Citations

ABSTRACT EUS-guided liver biopsy (EUS-LB) has gained momentum in recent years, especially with availability of newer needle designs. Given the emerging comparative data on EUS-LB with second-generation needles and percutaneous LB (PC-LB), we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the safety and efficacy of the two techniques. We searched multiple databases from inception through November 2021 to identify studies comparing outcomes of EUS-LB and PC-LB. Pooled estimates were calculated using a random-effects model, and the results were expressed in terms of pooled proportions and odds ratio (OR) along with relevant 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Five studies with 748 patients were included in the final analysis. EUS-LB was performed in 276 patients and PC-LB in 472 patients. Across all studies, PC-LB had an overall higher diagnostic accuracy than EUS-LB, 98.6% confidence interval (CI: 94.7–99.7) versus 88.3% (49.6–98.3), OR: 1.65, P = 0.04. On assessing data from randomized controlled trials, there was no difference between the two. While pooled diagnostic adequacy and overall adverse events were not significantly different between PC-LB and EUS-LB, the former was superior in terms of the mean number of complete portal tracts (CPT) and total specimen length. PC-LB and EUS-LB produce similar results. PC-LB allows obtaining longer samples and more CPT. Further studies are needed to see if these trends hold up as more providers begin to perform EUS-LB.

Importance In patients with severe aortic valve stenosis at intermediate surgical risk, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with a self-expanding supra-annular valve was noninferior to surgery for all-cause mortality or disabling stroke at 2 years. Comparisons of longer-term clinical and hemodynamic outcomes in these patients are limited. Objective To report prespecified secondary 5-year outcomes from the Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis in Intermediate Risk Subjects Who Need Aortic Valve Replacement (SURTAVI) randomized clinical trial. Design, Setting, and Participants SURTAVI is a prospective randomized, unblinded clinical trial. Randomization was stratified by investigational site and need for revascularization determined by the local heart teams. Patients with severe aortic valve stenosis deemed to be at intermediate risk of 30-day surgical mortality were enrolled at 87 centers from June 19, 2012, to June 30, 2016, in Europe and North America. Analysis took place between August and October 2021. Intervention Patients were randomized to TAVR with a self-expanding, supra-annular transcatheter or a surgical bioprosthesis. Main Outcomes and Measures The prespecified secondary end points of death or disabling stroke and other adverse events and hemodynamic findings at 5 years. An independent clinical event committee adjudicated all serious adverse events and an independent echocardiographic core laboratory evaluated all echocardiograms at 5 years. Results A total of 1660 individuals underwent an attempted TAVR (n = 864) or surgical (n = 796) procedure. The mean (SD) age was 79.8 (6.2) years, 724 (43.6%) were female, and the mean (SD) Society of Thoracic Surgery Predicted Risk of Mortality score was 4.5% (1.6%). At 5 years, the rates of death or disabling stroke were similar (TAVR, 31.3% vs surgery, 30.8%; hazard ratio, 1.02 [95% CI, 0.85-1.22]; P = .85). Transprosthetic gradients remained lower (mean [SD], 8.6 [5.5] mm Hg vs 11.2 [6.0] mm Hg; P < .001) and aortic valve areas were higher (mean [SD], 2.2 [0.7] cm 2 vs 1.8 [0.6] cm 2 ; P < .001) with TAVR vs surgery. More patients had moderate/severe paravalvular leak with TAVR than surgery (11 [3.0%] vs 2 [0.7%]; risk difference, 2.37% [95% CI, 0.17%- 4.85%]; P = .05). New pacemaker implantation rates were higher for TAVR than surgery at 5 years (289 [39.1%] vs 94 [15.1%]; hazard ratio, 3.30 [95% CI, 2.61-4.17]; log-rank P < .001), as were valve reintervention rates (27 [3.5%] vs 11 [1.9%]; hazard ratio, 2.21 [95% CI, 1.10-4.45]; log-rank P = .02), although between 2 and 5 years only 6 patients who underwent TAVR and 7 who underwent surgery required a reintervention. Conclusions and Relevance Among intermediate-risk patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis, major clinical outcomes at 5 years were similar for TAVR and surgery. TAVR was associated with superior hemodynamic valve performance but also with more paravalvular leak and valve reinterventions.

