[Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy with Inoue balloon. Short-term results. Initial experience at the Ignacio Chavez National Institute of Cardiology]

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) using balloon catheters has emerged as an alternative to surgery for patients with mitral stenosis. This report details our recent experience of PTMC with the Inoue balloon in 20 consecutive patients with mitral stenosis from april 2 to july 27, 1991. Mean age was 35.6 +/- 9.5 years. Mitral valve area increased form 1.04 +/- 0.3 to 2.32 +/- 0.5 cm2 (p less than 0.0001). Mitral valve gradient decreased from 19.2 +/- 8.8 to 6.6 +/- 2.3 mmHg. (p less than 0.0001). Two patients developed mitral regurgitation greater than 2+/4 after the procedure. In none the residual left to right shunt was greater than 1.2L. There was no mortality. We conclude that in selected patients, excellent results are obtained PMTC with the Inoue balloon. Complications are minimal.

Sex and gender disparities in patients with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: data from the AGAMENON-SEOM registry

Background

Recommendations for research articles include the use of the term sex when reporting biological factors and gender for identities or psychosocial or cultural factors. There is an increasing awareness of incorporating the effect of sex and gender on cancer outcomes. Thus, these types of analyses for advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma are relevant.

Patients and methods

Patients with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma from the Spanish AGAMENON-SEOM registry treated with first-line combination chemotherapy were selected. Epidemiology, characteristics of the disease, treatment selection, and results were examined according to sex.

Results

This analysis included 3274 advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma patients treated with combination chemotherapy between 2008 and 2021: 2313 (70.7%) men and 961 (29.3%) women. Tumors in females were more frequently HER2-negative (67.8% versus 60.8%; P < 0.0001), grade 3 (45.4% versus 36.8%; P < 0.001), diffuse (43.3% versus 26.5%; P < 0.0001), and signet ring cell histology (40.5 versus 23.9%; P < 0.0001). Peritoneal spread was more common in women (58.6% versus 38.9%; P < 0.0001), while liver burden was lower (58.9% versus 71.1%; P < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in treatment recommendation. Treatment doses, density, and duration were comparable between sexes. Women experienced more diarrhea (46% versus 37%; P < 0.0001), neutropenia (51% versus 43%; P < 0.0001), and anemia (62% versus 57%; P < 0.0001). After a median 59.6-month follow-up [95% confidence interval (CI) 54.5-70.8], there were no statistically significant differences between the sexes in progression-free survival [6.21 months (95% CI 5.8-6.5 months) versus 6.08 months (95% CI 5.8-6.3 months); log-rank test, χ² = 0.1, 1 df, P = 0.8] or in overall survival [10.6 months (95% CI 9.8-11.1 months) versus 10.9 months (95% CI 10.4-11.4 months); log-rank test: χ² = 0.6, 1 df, P = 0.5].

Conclusion

This sex analysis of patients with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma from the AGAMENON-SEOM registry receiving first-line polychemotherapy found no differences in survival. Although women had worse prognostic histopathology, metastatic disease pattern, and greater toxicity, treatment allocation and compliance were equivalent.

•

Sex and gender are determinants of health inequalities and may affect treatments, tolerability, and therapeutic outcomes.

•

According to sex, subtle biological and clinical differences exist in advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma.

•

Women with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma experience greater toxicity with therapeutic results comparable with men.

•

Stratification and analysis by sex in studies of gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma should be considered.

Extensive aneurysm of the aortic arch and descending aorta. Extra-anatomical reconstruction and exclusion of the aneurysmal sac

A new technique for repair of extensive aneurysm reaching from the ascending aorta to the diaphragm is presented. The operation consists of the reconstruction of the aortic arch and descending aorta and the exclusion of the aneurysmal sac in a single operation. Two successful cases are presented.

[Angiographic diagnosis of congenital abnormalities of the coronary vessels]

A new classification for congenital anormaleis of the coronary vessels is presented. The fundamentals of pathophysiology in each entity, are discussed.

