Norman Rizk

All Publications

• Intensive Care Utilization for Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients BIOLOGY OF BLOOD AND MARROW TRANSPLANTATION Jenkins, P., Johnston, L. J., Pickham, D., Chang, B., Rizk, N., Tierney, D. K. 2015; 21 (11): 2023-2027

  Abstract

  Blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) is a potentially curative therapy for a number of malignant and nonmalignant diseases. Multiple variables, including age, comorbid conditions, disease, disease stage, prior therapies, degree of donor-recipient matching, type of transplantation, and dose intensity of the preparative regimen, affect both morbidity and mortality. Despite tremendous gains in supportive care, BMT remains a high-risk medical therapy. A critically ill BMT recipient may require transfer to an intensive care unit (ICU) and the specialized medical and nursing care that can be provided, such as mechanical ventilation and vasopressor support. Mortality for BMT recipients requiring care in an ICU is high. This paper will describe the experience of the Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplant Program in developing and implementing guidelines to maximize the benefit of intensive care for critically ill BMT recipients.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.bbmt.2015.07.026

  View details for Web of Science ID 000363357200024

  View details for PubMedID 26238809

• Unmet quality indicators for metastatic cancer patients admitted to intensive care unit in the last two weeks of life. Journal of palliative medicine Blechman, J. A., Rizk, N., Stevens, M. M., Periyakoil, V. S. 2013; 16 (10): 1285-1289

  View details for DOI 10.1089/jpm.2013.0257

  View details for PubMedID 24020919

• Focused transthoracic echocardiography during critical care medicine training: curriculum implementation and evaluation of proficiency*. Critical care medicine Beraud, A., Rizk, N. W., Pearl, R. G., Liang, D. H., Patterson, A. J. 2013; 41 (8): e179-81

  View details for DOI 10.1097/CCM.0b013e31828e9240

  View details for PubMedID 23760156

• The Association Between Sepsis and Potential Medical Injury Among Hospitalized Patients CHEST Liu, V., Turk, B. J., Rizk, N. W., Kipnis, P., Escobar, G. J. 2012; 142 (3): 606-613

  Abstract

  Patient safety remains a national priority, but the role of disease-specific characteristics in safety is not well characterized.We identified potentially preventable medical injuries using patient safety indicators (PSIs) and annual data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2003 and 2007. We compared the rate of selected PSIs among patients hospitalized with and without sepsis. Among patients with sepsis, we also compared PSI rates across severity strata. Using multivariable case-control matching and regression analyses, we estimated the excess adverse outcomes associated with PSI events in patients with sepsis.Patients hospitalized with sepsis accounted for 2% to 4% of hospital discharges; however, they accounted for 9% to 26% of all potential medical injuries. PSI rates varied considerably; among patients hospitalized for sepsis, they were lowest for accidental puncture or laceration and highest for postoperative respiratory failure. Nearly all PSI rates were higher among patients with sepsis compared with patients without sepsis. Among those with sepsis, most PSI rates increased as sepsis severity increased. Compared with matched sepsis control subjects, increased length of stay and hospital charges were associated with PSI events in sepsis cases. However, only decubitus ulcer, iatrogenic pneumothorax, and postoperative metabolic and physiologic derangement or respiratory failure were associated with excess mortality.Patients hospitalized for sepsis, compared with the general hospital population, were at a substantially increased risk of potential medical injury; their risk rose as disease severity increased. Future patient safety efforts may benefit from focusing on medically vulnerable populations.

