Underactuated fluidic control of a continuous multistable membrane.

This work addresses the challenge of underactuated pattern generation in continuous multistable structures. The examined configuration is a slender membrane which can concurrently sustain two different equilibria states, separated by transition regions, and is actuated by a viscous fluid. We first demonstrate the formation and motion of a single transition region and then sequencing of several such moving transition regions to achieve arbitrary patterns by controlling the inlet pressure of the actuating fluid. Finally, we show that nonuniform membrane properties, along with transient dynamics of the fluid, can be leveraged to directly snap through any segment of the membrane.

Aneurysmal right ventricular outflow in an adult patient with unrepaired Tetralogy of Fallot and an absent pulmonary valve.

BACKGROUND: Absent pulmonary valve (PV) is a rare and severe variant seen in only 3% to 6% of patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Fetuses with this combined condition who survive through birth typically need intervention in infancy or early childhood because of respiratory distress, heart failure, or failure to thrive. DISCUSSION: Here, we describe the case of a 37 year old gentleman who presented with a diagnosis of TOF with absent PV, hugely dilated right and left pulmonary arteries and an aneurysmal right ventricular outflow. CONCLUSION: TOF with absent PV surviving into adulthood is a rarity. An aneurysmal right ventricular outflow tract in an unrepaired case of TOF has not been described before. Massively dilated left and right pulmonary arteries as in this case can cause significant and even life-threatening airway compromise, thus necessitating early surgical repair.

Isolated ventricular inversion with hypoplastic right ventricle and pulmonary stenosis in an adolescent with situs solitus: a rare combination.

Isolated ventricular inversion with situs solitus is a severe and rare congenital cardiac malformation characterised by an atrioventricular discordance but with ventriculo-arterial concordance. Here, we present the rare case of an adolescent with isolated ventricular inversion and hypoplasia of the left-sided morphological right ventricle and pulmonary stenosis, a first of its kind to be reported in the literature.

Evaluation of coronary arteries in congenital heart disease in children: diagnostic comparison of electrocardiogram-gated and non-electro-cardiogram-gated computed tomography cardiac angiography.

Purpose: To compare the visualization and anatomy of coronary arteries in children (≤ 2 years) with congenital heart disease (CHD) on non-electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated and ECG-gated computed tomography angiography (CTA). Material and methods: In this retrospective study, approved by the Ethics Committee of our institute, evaluation of coronary arteries in CHD was performed in 40 children on non-ECG-gated CTA and in 42 children on ECG-gated CTA. The origin and course of the right coronary artery (RCA), left main coronary artery (LMCA), left anterior descending (LAD) artery, and left circumflex (LCX) artery were evaluated by 2 paediatric radiologists independently. Results: ECG-gated CT scans yielded increased (additional) visualization of all the coronary arteries, when compared to non-ECG-gated CT scans. The RCA, LMCA, LAD artery, and LCX artery were visualized in 47.5%, 62.5%, 55%, and 32.5% of children, respectively, on non-ECG-gated studies, while they were visualized in 64.3%, 92.8%, 80.9%, and 62% children, respectively, on ECG-gated studies. The coronary artery anatomical variations were also supplementarily detected more in the ECG-gated group (23.8%) than in the non-ECG gated group (2.5%). Conclusions: ECG-gated CT cardiac angiography studies yield enhanced diagnostic outcomes for the evaluation of the coronary arteries in comparison to non-ECG-gated studies.

Mixed type total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: Early results and midterm outcomes of surgical correction.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The morphological heterogeneity of anomalous pulmonary venous drainage in mixed type total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) has important implications in preoperative diagnosis and surgical repair resulting in high mortality in these patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of 14 patients with mixed type TAPVC undergoing biventricular repair between January 2012 and December 2019 was conducted. A descriptive analysis was done, highlighting the anatomic variation, diagnostic and surgical approach, and surgical outcomes in these patients. RESULTS: The most common anatomic pattern was "3 by 1" (79%) followed by "2 by 2" (21%). The correct diagnosis by transthoracic echocardiography was made in 10 (71%) of the 14 patients. In contrast, preoperative computed tomographic (CT) angiography was performed in 10 patients and correct diagnosis was obtained in 8 (80%) of them. Pulmonary venous obstruction was seen in one patient before surgery. The in-hospital mortality was 14% (2/14). Four patients had pulmonary hypertensive crisis in the postoperative period. The average follow-up was 54 ± 27 months (range: 17-98 months) after surgical repair, and all surviving patients were asymptomatic. There was no late death. No clinically apparent sequelae were seen in six patients in whom isolated left superior pulmonary vein drainage was left uncorrected. CONCLUSION: An accurate diagnosis of anatomic pattern in mixed type TAPVC can be difficult to establish in all the patients before surgery. Detailed intraoperative assessment, individualized surgical approach, and aggressive perioperative management may reduce surgical mortality. Operative survivors have good midterm outcome.