[Myocardial ischemia secondary to a bilateral coronary fistula with drainage into the pulmonary artery trunk]

A case of bilateral coronary artery fistula into main pulmonary artery which courses with crisis of angina and subepicardial ischaemic changes in anterolateral leads is presented. The interest of the case reported is based on the peculiar anatomy of the fistula; there is only an unique collector to the pulmonary artery for both fistula and they present a completely different way of emerging: an unique vessel from the right coronary artery and several vessels from the anterior descending coronary artery. Ligation of the fistula was performed successfully and postoperative course was uneventful.

[Coronary angioplasty with the Monorail system via 6 French diagnostic catheters]

We studied the use of "Monorail" system with Express (Scimed) balloon catheters for coronary angioplasty through 6 French (F) "high-flow" diagnostic catheters (Novoste, USCI). Prospectively, from July 1992 to January 1993, angioplasty of 31 lesions in 24 patients was attempted (1.3 lesions/procedure). Twenty procedures were of a single lesion and four were multi-vessel angioplasty. Fourteen lesions were in the left anterior descending or in its branches, 10 in the left circumflex or in its branches, 6 in the right coronary artery, and one in the distal anastomosis of an internal mammary artery graft. Thirteen lesions (42%) were type A, 17 (55%) type B and one (3%) type C. Balloon sizes varied between 2.0 and 3.5 mm. Twenty-nine lesions could be successfully dilated (93.5%); two cases were unsuccessful due to an acute occlusion in one and residual stenosis of more than 50% in the other. For only one case, another balloon catheter different from the "Monorail" system was necessary to complete a multi-vessel angioplasty. Coronary visualization and manipulation of the balloon through the tip of the diagnostic catheter were satisfactory in all cases, except with the 3.5 mm balloon catheter. Coronary angioplasty with "Monorail" system balloon catheters through 6 F "high-flow" diagnostic catheters is feasible and provides a high success rate in simple and moderately complex selected lesions, including multivessel angioplasty with advantages of smaller artery punction and the feasibility of performing coronary angioplasty with the same catheter used for diagnostic angiography.

Abstract P2-08-58: Prognostic factors of survival in node positive breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in a large series after 5y follow-up: Can response overcome the poor prognosis of nodal stage?

Background: Status of the axilla is one of the most significant prognostic factors in breast cancer (BC) patients. On the other hand, response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is related to survival. The aim of the present study is to analyze which prognostic factors impact most on Node positive (N+) BC patient survival after NATC. Material and methods: Retrospective analyses on a series of N+ BC patients treated with NATC based on anthracyclines and taxanes +/- trastuzumab if HER2 positive tumors, between June 2008 and December 2016. Clinical, radiological and pathological outcomes have been evaluated. Residual cancer burden (RCB) 1 and the neoadjuvant response index (INR) 2 have been recorded. Survival was calculated with Kaplan-Meier survival curve since the start of NATC to the first documented disease recurrence (DFS) or death (OS). Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs were estimated with cox proportional hazards regression analysis and subgroups were compared with a two-sided log-rank test. Results: A total of 345 N+ BC patients were included. Pathological complete response was achieved in 72 (20.8%) patients. After NACT, 137 (39.6%) become ypN0, 9 (2.6%) ypN1 mic, 113 (32.7%) ypN1, 60 (17.3%) ypN2 and 26 (7.6%) N3. Those independent predictive factor of ypN0 were molecular subtype (TN and Her2+) with OR: 7.7, p&lt;0.001 and clinical response with OR 6.88, p: 0.04. At a mean follow-up of 58 months there have been 73 (21.1%) recurrences: 9 (2.3%) local, 45 (13%) systemic, 15 (4.3%) systemic+ local, 3 (0.9%) axilla, 1 (0.3%) supraclavicular. The estimated 5y OS was 87.8%. The univariate analysis according to DSF is detailed in Table1.

