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Fang-Yue Lin

Publications and source records attributed to Fang-Yue Lin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A web-based Utstein style registry system of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Taiwan.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The Web-Based Registry System on In-hospital Resuscitation (WRSIR) is the first prospective, web-based, multi-site, and Utstein-based reporting system in Taiwan. This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the system in one of the participating hospitals and identify prognostic factors associated with survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The WRSIR is an on-line registry system coded with the active server page (ASP) programming method. Information was gathered and entered on-line by trained staff using spreadsheets that could be automatically created according to the updated Utstein in-hospital template. Through the implementation of the system, in a tertiary teaching hospital we evaluated all adults with in-hospital cardiac arrest receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation between 1 October 2004 and 30 September 2005. The main outcome measures were return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival to hospital discharge, and cerebral performance category score at the time of discharge. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of survival. RESULTS: A total of 330 cases experienced in-hospital resuscitation. ROSC occurred in 233 cases (71%) and 61 patients (18%) survived to hospital discharge. Thirty-five patients (58%) had a good neurological outcome with the cerebral performance category (CPC) score of 1 or 2 among survivors. The major predictor of ROSC was initial rhythm of VT/VF (adjusted OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.16-0.78). CONCLUSION: This study examined the feasibility of a web-based registry system on in-hospital resuscitation using the Utstein style in an oriental country. It provides a comprehensive and standardised method for on-line registry of data collection, allowing individual hospitals to track each case for quality improvement. A further nationwide registry will enforce the possibility of data analysis and future perspective research of in-hospital resuscitation.

Aged↗

Postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction: correlated factors and prognostic implications.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical factors correlated with postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction and the prognostic implication such dysfunction may have. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective observational study in a university medical center PATIENTS: 58 adult patients successfully resuscitated from nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest over 2 years. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Echocardiographic evaluation of the left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions was performed 6 h postresuscitation and was analyzed in correlation to the clinical features and resuscitation factors. Univariate analysis revealed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) to be significantly lower in patients with hypertension, past history of myocardial infarction, resuscitation duration longer than 20 min, defibrillation, and use of more than 5 mg epinephrine. Isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) was significantly longer in patients with noncardiac cause and initial rhythm of nonventricular fibrillation/tachycardia. Multiple regression analysis showed epinephrine dose and past history of myocardial infarction to be independent factors for LVEF, while the cause of cardiac arrest was independently associated with IVRT. For prognosis, 27 patients survived to hospital discharge. Both LVEF under 40% and IVRT 100 ms or longer were associated with poor survival outcomes. In Cox regression analysis IVRT 100 ms or longer served as an independent factor predicting poor survival prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Postresuscitation left ventricular dysfunction is correlated with a number of clinical factors, among which past history of myocardial infarction, epinephrine dose, and the cause of cardiac arrest play independent roles. Meanwhile, IVRT 100 ms or longer 6 h postresuscitation predicts poor survival outcomes and serves as a marker of poor prognosis.

Aged↗

The demand for prehospital advanced life support and the appropriateness of dispatch in Taipei.

INTRODUCTION: Implementing prehospital advanced life support (ALS) services requires more medical and societal resources in training and equipment. The actual demand for ALS services in our communities was not clear. To ensure good use of expensive resources, it is important to evaluate the demand and appropriateness of ALS services before full-scale implementation takes place. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the rate and characteristics of demand for ALS, and the appropriateness of ALS dispatch of the emergency medical service (EMS) system in metropolitan Taipei City. METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of the EMS records of Taipei City Fire Department from April 1999 to December 2000 was conducted. Stratified random sampling of all EMS records in the second week of January, April, July and October of 2000 were obtained, along with the corresponding ALS dispatch records. Retrospective ALS demand criteria, including the chief complaints, mechanisms of injury/illness, initial vital signs and types of care rendered, were developed to estimate the rate of ALS demand. ALS demand is expressed as the percentage of cases fulfilling ALS criteria over the total number of EMS cases. Appropriate ALS dispatches were those ALS dispatches determined as fulfilling the ALS demand criteria. RESULTS: Among the sampled 5433 EMS cases, 490 (9.02%) were determined as a demand for ALS care. ALS demands varied from region to region, and were higher during winter months and afternoon rush hours. There were 175 actual ALS dispatches, accounting for 3.22% of the sampled EMS services. The triage performance was suboptimal: the appropriateness of ALS dispatch was 37.14%; the overtriage rate was 72.86%. CONCLUSION: Around nine percent of EMS calls demand ALS services. The current triage performance for proper ALS dispatch was suboptimal. A correct ALS dispatch protocol and more dispatcher training programmes should be established in the communities to ensure best use of valuable ALS resources.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support↗