Implications of left atrial enlargement and patent foramen ovale creation on early surgical outcomes in patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

INTRODUCTION: In patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), left atrium (LA) is small and suprasystemic pulmonary artery (PA) pressures may be present in some patients. In our study, we studied the relationship between surgical LA enlargement and patent foramen ovale (PFO) creation separately on the outcomes of patients with TAPVC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of the 130 patients operated in our institute between January 2014 and December 2020, LA was enlarged in 60 patients. LA enlargement was done using a larger patch for atrial septal defect (ASD) closure. Thus, the LA volume was increased by shifting the patch towards the right atrium (RA). Suprasystemic or high PA pressures were present in 60 patients. In 33 patients, PFO was created. Early surgical outcomes were determined on the basis of vasoactive inotropic score (VIS), hours of ventilation, hours of inotropic support, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and hospital stay. RESULT: Between the LA enlarged and nonenlarged group there was statistically significant less VIS score (18 [13-27.5] vs. 24 [18-30], p value .019), hours of ventilation (23 [16-46.5] vs. 26 [18-60], p value .039), hours of inotropic support (45.5 [30-72] vs. 55 [38-84], p value .038), and ICU stay (7 [5-9] vs. 8 [7-10] p value .0352) and statistically nonsignificant less hospital stay (11.5 [9-13] vs. 12 [9-14], p value .424). In patients with preoperative suprasystemic or high PA pressures, there was a statistically significant less VIS score (16 [11-23.5] vs. 18 [13-25], p value .044), hours of ventilation (20 [14-37] vs. 22 [18-39], p value .038), hours of inotropic support (34 [29.5-71] vs. 38 [30-78], p value .042), and hospital stay (9 [5-12] vs. 11 [9-14], p value .038) and statistically nonsignificant less ICU stay (7 [5.5-9] vs. 7 [6-9], p value .886) in the group with a PFO with respect to the other group in which no PFO was created. CONCLUSION: In patients with TAPVC, LA can be enlarged by using a large ASD patch and thus shifting the septum towards RA. Early surgical outcomes were improved with LA enlargement. In patients with suprasystemic or high PA pressures, leaving a PFO improved the postoperative outcomes.

High origin of the right coronary artery with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the left superior caval vein in tetralogy of Fallot.

The prevalence of anomalous origin of coronary artery in tetralogy of Fallot has been reported to be around 4% to 6%. The association of high take-off of the right coronary artery from the distal part of the ascending aorta in tetralogy of Fallot in the presence of a partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) to the left superior caval vein draining into the left atrium is not known to the best of our knowledge. We herein describe such a case when the anomalous right coronary artery and the PAPVC were detected incidentally during intracardiac repair; signifying the importance of a thorough assessment of the anatomy before surgery.

Surgical outcome in aortopulmonary window beyond the neonatal period.

OBJECTIVE: Aortopulmonary window (APW) is a rare congenital cardiac defect accounting for 0.1% to 0.2% of all congenital cardiac defects. We here present the current midterm outcome of surgical repair of APW in patients more than 3 months of age. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted to identify all the patients more than 3 months of age at presentation who underwent surgical repair of APW between June 2010 and August 2018 at our tertiary care institute and their outcome was analyzed. RESULTS: We found 14 patients of APW operated at the age of more than 3 months over a period of 8 years. Mean age of the cohort was 2.29 ± 2.96 years ranging from 3 months to 10 years with 57.14% being males. There were 11 (78.57%) patients with isolated APW and 3 (21.43%) had associated cardiac defects including tetralogy of Fallot (n = 1), ventricular septal defect (n = 1), subaortic membrane causing subaortic stenosis (n = 1), and one had extracardiac malformations. Two patients had type I, nine had type II, and three had type III APW as per Jacobs' classification. The mean size of the defect was 14.14 ± 4.33 mm. Mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 26.91 ± 16.65 hours (range, 12.25-67 hours). There was one in-hospital mortality and no late mortality over a mean follow-up of 3.06 ± 2.19 years. None of the patients required any kind of reintervention. CONCLUSION: Good results can be obtained even on late presentation with adequate perioperative care of the patients with the reversible pulmonary hypertensive disease.

