Weingarten, Toby N.

Background Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) has different clinical presentations depending on whether it is right sided (R-CDH) or left sided (L-CDH). Some have suggested that L-CDH and R-CDH may represent different syndromic phenotypes. This theory would be indirectly supported if different nondiaphragmatic anomalies were associated with laterality. We assessed whether CDH laterality is associated with specific types of nondiaphragmatic anomalies. Methods Cases of CDH were retrospectively identified from five centers, and associated congenital anomalies, prenatal diagnosis, demographics, birth characteristics, and side of the CDH were analyzed. CDH characteristics were summarized according to the absence (isolated) or presence (complex) of nondiaphragmatic malformations. Results Among 228 neonates with CDH, 140 (61%) had isolated CDH and 88 (39%) had complex CDH. Complex CDH was significantly associated with being small for gestational age (odds ratio [95% confidence interval, CI]: 8.3 [1.9–35.7]; p = 0.005) and having L-CDH (odds ratio [95% CI]: 3.6 [1.5–8.9]; p = 0.005). The overall proportion with anomalies differed by side (42% for L-CDH, 23% for R-CDH; p = 0.02), but the rates of anomalies in specific organ systems did not differ. Conclusion The rate of associated nondiaphragmatic anomalies by specific organ system did not differ between L-CDH and R-CDH, which suggests that they represent the same phenotypic entity.

BACKGROUND: To examine whether exposure to general anesthesia for procedures at age ≥40 years is associated with prevalent mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly. METHODS: A case–control study nested within a population-based cohort. Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents, aged 70–91 years, underwent baseline evaluations that included the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a neurologic evaluation, and neuropsychologic testing. Individuals identified with MCI (cases) at enrollment were matched 1:2 on age, sex, education, and apolipoprotein genotype with participants who were cognitively normal at the time of the index visit. Medical records from age 40 years until the index visit were reviewed to determine exposures to general anesthesia. Conditional logistic regression, taking into account the matched set study design and adjusting for MCI risk factors, was used to assess whether exposure to anesthesia after the age of 40 years was associated with prevalent MCI. RESULTS: A total of 387 Mayo Clinic Study of Aging participants (219 males, 168 females) were diagnosed with MCI at enrollment with mean age of 81 ± 5 years. Exposure to general anesthesia after the age of 40 years was not significantly associated with prevalent MCI when analyzed as a dichotomous variable (any versus none, adjusted odds ratio, 0.97 [95% confidence interval, 0.68–1.40]) or the number of exposures (odds ratio, 1.13 [0.74–1.72], 0.81 [0.53–1.22], and 1.03 [0.67–1.58] for 1, 2–3, and ≥4 exposures, respectively, with no exposure as the reference). Similar results were obtained for exposure to anesthesia after the age of 60 years and during 5, 10, and 20 years before the first visit. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to general anesthesia for procedures at age ≥40 years was not associated with prevalent MCI in the elderly.

SummaryBackgroundCongenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a rare anomaly with high mortality and long‐term comorbid conditions.AimsOur aim was to describe the presenting characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of consecutive patients with CDH treated at our institution.MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study and identified consecutive neonates treated for CDH from 2001 to 2015 at our institution. For all patients identified, we reviewed hospital and postdischarge data for neonatal, disease, and treatment characteristics. We determined hospital survival overall and also according to the presence of prenatal diagnosis, liver herniation into the chest (liver up), and the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in addition to surgery. We evaluated postdischarge chronic conditions in patients with at least one year of follow‐up.ResultsThirty‐eight neonates were admitted for treatment during the study period. In three who were in extremis, life support was withdrawn. The other 35 underwent surgical repair, of whom eight received ECMO. The overall survival was 79% (30/38). Survival for those who had surgical correction of CDH but did not need ECMO was 89% (24/27); it was 75% (6/8) for those who received ECMO and had surgery. Hospital survival was lower for liver‐up vs liver‐down CDH (61% [11/18] vs 95% [19/20]; odds ratio, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01–0.77; P = 0.01). Among survivors, the median duration of hospitalization was 31 (interquartile range, 20–73) days. Major chronic pulmonary and gastrointestinal disorders, failure to thrive, and neurodevelopmental delays were the most noted comorbid conditions after discharge, and all were more prevalent in those who required ECMO.ConclusionThe overall survival of neonates with CDH was 79%. Intrathoracic liver herniation was associated with more frequent use of ECMO and greater mortality. A substantial number of survivors, especially those who required ECMO, experienced chronic conditions after discharge.

