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Background Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) has been reported to be more common in patients with chronic renal failure and end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis with higher mortality than in the general population. Limited epidemiological data exist on the annual number of hospitalizations, demographic variation, cost of care, and outcomes for GIB in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring and not requiring hemodialysis (HD). The main objective of this study was to analyze the trends of GIB in patients with AKI requiring HD and those not requiring HD during hospitalization. Methods and Results We analyzed the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for all subjects with a discharge diagnosis of AKI as the primary or secondary diagnosis during the period from 2001 to 2011. Subjects with a discharge diagnosis of hemodialysis and GIB were then identified from the pool and trends were analyzed. A significant rise in the annual number of hospitalizations with AKI was found with a greater proportion being discharged without HD. From 2001 to 2011, there were 19,393,811 hospitalizations with a discharge diagnosis of AKI of which 1,424,692 (7.3%) received HD (HD group), whereas 17,969,119 (92.7%) did not receive HD (non-HD group) (p < 0.0001). The male gender was more commonly affected by GIB than the female gender in both groups (p < 0.0001). The cost of care per hospitalization for GIB patients in the HD group increased over the study period with average found to be $61,463 (adjusted for inflation, p < 0.0001), whereas for GIB patients in the non-HD group, it showed a slight decrease in trend with the average found to be $28,419 (p < 0.0001). All-cause mortality was higher for GIB patients in the HD group (38.1%) than in the non-HD group (25.1%) (p < 0.0001). Conclusions GIB is more common and associated with higher all-cause inpatient mortality in patients receiving HD in comparison to non-HD patients.

Introduction Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has been attracting attention lately as the most common hospital acquired infection. Patients with neutropenia because of malignancy seem to be at an increased risk for developing CDI. There is currently limited data that assesses the national burden and outcomes of CDI in Febrile Neutropenia (FN). Methods We analyzed the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for all subjects with discharge diagnosis of FN with or without CDI (ICD-9 codes 288.00, 288.03,780.60, and 008.45) as primary or secondary diagnosis during the period from 2008 to 2014. All analyses were performed with SAS, version 9.4 (SAS Institute). Results From 2008 to 2014 there were total 19422 discharges of FN patients with CDI. There was a rising incidence of CDI in patients with FN from 4.11% (in 2008) to 5.83% (in 2014). The In-hospital mortality showed a decreasing trend from 7.79% (in 2008) to 5.32% (in 2014), likely because of improvements in diagnostics and treatment. The overall mortality (6.37% vs. 4.61%), length of stay >5 days (76.45% vs. 50.98%), hospital charges >50,000 dollars (64.43% vs. 40.29%), colectomy and colostomy (0.35% vs. 0.15%), and discharge to skilled nursing facility (10.47% vs. 6.43%) was significantly more in FN patients with CDI versus without CDI over 7 years (2008 to 2014). Age above 65 years, Hispanic race, hematological malignancies, urban hospital settings, and sepsis were significant predictors of mortality in febrile neutropenia patients with CDI. Discussion Despite the significant decrease in mortality, the incidence of CDI is rising in hospitalized FN patients with underlying hematological malignancies. Risk factor modification, with the best possible empiric antibiotic regimen is imperative for reducing mortality and health care costs in this cohort.

Background Cardiotoxicity associated with anthracycline-based chemotherapies has limited their use in patients with preexisting cardiomyopathy or heart failure. Dexrazoxane protects against the cardiotoxic effects of anthracyclines, but in the USA and some European countries, its use had been restricted to adults with advanced breast cancer receiving a cumulative doxorubicin (an anthracycline) dose > 300 mg/m2. We evaluated the off-label use of dexrazoxane as a cardioprotectant in adult patients with preexisting cardiomyopathy, undergoing anthracycline chemotherapy. Methods Between July 2015 and June 2017, five consecutive patients, with preexisting, asymptomatic, systolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction who required anthracycline-based chemotherapy, were concomitantly treated with off-label dexrazoxane, administered 30 min before each anthracycline dose, regardless of cancer type or stage. Demographic, cardiovascular, and cancer-related outcomes were compared to those of three consecutive patients with asymptomatic cardiomyopathy treated earlier at the same hospital without dexrazoxane. Results Mean age of the five dexrazoxane-treated patients and three patients treated without dexrazoxane was 70.6 and 72.6 years, respectively. All five dexrazoxane-treated patients successfully completed their planned chemotherapy (doxorubicin, 280 to 300 mg/m2). With dexrazoxane therapy, changes in LV systolic function were minimal with mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decreasing from 39% at baseline to 34% after chemotherapy. None of the dexrazoxane-treated patients experienced symptomatic heart failure or elevated biomarkers (cardiac troponin I or brain natriuretic peptide). Of the three patients treated without dexrazoxane, two received doxorubicin (mean dose, 210 mg/m2), and one received daunorubicin (540 mg/m2). Anthracycline therapy resulted in a marked reduction in LVEF from 42.5% at baseline to 18%. All three developed symptomatic heart failure requiring hospitalization and intravenous diuretic therapy. Two of them died from cardiogenic shock and multi-organ failure. Conclusion The concomitant administration of dexrazoxane in patients with preexisting cardiomyopathy permitted successful delivery of anthracycline-based chemotherapy without cardiac decompensation. Larger prospective trials are warranted to examine the use of dexrazoxane as a cardioprotectant in patients with preexisting cardiomyopathy who require anthracyclines.