Effect of Continuous Paravertebral Dexmedetomidine Administration on Intraoperative Anesthetic Drug Requirement and Post-Thoracotomy Pain Syndrome After Thoracotomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of paravertebral administration of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to local anesthetic on the intraoperative anesthetic drug requirement and incidence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind trial. SETTING: Single university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 30 patients who underwent elective thoracotomy and were assigned randomly to either the Ropin or Dexem group (n = 15 each). INTERVENTIONS: All patients received the study medications through paravertebral catheter. Patients in the Ropin group received a bolus of 15 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine over 3-to-5 minutes followed by an infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine at 0.1 mL/kg/hour. Patients in the Dexem group received 15 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine plus dexmedetomidine, 1 µg/kg bolus over 3-to-5 minutes followed by an infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine plus 0.2 µg/kg/hour of dexmedetomidine at 0.1 mL/kg/hour. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome of the study was intraoperative anesthetic drug requirement. The secondary outcome was the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome 2 months after surgery. The amount of propofol required for induction of anesthesia was significantly less in the Dexem group (Dexem 49.33±20.51 v 74.33±18.40 in the Ropin group, p = 0.002). End-tidal isoflurane needed to maintain target entropy was significantly less in the Dexem group at all time points. Intraoperative fentanyl requirement was lower in the Dexem group (Dexem 115.33±33.77 v 178.67±32.48 in the Ropin group, p = 0.002). Postoperative pain scores and morphine consumption were significantly less in the Dexem group (p<0.001). The incidence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome was comparable between the 2 groups (69.23% v 50%, p = 0.496). CONCLUSIONS: Paravertebral dexmedetomidine administration resulted in decreased intraoperative anesthetic drug requirement, less pain, and lower requirements of supplemental opioid in the postoperative period. However, it had no effect on the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome.

Utility of Sonoclot in Prediction of Postoperative Bleeding in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery for Congenital Cyanotic Heart Disease: A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the utility of Sonoclot in prediction of postoperative bleeding in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass for congenital cyanotic heart disease. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: Single university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-seven pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery for congenital cyanotic heart disease. INTERVENTIONS: Laboratory coagulation parameters (prothrombin time, international normalization ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, D-dimer) as well as point-of-care Sonoclot glass bead activation time, clot rate, and platelet function (gbPF) were done before induction of anesthesia and following heparin reversal after termination of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in all patients. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Postoperative blood loss was monitored by the amount of chest tube drainage. The primary outcome was to define Sonoclot parameters for prediction of postoperative bleeding. Secondary outcomes studied were amount of postoperative blood loss, transfusion requirement of various blood products, incidence of surgical re-exploration, duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit and hospital stay. Among studied subjects, 37.9% (33 of 87 patients) were designated as bleeders while 62.1% (54 of 87 patients) were non-bleeders. Lower age, D-dimer, and gbPF test after termination of CPB following heparin neutralization were predictive for postoperative bleeders. Among these, post-protamine gbPF had the highest area under the curve (0.725), 95% confidence interval (0.619-0.831) for prediction of postoperative bleeders. Duration of mechanical ventilation (26.41±36.44 v 8.25±6.36 h, respectively, p = 0.001), intensive care unit stay (7.36 ± 4.05 v 4.96 ± 2.49, p = 0.001), and hospital stay (11.69±4.82 v 8.63±3.48 p = 0.001) were higher in bleeders; however, incidence of re-exploration was comparable between both groups. CONCLUSION: Postoperative bleeders may be predicted independently by post-CPB gbPF, postoperative D-dimer, and lower age of patients. Among these, post-CPB gbPF has maximum predictive value.

Successful Management of a Very Unusual Coronary Pattern in Transposition of the Great Arteries.

Coronary artery anatomy is the key to a successful arterial switch operation in transposition of the great arteries. We came across an unusual coronary pattern in a child with transposition in which the three major coronary arteries were seen arising from all three aortic sinuses. This coronary pattern is the first of its kind in transposition, and this case report emphasizes the difficulty in translocating such a rare coronary pattern while performing an arterial switch operation.

