Impact Of Incomplete Revascularization On Long-Term Survival Based On Revascularization Strategy.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the impact of complete(CR) and incomplete(IR) revascularization on long term survival in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) using either multiple arterial graft(MAG) or single artery with saphenous vein grafts(SAG) . METHODS: Between January 2006 and December 2020, 12625 patients had CABG and were divided into four groups: MAG CR(n=1066), MAG IR(n=286), SAG CR(n=8360) and SAG IR(n=2913). Inverse probability of treatment weighting(IPTW) based on the generalized propensity score was used to minimize imbalance between the groups. RESULTS: In the weighted cohort, median follow up time was 8.35 years(interquartile range:5.01-11.6). MAG CR was associated with similar long term survival when compared to MAG IR(HR:0.79;95%CI:0.60 1.03;P=0.084). SAG CR was associated with improved long term survival when compared to SAG IR(HR:0.67;95%CI:0.52 0.84;P=0.01). MAG CR was associated with better long term survival when compared to SAG CR(HR:0.45;95%CI:0.35 0.57;P<0.001)(Figure 2). Moreover, MAG IR was protective when compared with SAG IR(HR:0.62;95%CI:0.45 0.85;P=0.033). Additional analysis was performed comparing perfect CR vs imperfect CR vs IR in MAG and SAG, separately. In the weighted sample of MAG, there were no differences in the long term survival between perfect CR, imperfect CR and IR. However, in the weighted sample of SAG cohort, SAG perfect CR was associated with improved survival compared to SAG imperfect CR(HR:0.81;95%CI:0.0.72 0.92;P=0.001). Whereas, both SAG perfect CR and SAG imperfect CR were associated with improved survival compared to SAG IR(HR:0.51;95%CI:0.0.35 0.87;P=0.006) and (HR:0.72;95%CI:0.64 0.82;P<0.001),respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MAG CR is associated with better survival compared to SAG CR. If IR is inevitable, patients with MAG IR had better long term survival when compared to patients receiving SAG IR. Moreover, similar long term survival is observed whether perfect CR, imperfect CR or IR is achieved in the MAG population but not in SAG.

To repair or to replace in mitral valve infective endocarditis? an updated meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Valve infective endocarditis (IE) is a potentially life-threatening condition that affects patients' livelihoods. Current surgical options in mitral valve IE include mitral valve repair (MVr) or replacement (MVR). While each procedure boasts its merits, doubt remains as to which type of surgery is superior. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane literature databases for studies comparing MVR and MVr in mitral valve IE. Any randomized controlled trial (RCT) or observational studies that compare MVR vs. MVr in mitral valve IE were eligible. Our dichotomous outcomes were extracted in the form of event and total, and risk and hazard ratio (RR)(HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and were pooled and calculated using RevMan 5.0. RESULTS: Our study included 23 studies with a total population of 11,802 patients. Compared to MVR, MVr had statistically significant lower risks of both early mortality with RR [0.44; 95% CI, 0.38-0.51; p < 0.001] and long-term follow-up mortality with HR [0.70; 95% CI, 0.58-0.85; p = 0.0004]. Moreover, MVr was associated with a statistically significant lower risk of IE recurrence with RR [0.43; 95% CI, 0.32-0.58; p < 0.001]; however, no statistically significant differences between both groups in terms of re-operations with RR [0.83; 95% CI, 0.41-1.67; p = 0.60]. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that MVr was superior in terms of in-hospital mortality, long-term survival, and risk of recurrence without significance in valve reoperation. Therefore, MVr is appropriate as a primary treatment choice and should be considered whenever possible in most IE patients.

