Prolonged Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Exposure After Pleurodesis Increases Pneumothorax Recurrence: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) in patients undergoing pleurodesis remains controversial. Although many surgeons are comfortable prescribing NSAIDs post-operatively, some oppose this practice due to concerns of suppressing the inflammatory response and quality of pleurodesis. Only a small body of inconsistent publications exists with respect to guiding therapy in this common clinical scenario. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken assessing effect of NSAID exposure on pleurodesis outcomes. An institutional thoracic surgery database was reviewed yielding 147 patients who underwent pleurodesis for pneumothorax between 2010 and 2018. Medical records and imaging were reviewed for patient characteristics, NSAID exposure, recurrent pneumothorax and other adverse events. RESULTS: There was no overall difference between rates of recurrence and procedural failure of pleurodesis (Relative Risk [RR] 1.67 [95% CI 0.74-3.77]). However, NSAID exposure of >48 hours was associated with increased risk of recurrent pneumothorax (RR 2.16 [95% CI 1.05-4.45]). There was no increased rate of other adverse events related to NSAID usage. CONCLUSIONS: NSAID exposure does not increase failure rates or other adverse events following pleurodesis for pneumothorax. However, prolonged NSAID exposure post-pleurodesis may increase procedural failure rates. Further large volume randomised control trials are required.

Clinical Outcomes Associated With Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty in the Contemporary Era.

BACKGROUND: Severe aortic stenosis is the most common acquired valvular disorder. Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) is considered for patients who are not suitable for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve insertion (TAVI). The American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology recommend BAV as a bridging procedure for SAVR and TAVI due to the significant morbidity and mortality associated with it. We aim to investigate the morbidity and mortality associated with BAV only, BAV bridged to TAVI and TAVI-only patients over 3 years in Epworth Richmond, a tertiary hospital in Victoria, Australia. METHODS: We divided patients into three groups including BAV only, BAV bridged to TAVI and TAVI only and assessed the baseline demographics, procedural complications, and mortality between the groups. RESULTS: Of 438 patients, 26 patients underwent BAV only, 36 patients bridged to TAVI post-BAV and 376 patients underwent TAVI directly. All patients had significant reductions in their mean AV pressure gradient (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in periprocedural morbidity and mortality between the groups. At 6-month follow-up, the mortality in patients undergoing only BAV was 31%, compared with 8.3% in BAV bridged to TAVI and 1.9% in TAVI-only group (p<0.01). The 12-month follow-up demonstrated a similar pattern; 42.3% vs 13.9% vs 4.5% (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests no significant difference in inpatient and periprocedural morbidity and mortality between the three groups but a significant mortality benefit at 6-month and 12-month post valve insertion, either directly or post BAV.

Outcome measures in childhood glaucoma: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: To synthesize the outcome measures used by randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for childhood glaucoma. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched from inception to February 17, 2023. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies related to childhood glaucoma were included. Primary and secondary outcomes were extracted and the data was used to generate a literature review. RESULTS: This review identified 42 unique reports pertaining to childhood glaucomas. Most of the studies originated from Egypt, India, and the USA. Intraocular pressure (IOP) outcomes were the most frequent outcomes studied, followed by clinical outcomes and safety outcomes. Clinical outcomes were the most common secondary outcomes studied, followed by IOP outcomes and safety outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review found heterogenous outcomes with IOP outcomes as the most studied primary outcome. As the remaining outcomes were not consistently utilized, this review highlights the need for a consensus on studies of pediatric glaucoma.

Predictors of Pacemaker Insertion Post-Sutureless (Perceval) Aortic Valve Implantation.