Early and Mid-Term Outcomes of Primary Repair After Atrioventricular Canal Defect: A Single-Center Eight-Year Experience.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Surgical repair techniques and management of patients with atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) have progressed over the last few decades. Early and definitive interventions have become the choice of treatment for these patients. Based on this background, we aimed to review the early and mid-term outcomes of primary AVSD repair. METHODS: A total of 53 patients with a mean age of 3.45 ± 5.67 years underwent definitive repair for AVSD between January 2014 and June 2021. The clinical data including age, type of defect, associated co-anomalies, symptoms, pulmonary hypertension, etc. were collected and assessed retrospectively. Mitral regurgitation (MR) as a clinical outcome was assessed at 0, 1, 2, and 5 years. RESULTS: Among the recruited patients, 35 (66.1%) were male and 18 (33.9%) were female. Of 53 patients, repair for the complete defect was done in 38 (71.69%) patients, repair for intermediate/partial defect was done in 15 (23.1%) patients, and one patient underwent repair for incomplete type. Other associated co-anomalies were anterior mitral leaflet (12 (22.6%)), atrial and ventricular septal defect (VSD) (30 (56.6%)), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (11 (20.8%)). Different procedures for surgical repair included patch closure, cleft repair, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) VSD closure. After repair, the mean follow-up period was 46.73 ± 27.37 months. Overall mortality was 3.78% (2/53), and two patients underwent reintervention due to symptomatic severe MR. CONCLUSIONS: A definitive and timely correction of AVSD shows satisfactory early and mid-term results.

Correction to: Life Quality Index Assessment in Breast Cancer Patients.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s13193-019-00923-8.].

Digital Forensic Investigation of Healthcare Data in Cloud Computing Environment.

Cloud computing is widely used in various sectors such as finance, health care, and education. Factors such as cost optimization, interoperability, data analysis, and data ownership functionalities are attracting healthcare industry to use cloud services. Security and forensic concerns are associated in cloud environments as sensitive healthcare data can attract the outside attacker and inside malicious events. Storage is the most used service in cloud computing environments. Data stored in iCloud (Apple Inc. Cloud Service Provider) is accessible via a Web browser, cloud client application, or mobile application. Apple Inc. provides iCloud service to synchronize data from MacBook, iPhone, iPad, etc. Core applications such as Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Photos, Notes, Reminders, and Keynote are synced with iCloud. Various operations can be performed on cloud data, including editing, deleting, uploading, and downloading data, as well as synchronizing data between devices. These operations generate log files and directories that are essential from an investigative perspective. This paper presents a taxonomy of iCloud forensic tools that provides a searchable catalog for forensic practitioners to identify the tools that meet their technical requirements. A case study involving healthcare data storage on iCloud service demonstrates that artifacts related to environmental information, browser activities (history, cookies, cache), synchronization activities, log files, directories, data content, and iCloud user activities are stored on a MacBook system. A GUI-based dashboard is developed to support iCloud forensics, specifically the collection of artifacts from a MacBook system.

Revisiting Combination Chemotherapy as a Single Modality Palliative Therapy for Advanced Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma-a Single Institution Experience.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an aggressive malignancy with dismal outcome especially in metastatic setting. Consensus for ideal treatment of advanced and metastatic ATC remains elusive. This study aimed to analyze the impact of palliative chemotherapy versus supportive care on overall survival in patients with metastatic anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Patients diagnosed with ATC between the period January 2018 and December 2019 were prospectively followed. The patients opting for palliative chemotherapy received 3 weekly Paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) and Carboplatin (AUC-5). Out of the 31 patients diagnosed with ATC, clinicopathological profile of 29 patients was analyzed (2 patients who underwent upfront surgical resection with curative intent were excluded), out of which 20 patients were included in the survival analysis. The median age of presentation was 55.8 years with male:female ratio 1.9:1. Seventeen out of the total 29 patients presented with anaplastic transformation in long-standing goiter. Nineteen out of 20 (95%) patients presented with distant metastasis with lungs being the most common site. Nodal metastasis was present in all patients. Invasion of the strap muscles (90%) and trachea (80%) was the most common peri-thyroidal tissue invasion followed by invasion of the esophagus (40%), internal jugular vein (30%), and carotid artery (5%). Twelve out of the 20 patients opted for palliative chemotherapy. Overall, median survival from the time of diagnosis was 2.6 months, with median survival in patients receiving chemotherapy 3.1 months and those opting for supportive care 1.6 months (p=0.004). Out of all the factors analyzed, male sex (HR 6.521, 95% CI 1.143-37.206, p value 0.03) and vascular invasion (HR 0.066, 95% CI 0.009-0.499, p value 0.008) were poor prognostic indicators. Palliative chemotherapy showed increased survival benefit in patients with metastatic ATC. Male sex and vascular invasion were found to be significant factors associated with poor outcomes on Cox regression analysis.