  View details for DOI 10.1378/chest.11-2556

  View details for PubMedID 22383667

• Adverse outcomes associated with delayed intensive care unit transfers in an integrated healthcare system JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL MEDICINE Liu, V., Kipnis, P., Rizk, N. W., Escobar, G. J. 2012; 7 (3): 224-230

  Abstract

  Patients with intensive care unit (ICU) transfers from hospital wards have higher mortality than those directly admitted from the emergency department.To describe the association between the timing of unplanned ICU transfers and hospital outcomes.Evaluation of 6369 early (within 24 hours of hospital admission) unplanned ICU transfer cases and matched directly admitted ICU controls from an integrated healthcare system. Cohorts were matched by predicted mortality, age, gender, diagnosis, and admission characteristics. Hospital mortality of cases and controls were compared based on elapsed time and diagnosis.More than 5% of patients admitted through the emergency department experienced an unplanned ICU transfer; the incidence and rates of transfers were highest within the first 24 hours of hospitalization. Multivariable matching produced 5839 (92%) case-control pairs. Median length of stay was higher among cases (5.0 days) than controls (4.1 days, P < 0.01); mortality was also higher among cases (11.6%) than controls (8.5%, P < 0.01). Patients with early unplanned transfers were at an increased risk of death (odds ratio, 1.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-1.64; P < 0.01); an increased risk of death was observed even among patients transferred within 8 hours of hospitalization. Hospital mortality differed based on admitting diagnosis categories. While it was higher among cases admitted for respiratory infections and gastrointestinal bleeding, it was not different for those with acute myocardial infarction, sepsis, and stroke.Early unplanned ICU transfers-even within 8 hours of hospitalization-are associated with increased mortality; outcomes vary by elapsed time to transfer and admitting diagnosis.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jhm.964

  View details for PubMedID 22038879

• Computerized physician order entry in the critical care environment: a review of current literature. Journal of intensive care medicine Maslove, D. M., Rizk, N., Lowe, H. J. 2011; 26 (3): 165-171

  Abstract

  The implementation of health information technology (HIT) is accelerating, driven in part by a growing interest in computerized physician order entry (CPOE) as a tool for improving the quality and safety of patient care. Computerized physician order entry could have a substantial impact on patients in intensive care, where the potential for medical error is high, and the clinical workflow is complex. In 2009, only 17% of hospitals had functional CPOE systems in place. In intensive care unit (ICU) settings, CPOE has been shown to reduce the occurrence of some medication errors, but evidence of a beneficial effect on clinical outcomes remains limited. In some cases, new error types have arisen with the use of CPOE. Intensive care unit workflow and staff relationships have been affected by CPOE, often in unanticipated ways. The design of CPOE software has a strong impact on user acceptance. Intensive care unit-specific order sets lessen the cognitive workload associated with the use of CPOE and improve user acceptance. The diffusion of new technological innovations in the ICU can have unintended consequences, including changes in workflow, staff roles, and patient outcomes. When implementing CPOE in critical care areas, both organizational and technical factors should be considered. Further research is needed to inform the design and management of CPOE systems in the ICU and to better assess their impact on clinical end points, cost-effectiveness, and user satisfaction.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/0885066610387984

  View details for PubMedID 21257633

• Pulmonary toxicity syndrome in breast cancer patients undergoing BCNU-containing high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation BIOLOGY OF BLOOD AND MARROW TRANSPLANTATION Cao, T. M., Negrin, R. S., Stockerl-Goldstein, K. E., JOHNSTON, L. J., Shizuru, J. A., Taylor, T. L., Rizk, N. W., Wong, R. M., Blume, K. G., Hu, W. W. 2000; 6 (4): 387-394