INTRODUCTION: The use of rapid deployment sutureless aortic valve replacement (AVR) has become a viable alternative to conventional AVR especially in intermediate and high-risk patients. However, sutureless AVR has been associated with increased rates of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation compared with conventionally implanted aortic valve prostheses. The aim of this study was to determine predictive factors for complete heart block requiring insertion of a PPM post-AVR with a Perceval S sutureless valve (LivaNova, London, UK). Such knowledge will help to improve patient counselling, selection and management of patients undergoing sutureless AVR. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective cohort study assessed all patients who underwent insertion of the Perceval sutureless aortic valve prosthesis between July 2015 and September 2019. Medical records were reviewed for demographic, preoperative electrocardiograph (ECG), and operative features related to postoperative PPM implantation and follow-up in the electrophysiology clinic. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty (130) patients without pre-existing PPM underwent sutureless AVR (66.9% male, average age 74.4±6.6 years). Fifty-seven (57) underwent concomitant cardiac surgical procedures. Eight (8) patients underwent redo cardiac surgery. Nineteen (19) of the 130 (14.6%) patients required insertion of a PPM during their postoperative course. Factors associated with PPM insertion were right bundle branch block (overall n=15, PPM vs No PPM: 8/19 vs 7/111 [42.1 % vs. 6.31 %; p<0.01]), longer QRS duration 113.32ms±22.24 ms vs 100.52±20.96 ms (p=0.017) and longer PR Interval 185.166±42.38 ms vs 169.23±25.70 ms (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Insertion of rapid deployment sutureless aortic valves in the setting of pre-existing right bundle branch block, prolonged QRS complex and longer PR intervals is associated with increased risk of postoperative PPM requirement. These factors should be considered when preoperatively counselling and postoperatively managing patients when balloon expandable sutureless valves are used.

Childhood Lensectomy Is Associated with Static and Dynamic Reduction in Schlemm Canal Size: A Biomechanical Hypothesis of Glaucoma after Lensectomy.

PURPOSE: To compare Schlemm canal (SC) and trabecular meshwork (TM) in children with healthy eyes and those with and without glaucoma after lensectomy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty children 4 to 16 years of age with healthy eyes and 48 children who underwent lensectomy (124 healthy and 72 postlensectomy eyes). METHODS: Anterior segment (AS) OCT (Tomey SS-1000 CASIA; Tomey, Nagoya, Japan) of the nasal iridocorneal angle at 2 levels of accommodative effort (2.5 diopters [D] and 15 D). For each parameter and state of accommodation, a random effects model was fitted to estimate differences between healthy eyes and eyes with history of lensectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dimensions of SC and TM and conventional AS OCT iridocorneal angle measurements. RESULTS: The horizontal diameter of SC and its cross-sectional area (CSA) are significantly smaller in eyes that have undergone lensectomy versus healthy eyes. Accommodative effort increases SC size in healthy eyes, but not in eyes that have undergone lensectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Lensectomy is associated with a reduction in SC size and a loss of physiologic SC dilatation during accommodative effort, which may reflect a reduction in outflow facility and may contribute to the development of glaucoma after lensectomy.

The Oculome Panel Test: Next-Generation Sequencing to Diagnose a Diverse Range of Genetic Developmental Eye Disorders.

PURPOSE: To develop a comprehensive next-generation sequencing panel assay that screens genes known to cause developmental eye disorders and inherited eye disease and to evaluate its diagnostic yield in a pediatric cohort with malformations of the globe, anterior segment anomalies, childhood glaucoma, or a combination thereof. DESIGN: Evaluation of diagnostic test. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred seventy-seven children, 0 to 16 years of age, diagnosed with nonsyndromic or syndromic developmental eye defects without a genetic diagnosis. METHODS: We developed a new oculome panel using a custom-designed Agilent SureSelect QXT target capture method (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA) to capture and perform parallel high-throughput sequencing analysis of 429 genes associated with eye disorders. Bidirectional Sanger sequencing confirmed suspected pathogenic variants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Collated clinical details and oculome molecular genetic results. RESULTS: The oculome design covers 429 known eye disease genes; these are subdivided into 5 overlapping virtual subpanels for anterior segment developmental anomalies including glaucoma (ASDA; 59 genes), microphthalmia-anophthalmia-coloboma (MAC; 86 genes), congenital cataracts and lens-associated conditions (70 genes), retinal dystrophies (RET; 235 genes), and albinism (15 genes), as well as additional genes implicated in optic atrophy and complex strabismus (10 genes). Panel development and testing included analyzing 277 clinical samples and 3 positive control samples using Illumina sequencing platforms; more than 30× read depth was achieved for 99.5% of the targeted 1.77-Mb region. Bioinformatics analysis performed using a pipeline based on Freebayes and ExomeDepth to identify coding sequence and copy number variants, respectively, resulted in a definitive diagnosis in 68 of 277 samples, with variability in diagnostic yield between phenotypic subgroups: MAC, 8.2% (8 of 98 cases solved); ASDA, 24.8% (28 of 113 cases solved); other or syndromic, 37.5% (3 of 8 cases solved); RET, 42.8% (21 of 49 cases solved); and congenital cataracts and lens-associated conditions, 88.9% (8 of 9 cases solved). CONCLUSIONS: The oculome test diagnoses a comprehensive range of genetic conditions affecting the development of the eye, potentially replacing protracted and costly multidisciplinary assessments and allowing for faster targeted management. The oculome enabled molecular diagnosis of a significant number of cases in our sample cohort of varied ocular birth defects.