Adjusted univariate anaalysis cox regression of clinical and pathological factors of desease free survivalBMI10.989-1.010.963AGE0.9960.953-1.0420.876Dose NATC0.9940.979-1.0080.402Clinical Stage1.4021.077-1.8260.012Rx Image1.260.803-1.9940.311Rx size1.0090.995-1.0240.217Number suspicious ALN1.0950.801-1.4970.57Molecular subtype TN,HER20.8800.534-1.450.616Nottinghan grade1.0460.753-1.4530.789Histological subtype1.4651.044-2.0570.27MOlecular subtype1.1510.956-1.3850.137Vascular invasion1.6761.137-24710.009Clinical response2.3691.709-3.284&lt;0.001Fibrosis tumor bed0.980.972-0.989&lt;0.001Nodal fibrosis&gt;50%1.7950.874-3.6860.111Pathological tumoral response1.6861.175-2.4180.005ypN03.561.853-6.838&lt;0.001NRI0.330.192-0.565&lt;0.001RCB1.2741.106-1.4680.001

In the multivariate model those parameters that were independently prognostic were clinical response HR: 5.44 (IC95% 2.275-13.042, p&lt;0.001) and clinical stage HR: 2.364 (IC95% 1.018-5.490, p: 0.045). Conclusions: The most significant prognostic factor in our N+ series was response to NATC, followed by clinical stage. Those independently predictive factors of axillar response (ypN0) were molecular subtype (TN and Her2+) and clinical response. In conclusion, in those patients with chemo sensitive tumors, lymphadenectomy could be safely spared with a more selective axillary approach.

Citation Format: Fernandez S, Garcia A, Vethencourt A, Vazquez S, Petit A, Pla MJ, Ortega R, Pérez J, Gil M, Ponce J, Pernas S, Lopez A, Falo C. Prognostic factors of survival in node positive breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in a large series after 5y follow-up: Can response overcome the poor prognosis of nodal stage? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-08-58.

Abstract P6-17-01: Adjuvant treatment with zoledronic acid (ZOL) in stage II/III breast cancer. The AZURE trial (BIG 01/04) 10 year follow-up

This abstract was not presented at the symposium.

[Endoscopic ligation with elastic bands in the prevention of hemorrhage recurrence caused by esophageal varices. Study of 45 patients]

The aim of the present study was to determine the usefulness of elastic band ligation in the prevention of hemorrhage recurrence by esophageal varices. Forty-five patients without known hepatocarcinoma who had survived a hemorrhagic variceal episode were included in the study. Seventeen patients (38%) were Child-Pugh A, 22 (49%) B, and 6 (13%) C, with the hepatitis C virus and alcohol being the etiology of cirrosis in 55 and 20% of the cases, respectively. The first ligation session was performed between the third and fifth days after the hemorrhagic episode and the posterior sessions were carried out at intervals of 2-4 weeks. The ligation sessions were performed without antibiotic prophylaxis and with placement of an overtube. A mean of 4 +/- 2 bands were placed per session (range, 1-8) and the mean number of sessions required per patient to achieve erradication of the varices was 3.5 +/- 1.5 (range, 2-8). The rate of bleeding recurrence was 17.7% (9 episodes, five by variceal rupture and four by ulcer secondary to ligation). All the episodes of bleeding recurrence occurred between the sessions, with the mortality being 11% (5/45 patients). In the 40 remaining patients the varices were erradicated although 19 (47.5%) required one or two additional sessions of sclerotherapy. The accumulated percentage of patients free of bleeding recurrence was 82% during a mean follow-up of 10.2 +/- 6.7 months. Ten lesions of dislaceration of the esophageal mucosa caused by placement of the were observed overtube. In conclusion, endoscopic elastic band ligation is a useful technique for the erradication of esophageal varices an in the prevention of bleeding recurrence.

[An evaluation of the impact of primary care reform on health]

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of the impact of the reform of primary health care services on the population health.

DESIGN

Comparative analysis of mortality rates for the 1984-96 period in three zones of homogeneous socioeconomic level, assessing the effect of the differential development of the reform of public primary health care services.

