ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite recent improvements in the treatment of cancer, little is known about the long-term survival in patients with cancer and venous thromboembolism. We aimed to examine the five-year mortality of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients in a large population-based cohort study.

METHODS: Using Danish healthcare registries from 1995 to 2020, we obtained data on cancer patients with venous thromboembolism and comparison cohorts of cancer patients without venous thromboembolism, matched in terms of cancer type, age, sex, and year of cancer diagnosis, and adjusted for level of comorbidity and frailty using the Charlson Comorbidity Index Score and Hospital Frailty Risk Score, marital status, use of selected medications, and recent surgery (<90

FINDINGS: During the study period, 886,536 patients were diagnosed with cancer. Of 1882 cancer patients diagnosed at the time of their venous thromboembolism, 44.4% (835/1882) had distant metastases. In this cohort, the one- and five-year mortality cumulative incidences were 68% (1284/1882) and 84% (1578/1882), respectively, in contrast to 38% (2135/5549) and 67% (3653/5549) in the comparison cohort. The mortality rate ratio was 4.34 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.95-4.78) for the first year of follow-up and 3.44 (95% CI 3.17-3.73) for the five-year follow-up period. Of the 23,366 patients diagnosed with venous thromboembolism after cancer diagnosis, 18% (4183/23,366) had distant metastases at the time of cancer diagnosis. The cumulative incidence of death at one year was 45% (10,465/23,366; mortality rate ratio 3.48, 95% CI 3.37-3.60) and at five years 69% (15,669/23,366; mortality rate ratio 2.57, 95% CI 2.50-2.63).

INTERPRETATION: Despite improved cancer treatment, venous thromboembolism in cancer patients is strongly associated with a poor prognosis.

FUNDING: The study was supported by grants from the Independent Research Fund Denmark (record no. 3101-00102B) and the Karen Elise Jensen Foundation.

PMID:37809052 | PMC:PMC10558815 | DOI:10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100739

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Anticoagulation for the treatment of septic cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in the setting of pediatric sinogenic and otogenic intracranial infections

Neurosurg Focus. 2023 Oct;55(4):E8. doi: 10.3171/2023.7.FOCUS23374.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Septic cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a recognized complication of pediatric sinogenic and otogenic intracranial infections. The optimal treatment paradigm remains controversial. Proponents of anticoagulation highlight its role in preventing thrombus propagation and promoting recanalization, while others cite the risk of hemorrhagic complications, especially after a neurosurgical procedure for an epidural abscess or subdural empyema. Here, the authors investigated the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of pediatric patients with sinogenic or otogenic intracranial infections and a septic CVST.

METHODS: All patients 21 years of age or younger, who presented with an intracranial infection in the setting of sinusitis or otitis media and who underwent neurosurgical treatment at Connecticut Children's, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, or Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago from March 2015 to March 2023, were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic, clinical, and radiological data were systematically collated.

RESULTS: Ninety-six patients were treated for sinusitis-related and/or otitis media-related intracranial infections during the study period, 15 (15.6%) of whom were diagnosed with a CVST. Of the 60 patients who presented prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 6 (10.0%) were diagnosed with a septic CVST, whereas of the 36 who presented during the COVID-19 pandemic, 9 (25.0%) had a septic CVST (p = 0.050). The superior sagittal sinus was involved in 12 (80.0%) patients and the transverse and/or sigmoid sinuses in 4 (26.7%). Only 1 (6.7%) patient had a fully occlusive thrombus. Of the 15 patients with a septic CVST, 11 (73.3%) were initiated on anticoagulation at a median interval of 4 (IQR 3-5) days from the most recent neurosurgical procedure. Five (45.5%) patients who underwent anticoagulation demonstrated complete recanalization on follow-up imaging, and 4 (36.4%) had partial recanalization. Three (75.0%) patients who did not undergo anticoagulation demonstrated complete recanalization, and 1 (25.0%) had partial recanalization. None of the patients treated with anticoagulation experienced hemorrhagic complications.