  Abstract

  We performed a retrospective review to investigate pulmonary toxicity syndrome (PTS) in a cohort of breast cancer patients undergoing BCNU-containing high-dose chemotherapy (HDC). Our aim was to characterize presentation, identify risk factors, determine outcome following therapy, and find any association with differences in survival. We reviewed the data of 152 patients with stage II or III or metastatic breast cancer treated with cyclophosphamide 5625 mg/m2, cisplatin 165 mg/m2, and BCNU 600 mg/m2 followed by autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic cell transplantation. During follow-up, PTS was diagnosed when the following criteria were met: (1) presentation with typical clinical symptoms of PTS, (2) an absolute carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO) decline of 10% compared with pre-HDC DLCO, and (3) no clinical evidence of active pulmonary infection. Patients were then treated with a course of corticosteroid therapy. The incidence of PTS for all 152 patients was 59%, with a median onset at 45 days (range, 21-149 days) post-HDC. The median absolute DLCO decrement was 26% (range, 10%-73%) at diagnosis of PTS. There was no significant correlation between patient age, stage of breast cancer, pre-HDC chemotherapy regimen, pre-HDC chest wall radiotherapy, tobacco use, prior lung disease, or baseline pulmonary function test results and the development of PTS. We did observe an interesting association between PTS and the development of a noncholestatic elevation of transaminases. Of PTS patients treated with prednisone therapy for a median of 105.5 days (range, 44-300 days), 91% achieved resolution of their PTS without pulmonary sequelae. At 3 years, the overall survival (OS) of stage II or III patients who developed PTS was 84% (95% confidence interval [CI], 73%-95%); of metastatic breast cancer patients with PTS, the OS was 58% (95% CI, 38%-78%). These values were not significantly different from those of patients who did not develop PTS (91% [95% confidence interval [CI], 81%-100%] and 53% [95% CI, 32%-74%], respectively). No significant differences in disease-free or event-free survival were observed between patients with and without PTS. The incidence of PTS in breast cancer patients treated with a BCNU-containing HDC regimen can be remarkably high. Treatment with a course of corticosteroid therapy is successful in the vast majority.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000090022700005

  View details for PubMedID 10917574

• Endobronchial stenting for severe airway obstruction in relapsing polychondritis CHEST Faul, J. L., Kee, S. T., Rizk, N. W. 1999; 116 (3): 825-827

  Abstract

  Airway complications of relapsing polychondritis (RP), including tracheobronchial stenosis, can be fatal. This paper describes a life-saving technique (placement of multiple metallic endobronchial stents under conscious sedation) to prevent life-threatening airway closure in a 50-year-old woman with RP. Using fluoroscopic and bronchoscopic guidance, a tracheal stent and three endobronchial metallic stents were deployed in the central airways, with good functional outcome. There were no complications. In critical airway compromise caused by RP, the insertion of endobronchial stents can result in improved symptoms, pulmonary function, and a return to daily activities, without the use of tracheotomy and mechanical ventilation.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000082475900040

  View details for PubMedID 10492294

• Postoperative ventilatory management CHEST Price, J. A., Rizk, N. W. 1999; 115 (5): 130S-137S

  Abstract

  Immediate postoperative evaluation of the patient remains a crucial role of the intensivist. Postoperative patients can be divided into the otherwise healthy, chronically ill, and acutely ill for strategizing about care. For chronically ill and acutely ill patients who require ongoing ventilation, ventilator management continues to evolve toward modes that are more interactive with patient needs. Newer modes of ventilation are also being explored to protect the lung against damage attributable to mechanical ventilation. Weaning indexes and associated protocols have become more sophisticated and now allow physicians greater certainty in evaluating patients' readiness for extubation. This article will discuss factors to be considered prior to extubation as well as the latest ventilatory and weaning strategies.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000080356600018

  View details for PubMedID 10331346

• Intracranial hypotension presenting with severe encephalopathy - Case report JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY Beck, C. E., Rizk, N. W., Kiger, L. T., Spencer, D., Hill, L., Adler, J. R. 1998; 89 (3): 470-473

  Abstract

  A patient with severe and protracted symptoms from intracranial hypotension is described. The patient's presentation was marked by diffuse encephalopathy and profound depression of consciousness. This case report expands the presently known clinical spectrum of this uncommon and generally benign illness. The clinical and laboratory findings typically observed in the syndrome of intracranial hypotension are outlined. The pathophysiological mechanisms of the phenomenon are briefly discussed. Intracranial hypotension is a potentially severe illness with specific treatments that are distinct from the treatment of most neurological diseases. Three cardinal features--postural headache, pachymeningitis, and descent of midline cerebral structures--should prompt the diagnosis.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000075536000019

