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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2005.12.004 Byline: Anita Deswal (a)(b), Nancy J. Petersen (a), Diana L. Urbauer (a), Steven M. Wright (c), Rebecca Beyth (d) Abstract: Few recent studies have demonstrated similar quality of care for hospitalized black and white patients with heart failure (HF). However, systematic evaluation of racial differences in both the quality of care and outcomes is needed in the outpatient setting, where most patients with HF are treated and where care may be more fragmented. Author Affiliation: (a) Houston Center for Quality of Care and Utilization Studies, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (b) Winters Center for Heart Failure Research, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (c) Office of Quality and Performance, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC (d) Rehabilitation Outcomes Research Center, NF/SG Veterans Health System, University of Florida College of Medicine-Geriatrics, Gainesville, FL Article History: Received 5 July 2005; Accepted 6 December 2005 Article Note: (footnote) This study was supported in part by grants from the VA Health Services Research and Development Service (no. IIR 02-082-1) and the VA Clinical Science Research and Development Service. Dr Deswal is a recipient of a VA Advanced Clinical Research Career Development Award from the VA Cooperative Studies Program. Dr Beyth was a recipient of an Advanced Research Career Development Award from the VA Health Services Research and Development Service during this work. The views expressed in the article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Corticosteroids are commonly prescribed in oncology, but few studies have examined its adverse events (AEs) compared to placebo control. Using data from a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial, we evaluated the association between the dose and duration of dexamethasone and serious AEs. This is a pre-planned secondary analysis of the Alleviating Breathlessness in Cancer Patients with Dexamethasone (ABCD) trial in which patients were randomized to dexamethasone 8 mg BID x1 week, then 4 mg BID x1 week or placebo, followed by an optional open-label phase with 4 mg BID x1 week, then 2 mg BID x1 week. The primary outcome was Grade 3+ AEs (CTCAE v4.03). We evaluated the association between AEs and dexamethasone exposure using multivariable logistic regression. Among 119 cancer patients, 32 received intervention followed by open label (mean exposure 243 mg over 27 days), 47 received intervention with no open label, 20 received placebo followed by open label, and 20 received no dexamethasone. The most common AEs included insomnia (31%), dyspepsia (21%), neuropsychiatric symptoms (18%), and infections (17%). Overall, 38 (32%) had Grade 3+ AEs and 27 (23%) were hospitalized. Patients with the greatest exposure to dexamethasone experienced more Grade 3+ AEs compared to those with no exposure (65% vs. 15%); odds ratio of 15.1 (95% CI 1.4–160.8, P = 0.01). Greater dexamethasone exposure, even at moderate doses, was associated with more serious AEs. Prescribers should cautiously weigh the risks and benefits of dexamethasone use, especially when considering for palliation of symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sexual health of patients is frequently neglected. To evaluate the attitudes and beliefs of palliative care providers toward discussing the presence of sexual dysfunction (SD) in patients with cancer In this pilot study, an anonymous survey was conducted among palliative care professionals about their attitudes toward discussing SD Forty-nine (89%) palliative care providers completed the survey. Thirty-four (69%) responded that they rarely or never discussed sexuality with their patients and most believed it is the oncologist's responsibility. The top reasons for not discussing SD were that the patient did not raise the issue, lack of time and the presence of a third party. The majority acknowledged the need of more training and that printed materials would be helpful. Palliative care providers infrequently address the presence of SD among patients with cancer. Additional training and routine screening for SD might help addressing this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Context: Patients with advanced cancer may develop severe physical and psychosocial symptoms. There are limited data on the impact of an outpatient palliative consultation (PC) team on cancer-related symptoms. Objectives: To study the impact of the PC on symptoms in patients with advanced cancer receiving outpatient palliative care. Methods: Four hundred six consecutive patients referred to a supportive care outpatient center (OPC) from January 2006 to June 2007 with complete Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (0–10 scale) at the initial and follow-up visits were reviewed. Patient characteristics, change of symptoms at follow-up visit, and response rate were analyzed. Using logistic regression models, the predictors of improvement of pain and fatigue were assessed. Results: Median age was 59 years; 53% were female. Median interval between visits was 15 days. Mean scores at