BACKGROUND: Gabapentinoids are widely used in perioperative multimodal analgesic regimens. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether gabapentin was associated with respiratory depression during phase-I postanesthesia recovery after major laparoscopic procedures. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic health records of 8567 patients who underwent major laparoscopic procedures (lasting ≥90 minutes) from January 1, 2010, to July 31, 2014. We assessed potential associations among patient and perioperative variables and episodes of respiratory depression during phase-I recovery. Multivariable and propensity score–matched analyses were performed to assess potential associations between preoperative gabapentin use and postoperative respiratory depression. RESULTS: The incidence of respiratory depression was 153 (95% confidence interval [CI], 146–161) episodes per 1000 cases. Multivariable analysis showed that gabapentin was associated with respiratory depression (odds ratio [OR], 1.47 [95% CI, 1.22–1.76]; P < .001). These results were confirmed by propensity score–matched analysis among a subset of patients who did not have analgesia supplemented by intrathecal opioids (OR, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.02–1.58]; P = .04). Older patients and those who received more intraoperative opioids had increased risk of respiratory depression. Those who had an episode of respiratory depression had a longer phase-I recovery ( P < .001) and an increased rate of admission to a higher level of care ( P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: The use of gabapentin is associated with increased rates of respiratory depression among patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. When gabapentinoids are included in multimodal analgesic regimens, intraoperative opioids must be reduced, and increased vigilance for respiratory depression may be warranted, especially in elderly patients.

AbstractBackgroundOutcomes of neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) are variable; reports are frequently limited to the experience of single tertiary care centres—a possible source of bias. Population‐based studies decrease survivor bias and provide additional insight into this high‐mortality condition. The objective of this study was to examine the incidence and outcomes of CDH in Croatia.MethodsAll cases of CDH in Croatia from 2001 through 2013 were ascertained from public health records. Overall and sex‐ and region‐specific incidence rates were calculated, and characteristics associated with 1‐year survival were assessed.ResultsWe identified 145 cases of CDH during the study period, for an incidence of 2.67 per 10 000 total births. The incidence did not differ by calendar year (P = 0.38) or geographic region (P = 0.67). There was a slightly higher incidence among males (rate ratio, 1.37, 95% CI 0.99, 1.91). The 1‐year survival rate was 33.1% for the entire cohort and 47.9% for liveborns who received any treatment at an intensive care unit. From multivariable analysis, survival was decreased in neonates with left CDH, liver up (odds ratio 0.1, 95% CI, 0.03, 0.4) and increased when treated in a centre with higher case volume (odds ratio 12.8, 95% CI, 2.2, 72.1).ConclusionsThe incidence of CDH in Croatia is within the range of previous reports. Survival was substantially higher in neonates treated in a centre with higher case volume, which suggests that centralisation of medical care for CDH may be warranted in Croatia.

AbstractObjectiveSmokers with fibromyalgia have greater pain intensity and function impairment compared to nonsmokers. Patients’ perceptions of interactions between smoking and fibromyalgia symptoms have not been described. The primary aim of this study was to report the perceptions of female smokers with fibromyalgia on how smoking affects symptoms.MethodsForty‐eight daily smokers with fibromyalgia enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Fibromyalgia Treatment Center completed the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, Patient Health Questionnaire‐9, General Anxiety Disorder‐7 and a Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Smoking Survey which queried how smoking directly affected fibromyalgia symptoms (eg, pain, tiredness/fatigue, stiffness, nervousness/anxiety, depression/blueness, irritability, concentration, and overall) or indirectly as a coping mechanism.ResultsThe majority of subjects reported smoking had no direct effect on fibromyalgia physical symptoms (pain [60% reported no effect], fatigue [56%], stiffness [81%]) but direct improvement of emotional symptoms (anxiety [62% reported improvement], irritability [64%]). The majority of subjects used smoking to cope with pain (69%) via distraction (83%) and relaxation (77%), lessening emotional distress by reducing a sense of frustration (83%) or sadness (54%) because of pain, and as a justification for resting vis‐à‐vis “smoke breaks” (69%). Thirty‐one smokers were mildly and 17 moderately/severely dependent on tobacco, and no difference in fibromyalgia impact score (P = 0.70), pain (P = 0.39), depression (P = 0.20), and anxiety (P = 0.64) scores were detected, but more moderately/severely dependent subjects reported smoking improved pain (50% vs. 17%, P = 0.04).DiscussionSmokers with fibromyalgia reported smoking helped to cope with fibromyalgia pain but generally did not directly ameliorate fibromyalgia physical symptoms.