Ultrasonography in diagnosing colorectal cancers in patients presenting with abdominal distension.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of abdominal ultrasonography for diagnosing colorectal cancer in patients presenting with abdominal distension. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective case series of consecutive adult patients with abdominal distension admitted to the National Taiwan University Hospital between January 2001 and July 2004. All participants were examined by abdominal ultrasonography. Those with suspected colorectal tumours on ultrasonography had follow-up colonoscopy, while all other patients had computed tomography scans. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Accuracy of abdominal ultrasonography for diagnosing colorectal cancer in patients with abdominal distension; incidence of colorectal cancer. RESULTS: Of 511 patients eligible for inclusion in our study, 97 (19.0%) were confirmed to have colorectal cancer. For diagnosis of colorectal cancer, ultrasonography had a sensitivity of 92.8% (95% CI, 85.2%-96.8%); a specificity of 98.8% (95% CI, 97.0%-99.6%); a positive predictive value of 94.7% (95% CI, 87.6%-98.0%); a negative predictive value of 98.3% (95% CI 96.4%-99.3%); and an accuracy of 97.7%. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is a sensitive tool for diagnosing colorectal cancer in patients presenting with abdominal distension.

Abdomen↗

Effect of penicillin resistance on presentation and outcome of nonenterococcal streptococcal infective endocarditis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Most cases of infective endocarditis are caused by nonenterococcal streptococci. The emergence of strains resistant to penicillin is increasingly recognized worldwide. This study sought to assess the effect of penicillin resistance on presentation and outcome of streptococcal endocarditis. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in a single tertiary care hospital. RESULTS: Between August 1996 and December 2004, patients infected with nonenterococcal streptococcal endocarditis and known minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to penicillin were included in this study. A total of 62 cases were identified: 48 (77%) cases of the streptococcal endocarditis were caused by viridans streptococci. The most common species groups identified were Streptococcus mitis in 12 (19%) cases, Streptococcus oralis in 9 (15%) cases, Streptococcus sanguis in 7 (11%) cases and Streptococcus mutans in 7 (11%) cases. There were 36 male and 26 female patients with a median age of 46 years (range: 1-85). Twenty-two patients (35%) had peripheral embolization and 10 patients (16%) died in hospital. Twenty-eight (45%) of the 62 patients were infected with streptococcal strains of MICs > or =0.125 microg/ml to penicillin. Infection with streptococcal strains of MICs > or =0.125 microg/ml to penicillin was associated with a lower incidence of all-site embolization, but was not associated with higher mortality or increased frequency of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: High-level penicillin resistance of the streptococci responsible for endocarditis was increasingly common and medical therapy with vancomycin had a good response. Penicillin resistance was associated with a decreased risk of embolization, but was not associated with higher mortality.

Adolescent↗

Clinical implication of blood levels of B-type natriuretic peptide in pediatric patients on mechanical circulatory support.

