Rotational extraction of incarcerated iris (REII): a slit lamp technique to reduce incarcerated iris after nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy for glaucoma.

PURPOSE: Iris incarceration is a complication of glaucoma filtering surgery that often requires surgery. We describe a technique for reduction of incarcerated iris at the slit lamp, dubbed rotational extraction of incarcerated iris (REII). A retrospective analysis of visual function and intraocular pressure (IOP) was done in patients treated with REII after nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated a cohort of patients who received REII for iris incarceration after nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy for glaucoma. IOP (applanation) and visual acuity (VA) were measured day-of, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-REII. Adverse events were recorded. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was done with definitions of IOP control at 15, 18, and 21 mmHg. RESULTS: Forty-one eyes of 41 patients were treated with REII. Median time to iris incarceration from glaucoma surgery was 50 days (range 1-1906). Mean pre-REII IOP ± SD was 33.7 ± 14.1 mmHg, which reduced to 11.5 ± 6.1 mmHg day-of. LogMAR VA was 0.72 ± 0.8 log units at baseline and was unchanged at 12 months (P = 0.53). Survival analysis demonstrated varying efficacy depending on the definition of success. 79.0 to 92.2% of eyes achieved IOP control immediately after REII, 39.5 to 71.1% at 1 month, 26.3 to 52.6% at 3 months, 21.1 to 44.3% at 6 months, and 10.5 to 38.0% at 12 months. Nearly half (47.4%) of eyes required a tube shunt by 12 months. CONCLUSION: REII may be a safe, minimally invasive slit lamp procedure that can reduce incarcerated iris and delay more invasive intervention for 3-6 months in most eyes.

Prospective Comparison of VisuALL Virtual Reality Perimetry and Humphrey Automated Perimetry in Glaucoma.

Aim and background: Automated perimetry plays an important role in the diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma patients. The purpose of this study is to prospectively determine parity between Humphrey visual field analyzer (HVFA) perimetry (the current gold standard) and the VisuALL virtual reality perimeter (VRP). Materials and methods: In this prospective fully paired diagnostic accuracy study, patients with stable, long-term HVFA visual fields (horizontal dots for ≥4 consecutive visits on progression analysis) with preperimetric, mild, moderate, or severe visual field loss were familiarized with the VRP and then tested using its proprietary software. These results were used for point-by-point comparison with a contemporaneous HVFA test. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America (IRB approval #20-06-002). Results: The prospective study analyzed 43 eyes of 24 glaucoma patients. Spearman's correlation of mean deviation (MD) revealed a strong correlation between HVFA and VRP with rs(41) = 0.871, p < 0.001. The overall mean difference in locus-locus sensitivity between the devices was -0.4 ± 1.5 dB but varied for different visual field locations and glaucoma severity. Conclusion: The parity between the VRP and HVFA was remarkably strong for mild and moderate glaucoma. Given its portability, ease of use, space efficiency, and low cost, the VRP presents a viable alternative. Clinical significance: Automated perimetry, specifically the HVFA, has been the gold standard for visual field assessment since its introduction. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated the advantages of the VRP, allowing for safer visual assessment for both patient and clinician alike. Our study hopes to establish parity between these systems, allowing for the efficient integration of a novel head-mounted perimetry system that can safely diagnose and monitor glaucomatous progression in clinical practice. Precis: Investigation of parity between Olleyes VisuALL virtual reality perimetry (VRP) and existing standard HVFA perimetry is essential to the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. Linear correlations between the two were established from 43 glaucomatous eyes. Parity was strong for mild and moderate glaucoma, presenting VRP as a viable alternative. How to cite this article: Griffin JM, Slagle GT, Vu TA, et al. Prospective Comparison of VisuALL Virtual Reality Perimetry and Humphrey Automated Perimetry in Glaucoma. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2024;18(1):4-9.

Fifty Percent Reduction in Narcotic Use After Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Using Liposomal Bupivacaine.

OBJECTIVE: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery via a right minithoracotomy (RMT) is a common approach to different valve pathologies, tumor resection, and atrial septal defect (ASD) closure. We studied intraoperative field block using liposomal bupivacaine (LB) in these operations. METHODS: Consecutive 171 minimally invasive RMTs (fourth intercostal space) were studied, and patients in cardiogenic or septic shock, intravenous drug abuse, and those re-explored were excluded (n = 12). An early cohort was treated with standard postoperative analgesia while another underwent intraoperative field block with LB immediately after incision. We compared postoperative pain level, narcotic utilization (morphine milligram equivalent), and intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay. RESULTS: The procedures included 48 isolated mitral valve replacements (MVR); 2 MVR with other procedures; 93 mitral valve repairs (MVRr); 9 MVRr with other procedures; 4 isolated tricuspid valve repairs; 2 myxoma resections; 1 ASD closure. There were 13 patients in the non-LB group and 146 patients in the LB group. Use of LB decreased mean postoperative narcotic utilization by 50% (P = 0.003). The LB group had lower pain levels on postoperative day 1 (P = 0.039), which continued through postoperative day 5 (P = 0.030). We found no difference in ICU or hospital length of stay between groups. There were no complications from LB field block. CONCLUSIONS: LB field block decreases postoperative pain and narcotic utilization after cardiac surgery via a RMT, but it does not reduce length of stay. The technique is safe and should be considered in all patients undergoing RMT cardiac surgery.