PTH Gradient as a Predictor of Post Thyroidectomy Hypocalcemia.

BACKGROUND: Post thyroidectomy hypocalcemia is a common complication. Post thyroidectomy PTH estimation at varying cut offs and time have been used to predict hypocalcemia and aid in early and safe discharge. Single post thyroidectomy PTH values may be spuriously normal or high in a patient that subsequently develops unanticipated low calcium levels. This study aimed to evaluate the percentage change in preoperative and postoperative PTH (Gradient) in predicting post thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. METHODS: Forty-one patients of thyroidectomy had PTH preoperatively, postoperatively one-hour (PTH0) and day 1 (PTH1). PTH gradient was calculated as percentage change in postoperative PTH to preoperative (PTHG0, PTHG1). Hypocalcemia was categorized into mild or severe based on corrected calcium values and presence of clinical signs and/or symptoms of hypocalcemia. RESULTS: Ten (24.3%) and 11 (26.8%) patients had mild and severe hypocalcemia, respectively. PTHG0 and PTHG1 were significantly associated with risk for hypocalcemia (P-0.006 vs P-0.002). Higher PTH0 and PTH1 gradients were significantly associated with risk of hypocalcemia (PTH0 gradient OR-0.006, 95% CI 0.00-0.175, P-0.006; PTH1 gradient OR- 0.008, 95% CI 0.00-0.166, P-0.002). PTH0 gradient was the best predictor of hypocalcemia (AUC 0.855, SE-0.065, 95% CI0.710 to 0.945, P value <0.001) and PTH1 value was a better predictor of severe/clinical hypocalcemia (AUC 0.844, SE-0.072, 95% CI 0.697 to 0.938, P- value-0.001). Based on ROC, cutoffs of PTH0 gradient and PTH1 gradient for predicting hypocalcemia and severe/clinical hypocalcemia were taken as 60% and 75%, respectively (sensitivity 70%, specificity 90.5% for hypocalcemia; sensitivity 65%, specificity 90.9% for severe hypocalcemia). CONCLUSION: PTH gradient may be a better predictor of hypocalcemia and PTH1 gradient of >75% correlates with high risk of severe/clinical post thyroidectomy hypocalcemia.

A Case Report of a Double Catastrophe: True Left Ventricular Aneurysm and Ventricular Septal Rupture Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction and Presenting as Chronic Heart Failure.

A combination of left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) and ventricular septal rupture (VSR) in an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patient presenting as heart failure is extremely rare. Here, we report a rare case of concurrent true inferoposterior LVA and VSR secondary to inferior wall myocardial infarction (IWMI) presenting as chronic heart failure (CHF). To the best of our knowledge, this is the third reported case in the literature. A 61-year-old man, who had an IWMI about one month prior, presented with CHF. Echocardiography revealed true inferoposterior LVA and VSR. Coronary angiography revealed double vessel disease involving the right coronary artery (RCA) and left circumflex artery (LCX). Left ventricular angiography confirmed a large posterobasal aneurysm and VSR. The patient underwent successful coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and ventriculoplasty along with VSR patch repair.

Systolic anterior motion of mitral valve following resection of subaortic membrane and intracardiac repair of tetralogy of fallot.

Systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve is commonly observed in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and in few patients after mitral valve repair or aortic valve replacement. It may cause significant hemodynamic instability due to left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction and resulting mitral regurgitation. Subaortic septal bulge is considered as a one of the risk factor for the development of SAM as it narrows the LVOT. We report a case of tetralogy of fallot with subaortic septal bulge who developed SAM of the anterior mitral leaflet, intraoperatively, after resection of a subaortic membrane.