SETTING

The study is restricted to the 23 health areas with lower socioeconomic status in the city of Barcelona (443092 inhabitants).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The study areas are categorized in three groups, according to the sequence of the reform: reformed between 1984 and 1989, RAP1 zone, reformed between 1990 and 1991, RAP2 zone, and those still served by the old scheme in 1992, NORAP zone. General mortality rates are analyzed, and also mortality rates by those avoidable conditions. Significant differences among the three zones are initially visible. The mortality decline is 13.6% in the RAP1 zone and 10.3% in the NORAP zone, so that the decline in the RAP1 zone is 32% greater than in the NORAP zone. At the end of the study, mortality due to stroke and hypertension is lower in the RAP zones than in the NORAP zone. Perinatal mortality shows a clear decline in the three zones. No relevant changes are seen for tuberculosis or cervical cancer. Lung cancer mortality increases except in RAP1 zone where it declines, to the point that the excess mortality from that cause estimated by comparison with the NORAP zone in the initial phase of the study vanishes. Death rates from cirrhosis and motor vehicle accident decline in all zones.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a clear association between the process of reform of primary care and the decrease in general mortality in these zones of low socioeconomic level. These results suggest that the reform of primary health care services in Spain may have a significant impact in the mortality of the population of lower socioeconomic level. The study highlight the cost in health and human lives of maintaining obsolete and overburdened services for some segments of the population, and justify the need and urgency of completing the process of reform initiated in 1984 and still unfinished in 1999.

[Hemodynamic evaluation in acute myocardial infarct. Application to the treatment of contractile insufficiency syndromes of the left ventricle]

Even though the coronary care units have reduced to a minimum the mortality due to arrhythmias, the syndromes of left ventricular failure are responsible for the greatest part of hospital deaths in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The poor results depend upon the extensive destruction of left ventricular mass. The management in these cases should be directed to improve the performance of viable muscle as well as to preserve thejeopardized ischemic myocardium that is potentially viable. These goals may be adequately pursued by continuous hemodynamic characterization of left ventricular function. The experience of the Coronary Care Unit of the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología de México in the study of 30 of these patients is presented. Hemodynamic evaluations were performed by means of a Swan-Ganz catheter and cardiac output determinations by the thermodilution technique. The studies may be performed with a minimum of risk. Central venous pressure measurements do not adequately indicate the status of the left ventricle. Its function may be evaluated by the use of end diastolic pulmonary artery pressure which reflects, quite accurately, the left ventricular filling pressure in these patients. Continuous hemodynamic monitorization facilitates the proper manipulation of the determinants of ventricular performance (preload, afterload, cardiac rate and contractility) and permits an attempt to improve the balance between available oxygen and myocardial oxygen requirements. Hemodynamic studies and ventricular function curves are presented in selected patients with acute myocardial infarction. The mortality due to left ventricular failure and cardiogenic shock in patients with acute myocardial infarction remains extremely high. However, it is only through the early recognition by continuous hemodynamic monitorization and the aggressive management of the patient with incipient left ventricular failure that the number of survivors may be increased.

[Supravalvular aortic stenosis. Report of clinical findings in 5 patients]

Five cases of supravalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) diagnosed by heart catheterization were studied in the Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia of Mexico. The clinic and laboratory data of interest of the differential diagnosis with other forms of obstruction of the left ventricle as follows: 1. Three cases had mental retardation and "elfin" face (SAS with specific psychophysical syndrome), the rest had a normal psyco-physical state without family antecedents (sporadic SAS). 2. The aortic focus was the epicenter of the expulsion murmur. In the phoncarodiographic study, two patients had protosistolic click and another had, in addition, a descending protodiastolic murmur (Int. I-IV). In the radial sphigmograms, one case had an amplitude difference in favor of the right side. 3. All had serum calcium figures within normal limits. 4. A chromosomatic analysis of preperipheral blood was performed on two patients, with normal results. 5. In the electrocardiogram, one case had right ventricular enlargement secondary to pulmonary arterial hypertension, due to stenosis of the main pulmonary arteries. 6. The radiologic study did not show dilatation of the ascending aorta and aortic bud in any case. 7. The angiocardiography showed: stenosis directly above the Valsalva sinuses; absence of dilatation or hypoplasia of the aorta above the stenosis; and the coronary network, indirectly opaqued, showed no abnormalities. One case had aortic coarctation and abnormal implantation of the right sublaviar artery, and another, stenosis of the right and left branch of its origen of the truncus of the pulmonary artery. The literature up to the present is reviewed and an anatomo-functional classification is proposed with the objective of including new varieties.