Quality of Life and Functional Vision in Children with Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of glaucoma on functional vision and on vision-related (VR) and health-related (HR) quality of life (QoL) in children up to 16 years of age. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred nineteen children 2 to 16 years of age (mean age, 9.4 years; standard deviation [SD], 4.56 years) with glaucoma and their parents. METHODS: Completion of 3 validated instruments for children to assess (1) functional visual ability (FVA) with the Cardiff Visual Ability Questionnaire for Children (CVAQC), (2) VR QoL with the Impact of Vision Impairment for Children (IVI-C), and (3) HR QoL with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) version 4.0. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cardiff Visual Ability Questionnaire for Children, IVI-C, and PedsQL scores. RESULTS: Scores for FVA, VR QoL, and HR QoL were reduced in children with glaucoma: median CVAQC score, -1.24 (interquartile range [IQR], -2.2 to -0.11; range, -3.00 higher visual ability to +2.80 lower visual ability); mean IVI-C score, 67.3 (SD, 14.4; normal VR QoL, 96); median PedsQL self-report, 78.8 (IQR, 67.4-90.2); parent report, 71.2 (IQR, 55.7-85.8); and family impact score, 74.3 (IQR, 56.9-88.5; normal HR QoL, 100). Psychosocial subscores were lower than physical subscores on the PedsQL. Older children reported less impairment on CVAQC, IVI-C, and PedsQL than younger children. Parents reported greater impact on their child's HR QoL than children reported themselves. CONCLUSIONS: Glaucoma and its management have a marked impact on a child's FVA and QoL. Children with glaucoma report HR QoL scores similar to those described by children with severe congenital cardiac defects, who have undergone liver transplants, or who have acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Glaucoma Drainage Device Surgery Outcomes in Children With Uveitic Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate outcomes of glaucoma drainage device (GDD) implantation children with uveitic glaucoma. DESIGN: Retrospective interventional case series. METHODS: Success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) ≥5 and ≤21 mm Hg. Failure was defined at final follow-up when the IOP was outside the success criterion, and visual function was no perception of light or if further glaucoma surgery (excluding removal of intraluminal stent suture or needling) was required. RESULTS: Fifty eyes of 36 children with uveitic glaucoma underwent GDD implantation. Mean age at surgery was 10.1±3.1 years (range 5-17) with a mean follow-up of 113±61 months (range 8-228). Mean cumulative probabilities of success (95% CI) were 0.98 (0.86-1.00) at 1 year, 0.87 (0.73-0.94) at 5 years, and 0.59 (0.32-0.78) at 15 years. Fourteen tubes were classified as failed, with 12 due to uncontrolled IOP (11 eyes required a second GDD); 1 eye, removal of the tube due to plate exposure; and 1 eye, lost light perception. Postoperative complications occurred in 36% of patients and included hypotony (22%), tube exposure (6%), tube obstruction (4%), corneal decompensation (2%), and cystoid macular edema (2%). Visual acuity remained stable (preoperation 0.35±0.42 vs postoperation 0.45±0.67, P = .49). IOP was significantly reduced from 31.4±7.5 mm Hg to 14.4±5.1 mm Hg (P < .0001) as were the number of glaucoma medications 3.5±1.0 vs 1.1±1.3 (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Refractory pediatric uveitic glaucoma can be treated successfully by GDD implantation. Further interventions to manage consequences of glaucoma or the underlying disease are common, and visual function is maintained in the majority of cases.