Efficacy of selenium on patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative complications pose significant challenges in cardiac surgery and with the evolution of selenium as a potential anti-inflammatory agent, some studies reported its inefficiency. Thus, we conducted our meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of selenium supplementation on cardiac surgery patients. METHODS: Different databases such as PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception till January 2024 were searched identifying a total of seven randomized-controlled trials involving selenium supplementation after cardiac surgery. Risk ratio (RR) and Mean difference (MD) were calculated with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The selenium intervention significantly raised the incidence of Acute Kidney injury (RR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.59, 0.98; P = 0.04) while significantly reducing the duration of hospital stay (MD -1.33; 95% CI: -2.51, -0.16; P = 0.03) and postoperative CRP levels (SMD -0.18; 95% CI: -0.34, -0.02; P = 0.03). The effect of selenium intervention on days spent in ICU (MD -0.01; 95% CI: -0.28, 0.25; P = 0.92), mortality (RR 1.07; 95% CI: 0.84, 1.37; P = 0.57) and incidence of hospital acquired infections (RR 0.98; 95% CI: 0.76, 1.26; P = 0.88) is insignificant. CONCLUSION: Selenium supplementation did not significantly reduce major postoperative complications in cardiac surgery patients. However, its ability to modulate inflammation, as reflected in decreased C-reactive protein levels, highlights its potential role in managing the inflammatory response. Future investigations should focus on optimized selenium supplementation strategies in conjunction with other antioxidants to enhance its benefits.

Intravenous iron for acute and chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients with iron deficiency: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Patients with heart failure (HF) and iron deficiency are at increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes. We searched databases for randomised controlled trials that compared IV iron to placebo, in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). A total of 7,813 participants, all having HFrEF with 3,998 receiving IV iron therapy, and 3,815 control recipients were included. There was a significant improvement in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire favouring IV iron with MD 7.39, 95% CI [3.55, 11.22], p = 0.0002. Subgroup analysis, based on acute and chronic HF, has displayed a sustained statistical significance. Additionally, a significant increase in the left ventricular ejection fraction % was observed, with MD 3.76, 95% CI [2.32, 5.21], p < 0.00001. A significant improvement in 6-min walk test was noted, with MD 34.87, 95% CI [20.02, 49.72], p < 0.00001. Furthermore, IV iron showed significant improvement in NYHA class, peak VO2, serum ferritin, and haemoglobin levels. Finally, despite the lack of difference in terms of all-cause hospitalisation and HF-related death, IV iron was associated with a significant reduction in HF-related, any cardiovascular reason hospitalisations, and all-cause death; which supports the need for implementation of IV iron as a standard of care in patients with HF and iron deficiency.

Moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation in ischemic heart disease: to operate or not? A meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Deciding whether to perform coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) alone or in combination with mitral valve repair is a common dilemma encountered by surgeons when treating patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation, a common condition related to coronary artery disease. Although ischemic mitral regurgitation after CABG has been linked to unfavorable results, the benefits of including mitral valve repair are still unknown. This discrepancy led us to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether combining CABG with mitral valve surgery leads to better clinical results than CABG alone. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Studies comparing the results of CABG versus CABG with mitral valve replacement were searched in the databases of PubMed and Google Scholar. There were six randomized clinical trials included in this study. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: We analyzed 852 patients' data. There were no significant variations between patients who acquired CABG alone or CABG+(MVR) in terms of their risk of death at one year, stroke, atrial fibrillation, or hospitalization for heart failure. For recurrent/residual mitral regurgitation; it revealed an RR=5.42, 95% CI, 0.77 to 37.98, and a P-value of =0.065. According to the analysis of study heterogeneity, no apparent heterogeneity was identified in the outcomes of death after one year, stroke, atrial fibrillation, or hospitalization for heart failure. However, the outcome of recurrent or residual mitral regurgitation showed significant variation (I2=66%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who underwent CABG alone versus CABG plus MVR did not differ significantly from one another. However, the comparison of CABG alone with CABG plus MVR underlines the need for customized treatment plans based on the unique characteristics of each patient.

