791 Virtual visits in HF outpatient management during COVID-19-related lockdown

Abstract Aims Following the COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown period in Italy, people have experienced psycho-physical distress. Many hospitals were converted in COVID-19 healthcare places and many specialist outpatient’s services were drastically reduced. Virtual visits may represent a strategy to overcome the lack of HF outpatient’s services, during this period. Our own experience underlines the importance of virtual visits to face the clinical and health status deterioration, associated with COVID-19, in HF outpatients. Methods and results We conducted an observational study, enrolling consecutive HF outpatients, previously hospitalized at the Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences of Sapienza University of Rome, who were discharged within 31 March 2019, and 30 April 2019. Two follow-up periods were scheduled: (i) within 20–30 days after the beginning of lockdown (ii) at 3 months after lockdown’s end. Virtual visits were conducted through telephone, assessing changes in clinical and health status; the latter was assessed through the short version of the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-12). According to the presence of at least one sign of HF deterioration, patients were divided into two groups: Group 1: patients who experienced a modification in at least one clinical parameter suggestive of HF deterioration. Group 2: patients who do not experienced any modification of HF deterioration clinical parameter. KCCQ-12 mean scores were compared between the two groups, at both scheduled virtual visits, in order to evaluate any change in HF outpatients’ health status, during and after the COVID-19-related-lockdown. 160 HF outpatients have been included in the study: 63 in the group 1, 97 in the group 2. At the first virtual visit, group 1 reported significantly lower mean KCCQ-12 score, compared to group 2 [46.2 (±14.6) vs. 53.8 (±11); CI: 95% 11.6 to − 3.6; P = 0.0003]. At the second virtual visit, group 1 patients reported a slightly, but not statistically significant, lower mean KCCQ-12 score, compared to group 2 [52.2 (± 13.3) vs. 53.1(±14.4); 95% CI: −5.4 to 3.6; P = 0.69]. Comparing the KCCQ-12 mean scores of each group between the two scheduled virtual visits, group 1 reported a statistically significant increase at the second visit, compared to the first [52.2 (±13.3) vs. 46.2 (±14.6); CI: 95% 1.1–11; P = 0.017]. Group 2 showed no statistically significant variation of mean KCCQ-12 score between the two follow-up periods [53.1 (±14.4) vs. 53.8 (±11); CI: 95% −4.3 to 3; P = 0.704]. Conclusions we observed a significant worsening of health status in HF outpatients who have experienced clinical deterioration. Therefore, patients were either hospitalized or received the optimization of diuretic and anti-hypertensive therapies. A significant health status improvement was observed at three months after the end of the lockdown, suggesting the importance of virtual visit as an adequate method to follow-up HF outpatients, reporting particular benefits in those with worsening of HF clinical signs and health status.

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Experience of introducing a new form of organization of medical care for patients with heart failure in the Russian Federation

Kardiologiia ◽

10.18087/cardio.2021.3.n1005 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 61 (3) ◽

pp. 42-51

Author(s):

I. V. Fomin ◽

N. G. Vinogradova ◽

D. S. Polyakov ◽

V. A. Pogrebetskaya

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Acute Decompensated Heart Failure ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Decompensated Heart Failure ◽