Homograft Versus Valves and Valved Conduits for Extensive Aortic Valve Endocarditis with Aortic Root Involvement/Destruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Aortic valve infective endocarditis is a life-threatening condition. Patients frequently present profoundly unwell and extensive surgery may be required to correct the underlying anatomical deficits and control sepsis. Periannular involvement occurs in more than 10% of patients with aortic valve endocarditis. Complex aortic valve endocarditis has a mortality rate of 10 to 40%. Longstanding surgical dogma suggests homografts represent the optimal replacement option in complex aortic valve endocarditis; however, there is a paucity of evidence and lack of consensus on the optimal replacement choice. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed utilizing EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane databases to review articles describing homografts versus aortic valve replacement and/or valved conduit graft implantation for complex aortic valve endocarditis. The outcomes of interest were mortality, reinfection, and reoperation. Eleven studies were included in this meta-analysis, contributing 810 episodes of complex aortic valve endocarditis. All included reports were cohort studies. There was no statistically significant difference in overall mortality (risk ratio [RR] 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-1.59; p = 0.95), reinfection (RR 0.89; 95% CI, 0.45-1.78; p = 0.74), or reoperation (RR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.38-2.14; p = 0.87) between the homograft and valve replacement/valved conduit graft groups. Overall, there was no difference in mortality, reinfection, or reoperation rates between homografts and other valve or valved conduits in management of complex aortic endocarditis. However, there is a paucity of high-quality evidence in the area, and comparison of valve types warrants further investigation.

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: a systematic review.

Background: Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is the gold standard treatment for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). However, the results are poorly quantified outside a few registry reports and several individual centers. Methods: A systematic review was performed searching five electronic databases assessing the outcomes for adult patients undergoing PTE for CTEPH. All articles that reported mortality data were included. Primary outcome measures were early/inpatient mortality; secondary outcomes were survival, pulmonary haemodynamics, morbidity and functional status following PTE for CTEPH. Results were pooled via a meta-analysis of proportions and meta-regression. Results: A total of 5,717 studies were identified, yielding sixty-one relevant papers. Thirty-day mortality ranged from 0.8% to 24.4%, and on meta-analysis was 8.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 7.2-9.6%]. Mortality was noted to decrease with increasing center volume of PTE cases (P<0.01). Residual pulmonary hypertension was reported in 8.2% to 44.5% of patients. Conclusions: CTEPH is associated with acceptable short-term mortality and an improvement in pulmonary hemodynamics. With increasing volume of experience and ongoing developments over time peri-operative mortality continues to decrease.

Thoracic endovascular repair of chronic type B aortic dissection: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: At present, the optimal management strategy for chronic type B aortic dissection (CTBAD) remains unknown, as equipoise remains regarding medical management versus endovascular treatment versus open surgery. However, the results over recent years of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in CTBAD appear promising. The aim of this systematic review was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the available data reporting outcomes and survival rates for TEVAR in CTBAD. METHODS: Electronic searches of six databases were performed from inception to April 2021. All studies reporting outcomes, specifically 30-day mortality rates, for endovascular repair of CTBAD were identified. Relevant data were extracted, and a random-effects meta-analysis of proportions or means was performed to aggregate the data. Survival data were pooled using data derived from original Kaplan-Meier curves, which allows reconstruction of individual patient data. RESULTS: Forty-eight studies with 2,641 patients were identified. Early (<30 days) all-cause and aortic-related mortality rates were low at 1.6% and 0.5%, respectively. Incidence of retrograde type A dissection in the post-operative period was only 1.4%. There were also low rates of cerebrovascular accidents and spinal cord injury (1.1% and 0.9%, respectively). Late follow-up all-cause mortality was 8.0%, however, late aortic-related mortality was only 2.4%. Reintervention rates were 10.1% for endovascular and 6.7% for surgical reintervention. Pooled rates of overall survival at 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year were 91.5%, 84.7%, 77.7% and 56.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The significant heterogeneity in the available evidence and absence of consensus reporting standards are important considerations and concern when interpreting the data. Evaluation of the evidence suggests that TEVAR for CTBAD is a safe procedure with low rates of complications. However, the optimal treatment strategy for CTBAD remains debatable and requires further research. Evidence from high-quality registries and clinical trials are required to address these challenges.

