Emerging Role of Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Disease-Insights from the 2022 ESC Guidelines.

In this article, we discuss the topic of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease (CTEPD) and the growing role of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) in its treatment. We present the pathophysiology of CTEPD which arises from an incomplete resolution of thrombi in the pulmonary arteries and leads to stenosis and occlusion of the vessels. The article focuses mainly on the chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) subpopulation for which prognosis is very poor when left untreated. We describe a multimodal approach to treating CTEPH, including pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA), BPA, and pharmacological therapies. Additionally, the benefits of pharmacological pre-treatment before BPA and the technical aspects of the procedure itself are outlined. It is emphasized that BPA does not replace PEA but serves as a complementary treatment option for eligible patients. We summarized efficacy and treatment goals including an improvement in functional and biochemical parameters before and after BPA. Patients who received pre-treatment with riociguat prior to BPA exhibited a notable reduction in the occurrence of less severe complications. However, elderly patients are still perceived as an especially vulnerable group. It is shown that the prognosis of patients undergoing BPA is similar to PEA in the first years after the procedure but the long-term prognosis of BPA still remains unclear. The 2022 ESC/ERS guidelines highlight the significant role of BPA in the multimodal treatment of CTEPH, emphasizing its effectiveness and recommending its consideration as a therapeutic option for patients with CTEPD, both with and without pulmonary hypertension. This review summarizes the available evidence for BPA, patient selection, procedural details, and prognosis and discusses the potential future role of BPA in the management of CTEPH.

Quality of Patient Information on Lipofilling in the Internet.

BACKGROUND: Patients interested in aesthetic surgery actively search the Internet, a source that contains important but biased information. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of patient information on autologous fat grafting available on the Internet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The quantitative and qualitative assessment of websites was based on a modified Ensuring Quality Information for Patients tool (EQIP-36 items). Websites were identified through the most popular search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask, and AOL). RESULTS: After duplicate and irrelevant sources were excluded, 608 remaining websites were assessed. Only 164 websites addressed >17 of the 36 items. Scores tended to be higher for academic centers and professional societies than for websites developed by private practitioners. The EQIP score achieved by websites ranged between 0 to 28, with a median value of 14 points. CONCLUSION: The quality of patient information on lipofilling available on the Internet is very poor, and research on existing websites reveals substantial shortcomings. There is an urgent need for sources offering superior quality and unbiased information on lipofilling for patients who intend to undergo this procedure.

A simplified formula to calculate fractional flow reserve in sequential lesions circumventing the measurement of coronary wedge pressure: The APIS-S pilot study.

BACKGROUND: A simplified formula to calculate the predicted fractional flow reserve (FFR) in sequen-tial coronary stenosis without balloon inflation is hereby proposed. METHODS: In patients with an indication for FFR and sequential coronary stenosis, FFR was recorded distally and between the lesions. The predicted FFR for each stenosis was calculated with a novel formu-la. While treating one of the lesions, wedge pressure was measured during balloon inflation to calculate Pijls' formula. FFR of the remaining lesion was finally recorded (measured FFR). RESULTS: Forty patients were enrolled in the study, 4 (10.0%) had a distal FFR > 0.80 and were excluded from the main analysis. In the remaining 36 patients, the novel formula and Pijls' formula showed virtually absolute agreement (ICCa 0.999, R2 = 0.997 for the proximal lesion, R2 = 0.999 for the distal lesion, kappa 1.000, Se 100%, Sp 100%). The agreement between predicted and measured FFR was good (ICCa 0.820; 0.640-0.909, R2 = 0.717, intercept = 0.05, slope = 0.92, kappa 0.748, Se 75%, Sp 96%). In 19 (47.5%) cases the use of the formula enabled the operator to freely decide which lesion should be treated first, an option not available if the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were guided by the largest pressure drop across each lesion. CONCLUSIONS: The predicted FFR for each lesion in sequential coronary stenosis can be accurately calculated by a simplified formula circumventing the need for balloon inflation. This approach provides the operator upfront, with detailed information on physiology, thus having a potentially high impact on the corresponding PCI strategy.

Autologous lipotransfer for bone defects secondary to osteomyelitis: A report of a novel method and systematic review of the literature.