  View details for PubMedID 9724124

• Unsuspected pulmonary embolism: Prospective detection on routine helical CT scans RADIOLOGY Gosselin, M. V., Rubin, G. D., Leung, A. N., Huang, J., Rizk, N. W. 1998; 208 (1): 209-215

  Abstract

  To determine the prevalence of unsuspected pulmonary embolism (PE) on routine thoracic helical computed tomographic (CT) scans and to quantify the improvement in PE detection by using a cine-paging mode on a workstation instead of hard-copy review.Seven hundred eighty-five patients referred for routine contrast medium-enhanced thoracic CT within 9 months were prospectively recruited. Helical CT was performed. Studies were prospectively interpreted by four radiologists. Two radiologists performed routine, undirected, hard-copy consensus review for official interpretation; two of three thoracic radiologists independently performed a dedicated workstation-based search for PE. The presence of PE involving the main, lobar, or segmental pulmonary arteries was assigned a score of 1-5 (1 = definitely negative, 5 = definitely positive) by each independent reviewer. Patients with a score of 4 or 5 underwent lower-extremity ultrasound, ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy, or both, followed by pulmonary CT angiography if the findings were still equivocal.Twelve (1.5%) of the 785 patients had unsuspected PE, with an inpatient prevalence of 5% (eight of 160) and an outpatient prevalence of 0.6% (four of 625). Of the 12 patients with unsuspected PE, 10 (83%) had cancer. Of the 81 inpatients with cancer, seven (9%) had unsuspected PE. A dedicated workstation-based search resulted in detection of PE in three more patients (25%) than did hard-copy interpretation.The prevalence of unsuspected PE was highest among inpatients with cancer. A directed, workstation-based search can improve the PE detection rate over that with hard-copy review.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000074296300033

  View details for PubMedID 9646815

• Pulmonary tumor embolism AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE Bassiri, A. G., Haghighi, B., Doyle, R. L., Berry, G. J., Rizk, N. W. 1997; 155 (6): 2089-2095

  View details for Web of Science ID A1997XD76000040

  View details for PubMedID 9196119

• Obstetric complications in pulmonary and critical care medicine CHEST Rizk, N. W., Kalassian, K. G., Gilligan, T., DRUZIN, M. I., Daniel, D. L. 1996; 110 (3): 791-809

  View details for Web of Science ID A1996VG59000039

  View details for PubMedID 8797428

• Needle, transbronchial, thoracoscopic, or open lung biopsy in interstitial lung disease. Current opinion in pulmonary medicine Rizk, N. W., Lillington, G. A. 1995; 1 (5): 376-382

  Abstract

  The specific diagnosis of interstitial lung disease has conventionally been determined by lung biopsy. Lung biopsy also is useful for assessing disease activity and prognosis, and is sometimes useful in deciding on the necessity of therapy. The availability of newer biopsy techniques and the interaction of these techniques with current generation imaging modalities has changed the role of biopsy in interstitial lung disease. This review reports on the indications, techniques, and limitations of biopsy procedures and places them in the context of the use of current imaging methods, as reflected in recent literature.