The use of lung ultrasound in evaluation of extravascular lung water in hemodialysis patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Determining dry weight is crucial for optimizing hemodialysis, influencing efficacy, cardiovascular outcomes, and overall survival. Traditional clinical assessment methods for dry weight, relying on factors such as blood pressure and edema, frequently lack reliability. Lung ultrasound stands out as a promising tool for assessing volume status, given its non-invasiveness and reproducibility. This study aims to explore the role of Lung ultrasound in evaluating the impact of hemodialysis and ultrafiltration on extravascular lung water, with a specific focus on changes in B-lines post-hemodialysis compared to pre-hemodialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research encompassed searches across PubMed, WOS, and Scopus databases for studies related to lung ultrasound and hemodialysis. A meta-analysis was then performed to determine the mean differences in various parameters before compared to after, hemodialysis, including the number of B-lines, indexed end-inspiratory and end-expiratory inferior vena cava diameters, inferior vena cava collapsibility index, weight, blood pressure, and serum levels of NT-pro-BNP. RESULTS: Our meta-analysis, included 33 studies with 2301 hemodialysis patients, revealed a significant decrease in the number of B-lines post-hemodialysis (mean difference = 8.30, 95% CI [3.55 to 13.05]). Furthermore, there was a noteworthy reduction in inspiratory and expiratory inferior vena cava diameters post-hemodialysis (mean difference = 2.32, 95% CI [0.31 to 4.33]; mean difference = 4.05, 95% CI [2.44 to 5.65], respectively). Additionally, a significant positive correlation was observed between B-lines and the maximum inferior vena cava diameter both pre- and post-hemodialysis (correlation coefficient = 0.39; correlation coefficient = 0.32, respectively). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate the effectiveness of lung ultrasound in detection of volume overload and assessment of response to ultrafiltration in hemodialysis patients.

Efficacy and safety of laparoscopic liver resection versus radiofrequency ablation in patients with early and small hepatocellular carcinoma: an updated meta-analysis and meta-regression of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer, accounting for 90% of cases worldwide and a significant contributor to cancer-related deaths. This study comprehensively compares the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) versus laparoscopic or percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (LRFA or PRFA) in patients with early and small HCC. METHODS: We systematically searched Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to include studies comparing LLR versus LRFA or PRFA in patients with early HCC meets the Milan criteria (defined as solitary nodule < 5 cm or three nodules ≤ 3 cm with no extrahepatic spread or vascular invasion). Pooled results were examined for overall survival, disease-free survival, recurrence-free survival, local, intrahepatic and extrahepatic recurrence rates, and complications. We conducted subgroup analyses based on the type of RFA. Meta-regression analyzed the association between overall survival, local recurrence, and various factors. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We analyzed the data using the R (v.4.3.0) programming language and the "meta" package of RStudio software. RESULTS: We included 19 observational studies, compromising 3756 patients. LLR showed higher 5-year overall survival compared to RFA (RR = 1.17, 95% CI [1.06, 1.3], P > 0.01). Our subgroup analysis showed that LLR had higher 5-year survival than PRFA (RR = 1.15, 95% CI [1.02, 1.31], P = 0.03); however, there was no significant difference between LLR and LRFA (RR = 1.26, 95% CI [0.98, 1.63], P = 0.07). LLR was associated with higher disease-free survival) RR = 1.19, 95% CI [1.05, 1.35], P < 0.01; RR = 1.61, 95% CI [1.31, 1.98], P < 0.01(and recurrence-free survival) RR = 1.21, 95% CI [1.09, 1.35], P < 0.01; RR = 1.45, 95% CI [1.15, 1.84], P < 0.01(at 1 and 3 years. LLR was associated with lower local (RR = 0.28, 95% CI [0.16, 0.47], P < 0.01) and intrahepatic recurrence (RR = 0.7, 95% CI [0.5, 0.97], P = 0.03) than RFA. However, complications were significantly higher with LLR (RR = 2.01, 95% CI [1.51, 2.68], P < 0.01). Our meta-regression analysis showed that younger patients had higher risk for local recurrence (P = 0.008), while age wasn't significantly linked to overall survival (P = 0.25). Other covariates like total bilirubin, alpha-fetoprotein levels, and tumor size also showed no significant associations with either overall survival or local recurrence. CONCLUSION: LLR offers improved long-term outcomes and lower recurrence rates than PRFA. However, no significant distinctions were observed between LRFA and LLR in overall survival, recurrence-free survival, and local recurrence. More robust well-designed RCTs are essential to validate our findings.