Autologous bone grafting is the gold standard in patients with bone defects but is associated with significant pain and donor site morbidity. Autologous lipotransfer (fat grafting or lipofilling) has become very popular in the therapy of chronic wounds. Mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue are known for their regenerative, reparative, and immunomodulatory effects. This case study and review evaluates the use of autologous lipotransfer for chronic osteomyelitis in a 26-year-old patient. A 26-year-old female suffering from chronic tibial osteomyelitis was initially treated with surgical debridement and antibiotics followed by lipoharvest and autologous lipofilling. MRI and computed tomography scans were performed at 2 and 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. A formal systematic review of clinical trials investigating autologous lipotransfer for osteomyelitis was conducted. The patient remained asymptomatic without recurrence, and the bone defect cavity showed vascularised adipose tissue after 6 weeks, with early signs of osteogenesis. The highest foot and ankle disability index was 100. The systematic review identified 266 studies after duplicates were removed. After screening for eligibility, seven manuscripts were further assessed, with none meeting the inclusion criteria. This is the first study to report the successful use of autologous lipotransfer with early signs of osteogenesis in a patient suffering from chronic osteomyelitis. Autologous lipotransfer is relatively simple, safe, and minimally invasive, making it a potential alternative to current treatments. Further research is required to assess the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of autologous fat grafting and the mechanism of osteogenesis.

Minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation: excellent outcome and life expectancy after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains the gold standard for complex revascularisation in multivessel disease. The concept of the minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation circuit (MiECC) was introduced to minimise pathophysiological side effects of conventional extracorporeal circulation. This study presents early and long-term outcomes after CABG with use of MiECC in a single-centre consecutive patient cohort. METHODS: From 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2010, 2130 patients underwent isolated CABG with MiECC at our centre. We evaluated morbidity and mortality follow-up data with a median follow-up of 3.6 years. Kaplan-Meier curves and estimates of the primary end-point for all-cause mortality were compared with the life expectancy of the general population. RESULTS: Mortality in CABG patients was comparable to the general population beginning 1 year after surgery for the whole observation period. All-cause 30-day mortality was 0.8%. The mean estimated logistic EuroSCORE and EuroSCORE II were 5.8 ± 8.6 and 3.0 ± 5.1, respectively. Mean perfusion time was 71.1 ± 23.8 min with a cross-clamp time of 44.9 ± 16.3 min. Mortality was predicted by the presence of diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR] 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40-2.46; p <0.001), peripheral arterial disease (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.64-3.38; p <0.001), severe obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 3.21, 1.42-7.24; p = 0.005), chronic renal failure (OR 3.68, 2.49-5.43; p <0.001) and transfusion of more than one unit of erythrocyte concentrate in the perioperative period (OR 1.46, 1.09-1.95; p = 0.015). Cerebrovascular events occurred in 36 patients (1.7%). CONCLUSION: CABG with use of MiECC is associated with a mortality rate comparable to the overall life expectancy of the general population. MiECC is the first choice for routine and emergency CABG at our centre with a 30-day mortality rate of 0.8% and a low complication rate.

Dupuytren Disease: Is There Enough Comprehensive Patient Information on the Internet?

BACKGROUND: Dupuytren disease is a chronic nonmalign fibroproliferative disorder that causes finger contractures via proliferation of new tissue under the glabrous skin of the hand, resulting in multiple functional limitations for the patient. As many surgical therapy options exist, patients suffering from this condition actively search for information in their environment before consulting a health professional. OBJECTIVE: As little is known about the quality of Web-based patient information, the aim of this study was to conduct its systematic evaluation using a validated tool. METHODS: A total of 118 websites were included, and qualitative and quantitative assessment was performed using the modified Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP) tool. This standardized and reproducible tool consists of 36 items to assess available information in three categories: contents, identification, and structure data. Scientific data with restricted access, duplicates, and irrelevant websites were not included. RESULTS: Only 32 websites addressed more than 19 items, and the scores did not significantly differ among the website developers. The median number of items from the EQIP tool was 16, with the top websites addressing 28 out of 36 items. The quality of the newly developed websites did not increase with passing time. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed several shortcomings in the quality of Web-based information available for patients suffering from Dupuytren disease. In the world of continuously growing and instantly available Web-based information, it is the health providers' negligence of the last two decades that there are very few good quality, informative, and educative websites that could be recommended to patients.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR)-based therapy in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome: Current data and everyday practice.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is an evidence-based diagnostic tool of physiological significance of coronary artery stenosis in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Due to microvascular dysfunction in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), information obtained from FFR assessment could be less reliable and, thus, its clinical role remains controversial. Indeed, results of currently published studies are essentially discrepant. Only a few randomized clinical trials have been performed showing the efficacy of FFR-guided percutaneous coronary intervention in ACS. Consequently, its role in acute scenarios remains substantially understudied. Herein, is presented the current state of knowledge re-garding FFR use in ACS setting. (Cardiol J 2017; 24, 4: 426-435).