baseline and follow-up visits were fatigue 6.8 and 5.3 (P <0.0001), pain 5.3 and 4.1 (P <0.0001), depression 3.2 and 2.5 (P <0.0001), anxiety 3.7 and 2.8 (P <0.0001), dyspnea 2.7 and 2.5 (P =0.05), sleep 5 and 4 (P <0.0001), and well-being 5.2 and 4.4 (P <0.0001). Dyspnea (odds ratio and P-value, 0.90, 0.03), nausea (0.92, 0.06), and depression (0.91, 0.04) were associated with improvement in fatigue; drowsiness (1.10, 0.04), and feeling of well-being (0.87, 0.02) were associated with improvement in pain. Conclusion: The initial consult by PC achieved significant symptom improvement in patients receiving treatment in the OPC. Further prospective studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of complex atypical hyperplasia and early-stage endometrioid endometrial cancer is increasing, in part owing to the epidemic of obesity, which is a risk factor tightly linked to the development of endometrial hyperplasia and cancer. The standard upfront treatment for complex atypical hyperplasia and early-stage endometrial cancer is hysterectomy. However, nonsurgical treatment of early-stage endometrial neoplasia may be necessary owing to medical comorbidities precluding surgery or desired future fertility.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the levonorgestrel intrauterine device to treat complex atypical hyperplasia and grade 1 endometrioid endometrial carcinoma.Study Design: A single-institution, single-arm, phase II study of the levonorgestrel intrauterine device (52 mg levonorgestrel, Mirena) was conducted in patients with complex atypical hyperplasia or grade 1 endometrioid endometrial cancer. The primary endpoint was pathologic response rate at 12 months, including complete or partial response. Quality of life and toxicity were assessed. Molecular analyses for proliferation markers, hormone-regulated genes, and wingless-related integration site pathway activation were performed at baseline and 3 months.Results: A total of 57 patients were treated (21 endometrial cancer, 36 complex atypical hyperplasia). The median age was 48.0 years, and the median body mass index was 45.5 kg/m2. Of the 47 evaluable patients, 12-month response rate was 83% (90% credible interval, 72.7-90.3)-37 were complete responders (8 endometrial cancer; 29 complex atypical hyperplasia), 2 were partial responders (2 endometrial cancer), 3 had stable disease (2 endometrial cancer; 1 complex atypical hyperplasia), and 5 had progressive disease (3 endometrial cancer; 2 complex atypical hyperplasia). After stratification for histology, the response rate was 90.6% for complex atypical hyperplasia and 66.7% for grade 1 endometrioid endometrial cancer. Notably, 4 patients (9.5%) experienced relapse after the initial response. Adverse events were mild, primarily irregular bleeding and cramping. Quality of life was not negatively affected. At 3 months, exogenous progesterone effect was present in 96.9% of responders (31 of 32) vs 25% of nonresponders (2 of 8) (P=.001). Nonresponders had higher baseline proliferation (Ki67) and lower dickkopf homolog 3 gene expression than responders (P=.023 and P=.030). Nonresponders had significantly different changes in secreted frizzled-related protein 1, frizzled class receptor 8, and retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 compared with responders.Conclusion: The levonorgestrel intrauterine device has a substantial activity in complex atypical hyperplasia and grade 1 endometrioid endometrial cancer, with a modest proportion demonstrating upfront progesterone resistance. Potential biomarkers were identified that may correlate with resistance to therapy; further exploration is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a significant contributing factor to endometrial cancer risk. We previously demonstrated that estrogen-induced endometrial proliferation is enhanced in the context of hyper-insulinemia and insulin resistance. In this study, we investigate whether pharmacologic agents that modulate insulin sensitivity or normalize insulin levels will diminish the proliferative response to estrogen. STUDY DESIGN: Zucker fa/fa obese rats and lean controls were used as models of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. Insulin levels were depleted in ovariectomized rats following treatment with streptozotocin, or modulated by metformin treatment. The number of BrdU-incorporated cells, estrogen-dependent proliferative and antiproliferative gene expression, and activation of mTOR and ERK1/2 MAPK signaling were studied. A rat normal endometrial cell line RENE1 was used to evaluate the direct effects of metformin on endometrial cell proliferation and gene expression in vitro. RESULTS: Streptozotocin lowered circulating insulin levels in obese rats and decreased the number of BrdU-labeled endometrial cells even in the presence of exogenous estrogen. Treatment with the insulin-sensitizing drug metformin attenuated estrogen-dependent proliferative expression of c-myc and c-fos in the obese rat endometrium compared to untreated controls and was accompanied by inhibition of phosphorylation of the insulin and IGF1 receptors (IRβ/IGF1R) and ERK1/2. In vitro studies indicated metformin inhibited RENE1 proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that drugs that modulate insulin sensitivity, such as metformin, hinder estrogen-mediated endometrial proliferation. Therefore, these drugs may be clinically useful for the prevention of endometrial cancer in obese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Obesity and estrogen are strong risk factors for endometrial cancer (EC). Whereas diabetes also increases the risk, little is known about related insulin resistance (IR). The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of IR in newly diagnosed EC patients. Study Design: EC patients from a large, metropolitan county were prospectively enrolled from 2005 to 2008. Fasting serum was analyzed for glucose and insulin. IR was defined as a history of diabetes or a quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) (1/[log fasting insulin + log fasting glucose]) value of less than 0.357. Results: Among 99 patients, diabetes was present in 30, and an abnormal QUICKI was found in 36 additional patients. Increased risk of IR was significantly associated with higher body mass index (P < .001), lower socioeconomic status (P = .007), and nulliparity (P = .029). Conclusion: IR was highly prevalent in endometrial cancer patients, including nonobese women. Better characterization of metabolic risks in addition to obesity may provide avenues for targeted cancer prevention in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Systemic corticosteroids are commonly prescribed for palliation of dyspnoea in patients with cancer, despite scarce evidence to support their use. We aimed to assess the effect of high-dose dexamethasone versus placebo on cancer-related dyspnoea.Methods: The parallel-group, double-blind, randomised, controlled ABCD (Alleviating Breathlessness in Cancer Patients with Dexamethasone) trial was done at the at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the general oncology clinic at Lyndon B Johnson General Hospital (both in Houston, TX, USA). Ambulatory patients with cancer, aged 18 years or older, and with an average dyspnoea intensity score on an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS; 0=none, 10=worst) over the past week of 4 or higher were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive dexamethasone 8 mg orally every 12 h for 7 days followed by 4 mg orally every 12 h for 7 days, or matching placebo capsules for 14 days. Pharmacists did permuted block randomisation with a block size of six, and patients were stratified by baseline dyspnoea score (4-6 vs 7-10) and study site. Patients, research staff, and clinicians were masked to group assignment. The primary outcome was change in dyspnoea NRS intensity over the past 24 h from baseline to day 7 (±2 days). Analyses were done by modified intention-to-treat (ie, including all patients who were randomly assigned and started the study treatment, regardless of whether they completed the study). Enrolment was stopped after the second preplanned interim analysis, when the futility criterion was met. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03367156) and is now completed.Findings: Between Jan 11, 2018, and April 23, 2021, we screened 2867 patients, enrolled 149 patients, and randomly assigned 128 to dexamethasone (n=85) or placebo (n=43). The mean change in dyspnoea NRS intensity from baseline to day 7 (±2 days) was -1·6 (95% CI -2·0 to -1·2) in the dexamethasone group and -1·6 (-2·3 to -0·9) in the placebo group, with no significant between-group difference (mean 0 [95% CI -0·8 to 0·7]; p=0·48). The most common all-cause grade 3-4 adverse events were infections (nine [11%] of 85 patients in the dexamethasone group vs three [7%] of 43 in the placebo group), insomnia (seven [8%] vs one [2%]), and neuropsychiatric symptoms (three [4%] vs none [0%]). Serious adverse events, all resulting in hospital admissions, were reported in 24 (28%) of 85 patients in the dexamethasone group and in three (7%) of 43 patients in the placebo group. No treatment-related deaths occurred in either group.Interpretation: High-dose dexamethasone did not improve dyspnoea in patients with cancer more effectively than placebo and was associated with a higher frequency of adverse events. These data suggest that dexamethasone should not be routinely given to unselected patients with cancer for palliation of dyspnoea.Funding: US National Cancer Institute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) to intravesical immunotherapy with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) depends on adequate stimulation of an immune response. Although BCG has been used for decades, we lack tools to accurately predict response in individual patients. To address this deficiency, we initiated a clinical trial in patients with intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC. BCG was administered according to the Southwest Oncology Group protocol. Urine samples were collected for cytokine assay at baseline, immediately before and after BCG instillation at 6 wk, and immediately before and after the third BCG instillation of the first maintenance course. Levels of 12 cytokines were measured, and changes from baseline were calculated after treatment. A total of 130 patients were enrolled. Increases in single cytokines correlated with recurrence, but the best predictor of recurrence was changes in a combination of cytokines. A nomogram (CyPRIT) constructed using urinary levels of nine inducible cytokines (IL-2, IL-8, IL-6, IL-1ra, IL-10, IL-12[p70], IL-12[p40], TRAIL, and TNF-α) predicted the likelihood of recurrence with 85.5% accuracy (95% confidence interval 77.9–93.1%). This cytokine panel and nomogram have potential for identifying patients at risk of tumor recurrence during BCG treatment to guide modification of the dose and duration of BCG immunotherapy. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01007058 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have examined patient preferences for telehealth in palliative care after the availability of COVID-19 vaccines. We examined patient preferences for video versus in-person visits and factors contributing to preferences in the postvaccine era. This is a cross-sectional survey of patients who were seen at our palliative care clinic between April 2021 and March 2022. Patients were surveyed directly their preference for either video or in-person visits for outpatient palliative care (primary outcome). We also surveyed preferences including convenience, cost, wait time, and perceptions of COVID-19 safety regarding their palliative virtual-video visit. We examined clinical factors associated with preferences with multivariate logistic regression. About 200 patients completed the survey. 132 (67%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 60%, 74%) preferred virtual-video, while 16 (8%) preferred in-person visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. About 120 (61%, 95%CI: 54%, 68%) preferred virtual-video after the pandemic. Patients perceived virtual-video favorably regarding travel and related costs (179 [91%]), convenience (175 [88%]), and wait time (136 [69%]). Multivariable analysis showed concerns for catching COVID-19 from healthcare providers (odds ratio [OR]: 4.20; 95%CI: 1.24–14.25; P = 0.02) and feeling comfortable with computers or mobile devices (OR: 4.59; 95%CI: 1.02, 20.60; P = 0.047) were significantly associated with preferring virtual-video. Patients who were of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity (OR: 0.25; 95%CI: 0.09, 0.71) and had increased dypsnea (OR: 0.74; 95%CI: 0.59, 0.93) were less likely to prefer video over in-person. Patients expressed strong preference for video over in-person visits in the outpatient palliative care setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a source of distress in patients with advanced cancer; however, few studies have examined the extent of pandemic-related distress in the postvaccine era. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to examine pandemic-related distress among patients seen by palliative care after vaccine availability. Patients at our palliative care clinic were surveyed from April 2021 to March 2022 regarding 1) pandemic-related distress level, 2) potential contributors to pandemic-related distress, 3) coping strategies, 4) demographic factors and symptom burden. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified factors associated with pandemic-related distress. A total of 200 patients completed the survey. Of 79 (40%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 33%, 46%) reported worse pandemic-related distress. Patients who reported greater distress were more likely to report worse social isolation (67 [86%] vs. 52 [43%]), staying home more often (75 [95%] vs. 95 [79%]), more negative experience staying at home (26 [33%] vs. 11 [9%]), worse stress with child-care duties (14 [19%] vs. 4 [3%]), less seeing family/friends (63 [81%] vs. 72 [60%]), and more difficulty traveling to medical appointments (27 [35%] vs. 20 [17%]). Thirty-seven patients (19%) reported more difficulty getting medical appointments. In multivariable analysis, younger age (odds ratio [OR], 0.97; 95% CI, 0.92–0.99; P = 0.01), worse isolation status (OR, 6.87; 95% CI, 2.76–17.12; P < 0.001), and more negative attitude towards staying home (OR, 4.49; 95% CI, 1.6–12.57; P = 0.004) were associated with pandemic-related distress. Patients with advanced cancer continued to experience pandemic-related distress in the postvaccine era. Our findings highlight potential opportunities to support patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate identification of sentinel lymph nodes in patients with cancer improves detection of metastatic disease and decreases surgical morbidity. We sought to establish whether indocyanine green fluorescent dye is non-inferior to isosulfan blue dye in detecting sentinel lymph nodes in women with cervical and uterine cancers.Methods: In this non-inferiority, within-patient comparison study, patients aged 18 years or older with clinical stage I endometrial or cervical cancer undergoing curative surgery were randomly assigned 1:1 to lymphatic mapping with isosulfan blue dye (visualised by white light) followed by indocyanine green (visualised by near-infrared imaging), or indocyanine green followed by isosulfan blue dye. Permuted block randomisation with stratification by study site was done with a computerised random number generator. All participants