Bioprosthetic versus mechanical valves for mitral valve replacement in patients < 70 years: an updated pairwise meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The ideal conduit for mitral valve replacement (MVR) remains elusive, particularly among younger patients due to increased life expectancy. We perform a pairwise meta-analysis comparing the use of bioprosthetic valves (BPV) and mechanical mitral valves (MMV) in patients < 70 years old undergoing MVR. METHODS: We comprehensively searched medical databases to identify studies comparing the use of BPV and MMV in patients < 70 years old undergoing MVR. Pairwise meta-analysis was performed using the Mantel-Haenszel method in R version 4.0.2. Outcomes were pooled using the random effect model as risk ratios (RR) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: 16,879 patients from 15 studies were pooled. Compared to MMV, BPV was associated with significantly higher rates of 30-day mortality (RR 1.53, p = 0.0006) but no difference in 30-day stroke (RR 0.70, p = 0.43). At a weighted mean follow-up duration of 14.1 years, BPV was associated with higher rates of long-term mortality (RR 1.28, p = 0.0054). No difference was seen between the two groups for risk of long-term stroke (RR 0.92, p = 0.67), reoperation(RR 1.72, p = 0.12), or major-bleeding (RR 0.57, p = 0.10) at a weighted mean follow-up duration of 11.7, 11.3, and 11.9 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: The use of MMV in patients < 70 undergoing MVR is associated with lower rates of 30-day/long-term mortality compared to BPV. No significant differences were observed for risk of 30-day/long-term stroke, long-term reoperation, and long-term major bleeding. These findings support the use of MMV in younger patients, although prospective, randomized trials are still needed.

Minimally invasive, surgical, and transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has evolved as an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). In addition to full-sternotomy (FS), recent reports have shown successful minimally-invasive SAVR approaches, including mini-sternotomy (MS) and mini-thoracotomy (MT). This network-meta-analysis (NMA) seeks to provide an outcomes comparison based on these different modalities (MS, MT, TAVR) compared with FS as a reference arm for the management of aortic valve disease. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify studies that compared minimally-invasive SAVR (MS/MT) to conventional FS-SAVR, and/or TAVR. Bayesian NMA was performed using the random effects model. Outcomes were pooled as risk ratios (RR) with their 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Our primary outcomes included 30-day mortality, stroke, acute kidney injury (AKI), major bleeding, new permanent pacemaker (PPM), and paravalvular leak (PVL). We also assessed long-term mortality at the latest follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 27,117 patients (56 studies) were included; 10,397 patients had FS SAVR, 9523 had MS, 5487 had MT, and 1710 had TAVR. Compared to FS, MS was associated with statistically-significantly lower rates of 30-day mortality (RR, 0.76, 95%CI 0.59-0.98), stroke (RR, 0.84, 95%CI 0.72-0.97), AKI (RR, 0.76, 95%CI 0.61-0.94), and long-term mortality (RR 0.84, 95%CI 0.72-0.97) at a weighted mean follow-up duration of 10.4 years, while MT showed statistically-significantly higher rates of 30-day PVL (RR, 3.76, 95%CI 1.31-10.85) and major bleeding (RR 1.45; 95%CI 1.08-1.94). TAVR had statistically significant lower rates of 30-day AKI (RR 0.49, 95%CI 0.31-0.77), but showed statistically-significantly higher PPM (RR 2.50; 95%CI 1.60-3.91) and 30-day PVL (RR 12.85, 95%CI 5.05-32.68) compared to FS. CONCLUSIONS: MS was protective against 30-day mortality, stroke, AKI, and long-term mortality compared to FS; TAVR showed higher rates of 30-day PVL and PPM but was protective against AKI. Conversely, MT showed higher rates of 30-day PVL and major bleeding. With the emergence of TAVR, the appropriate benchmarks for SAVR comparison in future trials should be the minimally-invasive SAVR approaches to provide clinical equipoise.