Systematic Review of Quality of Patient Information on Liposuction in the Internet.

BACKGROUND: A large number of patients who are interested in esthetic surgery actively search the Internet, which represents nowadays the first source of information. However, the quality of information available in the Internet on liposuction is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of patient information on liposuction available in the Internet. METHODS: The quantitative and qualitative assessment of Web sites was based on a modified Ensuring Quality Information for Patients tool (36 items). Five hundred Web sites were identified by the most popular web search engines. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-five Web sites were assessed after duplicates and irrelevant sources were excluded. Only 72 (29%) Web sites addressed >16 items, and scores tended to be higher for professional societies, portals, patient groups, health departments, and academic centers than for Web sites developed by physicians, respectively. The Ensuring Quality Information for Patients score achieved by Web sites ranged between 8 and 29 of total 36 points, with a median value of 16 points (interquartile range, 14-18). The top 10 Web sites with the highest scores were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of patient information on liposuction available in the Internet is poor, and existing Web sites show substantial shortcomings. There is an urgent need for improvement in offering superior quality information on liposuction for patients intending to undergo this procedure.

Medication adherence in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention due to acute myocardial infarction: From research to clinical implications.

Adherence to medication is one of the most significant challenges of secondary prevention in patients after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Indeed, it has been well established that higher adherence is associated with better cardiovascular outcomes. Research pertaining to secondary prevention after AMI treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) focuses mainly on the adherence to antiplatelet therapy. Adherence levels have been found to be particularly poor and thus, insufficient with regards to prevention; with a high rate of discontinuation of therapy occurring during the 12-month follow-up. There are numerous predicting factors associated with non-adherence to antiplatelet therapy in patients after PCI. These include, but are not limited to, a lack of education on antiplatelet treatment, various comorbidities, depression, or even, unmarried status. Financial limitations of the patient also play a relevant role, however, the nature of this impediment is problematic and requires further investigation. It would seem beneficial to carry out advanced research based on a randomized and double-blind protocol, however, large-cohort, real-world observations are also essential to investigate non-adherence across a broad array of treatment settings above and beyond the scope of prospective clinical trials. Research about adherence under the context of invasive treatment of AMI has a tremendous practical impact and should be considered a matter of importance concerning both clinicians and scientists. Close collaboration between not only researchers, health practitioners, i.e. physicians and pharmacists, but also politicians, is strongly recommended to aid in designing an intervention that might improve patient adherence.

Quality of information for women seeking breast augmentation in the Internet.

Background Recently published data show that many women interested in breast augmentation (BA) actively search the Internet for information. The Internet is currently the main source of information on this topic. Objectives Little is known about the quality of available information on the Internet concerning BA. The goal was to evaluate this in a systematic manner using a validated and reproducible tool. Methods Women (n = 96) unrelated to medicine were asked which keywords they would use to search the Internet if they were interested in BA. Five keywords were used. Qualitative and quantitative assessment was performed with the modified Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP) tool. A total of 2500 websites containing information on BA were identified using Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask, and AOL. Results Out of 623 eligible websites, only 153 (25%) addressed more than 20 EQIP items. Scores were higher for encyclopaedias and academic websites compared to hospital and practitioner websites. The median EQIP score was only 15 (IQR = 12-20), and quantitative postoperative morbidity and mortality risk estimates were available in only 38% and 25% of the websites, respectively. Major complications (e.g. capsular contraction, implant safety) were mentioned in only 156 (25%) of the websites. Conclusions This is the first assessment of online patient information on BA using the EQIP tool. This analysis demonstrated several shortcomings in the quality of information provided to BA candidates. There is an immediate need for better informative and educational websites regarding BA procedures that are compatible with international quality standards for plastic surgery.