  View details for PubMedID 9363099

• EFFECT OF TREATMENT FOR HODGKINS-DISEASE ON PULMONARY-FUNCTION - RESULTS OF A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY Horning, S. J., Adhikari, A., Rizk, N., Hoppe, R. T., Olshen, R. A. 1994; 12 (2): 297-305

  Abstract

  Because each of very different treatments for Hodgkin's disease (HD) may result in a high rate of cure, attention is currently focused on toxicity. This prospective study was designed to assess the effects of mediastinal irradiation and bleomycin chemotherapy on pulmonary function.Patients were treated from 1980 to 1990 on randomized controlled trials at Stanford University. Pulmonary function was tested before treatment (baseline), early after treatment (< 15 months), and more than 36 months posttherapy. Treatment options in the 145 patients were grouped as I (mediastinal radiotherapy), II (mediastinal radiotherapy plus bleomycin), and III (bleomycin) for analyses of variance (ANOVAs). A variety of regression models were used to predict early and late effects on pulmonary function.A decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusing capacity (DLCO) in the first 15 months after treatment followed by recovery after 36 months was observed for most patients. Patients who received mediastinal radiotherapy (RT) had a more pronounced reduction in pulmonary function and less complete recovery. Overall, 3 or more years after treatment, 32% of group I patients, 37% of group II patients, and 19% of group III patients had FVC values less than 80% of predicted, while only 7% of patients had a DLCO less than 80% of predicted. Linear regression identified baseline measurement as the only significant predictor of change in percent predicted FVC or DLCO; patients with higher baseline values had greater decrements after therapy. Mantle RT was the only significant treatment variable, predictive of FVC and DLCO within 15 months and FVC at 36 or more months. No patient experienced pulmonary toxicity severe enough to require hospitalization.This prospective analysis of pulmonary function after treatment for HD showed that mediastinal RT was the only treatment variable that achieved statistical significance. Although there were no significant interactions between mediastinal RT and bleomycin or Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH) chemotherapy, the patient numbers were small after correction for mediastinal mass size and drug regimen such that an effect could have been missed. The mild reduction in pulmonary function should be factored into the overall assessment of morbidity risk for each of the potentially curative treatments included in this study. As with all reports of late effects, these data should be interpreted with respect to the population tested, details of the treatment administered, methods of measurement, and length of follow-up.

  View details for Web of Science ID A1994MW70600012

  View details for PubMedID 7509383

• A COMPLICATION DURING BRONCHOSCOPY HOSPITAL PRACTICE Valentine, V. G., Rizk, N. W., Hancock, E. W. 1993; 28 (10): 22-?

  View details for Web of Science ID A1993MB57500005

  View details for PubMedID 8408340

• THE DIAGNOSIS OF WEGENER GRANULOMATOSIS FROM TRANSBRONCHIAL BIOPSY SPECIMENS HUMAN PATHOLOGY Lombard, C. M., Duncan, S. R., Rizk, N. W., Colby, T. V. 1990; 21 (8): 838-842

  Abstract

  It is widely believed that thoracotomy is necessary to obtain biopsy specimens adequate for the histopathologic demonstration of pulmonary Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). We report five patients with WG who were diagnosed by transbronchial biopsy (TBB). In three cases, a diagnosis of WG was made by TBB alone. In the other two patients, subsequent open lung biopsies confirmed the TBB findings but did not add essential diagnostic information. Our experience suggests TBB may be appropriate as the initial diagnostic procedure in selected cases of suspected WG. This approach requires an understanding of the diverse histologic features of WG and the correlation of clinical and pathologic data.

  View details for Web of Science ID A1990DU67900009

  View details for PubMedID 2387575

• NONOXIDATIVE MICROBICIDAL ACTIVITY IN NORMAL HUMAN ALVEOLAR AND PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES INFECTION AND IMMUNITY Catterall, J. R., Black, C. M., Leventhal, J. P., Rizk, N. W., Wachtel, J. S., Remington, J. S. 1987; 55 (7): 1635-1640