Safety and Efficacy of Cangrelor in Acute Coronary Syndromes: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Cangrelor is a potent intravenous non-thienopyridine P2Y12 inhibitor. We conducted a network meta-analysis to study the efficacy and safety of cangrelor as compared with the oral P2Y12 inhibition, clopidogrel, or placebo in acute coronary syndromes. METHODS: This meta-analysis followed the Cochrane collaboration guidelines and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocols. Outcomes of interest included all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, target vessel revascularization, major bleeding, minor bleeding, and the need for blood transfusion. RESULTS: The analysis was comprised of 6 studies including 26,444 patients treated with cangrelor, clopidogrel, or placebo. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, target vessel revascularization, or major bleeding. Cangrelor was associated with a higher risk of minor bleeding than clopidogrel or placebo, with no difference in requiring blood transfusion. CONCLUSION: Cangrelor has comparable outcomes to clopidogrel in patients with acute coronary syndromes and can be used as a reliable alternative in this population.

Valve-Sparing Aortic Root Replacement With Reimplantation vs Remodeling: A Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Long-term outcomes of valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSARR) with reimplantation vs remodeling in patients undergoing aortic root surgery remains a controversial subject. METHODS: This study was a pooled meta-analysis of Kaplan-Meier-derived data from comparative studies published by December 31, 2022. RESULTS: Fifteen studies met our eligibility criteria, comprising 3044 patients (1991 in the reimplantation group and 2018 in the remodeling group). Patients who underwent VSARR with remodeling had a higher risk of all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.54; 95% CI, 1.16-2.03; P = .002, log-rank test P < .001). Landmark analysis (with 4 years as the landmark time point) demonstrated that survival was lower in patients who underwent VSARR with remodeling (HR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.43-3.24; P < .001) in the first 4 years. Beyond the 4-year time point, no difference in survival was observed (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.72-1.50; P = .822). The risk for need of aortic valve and/or root reintervention was higher in patients undergoing VSARR with remodeling (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.07-2.07; P = .019, log-rank test P < .001). We did not find statistically significant coefficients for the covariates of age, female sex, connective tissue disorders, bicuspid aortic valve, aortic dissection, coronary bypass surgery, total arch replacement, or annular stabilization, which means that these covariates did not modulate the effects observed in our pooled analyses. CONCLUSIONS: VSARR with reimplantation is associated with better overall survival and lower risk of need for reintervention over time compared with VSARR with remodeling. Regarding overall survival, we observed a time-varying effect that favored the reimplantation technique up to 4 years of follow-up, but not beyond this time point.

Is Forced Coughing Effective in Reducing Pain During Cervical Biopsy?: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This review aimed to compare the potential analgesic effect of forced coughing (FC) with that of local anaesthetics (LA) or placebo during cervical biopsy. A total of 5 electronic databases-Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar-were systematically searched from inception till March 2021. Data were extracted from 6 randomised controlled trials and analysed. During cervical biopsy, the overall effect favoured LA over FC (mean difference [MD] = 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.58 to 1.54; P <0.0001). Compared to no pain management, pooled data were comparable between the two groups (MD = -1.2, 95% CI: -3.35 to 0.94; P = 0.27). Procedure duration was significantly longer in the LA group than in the FC group (MD = -1.94, 95% CI: -2.47 to -1.41; P <0.00001). FC and LA are both useful pain-lowering modalities during cervical biopsy, depending on the setting and their availability.

