Objective: To describe the efficacy, safety, dosing regimen, and administration technique of intrapleural alteplase for the treatment of retained hemothorax. Data Sources: A PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar search (January 2000 to February 2019) was conducted with the search terms intrapleural, fibrinolytic, fibrinolysis, alteplase, tissue plasminogen activator, and hemothorax. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Articles were included if they described the use of intrapleural alteplase in adult patients with a retained hemothorax; single patient case reports and abstracts were excluded. Data Synthesis: A total of 6 retrospective reviews and 1 meta-analysis were identified for inclusion. A variety of dosing strategies have been defined for the administration of intrapleural alteplase ranging from 6 to 100 mg, volume of fluid from 50 to 120 mL of normal saline, and the number of total doses has ranged from 1 to 8 over the treatment course. A majority of studies showed a greater than 80% success rate and less than 7% bleeding rate. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: Because of the paucity of data for use of alteplase in retained hemothorax and administration of a high-risk medication, this review provides dosing and administration recommendations based on reported safety and efficacy. Conclusion: Administration of intrapleural alteplase should be considered in patients with retained hemothorax as an alternative to surgical intervention. In contrast to intrapleural alteplase administration for other indications such as empyema, higher doses and volumes of alteplase are recommended for retained hemothorax.
Panel genetic testing did not delay time to surgery compared with BRCA testing alone. The use of panel testing has increased over time, and lab turnaround time has decreased. Mastectomy was the only clinical variable contributing to longer time to surgery.
Background. We compared the outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted (LA) and robotic-assisted (RA) gastrectomies performed for gastric adenocarcinoma in the National Cancer Database. Methods. The National Cancer Database was queried for patients 18 years old with stages I to III gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent LA or RA gastrectomy. Propensity matching was performed between the 2 groups with regard to clinical staging, adjuvant treatment, demographics, and the extent of surgery. Results. A cohort of 1893 (1262 = LA, 631 = RA) patients was identified in a 2:1 propensity matching. The groups were well matched. The rate of negative margin as well as 30- and 90-day mortality were similar between the 2 cohorts. Long-term survival was similar between the 2 groups (median survival 49.2 months in LA vs 56.2 months for RA, P = .405). However, the average number of lymph nodes (LNs) sampled was significantly higher in the RA group compared with the LA group (19.6 vs 17.4, P < .001). Similarly, the percentage of surgeries in which ≥15 LNs were sampled was also greater in the RA group compared with the LA group (63.9% vs 57.6%, P = .010). On multivariable analysis, having 15 LNs or more examined was associated with better survival (hazard ratio = 0.72, 95% confidence interval = 0.60-0.87, P < .001). Advanced age, nodal positivity, and advanced clinical stages were significantly associated with worse survival. Conclusions. RA gastrectomy may allow a greater harvest of LNs, and thus more accurate staging, without increasing short-term adverse outcomes compared with LA gastrectomy. Short-term and long-term outcomes in this well-matched cohort appear comparable for both approaches.
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