The NCCN Guidelines for Bladder Cancer provide recommendations for the diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and follow-up of patients with bladder cancer and other urinary tract cancers (upper tract tumors, urothelial carcinoma of the prostate, primary carcinoma of the urethra). These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize the panel discussion behind recent important updates to the guidelines regarding the treatment of non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer, including how to treat in the event of a bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) shortage; new roles for immune checkpoint inhibitors in non–muscle invasive, muscle-invasive, and metastatic bladder cancer; and the addition of antibody–drug conjugates for metastatic bladder cancer.

Abstract Introduction/Aims Carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome (CTS, CuTS) are common among patients with hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure‐palsies (HNPP) and Charcot–Marie‐Tooth type 1A (CMT1A) and may impact quality of life. We aimed to evaluate the utility of nerve decompression surgeries in these patients. Methods Medical records were reviewed for patients with PMP22 mutations confirmed in Mayo Clinic laboratories from January 1999 to December 2020, who had CTS and CuTS and underwent surgical decompression. Results CTS occurred in 53.3% of HNPP and 11.5% of CMT1A, while CuTS was present in 43.3% of HNPP and 5.8% of CMT1A patients. CTS decompression occurred in 10‐HNPP and 5‐CMT1A patients, and CuTS decompression with/without transposition was performed in 5‐HNPP and 1‐CMT1A patients. In HNPP, electrodiagnostic studies identified median neuropathy at the wrist in 9/10 patients and ultrasound showed focal enlargements at the carpal and cubital tunnels. In CMT1A, median and ulnar sensory responses were all absent, and the nerves were diffusely enlarged. After CTS surgery, pain, sensory loss, and strength improved in 4/5 CMT1A, and 6/10 HNPP patients. Of clinical, electrophysiologic and ultrasound findings, only activity‐provoked features significantly correlated with CTS surgical benefit in HNPP patients (odds ratio = 117.0:95% confidence interval, 1.94 > 999.99, p = 0.01). One CMT1A and one HNPP patient improved with CuTS surgery while 2 HNPP patients worsened. Discussion CTS symptom improvement post‐surgery can be seen in CMT1A and (less frequent) in HNPP patients. CuTS surgery commonly worsened course in HNPP. Activity‐provoked symptoms in HNPP best informed benefits from CTS surgery.

Abstract Background and study aims Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is a precursor condition to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), resulting in transformation of the squamous epithelium of distal esophagus to columnar-lined epithelium with intestinal metaplasia (IM). Liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy (LNSC) is a non-contact method of BE eradication and has been used both as primary and salvage therapy. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the safety and efficacy of LNSC. Methods We searched multiple databases from inception through December 2021 to identify studies on use of LNSC for Barrett’s neoplasia. Pooled estimates were calculated using random-effects model and results were expressed in terms of pooled proportions with relevant 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of complete eradication (CE) of dysplasia(D), high grade dysplasia (HGD) and IM. Results Fourteen studies with 707 patients were included in our final analysis. Overall pooled rates of CE-D, CE-HGD and CE-IM were 80.8 % (CI 77.4–83.8; I2 62), 90.3 % (CI 85.2–93.7; I2 33) and 55.8 % (CI 51.7–59.8; I2 73) with follow up ranging from 4.25 months to 69.7 months. In patients with follow up beyond 24 months, the rates of CE-D and CE-IM were 83.6 % (CI 77.6–88.2; I2 60) and 54.7 % (CI 47.6–61.6; I2 81). Among LNSC naïve patients with prior history of endoscopic resection, the rates were 79.9 % (CI 73.3–85.2; I2 50) and 67.1 % (CI 59.5–73.8; I2 0). Pooled rate of therapeutic failures, defined as lack of response to LNSC therapy, was 23.6 % (CI 19.4–28.3; I2 73). Post LNSC strictures and perforation pooled rates were 4 % and 0.8 %, respectively, which are similar to those previously reported for RFA. Conclusions Our analysis suggests that liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy is an acceptable treatment for BE in both ablation naïve and experienced patients.