BACKGROUND: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a marker of heart failure. In adult patients with heart failure, decreased BNP levels after implantation of ventricular assist devices may be indicative of recovery. However, BNP levels among pediatric patients receiving mechanical support are largely unknown. METHODS: Fifteen pediatric patients with cardiogenic shock who were supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) were evaluated. The BNP levels were determined before ECMO initiation, during ECMO support, and after ECMO removal. RESULTS: All patients had elevated BNP levels before initiation of ECMO (median, 1,430 pg/mL; range, 361 to 5,000 pg/mL). Among the 15 patients, 1 received heart transplantation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was withdrawn in 2 patients, and the other 12 patients were weaned from ECMO. Four patients died after initially successful weaning from ECMO. The BNP levels of the nonsurvivors (median, 3,685 pg/mL; range, 2,494 to 5,000 pg/mL) were higher than those of the survivors (median, 1,127pg/mL; range, 108 to 3,030 pg/mL) on the next few days after ECMO removal (p = 0.016). The BNP levels on the fourth day after removal of ECMO among the survivors (median, 498 pg/mL; range, 108 to 890 pg/mL) were lower than those among the nonsurvivors (median, 3,900 pg/mL; range, 3,230 to 5,000 pg/mL; p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Among pediatric patients supported with ECMO, the survivors had lower BNP levels than those who did not survive. We suggest that serial blood BNP levels can be potential markers for monitoring pediatric patients on mechanical circulatory support, and the concept merits further study.

Biomarkers↗

Specific oral medications decrease the need for surgery in adhesive partial small-bowel obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Nothing by mouth (NPO) is the standard treatment for small-bowel obstruction. Whether oral medications should be prohibited during treatment of adhesive, partial small-bowel obstruction is unclear. The goal of this study was to determine whether a combination of specific oral medications in adhesive, partial small-bowel obstruction will decrease the need for operative intervention. METHODS: Of 266 consecutive adult patients with partial small-bowel obstruction admitted at a tertiary medical center, 236 were randomized into 2 groups. Group I patients were treated with intravenous hydration, nasogastric tube decompression, and NPO. Group II patients were placed on intravenous hydration, nasogastric tube decompression, and oral fluids incorporating an oral laxative, a digestant, and a defoaming agent. We compared differences between the groups in (1) the number of patients having a successful nonoperative treatment, (2) complications, and (3) recurrence of symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 116 and 120 patients comprised groups I and II, respectively. The number of patients treated successfully by a nonoperative approach was less in group I than in group II (77% vs 90%, P < .01). The complications and recurrence rate for groups I and II did not differ (4% vs 5% and 5% vs 4%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The NPO status for patients with adhesive, partial small-bowel obstruction may not be necessary. This cocktail of oral medications can decrease the need for operative intervention in patients with presumed adhesive, partial small-bowel obstruction.

Administration, Oral↗

Cost-effectiveness of different advanced life support providers for victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The survival rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is only about 1.4% in Taiwan. The best configuration to achieve optimal outcomes in OHCA is still uncertain for many communities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of two models of providing advanced life support (ALS) services, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) vs. emergency physicians (EPs), in a two-tiered emergency medical services (EMS) system. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational, multicenter study comparing ALS provided by EMTs vs. EPs for the management of victims of OHCA. The study population consisted of patients experiencing OHCA of non-traumatic origin in Taipei city, Taiwan, between November 1999 and December 2000, for whom ALS was activated. We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis to determine the economic attractiveness of these two ALS provider programs. The outcome measurements were aggregate costs, survival and incremental cost per life saved. Sensitivity analyses were performed on all variables. RESULTS: The expected total cost per OHCA patient was 2,248.19 US$ and 832.07 US$ for the EMT and EP programs, respectively. The overall survival rate was 4.4%. The survival rate was 9.3% for the EMT program and 2.6% for the EP program. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of EMTs vs. EPs was 21,136 US$ per life saved. The ICER was sensitive to hospital admission cost changes and the probability of survival to discharge in patients admitted to hospital in the EMT program. The increased survival rate of OHCA patients in the EMT program may be attributable to the services of the hospital and/or the EMT program. CONCLUSION: The use of EMTs as ALS care providers for OHCA patients in the two-tiered EMS system resulted in a reasonable cost-effectiveness ratio. EMTs could be considered as the second tier of EMS systems in urban areas in Taiwan.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support↗

Out-of-center extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for adult cardiogenic shock patients.