Statin use and sex-specific stroke outcomes in patients with vascular disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although statins reduce the risk of stroke in patients with coronary heart disease, possible differing effects of statins on stroke outcomes based on sex remain uncertain. We investigated the relationships between statin use and sex-specific stroke incidence, severity, and mortality. METHODS: Data from 3 trials of oral glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (first and second Sibrafiban versus aspirin to Yield Maximum Protection from ischemic Heart events postacute cOroNary sYndromes [SYMPHONY] and Blockade of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Receptor to Avoid Vascular Occlusion [BRAVO]) were pooled and stroke outcomes compared among 8191 baseline statin users versus 14,752 nonusers. Time-to-event data were modeled with proportional hazards regression. Stroke severity was assessed retrospectively with the Canadian Neurological Scale (CNS) based on records with scoreable neurological examinations. RESULTS: A total of 217 subjects had strokes (0.95%). Statin users had a lower risk of stroke in unadjusted (hazard ratio [HR], 0.69; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.92) and risk-adjusted models (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.97). There was no difference in stroke mortality with statin use (P=0.8). CNS scores could be assigned to 106 of the subjects, with no difference in severity among statin users and nonusers (median CNS=10.5 in users versus CNS=9.75 in nonusers; P=0.14). Women had more severe strokes than men (median CNS=10.5 in men versus 9.5 in women; Poisson regression P=0.035). Women had more severe strokes after adjustment for statin use (P=0.03) and the combination of statin use, atrial fibrillation, and age (P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In patients included in these clinical trials of oral glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, statin use is associated with a reduced risk of stroke but not severity or mortality. Women had more severe strokes than men, a difference that was not explained by baseline characteristics or statin use.

Cardiac tamponade in the fibrinolytic era: analysis of >100,000 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening complication of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Data on the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of tamponade in patients with acute MI in the fibrinolytic era are limited. METHODS: Data from a combined clinical trials database of ST-segment elevation MI were used to evaluate the incidence of cardiac tamponade, baseline characteristics, and outcomes in patients with and without tamponade. Univariable and multivariable analyses assessed the relationship between patient characteristics and tamponade development, and the influence of tamponade on mortality. RESULTS: Of 102,060 patients, 865 (0.85%) developed isolated cardiac tamponade during initial hospitalization. Patients with tamponade were older (median 71.9 vs 61.6 years, P < .001), were more likely to be female (54.0% vs 25.1%, P < .001), were more likely to have an anterior MI (61.9% vs 41.5%, P < .001), and had a longer time from symptom onset to reperfusion (median 3.5 vs 2.8 hours, P < .001) than those without tamponade. Multivariable analyses identified increasing age, anterior MI location, female sex, and increased time from symptom onset to treatment as significant independent predictors of tamponade. Patients with tamponade had an increased death rate at 30 days (hazard ratio 7.9, 95% CI 4.7-13.5). CONCLUSION: Cardiac tamponade occurs in < 1% of patients with fibrinolytic-treated acute MI and is associated with increased 30-day mortality. Time from symptom onset to treatment strongly predicted the development of tamponade, underscoring the need for continued efforts to increase speed to treatment in acute MI.

Differential treatment benefit of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition with percutaneous coronary intervention versus medical therapy for acute coronary syndromes: exploration of methods.

BACKGROUND: Although many believe that platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors should be used only in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, supporting data from randomized clinical trials are tenuous. The assumption that these agents are useful only in conjunction with percutaneous coronary intervention is based primarily on inappropriate subgroup analyses performed across the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor trials. METHODS AND RESULTS: We describe the problems with these analytical techniques and demonstrate that different approaches to the question can result in opposing answers. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical-practice decisions and practice guidelines should be based on overall trial results and not analyses of post-randomization subgroups.

Office space planning and design for medical practices: Part 3, Implementation, design, and construction.

The decision to build anew or remodel/add-on to your existing facility can be a tough one. Once that decision is reached, the implementation of design and construction presents many difficult hurdles on the road to achieving a functional office space in a cost effective manner. This article will continue to explore just how a practice goes about that implementation process.

Utility of restaging endoscopic ultrasound after neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Currently, the most accurate staging test for patients with esophageal cancer is endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). At many institutions, patients who have completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy for esophageal cancer undergo restaging EUS before proceeding to surgical resection. The benefit of this restaging procedure remains controversial. METHODS: We retrospectively studied consecutive patients who had pre-resection restaging EUS after receiving neoadjuvant treatment to assess accuracy of EUS restaging and determine whether it predicted survival. RESULTS: Final pathologic data were available for 73 patients who underwent restaging EUS (3 patients had missing T or N stage at one time point). Median time from restaging EUS to resection was 20 days. Restaging EUS accurately predicted pathologic T status in 26 of 72 patients (36%), N status in 44 of 71 (62%), and detected a complete pathologic response in 2 of 19 (10.5%). EUS inappropriately classified 10 patients as T0 N0. Agreement between EUS and pathologic staging was poor for T (κ=0.14) and N status (κ=0.24). Median time from resection to death or last follow-up was 20 months. Pathologic T and N status were each significant predictors of survival (p=0.049 and p=0.0004, respectively). There were nonsignificant trends toward better survival for lower EUS T (p=0.32) and N status (p=0.0946). CONCLUSIONS: Restaging by EUS before resection did not accurately predict pathologic stage in patients with esophageal cancer who received neoadjuvant treatment. As a result of this investigation, our institution no longer routinely performs restaging EUS.