Risk of acute myocardial infarction after transurethral resection of prostate in elderly

Perioperative Hypothermia after Transurethral Surgeries: Is it Necessary to Heat the Irrigation Fluids?

Objective

To investigate the role of heated irrigation fluids in the risk of hypothermia and related complications in patients undergoing transurethral procedures.

Methods

The medical records of all patients who underwent transurethral procedures between 2000 and 2016 at the VA Hospital were reviewed. Irrigation fluids have been heated to 42°C since 2013, as per the institutional policy (Group II). Prior to this date, room temperature solutions were used (Group I). The perioperative body temperature, use of warming devices, procedure length, and anaesthesia type were extracted from records and compared for both groups. In addition, demographic and anthropometric data, preoperative comorbidities, laboratory data, admission information and postoperative complications were obtained from the quality improvement database.

Results

There were 1,363 patients in Group I and 269 patients in Group II. Perioperative temperature was decreased by 0.10°C in Group I compared to a temperature gain of 0.32°C in Group II (p<0.001). Three hundred and forty-eight (21%) patients undergoing transurethral procedures developed hypothermia <36°C. There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative mortality or complications between the normothermic and hypothermic patients.

Conclusion

The replacement of room temperature solutions with warmed solutions for irrigation during transurethral procedures reduced the risk of temperature loss and hypothermia following these procedures. Available heating strategies effectively prevented the perioperative heat loss; however, such strategies did not affect the incidence of postoperative complications.

Cardioprotective Effects of Dietary Phytochemicals on Oxidative Stress in Heart Failure by a Sex-Gender-Oriented Point of View

Dietary phytochemicals are considered an innovative strategy that helps to reduce cardiovascular risk factors. Some phytochemicals have been shown to play a beneficial role in lipid metabolism, to improve endothelial function and to modify oxidative stress pathways in experimental and clinical models of cardiovascular impairment. Importantly, investigation on phytochemical effect on cardiac remodeling appears to be promising. Nowadays, drug therapy and implantation of devices have demonstrated to ameliorate survival. Of interest, sex-gender seems to influence the response to HF canonical therapies. In fact, starting by the evidence of the feminization of world population and the scarce efficacy and safety of the traditional drugs in women, the search of alternative therapeutic tools has become mandatory. The aim of this review is to summarize the possible role of dietary phytochemicals in HF therapy and the evidence of a different sex-gender-oriented response.

Major Acute Cardiovascular Events After Transurethral Prostate Surgery: A Population-based Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To test the prevalence and predictors of major acute cardiovascular events (MACE) after transurethral prostate surgery (TPS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2011-2016) was queried for patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate, photoselective vaporization, or laser enucleation. MACE included: cerebrovascular events, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, deep venous thrombosis requiring therapy, and pulmonary embolism episodes occurred up to 30 days after discharge. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models tested MACE predictors and effect of MACE on perioperative mortality. Within covariates significant at univariable analyses a stepwise selection, based on Akaike Information Criterion values, was performed to fit the most appropriate multivariable model.

RESULTS

Overall 44,939 patients were included in our analyses. Of these 365 (0.8%) had MACE within 30 days after surgery. The strongest MACE predictors were recent congestive heart failure (odds ratio [OR]: 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-3.7, P = .007), transfusions (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.5-4.1, P <.001) and preoperative Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome or sepsis (OR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.6-4.2, P <.001). Similarly, inpatient (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.6-2.5, P <.001) and nonelective (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-2.1, P = .012) patients experienced higher MACE rates. Perioperative mortality rates were statistical significantly higher in MACE patients (OR: 13.1, 95% CI: 8.2-21.0, P <.001).

CONCLUSION

Up to 1% of patients undergoing transurethral prostate surgery experience MACE. MACE are burdened by high mortality rates (up to 14% in MACE patients). Proper patient selection and postoperative monitoring are necessary to reduce MACE incidence and mortality rates.

