Molecular analysis of endobronchial ultrasound needle aspirates in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: Results from the SCOPE database.

Objective: Molecular subtyping of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is critical in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with advanced disease. This study aimed to examine whether samples from endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) of intrathoracic lymph nodes and/or lung lesions are adequate for molecular analysis across various institutions.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all cases of linear EBUS-TBNA with a final bronchoscopic diagnosis of NSCLC entered in the Stather Canadian Outcomes registry for chest ProcEdures database.

Patient perspectives on the use of indwelling pleural catheters in malignant pleural effusions.

Background: Indwelling pleural catheters are an effective treatment option for patients with malignant pleural effusions. Despite their popularity, there remains a paucity of data on the patient experience and key patient-centred outcomes.

Objective: To investigate the experience of patients receiving an indwelling pleural catheter to better inform and identify potential areas for improvement in care.

Effect of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies on removal of indwelling pleural catheters in non-small cell lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusions.

Background: Indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) are a mainstay therapy for malignant pleural effusions (MPEs). Many patients treated with IPCs achieve pleurodesis. We aimed to identify the effect of systemic therapies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) on IPC removal in patients with associated MPEs.

Combination Tissue Plasminogen Activator and DNase for Loculated Malignant Pleural Effusions: A Single-center Retrospective Review.

Background: Indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) are frequently used for the management of malignant pleural effusions (MPEs), but drainage can be impaired by pleural loculations. We aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of intrapleural tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) versus combination tPA-deoxyribonuclease (DNase) in the treatment of loculated MPE.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients with confirmed or presumed MPEs requiring IPC insertion.

Endobronchial Ultrasound Transbronchial Needle Aspiration With a 19-Gauge Needle vs 21- and 22-Gauge Needles for Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy.

Background: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is commonly used to evaluate mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Studies focusing on malignant lymphadenopathy have compared 21- and 22-gauge (21G and 22G, respectively) needles and have not identified an advantage of one needle size over the other in terms of diagnostic yield.

Research Question: Does the 19-gauge (19G) EBUS needle offer greater diagnostic yield and sensitivity vs the 21G and 22G EBUS needles for a diagnosis of sarcoidosis, lymphoma, or mediastinal lymphadenopathy not yet diagnosed?

Study Design And Methods: This study retrospectively examined records of 730 patients from the Stather Canadian Outcomes Registry for Chest Procedures (SCOPE) database who underwent EBUS-TBNA for a diagnosis of suspected sarcoidosis, lymphoma, or mediastinal lymphadenopathy not yet diagnosed.

Protocol for the Stather Canadian Outcomes Registry for Chest ProcedurEs (SCOPE).

Introduction: The Stather Canadian Outcomes registry for chest ProcedurEs (SCOPE registry) is a Canadian multicentre registry of chest procedures.

Methods And Analysis: The SCOPE registry is designed as a multicentre prospective database of specific bronchoscopic or other pulmonary procedures. Each procedure of interest will be associated with a registry module, and data capture designed to evaluate effectiveness of procedures on relevant patient outcomes.

Noninvasive ventilation practice patterns for acute respiratory failure in Canadian tertiary care centres: A descriptive analysis.

Background: The extent of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) use for patients with acute respiratory failure in Canadian hospitals, indications for use and associated outcomes are unknown.

Objective: To describe NIV practice variation in the acute setting.

Methods: A prospective observational study involving 11 Canadian tertiary care centres was performed.

Association between frailty and short- and long-term outcomes among critically ill patients: a multicentre prospective cohort study.

Background: Frailty is a multidimensional syndrome characterized by loss of physiologic and cognitive reserves that confers vulnerability to adverse outcomes. We determined the prevalence, correlates and outcomes associated with frailty among adults admitted to intensive care.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 421 critically ill adults aged 50 or more at 6 hospitals across the province of Alberta.

Bedside ultrasound is a practical and reliable measurement tool for assessing quadriceps muscle layer thickness.

Background: Critically ill patients commonly experience skeletal muscle wasting that may predict clinical outcome. Ultrasound is a noninvasive method that can measure muscle quadriceps muscle layer thickness (QMLT) and subsequently lean body mass (LBM) at the bedside. However, currently the reliability of these measurements are unknown.

Risk factors and outcomes associated with acute kidney injury following ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Background: Current data describing the epidemiology of acute kidney injury (AKI) following repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) are limited and long-term outcomes are largely unknown. Our objectives were to describe the incidence rate, risk factors, clinical course and long-term outcomes of AKI following rAAA repair.

Methods: Retrospective population-based cohort study of all referrals undergoing emergency repair of rAAA in Northern Alberta from January 1, 2002 to December 31 2009.

Elevated cardiac troponin in the early post-operative period and mortality following ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm: a retrospective population-based cohort study.

Introduction: Cardiac complications are potentially life-threatening following emergency repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA). Our objectives were to describe the incidence, risk factors, cardiac outcomes and mortality associated with elevated cardiac-specific troponin (cTnI) following repair of rAAA. We hypothesized that early post-operative cTnI elevation (>0.

Timing the initiation of renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury in Canadian intensive care units: a multicentre observational study.

Purpose: The optimal timing for starting renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) is unknown. Defining current practice is necessary to design interventional trials. We describe the current Canadian practice regarding the timing of RRT initiation for AKI.

Clinical factors associated with initiation of renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury-a prospective multicenter observational study.

Purpose: Our objective was to describe the current practice for initiation of RRT in this population. There is uncertainty regarding the optimal time to initiate renal replacement therapy (RRT) in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods: Prospective study of patients receiving RRT in 6 intensive care units (ICUs) at 3 hospitals from July 2007 to August 2008.

A case-control study of single-pass albumin dialysis for acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure.

Background: Extracorporeal support with single-pass albumin dialysis (SPAD) may remove protein-bound toxins in acute liver failure. We evaluated the clinical, physiological and laboratory parameters of SPAD in acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure (AALF).

Methods: Retrospective case-control studies of AALF patients were used.

Regional citrate versus systemic heparin anticoagulation for continuous renal replacement in critically ill patients.

Background: We determined the effect of regional citrate versus systemic heparin anticoagulation for continuous renal replacement therapy in critically ill subjects suffering from acute renal failure who were not at high risk for hemorrhagic complications.

Methods: Between April 1999 and June 2002, 30 critically ill subjects requiring continuous renal replacement therapy and using 79 hemofilters were randomly assigned to receive regional citrate or systemic heparin anticoagulation.

Results: The median hemofilter survival time was 124.