Ipsilateral Recurrence of Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy: A Case Report

Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) is a multifactorial disease that represents the most common type of ischemic optic neuropathy. NA-AION develops in one eye and can occur in the fellow eye at a later date.1The recurrence of ipsilateral NA-AION is rare and a multitude of theories have arisen to explain this infrequent recurrence.2 This case report describes an incident of unilateral recurrence of NA-AION, explores the proposed etiologies, and will emphasize visual symptoms following its resolution. Key words. optic nerve edema Ÿ recurrent Ÿ nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy Ÿ contrast sensitivity Ÿ peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL)

Management and outcomes of pneumothorax in adult patients with Langerhans cell Histiocytosis

Background Pneumothorax may recur during pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) patients’ follow-up and its management is not standardised. The factors associated with pneumothorax recurrence are unknown. Methods In this retrospective study, PLCH patients who experienced a pneumothorax and were followed for at least 6 months after the first episode were eligible. The objectives were to describe the treatment of the initial episode and pneumothorax recurrences during follow-up. We also searched for factors associated with pneumothorax recurrence and evaluated the effect on lung function outcome. Time to recurrence was estimated by the Kaplan Meier method and the cumulative hazard of recurrence handling all recurrent events was estimated. Univariate Cox models and Andersen-Gill counting process were used for statistical analyses. Results Fourty-three patients (median age 26.5 years [interquartile range (IQR), 22.9–35.4]; 26 men, 39 current smokers) were included and followed for median time of 49 months. Chest tube drainage was the main management of the initial pneumothorax, which resolved in 70% of cases. Pneumothorax recurred in 23 (53%) patients, and overall 96 pneumothoraces were observed during the study period. In the subgroup of patients who experienced pneumothorax recurrence, the median number of episodes per patient was 3 [IQR, 2–4]. All but one recurrence occurred within 2 years after the first episode. Thoracic surgery neither delayed the time of occurrence of the first ipsilateral recurrence nor reduced the overall number of recurrences during the study period, although the rate of recurrence was lower after thoracotomy than following video-assisted thoracic surgery (p = 0.03). At the time of the first pneumothorax, the presence of air trapping on lung function testing was associated with increased risk of recurrence (hazard ratio = 5.08; 95% confidence interval [1.18, 21.8]; p = 0.03). Pneumothorax recurrence did not predict subsequent lung function decline (p = 0.058). Conclusions Our results show that pneumothorax recurrences occur during an “active” phase of PLCH. In this observational study, the time of occurrence of the first ipsilateral recurrence and the overall number of pneumothorax recurrences were similar after conservative and thoracic surgical treatments. Further studies are needed to determine the best management to reduce the risk of pneumothorax recurrence in PLCH patients.

Chest tube drainage versus video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for a first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Summary Primary spontaneous pneumothorax affects up to 28 patients per 100 000 population yearly and is commonly resolved by chest tube drainage. However, drainage is also known to be associated with ipsilateral recurrence rates ranging from 25% to 43%. Preventive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) may be an effective alternative to diminish these recurrence rates and its associated morbidity. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of chest tube drainage and VATS as first line treatments of an initial episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and Clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched through 16 September 2018. Data regarding the ipsilateral recurrence rate and the length of hospitalization were extracted and submitted to meta-analysis using the random-effects model and the I2 test for heterogeneity. Two randomized controlled trials and 2 observational studies were included, enrolling a total of 479 patients. Pairwise analysis demonstrated significantly reduced ipsilateral recurrence rates [odds ratio 0.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07–0.33; P < 0.00001] and length of hospitalization (standardized mean difference −2.19, 95% CI −4.34 to −0.04; P = 0.046) in favour of VATS. However, a significant level of heterogeneity was detected for the length of hospitalization (I2 = 97%; P < 0.00001). Subgroup analysis that stratified study design found no statistical differences regarding recurrence rate. In conclusion, VATS can be an effective and attractive alternative to standard chest tube drainage, with reduced ipsilateral recurrence rates and length of hospitalization. However, given the low quality of the majority of included studies, more well-designed randomized controlled trials are necessary to strengthen the current evidence.