were masked to their randomisation assignment until after the procedure; however, investigators were not masked to the procedure used. Laparoscopic surgery with the PINPOINT near-infrared fluorescence imaging system (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, USA) was used in all cases. The primary outcome was efficacy of intraoperative indocyanine green with near-infrared fluorescence imaging versus that of isosulfan blue dye in the identification of lymph nodes, defined as the number of lymph nodes identified by indocyanine green and isosulfan blue dye, respectively (and confirmed as lymphoid tissue by histology), divided by the number of lymph nodes identified intraoperatively and excised. The study had a 5% non-inferiority margin needed to show non-inferiority of the frequency of lymph node detection with indocyanine green to that with isosulfan blue dye with 80% power at a 5% two-sided significance level. Analyses were done in both per-protocol and modified intention-to-treat populations. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02209532, and is completed and closed.Findings: Between Dec 21, 2015, and June 19, 2017, 180 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to the two groups (90 to each group); 176 patients received the intervention and were evaluable (modified intention-to-treat population). 13 patients with major protocol violations were subsequently excluded from the per-protocol population. 517 sentinel nodes were identified in the per-protocol population (n=163), of which 478 (92%) were confirmed to be lymph nodes on pathological processing: 219 (92%) of 238 nodes that were both blue and green, all seven nodes that were blue only, and 252 (95%) of 265 nodes that were green only (p=0·33). Seven sentinel lymph nodes were neither blue nor green but were removed for appearing suspicious or enlarged on visual examination. In total, 471 (97%) of 485 lymph nodes were identified with the green dye and 226 (47%) with the blue dye (difference 50%, 95% CI 39-62; p<0·0001). In the modified intention-to-treat population (n=176), 545 nodes were identified, of which 513 (94%) were confirmed to be lymph nodes on pathological processing: 229 (92%) of 248 nodes that were both blue and green, all nine nodes that were blue only, and 266 (95%) of 279 nodes that were green only (p=0·30). Nine sentinal lymph nodes were neither blue nor green but were removed for appearing suspicious or enlarged on visual examination. 495 (96%) of 513 nodes were identified with the green dye and 238 (46%) with the blue dye (50%, 39-61; p<0·0001).Interpretation: Indocyanine green dye with near-infrared fluorescence imaging identified more sentinel nodes than isosulfan blue dye in women with cervical and uterine cancers, with no difference in the pathological confirmation of nodal tissue between the two mapping substances.Funding: Novadaq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the effect that neoadjuvant axitinib for the treatment of localized renal cell carcinoma has on body compartment composition.Materials and Methods: The study was based on a single-institution, single-arm clinical trial that enrolled 24 patients with locally advanced non-metastatic biopsy-proven clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Patients received axitinib orally for up to 12 weeks. Computed tomography scans were completed before the start of treatment, after 7 weeks of treatment and at the completion of 12 weeks of treatment. Patients underwent nephrectomy after axitinib treatment. The primary outcome of the current study was change in body compartment composition. Secondary outcomes included development of new-onset sarcopenia and changes in body weight.Results: A total of 23 patients had a complete set of imaging for evaluation, of which 19 (82.6%) lost weight. Median weight loss was 4.5 kg (P <.001). Seven patients (30.4%) had sarcopenia before treatment, with an additional 5 (21.7%) developing sarcopenia during treatment. Median decrease in skeletal muscle was 2.9 cm2/m2 (P <.001), visceral adipose tissue was 4.9 cm2/m2 (P = .132), and subcutaneous adipose tissue was 1.0 cm2/m2 (P = .043). Ten of the 16 patients (62.5%) without baseline sarcopenia achieved a partial response, whereas only 1 of the 7 patients (14.3%) with baseline pretreatment sarcopenia achieved a partial response (P = .069).Conclusion: Neoadjuvant axitinib resulted in a decrease in skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue, as well as weight loss. Patients with baseline sarcopenia tended to have a lower response rate to neoadjuvant axitinib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Few studies have examined factors associated with the quality of life (QOL) of patients with renal tumors. Illness uncertainty may influence QOL. Objective: To prospectively examine the influence of uncertainty on general and cancer-specific QOL and distress in patients undergoing watchful waiting (WW) for a renal mass. Design, setting, and participants: In 2006–2010, 264 patients were enrolled in a prospective WW registry. The decision for WW was based on patient, tumor, and renal function characteristics at the discretion of the urologist and medical oncologist in the context of the physician–patient interaction. Participants had suspected clinical stage T1–T2 disease, were aged ≥18 yr, and spoke and read English. The first 100 patients enrolled in the registry participated in this study. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Patients completed questionnaires on demographics, illness uncertainty (Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale), general QOL (Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form survey), cancer-specific QOL (Cancer Rehabilitation Evaluation System–Short Form), and distress (Impact of Events Scale) at enrollment and at 6, 12, and 24 mo. Age, gender, ethnicity, tumor size, estimated glomerular filtration rate, comorbidities, and assessment time point were controlled for in the models. Results and limitations: Among the sample, 27 patients had biopsies, and 17 patients had proven renal cell carcinoma. Growth rate was an average of 0.17cm/yr (standard deviation: 0.35). Mean age was 72.5 yr, 55% of the patients were male, and 84% of the patients were Caucasian. Greater illness uncertainty was associated with poorer general QOL scores in the physical domain (p =0.008); worse cancer-related QOL in physical (p =0.001), psychosocial (p <0.001), and medical (p =0.034) domains; and higher distress (p <0.001). Conclusions: This study is among the first to prospectively examine the QOL of patients with renal tumors undergoing WW and the psychosocial factors that influence QOL. Illness uncertainty predicted general QOL, cancer-specific QOL, and distress. These factors could be targeted in psychosocial interventions to improve the QOL of patients on WW. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: To identify the risk factors that would aid in the identification of patients at the greatest risk of developing postoperative paralytic ileus (POI). POI is a common complication after radical cystectomy and can result in a prolonged hospital stay and delayed recovery. Methods: A retrospective cohort study design was used to analyze data from consecutive patients presenting to our institution for radical cystectomy with pelvic nodal dissection. POI was declared if patients were without evidence of bowel function beyond the anticipated discharge goal of 6 days. The association between several clinical features and the occurrence of POI was examined. Results: Of 283 patients, 43 (15.2%) developed POI. Of the 43 patients, 38 (88.4%) were given total parenteral nutrition for nutritional supplementation. No difference in the incidence of POI was observed between the sexes, previous abdominal operations, estimated blood loss, transfusion requirement, operative time, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or previous radiotherapy. POI was observed in 11.3% of normal and overweight patients (body mass index [BMI] <30.0 kg/m2) compared with 25.6% of obese patients (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2; P = .005). On multivariate analysis adjusted for the influence of competing variables, increasing age (hazard ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.16, P = .008) and BMI (hazard ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.17, P = .007) were significantly associated with the presence of POI. Conclusions: Our results showed that increasing age and BMI were significantly associated with the presence of POI in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Occupational symptoms and injuries incurred over a surgical career are under- reported, yet they have an impact on daily surgical practice. We assessed the frequency, consequences, and risk factors for occupational injury in oncologic surgeons and evaluated the feasibility of intraoperative foot mat use to mitigate occupational symptoms.Study Design: Oncologic surgeons completed a survey of demographic information and occupational symptoms and injuries. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with occupational symptoms and injuries. A randomized cross-over pilot study of intraoperative foot mat use was conducted.Results: One hundred twenty-seven surgeons completed surveys (response rate: 58%). The most commonly reported symptoms were fatigue, discomfort, stiffness, and back pain. An occupational injury was reported by 27.6% of surgeons. Of those injured, 65.7% received treatment, with 17.4% of those treated requiring surgery for their injury. In multivariate analysis, factors significantly associated with occupational injury were male sex (odds ratio [OR] 3.00, 95% CI 1.08 to 8.38), mean case length of 4 hours or more (OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.08 to 6.87), using a step to operate (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 9.15), and neck pain (OR 4.81, 95% CI 1.64 to 14.12). In the foot mat pilot study (n = 20), mat use was associated with discomfort (OR 7.57, 95% CI 1.19 to 48.00), but no significant differences in leg volume change due to mat use were found.Conclusions: Most oncologic surgeons experience musculoskeletal symptoms from operating. Of the 28% of surgeons with an occupational injury, most required treatment. Intraoperative foot mat use was associated with increased discomfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]