Patients with cardiogenic shock refractory to conventional management require advanced mechanical circulatory support such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). In hospitals lacking ECMO facilities, interhospital transportation is necessary for further patient management. Thirty-one adult cardiac patients, who were transported to our hospital by our ECMO transport team between January 1998 and July 2004, were enrolled in this study. The median transportation distance was 200 km (range: 3-300 km). During transportation, the ECMO circuit per se and the patients did not have complications. Of the 31 patients, 20 (64.2%) were weaned off ECMO or bridged to ventricular assist devices and 10 patients (32.1%) survived to discharge. Delayed transfer (>2 days) and high organ dysfunction score were associated with poor outcomes. The survival rate was similar to that of our in-hospital group (survival rate: 32.8%, n = 64). In conclusion, adult cardiogenic shock patients requiring interhospital ECMO transport had a reasonable chance of survival.

Adult↗

Nonsurgical management of partial adhesive small-bowel obstruction with oral therapy: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with partial adhesive small-bowel obstruction are usually managed conservatively, receiving intravenous hydration and nothing by mouth. Previous studies have suggested that this approach is associated with longer hospital stays and an increased risk of delayed surgery. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to see if combining standard conservative treatment with oral administration of a laxative, a digestant and a defoaming agent would reduce the frequency of subsequent surgical intervention and reduce the length of hospital stay. METHODS: We identified 144 consecutive patients admitted between February 2000 and July 2001 with adhesive partial small-bowel obstruction and randomly assigned 128 who met the inclusion criteria to either the control group (intravenous hydration, nasogastric-tube decompression and nothing by mouth) or the intervention group (intravenous hydration, nasogastric-tube decompression and oral therapy with magnesium oxide, Lactobacillus acidophilus and simethicone). The primary outcome measures were the number of patients whose obstruction was successfully treated without surgery and the length of hospital stay. We also monitored rates of complications and recurring obstructions. RESULTS: Of the 128 patients, 63 were in the control group and 65 in the intervention group; the mean ages were 54.4 (standard deviation [SD] 15.9) years and 53.9 (SD 16.3) years respectively. Most of the patients were male. More patients in the intervention group than in the control group had successful treatment without surgery (59 [91%] v. 48 [76%], p = 0.03; relative risk 1.19, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.40). The mean hospital stay was significantly longer among patients in the control group than among those in the intervention group (4.2 [SD 2.7] v. 1.0 [SD 0.7] days, p < 0.001). The complication and recurrence rates did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. INTERPRETATION: Oral therapy with magnesium oxide, L. acidophilus and simethicone was effective in hastening the resolution of conservatively treated partial adhesive small-bowel obstruction and shortening the hospital stay.

Administration, Oral↗

Protection "outside the box" (skeletal remote preconditioning) in rat model is triggered by free radical pathway.

BACKGROUND: Remote preconditioning (RPC) for myocardial protection had been demonstrated in several organs, such as the kidney and mesentery artery. The aim of study was to investigate the effect of skeletal ischemia/reperfusion on coronary artery occlusion-induced myocardial infarction and to investigate the role of the free radicals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: RPC was performed in rats by a repeated four-cycle 10-min ischemia-reperfusion of femoral artery. Four experimental groups were included: I, sham group; II, RPC only; III, infarction only; and IV, which incorporated both RPC and infarction. A chemiluminescence study showed significant elevation of free radicals in groups with RPC, and pretreated mercaptopropionyl-glycine (MPG), a free radical scavenger, abolished the production of free radicals. RESULTS: The infarct size was significantly reduced for group IV (24.7 +/- 8.8%) compared with group III (51.4 +/- 9.1%; P < 0.001), and the effect was abolished by pretreatment with MPG (49.2 +/- 6.3% in MPG + III versus 50.1 +/- 8.2% in MPG + IV; P > 0.05). Cardiac enzymes also revealed significant decrease in the level for group IV compared with group III, and the protective effect could be abolished by MPG. Western blotting of heat shock protein (HSP) revealed that consistent elevation of HSP 25 and 70 in groups II, III, and IV, and the elevation can be abrogated by pretreatment with MPG. The expression of the antioxidant enzymes, Mn-superoxidase dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, in the area of risk were consistently elevated in groups II, III, and IV, similar to HSP. CONCLUSIONS: The skeletal RPC in rats can produce a protective effect in an infarction model that may be triggered through free radical pathway, and the protective effect was associated with HSP and antioxidant enzymes.