Early surgical intervention is indicated for recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax in children and adolescents

Background: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) occurs most often in adolescent patients. There is consensus that surgical intervention plays an important role in preventing recurrence, however, the optimum timing of surgery is debated. We hypothesize that clinical and radiographic factors are associated with eventual need for surgery. Experimental Design: We searched the medical record for PSP patients between ages 9 and 21 treated from 1/1/08 to 12/31/17 and collected data on chest tube management, radiographic measurements, operative management, and recurrence. We performed univariate analysis on relationships between admission events and eventual surgery or other management strategies. Results: We identified 68 PSP admissions from 31 patients. Considering only first-time admissions, there was no association between eventual surgery and clinical factors and radiographic findings. The single factor associated with eventual surgery was history of pneumothorax in any lung (p=0.015). For patients with prior pneumothorax who underwent surgery, operation the day after admission would have reduced hospital stay by an average of 1.5 days (min=0, max=9) and an average of 2.2 days (min=0, max=10) if performed on the day of admission, with a mean 1.85 fewer chest x-rays (min=0, max=7). Considering only first admissions, ipsilateral recurrence rate was 16.7% after surgery, 46.7% after chest tube alone, and 100% after observation alone. Conclusion: This analysis suggests that though eventual surgery is difficult to predict, ipsilateral recurrence rate is reduced following surgery. Furthermore, earlier operation in recurrent patients could reduce resource utilization. Thus, expedited surgical treatment may merit consideration in patients with a history of pneumothorax.

Risk Factors and Time to Recurrent Ipsilateral and Contralateral Patellar Dislocations

Background: Previous studies have reported variable rates of recurrent lateral patellar instability mainly because of limited cohort sizes. In addition, there is currently a lack of information on contralateral patellar instability. Purpose: To evaluate the rate of recurrent ipsilateral patellar dislocations and contralateral patellar dislocations after a first-time lateral patellar dislocation. Additionally, risk factors associated with recurrent dislocations (ipsilateral or contralateral) and time to recurrence were investigated. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This population-based study included 584 patients with a first-time lateral patellar dislocation occurring between 1990 and 2010. A retrospective review was conducted to gather information about the injury, subsequent dislocations (ipsilateral or contralateral), and structural characteristics including trochlear dysplasia, patella alta, and tibial tubercle to trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance. Risk factors were assessed to delineate associations with subsequent dislocations and time to recurrence. Results: At a mean follow-up of 12.4 years, 173 patients had ipsilateral recurrence, and 25 patients had a subsequent contralateral dislocation. At 20 years, the cumulative incidence of ipsilateral recurrence was 36.0%, while the cumulative incidence of contralateral dislocations was 5.4%. Trochlear dysplasia (odds ratio [OR], 18.1), patella alta (OR, 10.4), age <18 years at the time of the first dislocation (OR, 2.4), elevated TT-TG distance (OR, 2.1), and female sex (OR, 1.5) were associated with recurrent ipsilateral dislocations. Time to recurrence was significantly decreased in patients with trochlear dysplasia (23.0 months earlier time to recurrence; P < .001), elevated TT-TG distance (18.5 months; P < .001), patella alta (16.4 months; P = .001), and age <18 years at the time of the first dislocation (15.4 months; P < .001). Risk factors for subsequent contralateral dislocations included patella alta and trochlear dysplasia. Conclusion: At 20 years after a first-time lateral patellar dislocation, the cumulative incidence of recurrent ipsilateral patellar dislocations was 36.0%, compared with 5.4% for contralateral dislocations. Trochlear dysplasia, elevated TT-TG distance, patella alta, age <18 years at the time of the first dislocation, and female sex were associated with ipsilateral recurrence. Trochlear dysplasia, elevated TT-TG distance, patella alta, and age <18 years at the time of the first dislocation were predictive of a statistically significant decrease in time to recurrence.

Annual surveillance mammography after early-stage breast cancer and breast cancer mortality

Background After treatment for early-stage breast cancer (bca), annual surveillance mammography (asm) is recommended based on the assumption that early detection of an invasive ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence or subsequent invasive contralateral primary bca reduces bca mortality.Methods We studied women with unilateral early-stage bca treated by breast-conserving surgery from 1994 to 1997 who subsequently developed an ipsilateral recurrence or contralateral primary more than 24 months after initial diagnosis, without prior regional or distant metastases. Annual surveillance mammography was defined as 2 episodes of bilateral mammography 11–18 months apart during the 2 years preceding the ipsilateral recurrence or contralateral primary. The association between asm and bca death was evaluated using a Cox proportional hazards model.Results We identified 669 women who experienced invasive ipsilateral recurrence (n = 455) or a contralateral primary (n = 214) at a median interval of 53 months [interquartile range (iqr): 37–72 months] after initial diagnosis, 64.7% of whom had received asm during the preceding 2 years. The median interval between the 2 bilateral mammograms was 12.3 months (iqr: 11.9–13.0 months), and the median interval between the 2nd mammogram and histopathologic confirmation of ipsilateral recurrence or contralateral primary was 1.5 months (iqr: 0.8–3.9 months). Median follow up after ipsilateral recurrence or contralateral primary was 7.76 years (iqr: 3.68–9.81 years). The adjusted hazard ratio for bca death associated with asm was 0.86 (95% confidence limits: 0.63, 1.16).Conclusions Annual surveillance mammography was associated with a modestly lowered hazard ratio for bca death.