Background Recent evidence suggests that among patients receiving vancomycin, receipt of concomitant piperacillin-tazobactam increases the risk of nephrotoxicity. Well-controlled, adequately powered studies comparing rates of acute kidney injury (AKI) among patients receiving vancomycin + piperacillin-tazobactam (VPT) compared to similar patients receiving vancomycin + cefepime (VC) are lacking. In this study we compared the incidence of AKI among patients receiving combination therapy with VPT to a matched group receiving VC. Methods A retrospective, matched, cohort study was performed. Patients were eligible if they received combination therapy for ≥48 hours. Patients were excluded if their baseline serum creatinine was >1.2mg/dL or they were receiving renal replacement therapy. Patients receiving VC were matched to patients receiving VPT based on severity of illness, intensive care unit status, duration of combination therapy, vancomycin dose, and number of concomitant nephrotoxins. The primary outcome was the incidence of AKI. Multivariate modeling was performed using Cox proportional hazards. Results A total of 558 patients were included. AKI rates were significantly higher in the VPT group than the VC group (81/279 [29%] vs 31/279 [11%]). In multivariate analysis, therapy with VPT was an independent predictor for AKI (hazard ratio = 4.27; 95% confidence interval, 2.73-6.68). Among patients who developed AKI, the median onset was more rapid in the VPT group compared to the VC group (3 vs 5 days P = Conclusion The VPT combination was associated with both an increased AKI risk and a more rapid onset of AKI compared to the VC combination.

A 64-year old male presented to the hospital with a 1-week history of stools with bright red blood. Subsequent colonoscopy with a biopsy revealed a low-lying, moderately differentiated, rectal adenocarcinoma. A pelvic magnetic resonance imaging done afterwards showed a possible T3N1 rectal cancer with intact muscularis mucosa and a singular presacral lymph node enlargement. Furthermore, a suspicious peripheral prostatic enlargement and a possible left iliac crest sclerotic bone lesion were incidentally identified. 18F-FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) PET (positron emission tomography) scan confirmed a primary FDG avid rectal tumor and a presacral lymph node; however, there was no prostate or iliac crest uptake. A serum prostate-specific antigen performed in the hospital returned with a value of 37 ng/mL, which prompted a prostate biopsy, eventually returning as positive for adenocarcinoma. Consequently, a 68Ga-PSMA PET scan to rule out possible metastatic prostate disease revealed increased PSMA expression in the prostate only. After consultation with the radiologist and nuclear medicine physician who concluded the iliac crest lesion is likely not cancerous, the final diagnosis of T3N1 rectal cancer with simultaneous high-grade prostate adenocarcinoma was declared. This case highlights the low sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET scans for prostate cancer, the need for routine serum prostate-specific antigen screening, and the progression of 68Ga-PSMA PET as a diagnostic tool for prostate cancer.

Introduction: Paralytic ileus is a common clinical condition leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Most studies to date have focused on postoperative ileus, a common but not exclusive cause of the condition. There are limited epidemiological data regarding the incidence and impact of paralytic ileus and its relationship to other clinical conditions. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed national inpatient hospitalization trends, demographic variation, cost of care, length of stay, and mortality for paralytic ileus hospitalizations as a whole. Methods: The National Inpatient Sample database was used to identify all hospitalizations with the diagnosis of paralytic ileus (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision code 560.1) as primary or secondary diagnosis during the period from 2001 to 2011. Statistical analysis was performed using Cochran–Armitage trend test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and Poisson regression. Results: In 2001, there were 362,561 hospitalizations with the diagnosis of paralytic ileus as compared to 470,110 in 2011 (p Conclusion: There was a significant rise in the number of hospitalizations of paralytic ileus with increased cost of care and reduced all-cause mortality.