CONCLUSIONS: Septic CVST is frequently identified among pediatric patients undergoing neurosurgical intervention for sinogenic and/or otogenic intracranial infections and may have become more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anticoagulation can be used safely in the acute postoperative period if administered cautiously, in a monitored setting, and with interval cross-sectional imaging. However, some patients exhibit excellent outcomes without anticoagulation, and further studies are needed to identify those who may benefit the most from anticoagulation.

PMID:37778041 | DOI:10.3171/2023.7.FOCUS23374

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Major Intraoperative Complications During Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy

Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Oct 2. doi: 10.1245/s10434-023-14340-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) to be a feasible surgical technique in treating esophageal carcinoma. Postoperative complications have been extensively reviewed, but literature focusing on intraoperative complications is limited. The main objective of this study was to report major intraoperative complications and 90-day mortality during MIE for cancer.

METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from 10 European esophageal surgery centers. All intention-to-treat, minimally invasive laparoscopic/thoracoscopic esophagectomies with gastric conduit reconstruction for esophageal and GE junction cancers operated on between 2003 and 2019 were reviewed. Major intraoperative complications were defined as loss of conduit, erroneous transection of vascular structures, significant injury to other organs including bowel, heart, liver or lung, splenectomy, or other major complications including intubation injuries, arrhythmia, pulmonary embolism, and myocardial infarction.

RESULTS: Amongst 2862 MIE cases we identified 98 patients with 101 intraoperative complications. Vascular injuries were the most prevalent, 41 during laparoscopy and 19 during thoracoscopy, with injuries to 18 different vessels. There were 24 splenic vascular or capsular injuries, 11 requiring splenectomies. Four losses of conduit due to gastroepiploic artery injury and six bowel injuries were reported. Eight tracheobronchial lesions needed repair, and 11 patients had significant lung parenchyma injuries. There were 2 on-table deaths. Ninety-day mortality was 9.2%.

CONCLUSIONS: This study offers an overview of the range of different intraoperative complications during minimally invasive esophagectomy. Mortality, especially from intrathoracic vascular injuries, appears significant.

PMID:37782412 | DOI:10.1245/s10434-023-14340-3

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Thrombin Generation Markers as Predictors of Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolism: A Systematic Review

Semin Thromb Hemost. 2023 Oct 9. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1775856. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a main contributor to morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. Biomarkers with the potential to predict cancer-associated VTE are continually sought. Of these, markers of thrombin generation present a likely option. The present systematic review examines the ability of three widely used biomarkers of thrombin generation: prothrombin fragment 1.2 (F1.2), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), and ex vivo thrombin generation, to predict VTE in both solid and hematologic adult cancer patients. Relevant studies were identified in the PubMed and Embase databases, and the review conformed to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Each study was evaluated using the quality assessment tool from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The review protocol was published on PROSPERO with identifier CRD42022362339. In total, 24 papers were included in the review: 11 reporting data on F1.2, 9 on TAT, and 12 on ex vivo thrombin generation. The quality ratings of the included studies varied from good (n = 13), fair (n = 8), to poor (n = 3) with a high heterogenicity. However, F1.2, TAT complex, and ex vivo thrombin generation were all found to be associated with the development of VTE. This association was most pronounced for F1.2. Furthermore, the determination of F1.2 was able to improve the precision of several established risk assessment scores. In conclusion, markers of thrombin generation were found to be elevated in cancer patients with VTE, and particularly, F1.2 was found to be a promising predictor of cancer-associated VTE.

PMID:37813372 | DOI:10.1055/s-0043-1775856

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Monocyte recruitment in venous pulmonary embolism at time of cancer diagnosis in upper gastrointestinal cancer patients

J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2023 Oct 4. doi: 10.1007/s11239-023-02897-5. Online ahead of print.