Animals↗

Mitral tetrahedron as a geometrical surrogate for chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation.

The present study tests the hypothesis that a mitral tetrahedron (MT) is a useful geometrical surrogate for assessment of chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation (CIMR). Fifty-eight subjects were divided into three groups on the basis of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the presence or absence of CIMR: LVEF > or =0.5 and negative CIMR (group 1, n = 28), LVEF <0.5 and negative CIMR (group 2, n = 12), and LVEF <0.5 and positive CIMR (group 3, n = 18). MT was defined by its four vertices at the anterior annulus, posterior annulus, and medial and lateral papillary muscle roots, determined by MRI at peak systole. The results showed no clear cutoff values of MT parameters between groups 2 and 1. In contrast, all MT indexes were significantly different between groups 3 and 2 (P < 0.05), and significant cutoff values differentiated the two groups. A scoring system employing parameters of the whole MT confirmed the absence of CIMR with total edge length index <268 mm/BSA(1/3), total surface area index <2,528 mm(2)/BSA(2/3), and volume index <5,089 mm(3)/BSA (where BSA is body surface area). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 1.00. This preliminary study demonstrates that MT might serve as a good geometrical surrogate for assessing CIMR. The derived geometrical criteria of MT may be useful in surgical correction of CIMR.

Adult↗

Influence of ciprofloxacin resistance on risk factors for endovascular infection in patients with infection due to group C nontyphoid salmonellae.

From January 2000 through September 2004, a total of 54 patients with infection due to group C nontyphoid salmonellae were evaluated; 8 patients had gastroenteritis alone, and 46 patients had bacteremia. Of the 46 patients who had bacteremia, 12 had endovascular infection and 34 did not. The number of infections due to ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella organisms is increasing. Ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella organisms predisposed patients to acquire bacteremia, but they did not seem to predispose patients to acquire endovascular infection.

Adolescent↗

Progressive increase of bowel wall thickness is a reliable indicator for surgery in patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether progressive increase of bowel wall thickness during nonoperative treatment is a reliable indicator for surgery in patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction. METHODS: The study consisted of a prospective case series of 121 patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction who underwent an abdominal ultrasonographic examination. The results of ultrasonographic examinations were classified into two groups according to the presence (Group I) or absence (Group II) of bowel wall thickening. Bowel wall thickening was recognized as a visible small bowel wall > or =3 mm in width as seen by ultrasonographic examination. The findings of subsequent ultrasonographic examinations taken 24 hours later were compared with those taken at admission. Surgery was determined based on the presence of any toxic signs or the failure of nonoperative treatment. The number of patients who had successful nonoperative treatment, the number of patients who underwent surgeries, and the number of complications in each group were calculated to correlate with the ultrasonographic findings. RESULTS: There are 49 and 72 patients in Groups I and II, respectively. The number of patients who had successful nonoperative treatment and number of patients who underwent surgeries in Group I are 40 (81.6 percent) and 9 (18.4 percent) and in Group II the numbers are 68 (94.4 percent) and four (5.6 percent), respectively (P = 0.036). All 12 (100 percent) patients with progressive increase of bowel wall thickness underwent surgery. Progressive increase of bowel wall thickness as an indicator for surgery has a sensitivity of 92.3 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 62.1-99.6 percent) and a specificity of 100 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 95.7-100 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with initial bowel wall thickening have a higher incidence of surgery, and progressive increase of bowel wall thickness that appears 24 hours later is a reliable indicator for surgery in patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction.