Impact of Malnutrition on Long-Term Mortality in Elderly Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Malnutrition is a frequent condition in the elderly, and is associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased mortality. However, the impacts of malnutrition among elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction have not been clarified yet. Methods and Results: We enrolled 174 patients aged 65 years and over, admitted with the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), who underwent evaluation of nutritional status by Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and evaluation of mortality risk by GRACE Score 2.0. All-cause mortality was the outcome considered for this study. Over a mean follow-up of 24.5 ± 18.2 months, 43 deaths have been registered (24.3%). Non-survivors were more likely to be older, with worse glomerular filtration rate, lower systolic blood pressure, lower albumin and MNA score, higher prevalence of Killip classification III-IV grade, and higher Troponin I levels. Multivariate Cox proportional analysis revealed that GRACE Score and MNA showed a significant and independent impact on mortality, (HR = 1.76, 95%, CI = 1.34–2.32, and HR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.42–0.73, respectively). Moreover, the clinical decision curve revealed a higher clinical net benefit when the MNA was included, compared to the partial models without MNA. Conclusion: Nutritional status is an independent predictor of long-term mortality among elderly patients with AMI. MNA score in elderly patients with AMI may help prognostic stratification and identification of patients with, or at risk of, malnutrition in order to apply interventions to improve nutritional status, and maybe survival in this population.

New Insights in Cardiac β-Adrenergic Signaling During Heart Failure and Aging

Heart failure (HF) has become increasingly common within the elderly population, decreasing their survival and overall quality of life. In fact, despite the improvements in treatment, many elderly people suffer from cardiac dysfunction (HF, valvular diseases, arrhythmias or hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy) that are much more common in an older fragile heart. Since β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signaling is abnormal in failing as well as aged hearts, this pathway is an effective diagnostic and therapeutic target. Both HF and aging are characterized by activation/hyperactivity of various neurohormonal pathways, the most important of which is the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). SNS hyperactivity is initially a compensatory mechanism to stimulate contractility and maintain cardiac output. Unfortunately, this chronic stimulation becomes detrimental and causes decreased cardiac function as well as reduced inotropic reserve due to a decrease in cardiac β-ARs responsiveness. Therapies which (e.g., β-blockers and physical activity) restore β-ARs responsiveness can ameliorate cardiac performance and outcomes during HF, particularly in older patients. In this review, we will discuss physiological β-adrenergic signaling and its alterations in both HF and aging as well as the potential clinical application of targeting β-adrenergic signaling in these disease processes.

New Insights in Cardiac β-Adrenergic Signaling During Heart Failure and Aging

Heart failure (HF) has become increasingly common within the elderly population, decreasing their survival and overall quality of life. In fact, despite the improvements in treatment, many elderly people suffer from cardiac dysfunction (HF, valvular diseases, arrhythmias or hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy) that are much more common in an older fragile heart. Since β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signaling is abnormal in failing as well as aged hearts, this pathway is an effective diagnostic and therapeutic target. Both HF and aging are characterized by activation/hyperactivity of various neurohormonal pathways, the most important of which is the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). SNS hyperactivity is initially a compensatory mechanism to stimulate contractility and maintain cardiac output. Unfortunately, this chronic stimulation becomes detrimental and causes decreased cardiac function as well as reduced inotropic reserve due to a decrease in cardiac β-ARs responsiveness. Therapies which (e.g., β-blockers and physical activity) restore β-ARs responsiveness can ameliorate cardiac performance and outcomes during HF, particularly in older patients. In this review, we will discuss physiological β-adrenergic signaling and its alterations in both HF and aging as well as the potential clinical application of targeting β-adrenergic signaling in these disease processes.

Comparing the short - term outcomes and complications of monopolar and bipolar transurethral resection of bladder tumors in patients with coronary artery disese: a prospective, randomized, controlled study

INTRODUCTION

To compare the perioperative outcomes and complications of monopolar and bipolar transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 90 CAD patients with newly diagnosed bladder cancer who underwent TURBT were randomized into monopolar TURBT (M-TURBT) and bipolar TURBT (B-TURBT) groups. Primary outcome was safety of the procedures including obturator jerk, bladder perforation, clot retention, febrile urinary tract infection and TUR syndrome. The secondary outcome was the efficacy of TURBT procedures, including complete tumor resection, sampling of the deep muscle tissue and sampling of the qualified tissues without any thermal damage.

