Outcome of Neuromuscular Electrodiagnostic Testing in Children.

This study aimed to describe the spectrum of the results of neuromuscular electrodiagnostic investigations performed by age and pathology in paediatric patients. This retrospective observational study took place from January 2019 to December 2021. Electrodiagnostic records of paediatric patients (birth to 15 years) were referred to the electromyography (EMG) laboratory for EMG and nerve conduction study (NCS). Electrodiagnostic and demographic data were collected. Among these, 151 (56%) were males and 118 (44%) were females. Forty-four percent tests came out to be normal and 151(56%) tests revealed electrophysiological abnormality. Peripheral nerve neuropathy (n = 39, 14.5%), polyneuropathy (n = 35, 13%) and myopathy (n = 28, 10%) were the most common electrophysiological diagnoses. The electrodiagnostic test helps in differentiating the aetiologies, thus guiding the subsequent work-up logically in the paediatric population. Key Words: Brachial plexus neuropathies, Electromyography, Duchene muscular dystrophy, Neuromuscular junction disorders, Nerve conduction studies, Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Rehabilitation, Electromyography, Hereditary sensory motor polyneuropathy.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the setting of left atrial appendage thrombus.

OBJECTIVES: Left atrial appendage thrombus (LAT) was an exclusion criterion in the seminal transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) trials; however, such patients do undergo TAVR in the 'real-world' setting. This study sought to analyse outcomes after TAVR in patients with LAT or spontaneous echo contrast (SEC). METHODS: All patients undergoing TAVR at our institution between March 2009 and December 2014 were prospectively analysed. The presence of LAT or SEC was determined via a retrospective chart review. Primary outcomes included 30-day and 1-year neurological events as well as mortality. RESULTS: Of the 369 patients undergoing TAVR, 3.8% (14) were found to have LAT and 6.8% (25) were found to have SEC, and they were separately compared to patients who did not have LAT or SEC. Significant differences were noted between groups with regard to preoperative renal function, atrial fibrillation and ejection fraction. Preoperative atrial fibrillation was the only independent predictor of LAT. No perioperative complications were associated with the presence of LAT or SEC. Specifically, no patient with LAT or SEC experienced a postoperative neurological event. While neither LAT nor SEC was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality, LAT was an independent predictor of 1-year mortality (odds ratio 3.573, 95% confidence interval 1.040-12.28; P = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggests that TAVR may be performed in patients with LAT and SEC with a low risk of embolic complications. While neither was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality, LAT was an independent predictor of 1-year mortality. Larger studies are needed to better study this phenomenon.