Robotic versus conventional sternotomy mitral valve surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Robotic-assisted mitral valve surgery (RMVS) is becoming an increasingly performed procedure in cardiac surgery, however, its true safety and efficacy compared to the gold standard conventional sternotomy approach [conventional sternotomy mitral valve surgery (CSMVS)] remains debated. The aim of this meta-analysis was to provide a comprehensive analysis of all available literature comparing RMVS to CSMVS. Methods: An electronic search of five databases was performed to identify all relevant studies comparing RMVS to CSMVS. Pre-defined primary outcomes of interest included all-cause mortality, cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) and re-operation for bleeding. Secondary outcomes of interest included cross clamp time, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS), post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) and red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. Results: The search strategy identified fourteen studies qualifying for inclusion in this meta-analysis comparing RMVS to CSMVS. The outcomes of 6,341 patients (2,804 RMVS and 3,537 CSMVS) were included. RMVS had significantly lower mortality when compared to CSMVS group in both the unmatched [odds ratio (OR) 0.33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19-0.57; P<0.001] and matched cohorts (OR 0.35; 95% CI: 0.15-0.80; P=0.01). There was no significant difference in rates of CVA or re-operation for bleeding between the two groups in either the entire included cohort or matched patients. CSMVS had significantly shorter cross clamp time by 28 minutes (95% CI: 19.30-37.32; P<0.001) and CPB time by 49 minutes (95% CI: 36.16-61.01; P<0.001) which remained significantly shorter in the matched cohorts. RMVS had shorter ICU [mean difference (MD) 26 hours; 95% CI: -34.31 to -18.52; P<0.001] and hospital LOS (MD 2 days; 95% CI: -2.66 to -1.37; P<0.001), which were again both significantly shorter in the matched cohort. RMVS group also had fewer RBC transfusions (OR 0.44; 95% CI: 0.28-0.70; P<0.001). Conclusions: Current evidence on comparative outcomes of RMVS and CSMVS is limited with only low-quality studies currently available. This present meta-analysis suggests that RMVS may have lower mortality and shorter ICU and hospital LOS, however CSMVS may be associated with significantly shorter cross clamp and CPB times. Further analysis of high-quality studies with randomized data is required to verify these results.

Study of Optimal Perimetric Testing In Children (OPTIC): developing consensus and setting research priorities for perimetry in the management of children with glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: Perimetry is important in the management of children with glaucoma, but there is limited evidence-based guidance on its use. We report an expert consensus-based study to update guidance and identify areas requiring further research. METHODS: Experts were invited to participate in a modified Delphi consensus process. Panel selection was based on clinical experience of managing children with glaucoma and UK-based training to minimise diversity of view due to healthcare setting. Questionnaires were delivered electronically, and analysed to establish 'agreement'. Divergence of opinions was investigated and resolved where possible through further iterations. RESULTS: 7/9 experts invited agreed to participate. Consensus (≥5/7 (71%) in agreement) was achieved for 21/26 (80.8%) items in 2 rounds, generating recommendations to start perimetry from approximately 7 years of age (IQR: 6.75-7.25), and use qualitative methods in conjunction with automated reliability indices to assess test quality. There was a lack of agreement about defining progressive visual field (VF) loss and methods for implementing perimetry longitudinally. Panel members highlighted the importance of informing decisions based upon individual circumstances-from gauging maturity/capability when selecting tests and interpreting outcomes, to accounting for specific clinical features (e.g. poor IOP control and/or suspected progressive VF loss) when making decisions about frequency of testing. CONCLUSIONS: There is commonality of expert views in relation to implementing perimetry and interpreting test quality in the management of children with glaucoma. However, there remains a lack of agreement about defining progressive VF loss, and utilising perimetry over an individuals' lifetime, highlighting the need for further research.