Place Of Residence ◽

Short Period ◽

Duration Of Hospitalization ◽

Group 2 ◽

Group 1

Aim To present clinical characteristics of patients after hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and to analyze hemodynamic indexes and compliance with the treatment at two years depending on the conditions of outpatient follow-up.Material and methods The study included 942 patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) older than 18 years who had been hospitalized for ADHF. Based on patients’ decisions, two groups were isolated: patients who continued the outpatient follow-up at the Center of CHF (CCHF) (group 1, n=510) and patients who continued the follow-up in outpatient multidisciplinary clinics (OMC) at their place of residence (group 2, n=432). The clinical portrait of patients was evaluated after ADHF, and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated on discharge from the hospital. Also, the patient compliance with the treatment was analyzed during two years of follow-up. Statistical analysis was performed with Statistica 7.0 for Windows.Results The leading causes for CHF included arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. With the mean duration of hospitalization of 11 inpatient days, 88.1 % and 88.4 % of patients of groups 1 and 2 were discharged with complaints of shortness of breath; 62 % and 70.4 % complained of palpitations; and 73.6 % and 71.8 % complained of general weakness. On discharge from the hospital, the following obvious signs of congestion remained: peripheral edema in 54.3 % and 57.9 %; pulmonary rales in 28.8 % and 32.4 %; orthopnea in 21.4 % and 26.2 %; and cough in 16,5 % and 15.5 % of patients of groups 1 and 2, respectively. For the time of hospitalization, CHF patients did not achieve their targets of systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) and heart rate (HR). Patients of group 1 achieved the recommended values of SBP, DBP and HR already at one year of the follow-up at CCHF. Patients of group 2 had no significant changes in hemodynamic indexes. At one and two years of the follow-up, group 2 showed a considerable impairment of the compliance with the basis therapy for CHF compared to group 1.Conclusions During the short period of hospitalization (11 inpatient days), the patients retained pronounced symptoms of HF and clinical signs of congestion and did not achieve their hemodynamic targets. The patients who were followed up for a long time at CCHF were more compliant with the basis therapy, which resulted in improvement of hemodynamic indexes, compared to the patients who were managed in OMS at the place of residence.

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Creation of physiologic rhythm by closed loop stimulation in heart failure patients with severe chronotropic incompetence: worldwide first results of a pilot study

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.0803 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

J Proff ◽

B Merkely ◽

R Papp ◽

C Lenz ◽

P.J Nordbeck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Closed Loop ◽

Funding Source ◽

Chronotropic Incompetence ◽

First Results ◽

The Mean ◽

Group 2 ◽

Group 1

Abstract Background The prevalence of chronotropic incompetence (CI) in heart failure (HF) population is high and negatively impacts prognosis. In HF patients with an implanted cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) device and severe CI, the effect of rate adaptive pacing on patient outcomes is unclear. Closed loop stimulation (CLS) based on cardiac impedance measurement may be an optimal method of heart rate adaptation according to metabolic need in HF patients with severe CI. Purpose This is the first study evaluating the effect of CLS on the established prognostic parameters assessed by the cardio-pulmonary exercise (CPX) testing and on quality of life (QoL) of the patients. Methods A randomised, controlled, double-blind and crossover pilot study has been performed in CRT patients with severe CI defined as the inability to achieve 70% of the age-predicted maximum heart rate (APMHR). After baseline assessment, patients were randomised to either DDD-CLS pacing (group 1) or DDD pacing at 40 bpm (group 2) for a 1-month period, followed by crossover for another month. At baseline and at 1- and 2-month follow-ups, a CPX was performed and QoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. The main endpoints were the effect of CLS on ventilatory efficiency (VE) slope (evaluated by an independent CPX expert), the responder rate defined as an improvement (decrease) of the VE slope by at least 5%, percentage of maximal predicted heart rate reserve (HRR) achieved, and QoL. Results Of the 36 patients enrolled in the study, 20 fulfilled the criterion for severe CI and entered the study follow-up (mean age 68.9±7.4 years, 70% men, LVEF=41.8±9.3%, 40%/60% NYHA class II/III). Full baseline and follow-up datasets were obtained in 17 patients. The mean VE slope and HRR at baseline were 34.4±4.4 and 49.6±23.8%, respectively, in group 1 (n=7) and 34.5±12.2 and 54.2±16.1% in group 2 (n=10). After completing the 2-month CPX, the mean difference between DDD-CLS and DDD-40 modes was −2.4±8.3 (group 1) and −1.2±3.5 (group 2) for VE slope, and 17.1±15.5% (group 1) and 8.7±18.8% (group 2) for HRR. Altogether, VE slope improved by −1.8±2.95 (p=0.31) in DDD-CLS versus DDD-40, and HRR improved by 12.9±8.8% (p=0.01). The VE slope decreased by ≥5% in 47% of patients (“responders to CLS”). The mean difference in the QoL between DDD-CLS and DDD-40 was 0.16±0.25 in group 1 and −0.01±0.05 in group 2, resulting in an overall increase by 0.08±0.08 in the DDD-CLS mode (p=0.13). Conclusion First results of the evaluation of the effectiveness of CLS in CRT patients with severe CI revealed that CLS generated an overall positive effect on well-established surrogate parameters for prognosis. About one half of the patients showed CLS response in terms of improved VE slope. In addition, CLS improved quality of life. Further clinical research is needed to identify predictors that can increase the responder rate and to confirm improvement in clinical outcomes. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Biotronik SE & Co. KG