  Abstract

  Although Toxoplasma gondii multiplies within normal murine alveolar and peritoneal macrophages, it is killed by normal rat alveolar and peritoneal macrophages. The killing by rat macrophages is by a nonoxidative mechanism. Studies on normal human alveolar macrophages have reported disparate results in regard to their ability to inhibit or kill T. gondii. We considered it of interest to explore further the effect of normal human alveolar and peritoneal macrophages on T. gondii. Unstimulated alveolar macrophages from each of seven individuals demonstrated a marked ability to kill or inhibit multiplication of T. gondii in vitro (e.g., the number of parasites per 100 alveolar macrophages was 31 at time zero and 2 at 18 h, whereas this value increased from 37 at time zero to 183 at 18 h in murine macrophages assayed in parallel). In quantitative assays of superoxide, alveolar macrophages released a substantial amount of superoxide when exposed to phorbol myristate acetate or to candidae. In contrast, alveolar macrophages incubated with T. gondii released no more superoxide than when in medium alone. Scavengers of superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen, and hydroxyl radicals failed to inhibit killing of T. gondii by alveolar macrophages. Peritoneal macrophages from each of six normal women undergoing laparoscopy killed T. gondii in vitro; results of quantitative superoxide assays and scavenger experiments demonstrated that no oxidative burst was triggered in these macrophages by exposure to T. gondii. These data indicate that normal human alveolar and peritoneal macrophages can kill an intracellular parasite by nonoxidative mechanisms and suggest that these mechanisms are important in inhibition or killing of other opportunistic intracellular pathogens.

  View details for Web of Science ID A1987H795600016

  View details for PubMedID 3036709

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC260570

• HEMOPTYSIS, LARGE LUNG ABSCESS IN ALCOHOLIC MAN WITH BAD TEETH HOSPITAL PRACTICE Rizk, N. 1987; 22 (6): 70-?

  View details for Web of Science ID A1987H825600010

  View details for PubMedID 3108299

• YOUNG WOMAN ON A PREDNISONE SEESAW HOSPITAL PRACTICE Duncan, S. R., Rizk, N., Raffin, T. A. 1987; 22 (3A): 82-?

  View details for Web of Science ID A1987G636200008

  View details for PubMedID 3102530

• COUGH AND SPIKING FEVER IN A TRANSFUSION-DEPENDENT WOMAN HOSPITAL PRACTICE Rizk, N., Duncan, S. R., Raffin, T. A. 1987; 22 (3): 25-?

  View details for Web of Science ID A1987G378900005

  View details for PubMedID 3102515

• THE ANTIGEN THAT WAS HEARD BUT NOT SEEN HOSPITAL PRACTICE Duncan, S. R., Rizk, N., Raffin, T. A. 1987; 22 (2): 226-?

  View details for Web of Science ID A1987G040300018

  View details for PubMedID 3100565

• DISABLING DYSPNEA OF SUDDEN ONSET HOSPITAL PRACTICE Rizk, N., Duncan, S. R., Raffin, T. A. 1986; 21 (12): 103-104

  View details for Web of Science ID A1986F332200014

  View details for PubMedID 3098747

• A YOUNG WOMAN WITH SWOLLEN ARM, DYSPNEA HOSPITAL PRACTICE Duncan, S. R., Rizk, N., Raffin, T. A. 1986; 21 (11A): 13-?

  View details for Web of Science ID A1986F052700002

  View details for PubMedID 3097034

• SELECTION OF PATIENTS WITH NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG-CARCINOMA FOR SURGICAL RESECTION WESTERN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE Rizk, N. W. 1985; 143 (5): 636-642

  Abstract

  Cancer of the lung is rapidly increasing in incidence in both sexes and soon will overtake breast cancer as the most deadly cancer in women. Selection of patients with non-small-cell carcinoma for surgical resection is largely based on preoperative clinical staging, using the American Joint Committee on Cancer's TNM-based group staging protocol. Determining the presence or absence of mediastinal nodal metastasis is paramount and is currently best achieved by computed tomographic scanning of the chest and biopsy of enlarged nodes via mediastinoscopy. Certain types of stage III lesions, previously excluded from surgical treatment, are now recognized as operable.

  View details for Web of Science ID A1985AUL8000006

  View details for PubMedID 3909642