Abstract P4-21-32: Treatment of early HER2-positive breast cancer in trastuzumab era in everyday clinical practice: An overview after 10 years of its approval

Introduction: The addition of Trastuzumab(T) to chemotherapy (CT) revolutionized HER2-positive breast cancer(BC) and changed its natural history. We reviewed the efficacy of T outside clinical trials in a cancer comprehensive center.

Methods: Ambiespective and descriptive study was conducted in Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO-Barcelona). Estimates of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were obtained with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with LogRank test. The association of clinic-pathological variables and outcome was studied by χ2and Cox proportional hazard analysis.

Results: 430 consecutive early HER2-positive BC patients (pts) were treated with adjuvant/neoadjuvant T and CT from Jan 2005 to Dec 2012. Pt basal characteristics are reported in Table 1. Neoadjuvant treatment was administrated in 230pts (54%) and in 200 (46%) in adjuvancy. Pathological complete response (pCR) in breast and nodes (ypT0/isypN0) was achieved in 48% of pts, with higher rates in hormone receptor (HR)-negative pts (62 vs 37% p=0.0005). Median duration of T: 10.6 months (m). 28%pts treated with neoadjuvant T+CT who achieved a pCR did not receive adjuvant T. Treatment discontinuation: 38pts (8.8%): 27pts due to cardiac toxicity and 4 relapsed during adjuvant T. In 87%pts, neoadjuvant CT was based on anthracyclines(A) and taxanes. Adjuvant CT: A and taxanes in 57.4%; 14%pts FAC, 15.4% A-CMF and 12% TCH. At a median follow-up of 70m (3-135), 44pts (10.4%) had relapsed: 33pts with distant M1, 9pts with only loco-regional disease and 2pts contralateral HER2-positive BC. M1 location: 46% visceral, 34% bone/lymph nodes and 20% in central nervous system (CNS). PFS was 23.4m(0-88); median OS was not reached; estimated 10 years-OS was 86.5%. Pts treated with A and taxanes had a significantly better OS compared to those treated with other CT (113 vs 98m, p= 0.009). Kaplan-Meier curve showed numerically higher relapses at 10 years in HR-positive pts (83 vs 90% p=0.8). Pts with pCR had significantly better OS (113 vs 104m, p=0.006). Pts with CNS-metastases had a significantly worse OS (13 vs 26m,p=0,02) and those with HR-negative (49 vs 24m, p= 0.033).

Conclusion: In everyday clinical practice, recurrences after adjuvant/neoadjuvant trastuzumab in HER2-positive BC were less than described in the T-pivotals trials, with 10% of recurrences at a median of FU of 70m. In our series, estimated 10 years-OS was 86.5%. Pts treated with A and taxanes had a significantly better OS as well as those pts who achieved a pCR. On the contrary, pts with CNS M1 and those with HR-negative had worse prognosis.

Table 1Median age51.9y (27-83)Stage I/II/III106 (25%)/ 226 (52%)/ 97 (23%)HR Positive/ Negative249 (58%)/181 (42%)

Citation Format: Ortega A, Domenech M, Falo C, Gil M, Stradella A, Fernandez A, Morilla I, Villanueva R, Castany R, Vazquez S, Molina K, Bergamino M, Navarro V, Pernas S. Treatment of early HER2-positive breast cancer in trastuzumab era in everyday clinical practice: An overview after 10 years of its approval [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-21-32.