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Effects of posterior tibial slope on the mid-term results of medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

Arthroplasty ◽

10.1186/s42836-021-00070-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zhijie Chen ◽

Kaizhe Chen ◽

Yufei Yan ◽

Jianmin Feng ◽

Yi Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Knee Flexion ◽

Tibial Slope ◽

Posterior Tibial ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Medial Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Group 3 ◽

Group 2 ◽

Postoperative Knee ◽

Group 1

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effect of medial posterior tibial slope (PTS) on mid-term postoperative range of motion (ROM) and functional improvement of the knee after medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). Methods Medical records of 113 patients who had undergone 124 medial UKAs between April 2009 through April 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. The mean follow-up lasted 7.6 years (range, 6.2–11.2 years). Collected were demographic data, including gender, age, height, weight of the patients. Anteroposterior (AP) and lateral knee radiographs of the operated knees were available in all patients. The knee function was evaluated during office follow-up or hospital stay. Meanwhile, postoperative PTS, ROM, maximal knee flexion and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score (pre−/postoperative) of the operated side were measured and assessed. According to the size of the PTS, patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1 (<4°), group 2 (4° ~ 7°) and group 3 (>7°). The association between PTS and the knee function was investigated. Results In our cohort, the average PTS was 2.7° ± 0.6° in group 1, 5.6° ± 0.9° in group 2 and 8.7° ± 1.2° in group 3. Pairwise comparisons showed significant differences among them (p < 0.01). The average maximal flexion range of postoperative knees in each group was 112.4° ± 5.6°, 116.4° ± 7.2°, and 117.5° ± 6.1°, respectively, with significant difference found between group 1 and group 2 (p < 0.05), and between group 1 and group 3 (p < 0.05). However, the gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) did not differ between three groups and there was no significant difference between groups in terms of pre−/postoperative HSS scores or postoperative knee ROM. Conclusion A mid-term follow-up showed that an appropriate PTS (4° ~ 7°) can help improve the postoperative flexion of knee. On the other hand, too small a PTS could lead to limited postoperative knee flexion. Therefore, the PTS less than 4° should be avoided during medial UKA.

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Percutaneous posteroanterior screw fixation for Haraguchi type 1 posterior malleolar fracture in tri-malleolar fracture: Operative technique and randomized clinical results

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery ◽

10.1177/2309499021997996 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 230949902199799

Author(s):

Tianming Yu ◽

Jichong Ying ◽

Jianlei Liu ◽

Dichao Huang ◽

Hailin Yan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Screw Fixation ◽

Malleolar Fracture ◽

Malleolar Fractures ◽

Posterior Malleolar Fracture ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Group 2 ◽

Traumatic Arthritis ◽

Group 1

Purpose: The study described a novel surgical treatment of Haraguchi type 1 posterior malleolar fracture in tri-malleolar fracture and patient outcomes at intermediate period follow-up. Methods: All patients from January 2015 to December 2017 with tri-malleolar fracture of which posterior malleolar fractures were Haraguchi type 1, were surgically treated in this prospective study. Lateral and medial malleolar fractures were managed by open reduction and internal fixation through dual incision approaches. 36 cases of Haraguchi type 1 posterior malleolar fractures were randomly performed by percutaneous posteroanterior screw fixation with the aid of medial exposure (group 1). And 40 cases were performed by percutaneous anteroposterior screw fixation (group 2). Clinical outcomes, radiographic outcomes and patient-reported outcomes were recorded. Results: Seventy-six patients with mean follow-up of 30 months were included. There were no significant differences in the mean operation time (81.0 ± 11.3 vs. 77.2 ± 12.4), ankle function at different periods of follow-up, range of motions and visual analog scale (VAS) at 24 months between the two groups ( p > 0.05). However, the rate of severe post-traumatic arthritis (Grade 2 and 3) and the rate of step-off rather than gap in radiological evaluation were lower in group 1 than that in group 2 ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Using our surgical technique, more patients had good outcome with a lower rate of severe post-traumatic arthritis, compared with the group of percutaneous anteroposterior screw fixation. Percutaneous posteroanterior screw fixation can be a convenient and reliable alternative in treating Haraguchi type 1 posterior malleolar fracture.