Combined Assessment of Functional and Metabolic Performance of Human Donor Hearts: Possible Application in Donation After Circulatory Death.

BACKGROUND: Donation after circulatory death (DCD) represents an increasing source of organs. However, evaluating the suitability of DCD hearts for transplantation represents a challenge. Contractile function is the ultimate determinant of recovery. We developed a novel technique in an ex vivo rig for the measurement of contractility using intraventricular balloons. We compared this technique with the measurement of lactate metabolism, the current gold standard. METHODS: Human DCD (n = 6) and donation after brain death (n = 6) hearts were preserved by perfusion with a cold oxygenated crystalloid solution for 4 h, transferred to a blood perfusion rig at 37 °C where balloons were inserted into the left (LV) and right (RV) ventricles to measure developed pressure (DP = systolic minus diastolic). Perfusate lactate levels were measured for metabolic assessment. Concordance between LVDP and lactate was assessed during 4 h using cutoffs for LVDP of 70 mm Hg and for lactate of 10 mmol/L. RESULTS: Measurements of contractile function (LVDP) and metabolism (lactate levels) were deemed concordant in 7 hearts with either a high LVDP (mean 100 mm Hg) with low lactate (mean 6.7 mmol/L)) or a low LVDP (15 mm Hg) with high lactate (mean 17.3 mmol/). In the remaining 5 hearts, measurements were deemed discordant: 4 hearts had high LVDP (mean 124 mm Hg), despite high lactate levels 17.3 mmol/L) and 1 had low LVDP (54 mm Hg) but low lactate (6.9 mmol/L). CONCLUSIONS: The intraventricular balloon technique provides useful information regarding contractile recovery of donor hearts that if combined with lactate metabolism has potential application for the evaluation of DCD and marginal donation after brain death hearts before transplant.

Pleural effusion post coronary artery bypass surgery: associations and complications.

BACKGROUND: One of the most frequent complications of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is pleural effusion. Limited previous studies have found post-CABG pleural effusion to be associated with increased length-of-stay and greater morbidity post-CABG. Despite this the associations of this common complication are poorly described. This study sought to identify modifiable risk factors for effusion post-CABG. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data assessed patients who underwent CABG over two-years. Data was collected for risk factors and sequelae related to pleural effusion requiring drainage. RESULTS: A total of 409 patients were included. Average age was 64.9±10.2 years, 330 (80.7%) were male. 59 (14.4%) patients underwent drainage of pleural effusion post-CABG. Effusions were drained on average 9.9±8.4 days post-CABG. Earlier removal of drain tubes and removal near time of extubation were associated with development of pleural effusion. Post-CABG pleural effusion was associated with post-operative renal impairment (P<0.01) and pericardial effusion (P<0.01). Patients with pleural effusion were more likely to require readmission to ICU (P<0.01), reintubation (P=0.03) and readmission to hospital (P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Pleural effusion is a common complication of cardiac surgery and is associated with significant morbidity and resource utilization. This study identifies several associated complications that should be considered in the presence of pleural effusion. Modifiable associated factors in the management of drains that may contribute to accumulation of pleural effusion include: early removal of chest drains, higher outputs and removal during or close to mechanical ventilation. Further research is required to assess how adjusting these modifiable factors can decrease rates of effusion post-operatively.

Cyclodiode Laser as the First Surgical Approach in Childhood Glaucoma Under the Age of 8 Years.