RESULTS

Mean ages of the patients in M-TURBT and B-TURBT groups were 71.36±7.49 and 73.71±8.15 years, respectively (p=0.157). No significant differences were found between M-TURBT and B-TURBT groups regarding complete tumor resection (76.2% vs. 87.5%, p=0.162) and muscle tissue sampling rates (71.4% vs. 64.6%,p=0.252). Obturator jerk was detected in 16.7% of the patients in M-TURBT group and 2.1% in B-TURBT group (p=0.007). No statistically significant differences were found between the groups regarding intraoperative and postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Both monopolar and bipolar systems can be used safely and effectively during TURBT procedure in CAD patients. Due to the more frequently seen obturator jerk in M-TURBT than B-TURBT, careful surgical approach is needed during M-TURBT.

Combined Hyperactive Dysfunction Syndrome of the Cranial Nerves: A Retrospective Systematic Study of Clinical Characteristics in 44 Patients

BACKGROUND

Combined hyperactive dysfunction syndrome (HDS) is defined as the combination symptoms arising from overactivity in cranial nerves, specifically, trigeminal neuralgia (TN), hemifacial spasm (HFS), and glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN), without an obvious explanatory structural lesion. This study retrospectively analyzes the clinical characteristics of combined HDS treated with microvascular decompression (MVD) in a single institution.

METHODS

A total of 1450 patients with HDS were treated with MVD in our department during a 10-year period, among which 44 cases of combined HDS were identified. Clinical records and follow-ups were reviewed.

RESULTS

Combined HDS comprised 3.03% (44/1450) of all HDS in our series, with female predominance compared with single HDS (P = 0.002), including combined TN-HFS (14 cases), combined TN-GPN (26 cases), bilateral TN (2 cases), and combined TN-HFS-GPN (2 cases). The average age at diagnosis of patients with combined HDS (60.9 years) was significantly older than that of patients with single HDS (53.5 years) (P = 0.035). Hypertension was closely associated with the prevalence of combined HDS compared with single HDS (P = 0.009). The curative rate was 97.7% (43/44) after MVD, and the recurrence rate was 3.33%. The incidence rates of postoperative cardiac, pulmonary, thromboembolic, and delirium complications were higher in combined HDS than in single HDS (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Combined HDS is a rarely occurring syndrome usually observed in older females, and the most common types are combined TN-GPN and combined TN-HFS. Age and gender seemed to be causes for developing combined HDS, and MVD shows potential as a favorable treatment choice.

The role of lasers in modern urology

INTRODUCTION

The functioning of modern urological departments and the high level of service they provide is possible through, among other things, the use of modern laser techniques.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Open operations have been replaced by minimally invasive procedures, and classical surgical tools by advanced lasers. The search for new applications with lasers began as technology developed. Among many devices available, holmium, diode and thulium lasers are currently the most popular.

RESULTS

Depending on the wavelength, the absorption by water and hemoglobin and the depth of penetration, lasers can be used for coagulation, vaporization and enucleation. In many centres, after all the possibilities of pharmacological treatment have been exhausted, lasers are used as the primary treatment for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, with therapeutic results that are better than those obtained through open or endoscopic operations. The use of lasers in the treatment of urolithiasis, urinary strictures and bladder tumours has made treatment of older patients with multiple comorbidities safe, without further necessity to modify the anticoagulant drug treatment. Laser procedures are additionally less invasive, reduce hospitalization time and enable a shorter bladder catheterization time, sometimes even eliminating the need for bladder catherterization completely. Such procedures are also characterized by more stable outcomes and a lower number of reoperations.

CONCLUSIONS

There are also indications that with the increased competition among laser manufacturers, decreased purchase and maintenance costs, and increased operational safety, laser equipment will become mandatory and indispensable asset in all urology wards.