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The Relationship between Serum Ferritin Levels and 5-Year All-Cause Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients

Blood Purification ◽

10.1159/000515639 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Emre Erdem ◽

Ahmet Karatas ◽

Tevfik Ecder

Keyword(s):

Serum Ferritin ◽

Hemodialysis Patients ◽

Rank Test ◽

Significant Difference ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Group 3 ◽

Group 2 ◽

The Relationship ◽

Group 1

Introduction: The effect of high serum ferritin levels on long-term mortality in hemodialysis patients is unknown. The relationship between serum ferritin levels and 5-year all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients was investigated in this study. Methods: A total of 173 prevalent hemodialysis patients were included in this study. The patients were followed for up to 5 years and divided into 3 groups according to time-averaged serum ferritin levels (group 1: serum ferritin <800 ng/mL, group 2: serum ferritin 800–1,500 ng/mL, and group 3: serum ferritin >1,500 ng/mL). Along with the serum ferritin levels, other clinical and laboratory variables that may affect mortality were also included in the Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis. Results: Eighty-one (47%) patients died during the 5-year follow-up period. The median follow-up time was 38 (17.5–60) months. The 5-year survival rates of groups 1, 2, and 3 were 44, 64, and 27%, respectively. In group 3, the survival was lower than in groups 1 and 2 (log-rank test, p = 0.002). In group 1, the mortality was significantly lower than in group 3 (HR [95% CI]: 0.16 [0.05–0.49]; p = 0.001). In group 2, the mortality was also lower than in group 3 (HR [95% CI]: 0.32 [0.12–0.88]; p = 0.026). No significant difference in mortality between groups 1 and 2 was found (HR [95% CI]: 0.49 [0.23–1.04]; p = 0.063). Conclusion: Time-averaged serum ferritin levels >1,500 ng/mL in hemodialysis patients are associated with an increased 5-year all-cause mortality risk.

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Longitudinal Reproducibility of CO2-Triggered BOLD MRI for the Hemodynamic Evaluation of Adult Patients with Moyamoya Angiopathy

Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽

10.1159/000513301 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Constantin Roder ◽

Uwe Klose ◽

Helene Hurth ◽

Cornelia Brendle ◽

Marcos Tatagiba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intraclass Correlation ◽

Collateral Flow ◽

Surgical Revascularization ◽

Bold Mri ◽

Promising Tool ◽

Hemodynamic Evaluation ◽

Group 2 ◽

Group 1

Background and Purpose: Hemodynamic evaluation of moyamoya patients is crucial to decide the treatment strategy. Recently, CO2-triggered BOLD MRI has been shown to be a promising tool for the hemodynamic evaluation of moyamoya patients. However, the longitudinal reliability of this technique in follow-up examinations is unknown. This study aims to analyze longitudinal follow-up data of CO2-triggered BOLD MRI to prove the reliability of this technique for long-term control examinations in moyamoya patients. Methods: Longitudinal CO2 BOLD MRI follow-up examinations of moyamoya patients with and without surgical revascularization have been analyzed for all 6 vascular territories retrospectively. If revascularization was performed, any directly (by the disease or the bypass) or indirectly (due to change of collateral flow after revascularization) affected territory was excluded based on angiography findings (group 1). In patients without surgical revascularization between the MRI examinations, all territories were analyzed (group 2). Results: Eighteen moyamoya patients with 39 CO2 BOLD MRI examinations fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The median follow-up between the 2 examinations was 12 months (range 4–29 months). For 106 vascular territories analyzed in group 1, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.784, p < 0.001, and for group 2 (84 territories), it was 0.899, p < 0.001. Within the total follow-up duration of 140 patient months, none of the patients experienced a new stroke. Conclusions: CO2 BOLD MRI is a promising tool for mid- and long-term follow-up examinations of cerebral hemodynamics in moyamoya patients. Systematic prospective evaluation is required prior to making it a routine examination.