PRCIS: Cyclodiode as a primary treatment for childhood glaucoma patients younger than 8 years has a 12-month success rate of 55.24%. It can delay the need for penetrating glaucoma surgery. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcome of cyclodiode laser in childhood glaucoma for patients under the age of 8 years. DESIGN: This was a retrospective, consecutive, noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: All childhood glaucoma patients who underwent cyclodiode from March 2005 to January 2017 as a primary surgical treatment under the age of 8 years. METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records of consecutive patients who underwent cyclodiode by a single surgeon. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Success for single-diode intervention was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) (>6 wk postoperative) ≤21 mm Hg with antiglaucoma medications and ≥20% IOP reduction, no further glaucoma surgery including cyclodiode, no loss of perception of light, and no major complications. Success for multiple-diode interventions was defined similar to the single diode, except that repeated cyclodiode is not considered a failure. RESULTS: In all, 59 eyes of 43 patients were studied. The most common diagnosis was aphakic glaucoma. The mean age at cyclodiode treatment was 2.7 years (SD=2.2). Fifty-six percent of the patients were under 3 years. Success rates at 12 months after the procedure were 46.67% and 55.24% for single-diode and multiple-diode interventions, respectively. An IOP of >20 mm Hg 6 weeks after a cyclodiode session is a significant risk factor for failure with an hazard ratio of 2.41 (95% confidence interval: 1.00-5.81; P=0.05). Among the operated eyes, the surgeon could avoid further glaucoma surgery in 67.8% of the eyes during the first year after single or multiple cyclodiode sessions. None of the eyes experienced phthisis bulbi, hypotony, and severe uveitis. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclodiode laser in childhood glaucoma patients under the age of 8 years can be considered a safe alternative for glaucoma patients who can have a high risk of surgical complications. Performing cyclodiode laser can delay the need for penetrating glaucoma surgery. The IOP at 6 weeks may be a good predictor for the treatment outcome.

Contemporary outcomes of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices-a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: End stage heart failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and its prevalence is expected to rise with the ageing population. For suitable patients, orthotopic heart transplantation remains the gold standard therapy, however, a paucity of donor organs has led to the development of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). These devices can be utilized as either a bridge-to-transplant (BTT) or as an alternative to heart transplantation. While these devices can prolong life and improve quality of life, they are associated with a significant number of adverse events. We aim to systematically review the literature to quantify survival and the incidence of adverse events following implantation of continuous-flow LVADs (cf-LVAD). METHODS: A systematic review was performed to determine outcomes following implantation of a cf-LVAD. Primary outcomes were survival and frequency of adverse events (such as bleeding, infection, thrombosis, stroke and right ventricular failure). Secondary outcomes included quality of life and assessment of functional status. RESULTS: Sixty-three studies reported clinical outcomes of 9,280 patients. Survival after cf-LVAD varied between studies. Industry-funded trials generally reported better overall survival than the single- and multi-center case series, which showed significant variation. The largest registry report documented twelve, twenty-four and forty-eight-month survival rates of 82%, 72% and 57% respectively. The most commonly reported adverse events were gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), device-related infection, neurological events and right heart failure (RHF). Bleeding, RHF and infection were the most frequent complications experienced by those supported with cf-LVAD, occurring in up to 35%, 40% and 55% of patients, respectively. Quality of life as measured using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) and functional status as measured with the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) improved after cf-LVAD implantation with no decline evident two years after implantation. CONCLUSIONS: The paucity of donor hearts has led to the development of left-ventricular assist devices as a BTT or as a destination therapy (DT). Outcomes after cf-LVAD implantation are excellent, with short-term survival comparable to heart transplantation, but long-term survival remains limited due to the incidence of post-implantation adverse events. Despite these complications, quality of life and functional status improve significantly post-implantation and remain improved over the long-term. This study demonstrates the potential benefits of cf-LVAD therapy whilst also identifying adverse events as an area of increased morbidity and mortality.