BACKGROUND: An estimated 22 million adults use marijuana in the USA. The role of marijuana in the progression of hepatic fibrosis remains unclear. AIMS: We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of marijuana on prevalence and progression of hepatic fibrosis in chronic liver disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We searched several databases from inception through 10 November 2017 to identify studies evaluating the role of marijuana in chronic liver disease. Our main outcome of interest was prevalence/progression of hepatic fibrosis. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and hazards ratios (HRs) were pooled and analyzed using random-effects model. RESULTS: Nine studies with 5 976 026 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Prevalence of hepatic fibrosis was evaluated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis C and HIV coinfection by two, four, and one studies. Progression of hepatic fibrosis was evaluated by two studies. Pooled OR for prevalence of fibrosis was 0.91 (0.72–1.15), I(2) = 75%. On subgroup analysis, pooled OR among NAFLD patients was 0.80 (0.75–0.86), I(2) = 0% and pooled OR among HCV patients was 1.96 (0.78–4.92), I(2) = 77%. Among studies evaluating HR, pooled HR for progression of fibrosis in HCV–HIV coinfected patients was 1.03 (0.96–1.11), I(2) = 0%. CONCLUSION: Marijuana use did not increase the prevalence or progression of hepatic fibrosis in HCV and HCV–HIV-coinfected patients. On the contrary, we noted a reduction in the prevalence of NAFLD in marijuana users. Future studies are needed to further understand the therapeutic impact of cannabidiol-based formulations in the management of NAFLD.

Introduction:Angiodysplasia is the most common vascular lesion of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, limited epidemiological data exists on hospitalizations related to angiodysplasia of the intestine (ADOI) in the United States (U.S.). The aim of this study is to analyze inpatient trends and outcomes in hospitalizations with ADOI.Methods:We analyzed the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for all subjects with discharge diagnosis of angiodysplasia of the intestine with or without hemorrhage (ICD-9 code 569.85 and 569.84 respectively) as principal and/or secondary diagnosis during the period from 2001 to 2011.Results:In 2001, there were 39,244 admissions with discharge diagnosis of ADOI as compared to 41,214 in 2011 (p

Variceal bleeding remains a fatal complication of portal hypertension. Periampullary varices are rare and, due to their location, are difficult to diagnose and treat. Similar to esophagogastric varices, they are the result of high portosystemic pressures secondary to intrahepatic causes such as cirrhosis and extrahepatic causes such as portal or splenic vein thrombosis. We report a case of a periampullary varix resulting in hemobilia during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Gastrointestinal (GI) tuberculosis (TB) is rare and can occur in the context of active pulmonary disease or as a primary infection with no pulmonary symptoms. It typically presents with vague abdominal symptoms, making it difficult to discern from alternative disease processes. Although the ileocecal region is the most commonly affected site, tuberculous enteritis can involve any aspect of the GI tract. To demonstrate the importance of maintaining a high clinical suspicion for the disease, we present a case of GI TB presenting as severe malnutrition and segmental colitis of the left colon.

Objectives To compare the in-hospital outcomes in cirrhosis patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) versus those undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Background Over the last 10 years, TAVR has emerged as a therapeutic option for treating severe aortic stenosis in high-risk patients. Cirrhosis patients have a high risk of operative morbidity and mortality while undergoing cardiac surgery. This study's hypothesis was that TAVR is a safer alternative compared to SAVR in cirrhosis patients. Methods The study population was derived from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) for the years 2011–2012 using ICD-9-CM procedure codes 35.21 and 35.22 for SAVR, and 35.05 and 35.06 for TAVR. Patients

Objectives We studied the trends and predictors of drug eluting stent (DES) utilization from 2006 to 2011 to further expound the inter-hospital variability in their utilization. Background We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) between 2006 and 2011 using ICD-9-CM procedure code, 36.06 (bare metal stent) or 36.07 (drug eluting stents) for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). Annual hospital volume was calculated using unique identification numbers and divided into quartiles for analysis. Methods and Results We built a hierarchical two level model adjusted for multiple confounding factors, with hospital ID incorporated as random effects in the model. About 665,804 procedures (weighted n = 3,277,884) were analyzed. Safety concerns arising in 2006 reduced utilization DES from 90% of all PCIs performed in 2006 to a nadir of 69% in 2008 followed by increase (76% of all stents in 2009) and plateau (75% in 2011). Significant between-hospital variation was noted in DES utilization irrespective of patient or hospital characteristics. Independent patient level predictors of DES were (OR, 95% CI, P-value) age (0.99, 0.98–0.99