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Etiology of Cartilage Lesions Does Not Affect Clinical Outcomes of Patellofemoral Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation

Cartilage ◽

10.1177/19476035211030991 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 194760352110309

Author(s):

Alexandre Barbieri Mestriner ◽

Jakob Ackermann ◽

Gergo Merkely ◽

Pedro Henrique Schmidt Alves Ferreira Galvão ◽

Luiz Felipe Morlin Ambra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation ◽

Second Generation ◽

Cartilage Lesion ◽

Chondrocyte Implantation ◽

Group 3 ◽

Group 2 ◽

Autologous Chondrocyte ◽

Group 1

Objective To determine the relationship between cartilage lesion etiology and clinical outcomes after second-generation autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) in the patellofemoral joint (PFJ) with a minimum of 2 years’ follow-up. Methods A retrospective review of all patients that underwent ACI in the PFJ by a single surgeon was performed. Seventy-two patients with a mean follow-up of 4.2 ± 2.0 years were enrolled in this study and were stratified into 3 groups based on the etiology of PFJ cartilage lesions: patellar dislocation (group 1; n = 23); nontraumatic lesions, including chondromalacia, osteochondritis dissecans, and degenerative defects (group 2; n = 28); and other posttraumatic lesions besides patellar dislocations (group 3; n = 21). Patient’s mean age was 29.6 ± 8.7 years. Patients in group 1 were significantly younger (25.4 ± 7.9 years) than group 2 (31.7 ± 9.6 years; P = 0.025) and group 3 (31.5 ± 6.6 years; P = 0.05). Body mass index averaged 26.2 ± 4.3 kg/m2, with a significant difference between group 1 (24.4 ± 3.2 kg/m2) and group 3 (28.7 ± 4.5 kg/m2; P = 0.005). A clinical comparison was established between groups based on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and failure rates. Results Neither pre- nor postoperative PROMs differed between groups ( P > 0.05). No difference was seen in survivorship between groups (95.7% vs. 82.2% vs. 90.5%, P > 0.05). Conclusion Cartilage lesion etiology did not influence clinical outcome in this retrospective study after second generation ACI in the PFJ. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective comparative study.

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Porcine Versus Pericardial Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Adults With Prior Congenital Cardiac Surgery: Midterm Outcomes

World Journal for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery ◽

10.1177/2150135118825113 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 197-205 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Chi Sum Yuen ◽

Kwok Fai Lucius Lee ◽

Inderjeet Bhatia ◽

Nicholson Yam ◽

Barnabe Antonio Rocha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Valve Replacement ◽

Pulmonary Valve ◽

Pulmonary Regurgitation ◽

Pulmonary Valve Replacement ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Congenital Cardiac Surgery ◽

Group 2 ◽

Bioprosthetic Valves ◽

Group 1

Background: Postcongenital heart surgery pulmonary regurgitation requires subsequent pulmonary valve replacement. We sought to compare the outcomes of pulmonary valve replacement after using bioprosthetic valves, porcine versus pericardial bioprosthesis. Method: Retrospective single-center study of consecutive pulmonary valve replacement in patients with pulmonary regurgitation following initial congenital cardiac surgery. From 2004 to 2016, 82 adult patients (53 males, 29 females) underwent pulmonary valve replacement at a mean age of 28.7 ± 8 years (range 18-52 years) with a mean time to pulmonary valve replacement of 24 ± 7 years (range 13-43 years). Porcine bioprosthetic valves (group 1, n = 32) and pericardial valves (group 2, n = 50) were used. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed (n = 54) at a mean of 18 ± 13 months before and 24 ± 21 months after pulmonary valve replacement. Results: No significant difference was seen between the groups except that the mean follow-up was longer for group 1 (5.02 ± 2.06 vs 4.08 ± 3.21 years). In-hospital mortality was 1.1%. Follow-up completeness was 100% with no late death. Mean right ventricular end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes reduced significantly in both the groups ( P < .001), whereas right ventricular ejection fraction remained unchanged (group 1, P = .129; group 2, P = .675) . Only the left ventricular end-diastolic volume increased in both the groups, but the increase was significant for group 2 only (group 1, P = .070; group 2, P = .015), whereas the left ventricular end-systolic and ejection fraction remained unchanged in both the groups. There was no reoperation for pulmonary valve replacement. Freedom from intervention was 93.8% (group 1) and 100% (group 2) at eight years after pulmonary valve replacement ( P = .407). Conclusion: Midterm outcomes of pulmonary valve replacement in our adult cohort were satisfactory. Both types of bioprosthetic valves performed comparably for eight years and were a good option in adults.