Background: Patients with D-transposition of the great arteries and atrial switch have a high incidence of atrial arrhythmias. We sought to analyze the arrhythmia substrate, ablation strategies, and outcomes for catheter ablation in this population. Methods: An in-depth analysis of all clinical and procedural data in patients with D-transposition of the great arteries, atrial baffles, and atrial arrhythmia ablation was performed. Results: A cohort of 32 patients (72% male, mean age 38±7 years) underwent ablation for non-AV nodal reentrant tachycardia atrial arrhythmias, and 4 patients underwent AV nodal reentrant tachycardia ablation. Cavotricuspid isthmus flutter (CTI-flutter) was the most common arrhythmia, encountered in 75% of patients, followed by scar-related intraatrial reentrant tachycardia (non-CTI intraatrial reentrant tachycardia, 53%) and focal atrial tachycardia (focal atrial tachycardia, 6%). Among the 32 patients, 26 underwent 31 procedures at our institution. For patients with prior outside intervention, the index ablation at our institution revealed CTI-dependent flutter in 3/5 cases. However, redo ablation after an index ablation with demonstrated bidirectional CTI block revealed different/new arrhythmia substrates (80% non-CTI intraatrial reentrant tachycardia, 40% focal atrial tachycardia). Achieving bidirectional block across the CTI often required ablating on both sides of the baffle (retroaortic access, 81%; using a baffle leak, 11.5%; or transbaffle puncture, 7.7%). Combined approaches were necessary in 19% to reach the critical tissue. Acute procedural success was 81%, and recurrence was documented in 58% of patients. Despite recurrence, clinical arrhythmia burden was significantly reduced post-ablation ( P <0.001), with rare episodes, amenable to antiarrhythmic therapy. Redo ablation was required in 5 (19%) patients and uncovered new arrhythmia substrates. AV nodal reentrant tachycardia ablation also required transbaffle approaches in 3/4 patients. Conclusions: CTI-dependent flutter was the most common arrhythmia in patients with Dextro-Transposition of the Great Arteries and atrial switch. Transbaffle approaches were often necessary, and, provided that bidirectional CTI block was achieved at the index ablation, late recurrence was due to different arrhythmia mechanisms. Despite recurrence, ablation was associated with significant clinical improvement.

Abstract This study was aimed to evaluate the yearly incidence of pediatric narcolepsy prior to and following the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and to evaluate seasonal patterns of narcolepsy onset and associations with H1N1 influenza infection in the United States. This was a multicenter retrospective study with prospective follow-up. Participants were recruited from members of the Pediatric Working Group of the Sleep Research Network including 22 sites across the United States. The main outcomes were monthly and yearly incident cases of childhood narcolepsy in the United States, and its relationship to historical H1N1 influenza data. A total of 950 participants were included in the analysis; 487 participants were male (51.3%). The mean age at onset of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) was 9.6 ± 3.9 years. Significant trend changes in pediatric narcolepsy incidence based on EDS onset (p &lt; .0001) occurred over the 1998–2016 period, peaking in 2010, reflecting a 1.6-fold increase in narcolepsy incidence. In addition, there was significant seasonal variation in narcolepsy incident cases, with increased cases in spring (p &lt; .05). Cross-correlation analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between monthly H1N1 infection and monthly narcolepsy incident cases (p = .397, p &lt; .0001) with a lag time of 8 months. We conclude that there is a significant increase in pediatric narcolepsy incidence after the 2009 H1N1 pandemic in the United States. However, the magnitude of increase is lower than reported in European countries and in China. The temporal correlation between monthly H1N1 infection and monthly narcolepsy incidence, suggests that H1N1 infection may be a contributing factor to the increased pediatric narcolepsy incidence after the 2009 H1N1 pandemics.

