Patients with diagnosed pheochromocytoma who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy were included. Patients with tumors smaller than 6 cm were compared with those presenting with tumors 6 cm or larger.

Results: One hundred fifty-seven patients underwent adrenalectomy, and there were 32

catecholamine-secreting tumors. Of the 33,7 were excluded from the study because of open surgery. Thus, 25 patients presented with 26 pheochromocytomas and underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Thirteen of the 25 patients (52%) were women. Mean age (+/- standard error of the mean) was 53 +/- 3 years. Mean tumor size was 5.2 +/- 0.5 cm, and 11 pheochromocytomas (42%) were 6 selleck chemical cm or. larger. Tumor size was significantly different between the large pheochromocytoma and the small pheochromocytoma groups (7.6 +/- 0.4 vs 3.6 +/- 0.4 cm, P<.001), but there was no significant difference in intraoperative complications, estimated blood loss, cancer diagnosis, or recurrence. The length of stay was comparable between the 2 cohorts, and there were no incidents of capsular invasion or adverse cardiovascular

events.

Conclusion: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy of pheochromocytomas larger than 6 cm is feasible and safe with comparable results to those achieved with laparoscopic adrenalectomy in patients with smaller pheochromocytomas. (Endocr Pract. 2012;18:720-726)”
“B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a biomarker of cardiovascular disease that is common in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However,

find more in children with CKD, the range and predictive power of BNP concentrations are not known. We aimed to determine the effect of HD on BNP, as well as the prognostic impact of BNP, in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) children undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Thirty-five children with chronic renal failure (16 boys age 12.1 +/- A 3.7 years) on maintenance HD were included. BNP level was measured, and Doppler echocardiography was performed 30 min before (pre-HD BNP) and 30 min after (post-HD BNP) HD in each patient. An adverse event was defined as all-cause death and heart failure hospitalization. The median pre-HD BNP, the post-HD BNP, and the change in BNP were, respectively, 240 pg/ml (72 to 3346), 318 pg/ml (79 to 3788), and 9 pg/ml (-442 to 1889). Pre-HD BNP concentration AZD4547 order was negatively correlated with left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (r = -0.41, P = 0.018). During a mean follow-up of 39 +/- A 14 months, 6 patients died, and 3 were hospitalized for heart failure. Using univariate analysis, BNP before and after HD as well as Doppler tissue imaging velocities had a strong graded relationship with adverse events. Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated that pre-HD body weight (P = 0.008), pre-HD BNP (P = 0.011), and post-HD BNP (P = 0.038) remained independent predictors of adverse outcome.