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A tissue-engineered urinary conduit in a porcine urinary diversion model

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-94613-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Arkadiusz Jundziłł ◽

Piotr Kwieciński ◽

Daria Balcerczyk ◽

Tomasz Kloskowski ◽

Dariusz Grzanka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Urinary Diversion ◽

Porcine Model ◽

Histological Evaluation ◽

Metabolic Complications ◽

Group 3 ◽

Group 2 ◽

The Right ◽

Group 1

AbstractThe use of an ileal segment is a standard method for urinary diversion after radical cystectomy. Unfortunately, utilization of this method can lead to numerous surgical and metabolic complications. This study aimed to assess the tissue-engineered artificial conduit for urinary diversion in a porcine model. Tissue-engineered tubular polypropylene mesh scaffolds were used for the right ureter incontinent urostomy model. Eighteen male pigs were divided into three equal groups: Group 1 (control ureterocutaneostomy), Group 2 (the right ureter-artificial conduit-skin anastomoses), and Group 3 (4 weeks before urostomy reconstruction, the artificial conduit was implanted between abdomen muscles). Follow-up was 6 months. Computed tomography, ultrasound examination, and pyelogram were used to confirm the patency of created diversions. Morphological and histological analyses were used to evaluate the tissue-engineered urinary diversion. All animals survived the experimental procedures and follow-up. The longest average patency was observed in the 3rd Group (15.8 weeks) compared to the 2nd Group (10 weeks) and the 1st Group (5.8 weeks). The implant’s remnants created a retroperitoneal post-inflammation tunnel confirmed by computed tomography and histological evaluation, which constitutes urostomy. The simultaneous urinary diversion using a tissue-engineered scaffold connected directly with the skin is inappropriate for clinical application.

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Impact of percutaneous embolization versus subinguinal microsurgical ligation on semen parameters in primary varicocele patients: comparative study

Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine ◽

10.1186/s43055-020-00370-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Haytham M. Nasser ◽

Ahmed Hussein ◽

Gad M. Behairy ◽

Mostafa Abdo

Keyword(s):

Sperm Count ◽

Semen Analysis ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Semen Parameters ◽

Male Factor ◽

Percutaneous Embolization ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Group 2 ◽

Group 1

Abstract Background Varicocele is an abnormally dilated pampiniform plexus of the veins within the spermatic cord and is considered the most common correctable cause of male factor infertility. Many approaches are described for treatment either surgical (tradition inguinal, subinguinal, and laparoscopic) or non-surgical percutaneous embolization. During the period from August 2017 to December 2018, we prospectively analyzed the preoperative and post-operative alteration of semen parameters (at 3 and 9 months) of the data collected from 63 patients with clinically evident varicocele referred to our tertiary hospital. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1, thirty-three patients who underwent subinguinal microsurgical ligation, and group 2, thirty patients who underwent percutaneous embolization. Results Sixty-three patients enrolled in this study were divided in two groups: group 1, patients who underwent surgery, and group 2, patients who underwent embolization; the mean age is 24.6 ± 1.27 years in group 1 and 23.7 ± 2 years in group 2; there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups as regards BMI, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking. Bilaterality was present in 15.2% of group 1 patients and 10% in group 2 patients (P value 0.06). Most of the patients were classified as grades 2 and 3 with no statistical significance regarding severity of the disease. Preoperative semen parameters for patients including sperm count, motility, and abnormal forms showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Post-intervention semen analysis was done twice during follow-up after 3 months and 9 months from the date of intervention. After 3 months, the semen parameters were improved in both groups in spite of the higher sperm count in group 2 but with no statistical significance. After 9 months follow-up, semen analysis showed persistent increase in sperm mobility in group 1 patients in comparison to group 2 patients. Both groups had better improvement in count of normal form with no statistical significant change. Conclusion Improvement of semen parameters while treating primary varicocele by either subinguinal microsurgery approach or percutaneous embolization shows equivalent outcomes.

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