Efficacy and safety of the new generation Watchman FLX device compared to the Watchman 2.5: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The first-generation Watchman 2.5 (W 2.5)TM presented several limitations, such as challenges in implantation within complex left atrial appendage (LAA) anatomies, higher incidence of peri-device leak, device recapture, and device-related thrombus (DRT). The newer generation Watchman FLX (W-FLX)TM was introduced with a modified design aiming to overcome these limitations. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to conduct a comparative assessment of the safety and efficacy of the W-FLX and 2.5 devices in clinical practice. METHOD: The meta-analysis was conducted according to the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA). Studies were located through a search strategy utilizing PubMed, Cochrane, Google scholar and MEDLINE from inception to March 2023, with a primary objective to compare the safety and efficacy of the W-FLX and W 2.5 devices. After applying the selection criteria, five studies were included in this analysis. RESULTS: The analysis included five studies comprising 54,727 patients. The W-FLX is associated with an increase in procedural success (OR 7.49 [95% CI 1.98-28.26, P = 0.02; I2 = 0%]), and a significant reduction in mortality (OR 0.52 [95% CI 0.51-0.54, P<0.01; I2 = 0%], major bleeding 0.57 [95% CI 0.51-0.64, P<0.01; I2 = 0%]), device embolism (OR 0.35 [95% CI 0.18-0.70, P = 0.02; I2 = 0%]), and pericardial effusion (OR 0.33 [95% CI 0.26-0.41, P<0.01; I2 = 0%]). The rates of DRT and stroke were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Compared to the W 2.5, the W-FLX was associated with a higher procedural success rate and significantly reduced adverse outcomes including mortality, major bleeding, device embolization, and pericardial effusion.

Are congenital heart defects connected to more severe attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common cause of birth defect-related infant morbidity and mortality, affecting 1% of 40,000 births per year in the United States. On the other side, the etiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is multifactorial. Multiple studies have found that cardiac surgery patients have higher morbidity of having this disorder. Many studies have investigated the prevalence of ADHD in different subtypes of CHD, but few have focused on the severity of ADHD symptoms. Thus, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the severity of ADHD symptoms in CHD patients. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to March 6, 2023 without any restrictions. We included observational studies published in English language that evaluated burden of symptom of ADHD in CHD patients. Moreover, the standardized mean difference (SMD) for continuous outcomes with 95% confidence interval (CI) was pooled. P-values <.05 are considered as significant, and we performed all statistical analyses using RevMan software Version 5.4.1. RESULTS: Eight studies were included in our review with a total number of 120,158 patients. CHD was associated with a statistically significant increase in both ADHD index T score and ADHD Hyperactivity-Impulsivity Subscale (informant) with (SMD = 0.65, 95% CI [0.40, 0.90], P < .00001, I2 = 81%) and (SMD = 0.16, 95% CI [0.04, 0.28], P = .008, I2 = 0%). Regarding ADHD Inattention Subscale (informant), the pooled data showed that a significant increase of this score in the CHD group (SMD = 0.25, 95% CI [0.13, 0.37], P < .001, I2 = 0%), and ADHD Combined Score (informant) showed a significant increase of this score in the CHD group (SMD = 0.23, 95% CI [0.11, 0.35], P = .0002, I2 = 0%). CONCLUSION: Our study revealed a strong association between CHD and not only ADHD, but also the severity of ADHD, making early diagnosis of ADHD in children with CHD a mandatory step in the clinical evaluation practice to improve these children on both clinical and psychological aspects.