Abstract Introduction Placing a magnet over a Permanent Pacemaker (PPM) or Implanted Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) may cause the device to pace asynchronously or inhibit tachyarrhythmia detection, respectively, potentially preventing delivery of electrical shocks. Manufacturers for masks used with positive airway pressure devices have started using magnets in place of more traditional headgear clips to connect the headgear to mask. Mask manufactures do not list presence of a PPM/ICD as a contraindication to use of a mask with magnet but do recommend keeping the mask some distance away from PPM/ICD. A published case series describes two patients with magnet response events captured during PPM/ICD interrogation that correlated with nightly use of CPAP. The authors were able to replicate the response by placing the mask with magnet directly over the patient’s pulse generate site. Although we advise all patients with implanted device to avoid use of masks with magnets, select patients refuse to stop using mask with magnets regardless of our policy. We, therefore, started offering these patients referral for PPM/ICD interrogation to evaluate for an interaction between mask with magnet and PPM/ICD as next best alternative. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients (n=10) referred for routine PPM/ICD interrogation to test whether the mask with magnet interacted with PPM/ICD when mask on face as during normal use (i.e., simulated normal use) or magnetic area of mask placed directly over the PPM/ICD (i.e., direct contact). Results Although no interaction was detected in any patient (n=10) with simulated normal use (0 %), one interaction was documented with direct contact (10 %). Conclusion Although simulated normal use of masks with magnets did not demonstrate any interactions, it is concerning that one patient (10 % of patients) demonstrated an interaction with direct contact of magnetic area of mask over the PPM/ICD. It is not uncommon for patients to remove a mask during the night while sleeping. This preliminary data along with the published case series calls for further research and increased awareness of this potential interaction for both sleep and cardiac health care providers. Support (If Any) None

Introduction: Atrial arrhythmias are common in patients with D-TGA and atrial switch. We sought to analyze the arrhythmia substrate and catheter ablation approaches and outcomes. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all clinical and procedural data in patients with D-TGA followed at a large tertiary care center. Results: In a cohort of 152 patients (mean age 30±11 years), atrial tachycardia was present in 69(45%) patients. Ablations were performed in 39(26%) patients: macro-reentrant atrial flutter (N=37), atrial fibrillation (N=4), and focal automatic atrial tachycardia (N=3). Detailed electrophysiology study data was available for 34 patients. At first ablation (N=28), cavo-tricuspid isthmus dependent flutter (CTI, 23(82%)) was most common, followed by right atriotomy-related flutter (IART, 16(57%)) and focal atrial tachycardia (FAT, 1(3.5%)). Bidirectional CTI block often required ablation on both sides of the baffle to complete the isthmus line. Access to the pulmonary venous atrium was obtained in 82% of first-time ablations (via retrograde aortic access, 74%, baffle puncture, 6%, or baffle fenestration, 12%) and in 100% of redo procedures. The first ablation was acutely successful in 25 (89%) patients; the other 3 patients had either partial procedural success (1), failed ablation (1), or underwent an empirical ablation (1). Long-term arrhythmia recurrence occurred in 13(46%) after the first ablation and class III antiarrhythmic medications were utilized in 12 patients. At least one long-term recurrence occurred in 11(44%) patients. Importantly, clinical arrhythmia burden was significantly reduced post-ablation, with rare and short-limited episodes amenable to antiarrhythmic drugs or cardioversion. Repeat ablation was required in 3 cases. Long-term arrhythmia recurrence after a previously completed CTI line involved different arrhythmia mechanisms: scar-related reentry (80%) and automatic atrial tachycardia (40%). Conclusions: Atrial arrhythmia in patients with D-TGA often involves the CTI and atriotomy scars. Ablation of the CTI typically requires access to the pulmonary venous atrium to achieve bidirectional block. Despite late recurrence, the clinical arrhythmic burden is substantially improved.