From Conventional Angle Surgery to 360-Degree Trabeculotomy in Pediatric Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To describe the transition from conventional angle surgery (CAS), trabeculotomy with rigid probe or goniotomy, to 360-degree trabeculotomy assisted with microcatheter (MCT). DESIGN: Retrospective comparative interventional case series. METHODS: Review of consecutive children with glaucoma undergoing angle surgery, including cases with previous surgery, from January 2012 until March 2018 at Moorfields Eye Hospital. Main outcome measure was success rate, defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤21 mm Hg with a minimum of 20% of IOP reduction and no further glaucoma surgery (complete success: without the need of glaucoma drops; qualified success: drops were needed to keep the IOP under control). RESULTS: Among the 106 eyes (77 patients) included were 54 MCT and 52 CAS eyes. At last visit, after a single surgery, qualified success was 85% (46 eyes) in MCT and 37% (19 eyes) in CAS. Complete success was 69% (37 cases) in MCT and 23% (12 cases) in CAS. The mean (95% confidence interval) change in axial length after surgery was -0.03 mm (-0.34 to 0.40) for MCT and +1.35 mm (-0.64 to 1.62) for CAS (P < .001). The percentage of IOP reduction was 52.1% in MCT and 45.5% in CAS (P = .1616). Further glaucoma surgery was required in 5.5% (3) in MCT and 63.4% (33) in CAS. At 1 year, 94.3% of MCT cases achieved qualified success compared to 34.6% of CAS (P < .0001). No significant complications were found on either group. CONCLUSION: MCT achieved better results with significantly lower reoperation rates. The transition from CAS to MCT can be easily achieved, even in difficult cases or those previously operated.

Impact of modern media on analgesic requirements during extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy.

BACKGROUND: In Australia, shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) to treat urinary tract stones is routinely performed with general anaesthesia (GA). We have established a SWL service avoiding GA based outside operating theatres and wish to assess the effectiveness of utilizing modern media on patient satisfaction and analgesic requirements during treatment. METHODS: A randomized three-arm trial was performed. Patients were allocated to either watching videos or listening to music on a tablet device, or to getting no media distraction. A total of 95 patients were recruited in a 1:1:1 fashion. Analgesic requirements were recorded during the procedure and patients were asked to fill out a questionnaire with a visual analogue scale to assess their overall pain and satisfaction with the procedure. RESULTS: Overall pain scores were decreased - the sound media group reported a mean pain score of 3.52 (P = 0.005), the visual group was 3.62 (P = 0.007), compared to 5.45 in the control group. Analgesic requirements were significantly decreased when compared to the control group (P = 0.05). Overall satisfaction with the procedure was improved in the treatment groups, with the sound group having the best result (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Modern media can be used as a distraction during SWL in a safe and effective way when treating renal tract stones without GA. Analgesic requirements are decreased significantly, therefore decreasing any potential side-effects and complications. Other departments in Australia should consider using this technique.

Broad-Ranging Nutritional Deficiencies Predict Amputation in Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

Diabetic foot ulcers present across the spectrum of nonhealing wounds, be it acute or many months duration. There is developing literature highlighting that despite this group having high caloric intake, they often lack the micronutrients essential for wound healing. This study reports a retrospective cohort of patients' micro- and macro-nutritional state and its relationship to amputation. A retrospective cohort was observed over a 2-month period at one of Australia's largest tertiary referral centers for diabetic foot infection and vascular surgery. Patient information, duration of ulcer, various biochemical markers of nutrition and infection, and whether the patient required amputation were collected from scanned medical records. A cohort of 48 patients with a broad-spectrum of biochemical markers was established. Average hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was 8.6%. A total of 58.7% had vitamin C deficiency, including 30.4% with severe deficiency, average 22.6 L} 5.8 µmol/L; 61.5% had hypoalbuminemia, average albumin 28.7 L} 2.5 g/L. Average vitamin B12 was 294.6 L} 69.6 pmol/L; 57.9% had low vitamin D, average 46.3 L} 8.3 nmol/L. Basic screening scores for caloric intake failed to suggest this biochemical depletion. There was a 52.1% amputation rate; biochemical depletion was associated with risk of amputation with vitamin C (P < .01), albumin (P = .03), and hemoglobin (P = .01), markedly lower in patients managed with amputation than those managed conservatively. There was no relation between duration of ulceration and nutrient depletion. Patients with diabetic foot ulceration rely on multidisciplinary care to optimize their wound healing. An important but often overlooked aspect of this is nutritional state, with micronutrients being very important for the healing of complex wounds. General nutritional screening often fails to identify patients at risk of micronutrient deficiency. There is a high prevalence of vitamin deficiency in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. This presents an excellent avenue for future research to assess if aggressive nutrient replacement can improve outcomes in this cohort of patients.