The use of percutaneous aortic balloon balvotomy (PABV) in high surgical risk patients has resurged because of development of less invasive endovascular therapies. We compared outcomes of concomitant PABV and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with PABV alone during same hospitalization using nation's largest hospitalization database. We identified patients and determined time trends using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, procedure code for valvulotomy from Nationwide Inpatient Sample database 1998 to 2010. Only patients >60 years with aortic stenosis were included. Primary outcome included in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes included procedural complications, length of stay (LOS), and cost of hospitalization. Total 2,127 PABV procedures were identified, with 247 in PABV + PCI group and 1,880 in the PABV group. Utilization rate of concomitant PABV + PCI during same hospitalization increased by 225% from 5.1% in 1998 to 1999 to 16.6% in 2009 to 2010 (p

We read the manuscript titled “ Deep infiltrating endometriosis MR imaging with surgical correlation ” by Tang et al . with educational interest (1). We would like to congratulate the authors for presenting valuable pictorial review of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) with meticulous description of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of endometriosis.

Background: Gastric cancer is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Over one-half of patients have advanced disease at the time of presentation, leading to a significant burden on the healthcare system. Limited epidemiological data exists on national inpatient hospitalization trends. The aim of this study is to determine the inpatient burden of gastric cancer in the United States. Methods: We analyzed the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for all subjects with the diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of the stomach (ICD-9 code 151.x) as primary diagnosis during the period from 2001–2011. NIS is the largest all-payer inpatient care database in the U.S. Statistical significance of variation in the number of hospitalizations, patient demographics, and comorbidity measures was determined using Cochran-Armitage trend test. Results: From 2001 to 2011, the number of hospitalizations with the diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of the stomach ranged between 22,430 and 25,371, however, the trend was not significant. Men were always more affected than women with no significant change in overall proportion (P Conclusions: The total number of hospitalizations remained relatively stable throughout the study period with higher proportion of men affected every year. Although in-hospital mortality in patients with the diagnosis of gastric cancer decreased over the study period, there was a significant rise in the cost of care.

BACKGROUND Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a major public health burden significantly impacting the cost of hospitalization in the United States (US). We examined the trends, characteristics, complications, cost, and seasonality of PUD-related hospitalizations from 2000 to 2011. METHODS With the use of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2000 through 2011, we identified PUD-related hospitalizations using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9), 9th Revision, and the Clinical Modification code 531.00 to 534.91 as the principal discharge diagnosis. The total number of hospitalizations for each calendar month of the year were added over a 12-year period, and this number was divided by the number of days in that particular month to obtain the mean hospitalizations per day for each month. RESULTS The study found that 351,921 hospitalizations with the primary discharge diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) occurred in the US between 2000 and 2011. This number dropped significantly from 49,524 to 17,499 between 2000 and 2011, and the rate of PUD-related mortality decreased from 4.3% to 3.1%. The mean age of the study population was 66.2 ± 17.4 years; 52.3% were males, and 56.8% were white. The number of hospitalizations in the US peaked in the spring season (916/day), and reached a nadir in the fall season (861/day). The mean cost of PUD hospitalization increased significantly from $11,755 in 2001 to $13,803 in 2011 (relative increase of 17%; p

The incidence and prevalence of peripheral vascular disease has been increasing. When coexistent with coronary artery disease (CAD), it has shown to predict higher mortality along with poorer quality-of-life consequently leading to a marked increase in healthcare costs. Broadly, there has been an increase in utilization of endovascular techniques in the management of peripheral vascular diseases. An inverse relation between volume and outcomes has been noted in these procedures. Additionally, improved resource utilization has also been noted with higher hospital and operator volumes. This has led to proposals to regionalize these procedures to high volume hospitals. There have also been calls to introduce the idea of having a set threshold of procedures for providers. This review presents an overview of published literature on the volume-outcome relationship affecting the outcomes of peripheral endovascular procedures.

Esophageal varices can cause life-threatening complications and are most often a sequela of liver disease. Although a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding, downhill variceal bleeding secondary to superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. We discuss two such cases of downhill esophageal varices presenting with hematemesis in patients with end stage renal disease and no history of cirrhosis. These varices were thought to be secondary to SVC occlusion caused by complications from previous dialysis catheters. However, their difficult anatomy posed a significant challenge to the therapeutic interventions.