-morbidities Smoking 15.89 21.87 0.46 Obesity 5.16 0 0.005 Dyslipidemia 27.8 16.86 0.18 Hypertension 54.17 49.19 0.63 Diabetes mellitus 27.81 16.65 0.15 PVD 1.71 3.19 0.65 CAD 13.78 3.19 0.02 AKI 60.06 79.54 0.03 CKD 28.81 25.23 0.65 Stroke 0.63 0 0.32 Sepsis 3.58 31.81 0.003 Cardiac dysrhythmias 17.96 43.42 0.04 Acute CHF 11.44 7.08 0.43 AKI=Acute Kidney Injury; ALL=Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; AML=Acute Myelogenous Leukemia; CAD=Coronary Artery Disease; CHF=Congestive Heart Failure; CKD=Chronic Kidney Disease; CLL=Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia; CML=Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; HD=Hodgkin Disease; NHL=Non Hodgkin Lymphoma; PVD=Peripheral Vascular Disease Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

BackgroundAneurysm of the left atrial appendage is rare. We sought to systematically review the published literature on left atrial appendage aneurysm (LAAA) to address its demographic features, clinical characteristics, treatment, complications, and outcomes.MethodologyA systematic electronic search of Medline, PubMed, and EMBASE for case reports, case series, and related articles of LAAA published from 1962 until July 2013 was carried out. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0. Logistic Regression Analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of LAAA‐related thrombus formation and embolism.ResultsEighty‐two cases of LAAA were identified. There was a slight female preponderance and most of the patients presented in their third decades. Palpitation, dyspnea or both were most common clinical symptoms associated with LAAA. Echocardiography was the main diagnostic modality used and the mean size of aneurysm was 7.08 ± 3.03 × 5.75 ± 2.36 cm. Surgical resection of the aneurysm was performed in most patients with favorable results. Systemic embolism and atrial tachyarrhythmias were the two common complications associated with untreated LAAA. Presence of atrial fibrillation/flutter was the only significant predictor of thrombus formation/embolic events.ConclusionAneurysm of left atrial appendage is rare and often an incidental diagnosis during echocardiography. It is important to recognize this entity since it is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by predisposing to atrial tachyarrhythmia and thromboembolism. Surgical resection is the standard of treatment in the current literature. Medical management is directed toward the treatment of thromboembolism and atrial tachyarrhythmia.

Aim The benefit of preventive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been shown in randomised trials. However, all the randomised trials are underpowered to detect benefit in cardiac death. We aim to systematically review evidence on the cardiac mortality benefit of preventive PCI in patients presenting with acute STEMI in randomised patient populations. Methods PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane and clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched for studies published until 30 September 2013. The studies were limited to randomised clinical trials. Independent observers abstracted the data on outcomes, characteristics and qualities of studies included. Fixed effect model was employed for meta-analysis. Heterogeneity of studies included was analysed using I2 statistics. Results In three randomised clinical trials published, involving 748 patients with acute STEMI and multivessel disease, 416 patients were randomised to preventive PCI and 332 to culprit-only PCI. Patients undergoing preventive PCI had significant lower risk of cardiovascular deaths (pooled OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.83, p=0.01, I2=0%), repeat revascularisation (pooled OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.44, p=0.00001, I2=0%) and non-fatal myocardial infarction (pooled OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.75, p=0.005, I2=0%) compared with culprit-only revascularisation. Conclusions In patients presenting with acute STEMI and significant multivessel coronary artery disease, based on our data, preventive PCI is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular mortality compared with primary PCI of only the culprit artery. This finding needs to be confirmed in larger adequately powered randomised clinical trials.

BackgroundRight atrial appendage aneurysm (RAAA) is rare with fewer than 20 cases reported in the literature. We sought to systematically review the published cases of RAAA in terms of demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment, complications, and outcome.MethodologyElectronic search for case reports, case series, and related articles published until July 2013 was carried out and clinical data were extracted and analyzed.ResultsSeventeen cases of RAAA were identified with equal sex distribution and commonly presenting in the third decades of life. Dyspnea and palpitation were the most common clinical presentations. Echocardiography was the most common diagnostic modality. The mean size of aneurysm was 8.83 ± 4.84 × 6.05 ± 2.99 cm. Most of the patients were treated medically with close follow‐up. The mean follow‐up period was 10 months. Atrial tachyarrhythmias and heart failure were the most common complications.ConclusionRight atrial appendage aneurysm although rare may be associated with significant morbidity. Surgical resection is indicated in symptomatic patients.

The pulmonary valve is the least affected site for valvular papillary fibroelastoma. With increasing use of routine echocardiography and other modalities of imaging, pulmonary valve papillary fibroelastomas (PVPFE) are being recognized more frequently. PVPFE is more often an incidental diagnosis and symptomatic patients usually present with shortness of breath. Embolic phenomena and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction are the most serious complications of PVPFE. Since PVPFE is rare, the purpose of this systematic review is to address demographic characteristics, the clinical presentation, management, and outcome of this benign tumor of the pulmonary valve.