Which is better for pediatric and adult cardiac surgery: del Nido or St. Thomas cardioplegia? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Although recently it has been extended for use in adult cardiac surgery, del Nido cardioplegia was originally indicated for pediatric cardiac surgery. In this meta-analysis, we compare del Nido cardioplegia vs St. Thomas cardioplegia in pediatric and adult cardiac surgery. Methods: A comprehensive systematic literature review was performed to identify observational and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing del Nido cardioplegia with St. Thomas cardioplegia. An analysis of both random and fixed effects was conducted. The measure of the effect was by the mean difference (MD) and the risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: A total of 1893 patients from 12 studies were included (5 RCTs and 7 observational studies). Compared to St. Thomas solution, del Nido cardioplegia was associated with a shorter aortic cross-clamp in adult cardiac surgery (RCT MD - 19.83, 95% CI - 21.89-17.78; observational - 5.85; 95% CI - 11.59, - 0.11 respectively), but no difference in pediatric cardiac surgery. Additionally, del Nido cardioplegia was associated with lower cardiopulmonary bypass time in both adults (observational, MD - 29.15; 95% CI - 31.76-26.55) and pediatric cardiac surgery (RCTs, MD - 7.15; 95% CI - 13.25-1.05). Defibrillation rates were also significantly lower with del Nido cardioplegia group in both adult (RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.24-0.50, I2 = 50%) and pediatric cardiac surgery (odds ratio (OR) 0.30, 95% CI 0.18-0.49, I2 = 92%). Conclusion: In both adults and pediatric cardiac surgery, del Nido cardioplegia helps in lowering cardiopulmonary bypass duration, defibrillation rates, and hospital stay, compared to St. Thomas solution. Among adults, del Nido cardioplegia lessens the aortic cross clamp times with no difference observed in all-cause mortality, intensive care unit stay, or mechanical ventilation.

Cardiovascular Disease and COVID-19 Vaccines: A Systematic Review and Analysis of Published Cases.

As vaccination against COVID-19 became more widespread, side-effects that were not initially detected during clinical trials became more prominent. The aim of this systematic review is to discuss reports of adverse cardiovascular events associated with COVID-19 vaccination. Databases were searched from inception up to August 2022 to identify case reports and case series reporting on patients with cardiovascular disease after COVID-19 vaccination. This study assessed 150 published cases. Of these, 109 were case reports and 41 were case series. The majority of patients were male (n=302, 86.6%), with a mean age of 27.6 ± 16.7 years. Of the included patients, 268 (76.6%) had myocarditis, 50 (14.6%) had myopericarditis, 8 (2.3%) had pericarditis, and only 4 (1.1%) had stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Moreover, 30 (8.6%) and 11 (3.1%) were diagnosed with arrhythmia and ischaemic heart disease, respectively. Ultimately, cardiovascular complications after COVID-19 vaccination include myocarditis, myopericarditis, ischaemic heart disease and arrhythmia. The young population, especially young male patients, could be more vulnerable to myocarditis.

Cold polypectomy techniques for small and diminutive colorectal polyps: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: In the management of small and diminutive polyps, cold polypectomy is favored over electrocautery polypectomy. However, the optimal cold polypectomy technique is still controversial. Hence, this review aims to investigate the most effective cold technique for small and diminutive colorectal polyps. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis synthesizing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which were retrieved by systematically searching PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Cochrane through 10 February 2023. R software, (R version 4.2.0) and meta-insight software were used to pool dichotomous outcomes using risk ratio (RR) presented with the corresponding confidence interval (CI). Our protocol was prospectively published in PROSPERO with ID: CRD42022345619. RESULTS: Nineteen RCTs with 3649 patients and 4800 polyps were included in our analysis. Cold techniques (cold forceps polypectomy (CFP), jumbo forceps polypectomy (JFP), dedicated cold snare polypectomy (D-CSP), conventional cold snare polypectomy (C-CSP), underwater cold snare polypectomy (U-CSP), and cold snare endoscopic mucosal resection (CS-EMR) were included in our comparative analysis. CFP was less effective in achieving complete histological resection than C-CSP (RR: 1.10 with 95% CI [1.03-1.18]), CS-EMR (RR: 1.12 with 95% CI [1.02-1.23]), D-CSP (RR: 1.17 with 95% CI [1.04-1.32]), and U-CSP (RR: 1.21 with 95% CI [1.07-1.38]). However, the rest of the comparisons showed no difference. CONCLUSION: CFP is the least effective method for small and diminutive polyps' removal, and any snare polypectomy technique will achieve better results, warranting more large-scale RCTs to investigate the most effective snare polypectomy technique.

