Search

Abstract Background We herein report the anesthetic management for extracardiac conduit–total cavopulmonary connection (EC-TCPC) for weaning from an extracorporeal right ventricular assist device (RVAD) in a patient with an implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) for fulminant cardiomyopathy. Case presentation A 24-year-old man developed fulminant cardiomyopathy and was placed on a biventricular assist device (BiVAD) comprising an implantable LVAD and an extracorporeal RVAD. The Fontan procedure was performed to wean the patient from the RVAD and allow him to be discharged home. Atrial septal defect creation, right ventricular suture, and tricuspid valve closure were then simultaneously performed to ensure sufficient left ventricular preload to drive the LVAD. Furthermore, to keep the central venous pressure lower, the inflow cannula of the LVAD was oriented in the correct direction. Conclusion This is the first report of anesthetic management of the Fontan procedure in a patient with a BiVAD.

Abstract Background TAS-102 plus bevacizumab is an anticipated combination regimen for patients who have metastatic colorectal cancer. However, evidence supporting its use for this indication is limited. We compared the cost-effectiveness of TAS-102 plus bevacizumab combination therapy with TAS-102 monotherapy for patients with chemorefractory metastatic colorectal cancer. Method Markov decision modeling using treatment costs, disease-free survival, and overall survival was performed to examine the cost-effectiveness of TAS-102 plus bevacizumab combination therapy and TAS-102 monotherapy. The Japanese health care payer’s perspective was adopted. The outcomes were modeled on the basis of published literature. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) between the two treatment regimens was the primary outcome. Sensitivity analysis was performed and the effect of uncertainty on the model parameters were investigated. Results TAS-102 plus bevacizumab had an ICER of $21,534 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained compared with TAS-102 monotherapy. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that TAS-102 monotherapy was more cost-effective than TAS-102 and bevacizumab combination therapy at a willingness-to-pay of under $50,000 per QALY gained. Conclusions TAS-102 and bevacizumab combination therapy is a cost-effective option for patients who have metastatic colorectal cancer in the Japanese health care system.

Objectives: Few studies have compared management and outcomes of bridge to surgery (BTS) for obstructive colonic cancer according to the location of the tumor. Additional information is needed about this procedure's characteristics and short-term and long-term outcomes. We aimed to compare patient and tumor characteristics, and outcomes of BTS for obstructive right-sided versus left-sided colonic cancers. Methods: This was a retrospective, single center, cohort study. The study cohort comprised 149 patients, including 48 with right-sided and 101 with left-sided obstructive colonic cancers, who were treated with BTS between January 2007 and December 2017. Data on medical history, investigations, treatments, and prognosis were collected from an electronic database of a single hospital. The primary end points were overall (OS) and disease-free (DFS) survival and short-term surgical outcomes. Results: Significantly more patients with right-sided cancers had postoperative complications (29.2% vs. 14.9%, p = 0.039). Additionally, postoperative chemotherapy was administered to a marginally significantly greater proportion of patients with left-sided cancers (29.2% vs 45.5%, p = 0.057). The long-term outcomes were comparable between the two groups (the 5-year OS rates were 67.6% and 80.9% [p = 0.117] and the 5-year DFS rates were 62.2% and 58.6% [p = 0.671]). Multivariate analyses using all studied variables showed that lymphovascular invasion, advanced T stage, and adjuvant chemotherapy were independent poor prognostic factors. Conclusions: The long-term outcome was not different between the right- and left-sided groups. In a BTS setting, postoperative complications may reduce the compliance of adjuvant chemotherapy in right-sided cancers and affect long-term outcomes.

Background: Given the exponential growth in cardiac device implantations, the need for less invasive lead extraction is increasing. The Excimer laser was approved for lead removal in Japan in 2010. The present study reports the initial experience using this novel technique to extract chronically implanted pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads from Japanese patients. Methods and results: We performed a retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing lead extraction using the laser sheath at a single Japanese center. Patient and lead characteristics, indications, and outcomes were analyzed. From August 2010 to September 2012, a total of 70 leads, including 14 ICD leads, were removed using the laser sheath from 40 patients (26 male, 14 female; age 65.5 ± 18.3 [mean ± SD] years; body mass index 21.8 ± 3.5kg/m²). The median implant duration was 87 months (range 13-328 months). Indications were infection (n=35), venous occlusion (n = 4), and pain (n = 1). The femoral approach was used in combination with the laser technique in five cases. Complete procedural success was achieved with 68 leads (97.1%). Although the electrode tip was left behind in the remaining two leads, the desired clinical outcomes could be achieved; which were defined as clinical success. No cases resulted in failure. There were no major complications, including death and bleeding requiring open-chest surgery. Conclusions: Laser sheaths appear to provide a feasible and effective means of extracting chronically implanted pacemaker and ICD leads in Japanese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]