Adolescent↗

Outcome of medical and surgical treatment in patients with acute type B aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: Optimal treatment of acute type B aortic dissection remain unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical outcome of acute type B aortic dissection. METHODS: In the last 8 years, 107 patients were admitted for acute type B aortic dissection. We medically treated patients at the time of onset with antihypertensives. Surgery was considered if there is intractable pain, uncontrolled hypertension, severe aortic branch malperfusion, or aneurysm expansion. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients had pleural effusion (27%), 9 patients had leg ischemia (8%), 5 patients had impending rupture, and 2 patients had aneurysm enlargement exceeding 60 mm on repeated imaging studies. A total of 16 patients (15%) underwent surgical intervention: 8 extra-anatomical bypass for leg ischemia, 1 in situ infrarenal aortoiliac bypass for distal aortic obstruction, and 7 thoracic aortic graft replacement. Of the 8 patients with extra-anatomic bypass, 3 patients died: 2 patients died of catastrophic aortic rupture 2 and 9 days after bypass, and 1 patient died of dissection progression to type A lesion 9 days after bypass. There was no in-hospital death in 92 medically treated patients. Follow-up was 92% complete. The mean follow-up duration was 36.1 months (range, 2 to 96 months). The 6-month, 1-year, and 5-year survival rates of all patients were 96.2 +/- 1.9%, 95.2% +/- 2.1%, and 95.2% +/- 2.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Medical treatment of acute type B aortic dissection produced good outcomes. Central aortic procedures such as aortic fenestration and endovascular stenting should be the preferred methods to treat patients with acute type B aortic dissection and leg ischemia because there was high risk of central aortic complications after extra-anatomic bypass.

Acute Disease↗

Cardiac surgery in patients with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery was infrequently performed in patients with liver cirrhosis, and its clinical outcome has been reported only in small series. We sought to evaluate the clinical outcome of cardiac operation in patients with noncardiac liver cirrhosis. METHODS: Data were collected by a retrospective case note review. The preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were recorded. The severity of liver cirrhosis was graded using the Child-Pugh classification. RESULTS: Between January 1993 and May 2004, 18 patients with liver cirrhosis underwent cardiac surgery at the authors' hospital. Thirteen patients had hepatitis virus infection, and 5 cases were alcohol related. Thirteen patients were classified as Child A cirrhosis, 4 were class B, and 1 was class C. Sixteen patients underwent cardiac surgery with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, and 2 patients underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 6% (1 of 18), and there was no death in 5 class B and C cirrhotic patients. The rate of major complication was 39% in class A and 80% in class B and C. CONCLUSIONS: Although the postoperative complication was common, cardiac operation could be performed safely in patients with mild and advanced liver cirrhosis.

Adult↗

Antimicrobial drug resistance in salmonella-infected aortic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Salmonella infection of the aorta and adjacent arteries is rare, but life-threatening. There is an increasing number of infections caused by antimicrobial drug resistant Salmonella. This study sought to assess the association between antimicrobial drug resistance and clinical outcomes of patients with Salmonella-infected aortic aneurysm. METHODS: Data were collected by retrospective chart review. Between October 1995 and October 2004, 34 patients with Salmonella-infected aortic aneurysm were included. Aneurysm-related deaths were defined as hospital deaths and late deaths due to prosthetic graft infection. Analysis was performed using the chi2 test, Fisher's exact test, and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Nineteen patients had a suprarenal and 15 patients had an infrarenal aortic infection. The most common responsible pathogen was group C Salmonella (47%). Ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella infection occurred since March 2001 and the rate increased from 0 per 15 in the years before March 2001 to 5 per 19 in the years after March 2001 (p = 0.005 by Fisher's exact test). Among the 26 patients who had combined medical and surgical therapy, 4 died in the hospital and 4 died of late prosthetic graft infection 3 to 6 months after operation, whereas 4 of the 8 who had medical therapy alone died of aneurysm rupture during hospitalization. The actuarial survival rates by the Kaplan-Meier method were 64% at 6 months, 61% at 1 year, and 56% at 5 years. The risk factors for aneurysm-related death were old age (78.5 +/- 9.7 years vs 63.5 +/- 11.4 years; p < 0.001) and ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella infection (4 of 5 vs 8 of 29; p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: There was an increased mortality associated with ciprofloxacin resistance in infected aortic aneurysms with Salmonella. With an increasing incidence of ciprofloxacin resistant Salmonella, third generation cephalosporin is the antibiotic of choice for Salmonella-infected aneurysm.

Adult↗