Minimally Invasive Versus Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: An Updated Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has arisen as a viable alternative to surgery. Similarly, minimally invasive surgical aortic valve replacement (mini-SAVR), such as ministernotomy and minithoracotomy, have also gained interest. We conducted a pairwise meta-analysis to further investigate the efficacy of TAVR versus mini-SAVR. METHODS: Medical databases were comprehensively searched for studies comparing TAVR with a mini-SAVR modality, defined as minimally invasive aortic surgery, ministernotomy, minithoracotomy, or rapid-deployment or sutureless SAVR. Random-effects meta-analysis was conducted using the generic inverse variance method. Primary outcomes included 30-day mortality, midterm mortality, 30-day stroke, acute kidney injury (AKI), paravalvular leak (PVL), new permanent pacemaker (PPM), new-onset atrial fibrillation, and postintervention mean and peak valve pressure gradients and were pooled as risk ratio (RR), mean difference (MD), or hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: A total of 5,071 patients (2,505 mini-SAVR vs 2,566 TAVR) from 12 studies were pooled. Compared with TAVR, mini-SAVR showed significantly lower rates of both 30-day (RR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.96, P = 0.03) and midterm mortality at 4 years of follow-up (HR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67 to 0.87, P < 0.001). Furthermore, mini-SAVR was protective against 30-day PVL (RR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.13, P < 0.001) and new PPM (RR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.57, P < 0.001). Conversely, TAVR was protective against 30-day AKI (RR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.20 to 2.32, P = 0.002) and postinterventional mean gradients (MD = 1.65, 95% CI: 0.25 to 3.05, P = 0.02). No difference was observed for 30-day stroke (RR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.56 to 1.24, P = 0.38), new-onset atrial fibrillation (RR = 1.79, 95% CI: 0.93 to 3.44, P = 0.08), or postinterventional peak gradients (MD = 3.24, 95% CI: -1.10 to 7.59, P = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with TAVR, mini-SAVR was protective against 30-day and midterm mortality, 30-day PVL, and new permanent pacemaker, while TAVR patients had lower 30-day AKI. Future randomized trials comparing the efficacy of mini-SAVR approaches with TAVR are needed.

Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma of the liver in an adult: An extremely rare case report and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Primary hepatic sarcomas are one of the extremely rare malignant tumors representing less than 0.1 % of all primary malignant neoplasms. CASE PRESENTATION AND CLINICAL DISCUSSION: A known compensated cirrhotic HCV 60-year-old female lady MELD score 8 with a medical history of controlled diabetes and hypertension presented to our hepatobiliary clinic experiencing a chronic right hypochondrial pain that radiate to her right shoulder of 3 months duration. O/E there was right hypochondrial and epigastric tenderness. Pelvi-abdominal US was done then PET CT which revealed a large exophytic focal lesion measuring about 8 × 7 × 6 cm and achieving 12.4 SUV max on FDG uptake. Pre-operative US guided true-cut biopsy showed small oval rounded cells with focal spindling and the neoplastic cells showed hyperchromatic pleomorphic nuclei with little cytoplasm with a positive reaction of tumor cells stained with Desmin and Myogenin with a diagnosis of pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma. The patient was scheduled for neoadjuvant chemotherapy and then elective Right hemihepatectomy. Although many challenges were encountered during the resection of the tumor as the tumor was attached to the under surface of the diaphragm, the tumor was resected with a safety margin of 1 cm with frozen histopathological examination being negative for any malignant cells. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful apart from wound infection and was discharged on the postoperative sixth day. CONCLUSION: The percutaneous liver biopsy plays an important role in the diagnosis of liver's rhabdomyosarcomas. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy addresses the behavior of the tumor, together with early surgical intervention can lead to favorable outcomes and reduce the recurrence.